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England - North • Insurance
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Personal injury and clinical negligence: defendant

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Weightmans

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Weightmans maintains a strong presence in the North, defending both clinical negligence and personal injury claims with specialist teams covering casualty, disease, motor, public authority and large loss matters. The clinical negligence team is particularly noted for its work on high-value birth injury and catastrophic claims against healthcare providers. Angela Kirtley brings deep expertise in complex brain damage cases. Robert Rushton is known for defending NHS bodies, and Paul Hughes handles a wide spectrum of serious, high-value personal injury claims for insurers.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Angela Kirtley is a supremely talented litigator. Formidable but humane, she combines exceptional technical knowledge with a true understanding of the human condition. In Angela's area of expertise and in her locality, she is the Number 1.’

  • ‘Angela Kirtley is a delight to work with, huge knowledge and experience on both sides of the claims gives her a superb perspective, and she has very sound judgment.’

  • ‘The team builds strong relationships with their clients and manages cases efficiently.’

  • ‘Paul Hughes provides practical advice and works collaboratively with counsel and client to achieve good results.’

  • ‘Experience of handling novel and interesting claims in the personal injury and clinical negligence field.'

  • ‘Weightmans have an incredible team of healthcare lawyers. They combine specialist legal expertise with pragmatism, commercial nous and smooth client handling.'

Key clients

  • NHS Resolution
  • Newcastle upon Tyne NHS FT
  • County Durham and Darlington NHS FT
  • Gateshead Health NHS FT
  • Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS FT
  • North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
  • University Hospitals of Birmingham NHS FT
  • University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS FT
  • Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust
  • Go Ahead Ltd
  • Go North East Ltd
  • Collingwood Insurance

Work highlights

Defended a birth injury claim managed over 10 years, involving complex liability investigations involving leading counsel and 5 experts per party, resulting in a 55%/45% liability apportionment in the claimant’s favour.
Defended a highly complex claim concerning management of an unusual condition necessitating high-dose steroid treatment, which caused serious osteoporosis.
Defending a claim involving hypoxic brain injury following a cardiac arrest, with liability apportioned 55/45 in the claimant’s favour.

Practice head

Angela Kirtley; Robert Rushton; Paul Hughes; Shaun O’Neil

Other key lawyers

Katy Lund; Andeja Begus Harrison