Spearheaded by Abigail Flanagan, Hugh James has a particularly strong reputation in the market on behalf of clients bringing complex, often high-value professional negligence claims against legal professionals. A good deal of this work is in the context of catastrophic injury under-settlement claims, oftentimes involving a high degree of sensitivity and the involvement of court deputies. Although she is also active in claims brought against other professional service providers, Flanagan is pivotal to this work, including her ongoing advice to a number of former military service personnel. Commercial litigation head Richard Locke is very adept at handling complex professional negligence claimant work, including in the context of group litigation, and is a key member of the team that also includes Kevin O’Brien, who excels at representing lenders in claims against solicitors and valuers arising out of defects in security, mortgage fraud and negligent valuations.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'The team displays good judgement and is very tenacious.'
‘Highly impressive and focused.'
‘It is an excellent all round team, from partner level to the most junior. Very strong in relation to Welsh clients.'
‘Abigail Flanagan has excellent knowledge and convincing in dealing with opponents.'
‘Abigail Flanagan is bright, knows the law and has superb litigation instincts.'
‘Kevin O'Brien is probably the practitioner I would recommend to anyone who had a challenging professional negligence case on the claimant side. He masters the documents, knows the law backwards, works well with counsel, and invariably gets excellent results.’
Key clients
- Ceredigion Recycling and Furniture Team (CRAFT)
- Hannah Evans
- Transform Medical Group
- Ironbridge Finance Ltd
Work highlights
Representing the assignees of Transform Medical Group in claims against solicitors and Counsel who had acted for Transform and its insurers in defending a substantial body of claims brought against Transform in the PIP Breast Implant group litigation, between 2011/12 and 2016.
Acting for a private individual who lacks capacity (via her litigation friend) in a claim brought against her former legal representatives, alleging that they negligently advised the client and allegedly under-valued her claim after she was severely injured following a car accident in 2009.
Representing a number of individual clients in claims against their former solicitors for the under-settlement of military personal injury claims brought against the Ministry of Defence following their medical discharge from the army. It is alleged that the solicitors failed to advise the clients that claims should be included for loss of earnings and for loss of pension as a result of not being able to pursue a full army career.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Kevin O'Brien
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Abigail Flanagan
Practice head
Abigail Flanagan
Other key lawyers
Richard Locke; Kevin O’Brien; Charlotte Wright; Laura Zverev