Back to rankings
England - Yorkshire • Insurance
2

Personal injury: defendant

Forbes Solicitors

More information
Forbes Solicitors’ nationally recognised insurance team is noted for its expertise in complex and high-value casualty, construction, disease, and abuse claims, acting for over 60 local authorities and numerous national insurers. The practice includes Chris Booth in fraud and disease, Kella Bowers in social care and abuse, and Ridwaan Omar in large loss and regulatory. Alastair Gillespie has experience in abuse litigation, while Elizabeth Bower oversees housing-related casualty work. The team regularly handles claims for clients in the construction, sports, retail, and leisure sectors and is known for its strength in fraud defence and inquest representation.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Accolades

Client satisfaction: Billing & efficiency
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘A "boutique" firm trusted by a broad range of insurers to handle a broad spectrum of personal injury work, offering a more personal touch than the larger firms.’

  • ‘The team has a national capability but provides a service which feels local. They invest time to understand the business and needs of their clients and do so in a very personable manner.’

  • ‘The individuals are very knowledgeable, friendly and easy to get hold of. I enjoy working with all the individuals at Forbes and their business has a very similar culture to our own.’

  • ‘The Team includes a lot of very good solicitors. They cover a wide variety of PI work for insurers and local authorities. Their skill and extensive experience in this sector makes them a 'go-to' firm.’

  • ‘Chris Booth - outstanding solicitor who leads the Insurance Team well.'

  • ‘Forbes have a strong team of very knowledgeable solicitors who deal with many complex abuse, breach of duty claims as well as a team that deal with standard public liability, employer's liability and motor vehicle claims. They deal with any queries we have promptly and provide their expertise on many matters.’

  • ‘The individual solicitors in the team who deal with our complex abuse claims provide regular update reports regarding our position. Our department with the Partner who oversees the team regularly.’

Key clients

  • Calderdale MBC
  • Leeds City Council
  • Thirteen Housing Group Ltd
  • Hull City Council
  • East Riding of Yorkshire Council
  • Durham County Council
  • Zurich Insurance
  • Scarborough Council
  • Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
  • Lloyds Syndicate 2525
  • Oldham MBC
  • South Kesteven Council

Work highlights

Representing Hull City Council in large fraud ring involving 64 Claimants.
Represented a client in a claim by a tunnel miner following a serious accident while working on the HS2 project, with a reserve of £1.8m.
Represented a client in a civil claim following a HSE prosecution due to an electrical line explosion.

Practice head

Chris Booth; Kella Bowers; Elizabeth Bower; Alastair Gillespie; Ridwaan Omar