Midlands Offices Praised In Guide

The Midlands’ offices of law firm Irwin Mitchell are the subject of unstinting praise in Chambers UK: A Client’s Guide to the UK Legal Profession.  This annual guide independently evaluates and ranks the nation’s law firms. Irwin Mitchell is once again ranked number one in the Midlands for both clinical negligence and personal injury and secures strong rankings across a range of business and private client services.

The firm’s International Travel Litigation Group (ITLG) which is based at the firm’s Temple Street, Birmingham office, has also ranked number one nationally. Clive Garner, Partner and Head of the International Travel Litigation Group is described as “the godfather of claimant travel personal injury”. 

Irwin Mitchell has the largest clinical negligence team in the Midlands and Chambers notes that some of the most effective and highly experienced lawyers in the game are here”. The Birmingham practice is headed by Lisa Jordan, best known for her work on high value birth injury claims.

Among her colleagues are Sara Burns who is described as a “strong practitioner who is always very much in control of her cases.” Burns is well regarded for her work in obstetric and wrongful birth claims. Up and coming Mandy Luckman has also won praise for her work on hospital acquired infections.

Stuart Henderson, Managing Partner of the Midlands’ offices, heads the Personal Injury practice, which receives praise for its high-volume and high quality work.  Stuart has recently been active on an RTA case which settled for £2.2 million, as well as handling spinal injury and fatal accident cases. He is regarded by observers as "one of the best claimant solicitors in the country." His experience and profile in the field are such that "insurers are wary of his reputation”.

The Irwin Mitchell Business & Private Client practices in Birmingham also came out well in the survey.  Acting for high-profile and high net-worth individuals, the Family team regularly handles heavyweight financial matters with international aspects.  Nicola Walker, who is known for her “calm settlement-focused approach”, is one to watch in this field and has recently been made a partner.

Fergal Dowling leads the Midlands’ Employment practice. He has established a good reputation for dealing with complex tribunal matters and advising on all aspects of employment law. He is recognised for his “superb knowledge and ability to articulate complex ideas.” Another to stand out in this sector is Christopher Piggott, who has been praised for his “innate commercial understanding and analytical mind."

Irwin Mitchell Managing Partner for the Midlands’ region, Stuart Henderson, comments: “I am particularly pleased that we have achieved these rankings not only because they reflect feedback from peers and clients but also because we have retained those number one slots for yet another year.  Our expertise on the clinical negligence, personal injury and international travel litigation fronts has long been acknowledged and I am pleased that we continue to maintain the high levels of success we demand of ourselves.

“It is also very satisfying that other practices within the Midlands’ offices are flourishing and being recognised for the expertise they offer to businesses and individuals on a regional, national and international footing as required.

It is our objective to build on these results throughout 2011 as we wish to hold onto or improve upon our rankings.  This will benefit the firm, our clients and the overall reputation of the legal expertise available from the Midlands’ region.”