

Law Firm Celebrates Success In The Midlands
The impressive continued growth of law firm Irwin Mitchell’s Birmingham office has been reflected with more recommendations and rankings than ever in the Legal 500; an independent guide to law published this week.
Irwin Mitchell is once again rated as a top tier practice for Clinical Negligence, Personal Injury and Family law in the latest tables published by the Legal 500.
The growing firm has also been ranked in six other areas of law, including Corporate and Commercial, Insolvency and Corporate Recovery, Planning and Commercial Litigation which has seen a huge jump in its ranking. The firm has also won the Rehabilitation Initiative of the Year award for the fourth year in a row.
Stuart Henderson, Regional Managing Partner for Irwin Mitchell in Birmingham, said: "We are delighted that this prestigious guide has recognised the continued and growing expertise of our Birmingham office.
“It is testament to the commitment we have in putting our clients’ interests first that we have retained the top spot in the Legal 500 in a number of areas.
"Over the past couple of years we have increased the range of our legal services to the business community and it is very pleasing that the hard work of the team is being recognised with several new recommendations in the guide.”
Legal 500 recognises Irwin Mitchell as “a go – to firm for personal injury and clinical negligence.”
Stuart Henderson leads the Personal Injury team at Irwin Mitchell which according to the report “is able to give accurate advice even in the most complicated cases.” The team has particular expertise in neurotrauma, catastrophic injury and asbestos disease cases.
Irwin Mitchell’s clinical negligence department is again the leading team in the region with Sara Burns who “does fantastic work, attracts a lot of loyalty and is really on top of things.”
The highly specialised team is regularly involved in the most difficult cases and has recently handled a wrongful birth case. The team have also won new clients such as Sears and University of Birmingham.
The family team, headed up by Nicola Walker who is “a star – an experienced, calm and safe practitioner who has a good eye for the final outcome”, retained its number one ranking once again. The team was praised for producing results.
The business side of the firm retained its ranking. Led by Fergal Dowling who is “prompt and accurate,” he is joined by Ami Sanghera who is “someone you always want fighting your corner”.
Dowling also heads the busy employment team at Irwin Mitchell who delivers a “first – class service and sound legal advice from an experienced team at a very reasonable price”.
In the Health and Safety sector, David Egan is recommended for being knowledgeable, quick and offering reassurance. The group handled a number of claims involving manslaughter investigations; work at height and asbestos related prosecutions.
The Commercial Litigation team, which “provides a highly professional service” has seen a huge jump in the rankings. Headed by Mark Elder the team has been been advising on a diverse range of cases from shareholder disputes to professional negligence matters.
Paul Wakefield has also been recommended for improving the ranking of the Corporate team.
The Insolvency practice led by Michael Bennett is “knowledgeable and experienced” and acts for clients such as KPMG, HSBC and Leonard Curtis.
The Transport team “obtains the best, but most realistic outcomes” and is headed by Clive Garner who is “extremely capable and intelligent, with great forensic skills.”