Leading International Personal Injury Team Expands

National law firm Irwin Mitchell is boosting the support it offers to northern clients who have suffered serious injury abroad by bringing its industry-leading International Personal Injury team to its Manchester office.

A new team of specialist lawyers will be established in the office from April, led by Manchester-born Cheryl Palmer-Hughes, who joined Irwin Mitchell in 2008 as a paralegal, based in Birmingham. Cheryl, who is now an Associate Solicitor, specialises in dealing with claims for people who have been seriously injured abroad and is particularly experienced in dealing with issues of jurisdiction (where the claim can be brought) and applicable law.

Providing support to clients across the UK, the International Personal Injury team at Irwin Mitchell, led by Clive Garner, has over 20 years of experience helping victims of serious injury or illness abroad to gain justice.  The team is ranked in Tier 1 nationally for its International personal injury work in the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners directories.

The team have won over £350m in damages for injured victims and for the families of those killed abroad including record awards for some individual clients. They have also successfully pursued a number of ground breaking precedent cases through the appeal courts in England and abroad including the European Court of Justice. 

Involved in a number of high-profile cases, the hugely experienced national team has represented victims and the families of those killed in incidents including The Herald of Free Enterprise, Al Dana Dhow and Costa Concordia disasters, 9/11 and a catalogue of other notable cases.

The team currently represents the families of victims of the Germanwings tragedy and the families of 22 victims killed in the terrorist attack in Sousse Tunisia in June 2015 as well as nearly 50 injured survivors, the team represented families at the recently concluded inquests following the incident.

Cheryl said:

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“It is a really exciting time to be part of Irwin Mitchell’s International Personal Injury team and this expansion is a big moment.

“Personally, I am delighted to be heading back home to Manchester and getting closer to my colleagues up there, as well as continuing the team’s vital work to provide the very best legal support to our northern clients. I and rest of the team can’t wait to get started.” Cheryl Palmer-Hughes - Partner and Head of our International Serious Injury Desk

The former Urmston Grammar School pupil has been involved in helping many clients seriously injured abroad including recently helping to secure damages running into 7 figures for 21 British schoolchildren and adults injured in a coach crash in France in 2012.

Roy Beckett, Regional Managing Partner for Irwin Mitchell’s Manchester office, said: “The expansion into the Manchester office is a great step forward for the International Personal Injury team and shows our determination to evolve the services we offer to our clients.

“Having a northern base will ensure we can boost the quality of support we provide to those in that part of the country, with the ultimate aim of ensuring they get the answers and justice they deserve regarding the problems they have faced.”

If you want to speak to our personal injury claims team in Manchester visit our Manchester Office page for information on how to get in touch.