Leading Personal Injury Law Firm

Irwin Mitchell today announced that one of the UK's leading Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence law firms, Alexander Harris, is to merge with the firm. This move will further enhance Irwin Mitchell's reputation as the country's leading Personal Injury practice.

Irwin Mitchell incorporating Alexander Harris

The newly created firm, which will retain the name Irwin Mitchell, will have over 1860 staff - 840 will be fee earners, including 113 partners and over 900 support staff working throughout the UK and also in Spain.

Irwin Mitchell currently offers national legal support via its offices in Birmingham, Leeds, London, Sheffield, Manchester and Newcastle in addition to offering overseas counsel via its offices in Marbella and Madrid. Under the merger agreement, Irwin Mitchell will incorporate Alexander Harris offices in London, Solihull and Altrincham.

Howard Culley, Irwin Mitchell's Managing Partner, said: Our vision is to be one of the leading firms in the UK, offering specialist legal services to private individuals as well as to businesses and other institutions. The combination of the quality, innovation and expertise of both firms will build on our reputation as the leading personal injury practice in the UK, making us stronger than ever.

Ann Alexander, Managing Partner at Alexander Harris, said: Over the last 17 years, we have built a firm with a formidable national reputation for combining dedicated client care with first-class expertise in clinical negligence and personal injury law. We have consistently punched above our weight and I am delighted to bring our accumulated skills and experience to Irwin Mitchell.

Irwin Mitchell and Alexander Harris have each recently been in the news. In a landmark case, Irwin Mitchell represented Ann Marie Rogers in the Appeals Court to successfully overturn the decision by Swindon Primary Care Trust to deny her the breast cancer drug, Herceptin.

Northwick Park Clinical Trials

Alexander Harris is representing the two most seriously injured victims of the Northwick Park Clinical Trials, which put six people into intensive care following adverse reactions to the testing of a Leukaemia drug. It also acted for the parents of baby MB in a successful challenge to prevent the hospital withdrawing life saving treatment from their baby and for Natallie Evans in her bid to get the European Courts to allow her to use her frozen embryos.

Both firms are also lead players in the Vioxx group action, together representing over 250 UK claimants who are pursuing claims against Merck for the side effects which they claim resulted from taking the drug to relieve symptoms of arthritis.

Head of Personal Injury at Irwin Mitchell, John Pickering, stated "This strategic move is a logical and natural fit for us. Each firm has a long established reputation in personal injury and clinical negligence and combining the two firms will allow clients to enjoy unrivalled levels of expertise and provide even better access to justice. In addition, it dynamically accelerates our progression into the North West and enhances our ability to offer a truly national service."

Ann Alexander concluded "I am delighted to be joining such a well respected and forward thinking firm as Irwin Mitchell. We can continue to offer our clients the personal service and quality of legal advice they have come to expect, while benefiting from the strength, resources and reputation of Irwin Mitchell." 

Please go to www.alexanderharris.co.uk to view the Alexander Harris site.