Biography
I am a Partner in the Group Actions team, based in Sheffield. The team covers the whole of the UK and we deal with the full range of cases, from lower value and more straightforward claims to complex multi-million pound claims.
My focus is on group actions, including claims arising from medical negligence, defective products including medical devices, consumer goods and vehicles.
I helped to set up the team in 2013, and since that time have specialised in group actions with a particular emphasis on product liability.
I joined Irwin Mitchell in 2007 as part of the Medical Law and Patients’ Rights team, where I specialised in representing people who had been injured by medical negligence. I have specialised in medical law since qualification in 1998, and one of the highlights of my career was helping to represent the families of Harold Shipman's victims at the Shipman Inquiry. I am accredited by AVMA as a Clinical Negligence specialist, and by APIL as a Fatal Accidents specialist.
I have always had an interest in human rights and medical ethics, and I completed a Masters Degree in Health Care, Ethics & Law at the University of Manchester in 2006.
Testimonials
‘Tim Annett deployed considerable resources, contacts, expertise and experience to manage the whole process - from finding the right technical experts to investigate the cause of the defective product to identifying the appropriate medical experts to assess the injuries and medical conditions caused by the product defect.' ‘We really appreciate having Tim Annett, a talented and experienced partner, managing our case, and being the single point of contact, which means we can maintain consistency and have streamlined communications. In addition to being experienced and knowledgeable in product liability cases, he is great at explaining to lay people like us the technical legal complexities whenever we have questions.' - Legal 500, 2025 (Leading Partner)
"He is very good at seeing and understanding the complexities." "He's approachable and extremely knowledgeable." "Tim is the catalyst and keeps the team together, he is a go-to individual at Irwin Mitchell for product liability." "Tim has a vast amount of experience and is well respected by his opponents." "Tim is highly tactical and strategic. He is willing to listen to advice from counsel and has a lot of experience at managing group claims." - Chambers & Partners 2025 (Leading Individual - Band 1)
Tim Annett is a popular choice for claimants seeking representation in product liability disputes and is particularly adept at claims arising out of personal injury caused by defective products, including automotive, consumer and medical products. "Tim is a leader in the field." "Tim is hugely knowledgeable, strategic and a pleasure to work with. He is approachable and gives a strong sense of teamwork." "He has an excellent track record in product liability work." - Chambers & Partners 2024 (Leading Individual - Band 1)
'Tim Annett was excellent at explaining to a lay person the various legal considerations and also providing advice, and we found it assuring that he has kept us informed and involved in the key decisions taken so far to progress the case.’ - Legal 500 2024 (Leading Individual)
"Tim Annett is compassionate and knowledgeable on the law and medical matters. His communication skills are excellent - he is able to listen to and understand what is being said, and he is able to explain complex issues to clients for easy understanding." - Chambers & Partners 2022 (Leading Individual - band 1)
“Tim Annett is an outstanding lawyer who always made sure I understood the process and took the important decisions. He has an excellent knowledge on medical conditions and the complications that sometimes arise. Tim is compassionate, articulate and makes complex issues appear simple. He was by my side throughout the journey and provided valuable support…Tim was very knowledgeable… as well as his depth of legal knowledge he was compassionate and kept me fully informed about the process.” - Legal 500, 2022 (Leading Individual)
Tim is "compassionate and thorough, leaving no stone unturned to achieve results. His work in the hip cases was inspirational." He's "dedicated, hard-working to try to do everything possible to get a favourable outcome. Calm, empathetic, tenacious." - Legal 500, 2021 (Leading Individual)
Tim Annett "is one of the most experienced lawyers in the field, knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with... He really cares about his clients and thinks about their needs. He is a fantastic lawyer." - Chambers & Partners, 2021 (Leading Individual Band 1)
Tim Annett is "a good communicator, empathetic and calm." – Chambers & Partners, 2020
"Tim Annett has an impressive grasp of technical issues. He provides insightful legal knowledge with a realistic appraisal of legal issues." – Legal 500, 2020
"A very knowledgeable lawyer who is brilliant on statistics" – Chambers & Partners, 2019
"Practical and thorough in his approach to cases" – Legal 500, 2018/19
"Extremely enthusiastic, knowledgeable and hard-working," "he is collaborative and easy to work with." – Chambers & Partners, 2018
Publications
- 'Public Inquiries: an endangered species', Clinical Risk, Vol. 8, No. 5, 1 September 2002, pp. 199-202[4]
- 'Child Welfare & Best Interests', APIL PI Focus, Vol. 15, Issue 7, pp. 17 - 18
- 'Balancing competing interests over frozen embryos; the judgment of Solomon?', Medical Law Review, 14, Autumn 2006, pp. 425-433
What Inspired You To Get Into Law?
I decided early on that I was either going to be a lawyer or a doctor, on the basis that both were difficult careers to get into, so I thought they were the best jobs! I chose law as I wanted to have clients I could try to help with their problems.
What Is The Most Rewarding Aspect Of Your Role?
The law is still evolving in the field of product liability, which makes it interesting and challenging. There is also the opportunity to help shape the development of a growing area of our practice, and helping to make people aware of their rights as consumers.
What Do You Like About Working At Irwin Mitchell?
We have the resources to manage even the largest cases, but we remain focused on our clients and their individual needs. My team is relatively small but punches well above its weight, and is already established as one of the leading product liability teams in the country.
What Do You Do Away From The Office?
I spend as much time with my family as possible as I have two young children who are growing up fast!
