Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant: Midlands

THE FIRM This well-established regional firm handles the full range of clinical negligence work, including birth injury claims, meningitis cases and surgical negligence.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Tony Hall is "everything you can ask for - thorough, knowledgeable, excellent with clients and good with all the detail." Rankeshwar Batta is "an extremely bright rising star" on the team. "He has a charming manner with clients, counsel and opponents and is calmness personified under pressure, which is when his intellect really comes to the fore," one source enthused.

THE FIRM This highly respected outfit is smaller than many of its competitors and is appreciated by clients for its personalised, sympathetic service.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Malcolm Goff has a long history dealing with catastrophic injury matters and "is always on the ball." He is also well liked by competitors, who approve of his sensible and co-operative attitude. Alison Brooks "has fine judgement and is not diffident about making important and difficult decisions." Peers say: "She can analyse and interpret complex medical notes and identify the important features." 

THE FIRM This substantial outfit has offices in Nottingham, Derby and Leicester. The firm has a strong reputation for handling cutting-edge cases and is known as the pre-eminent clinical negligence practice in the East Midlands.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Paul Balen is "an extremely strong" medical negligence lawyer with a wealth of experience dealing with high-value cases. Michael Bird is esteemed by clients for his "warmth and kindness when dealing with cases."

THE FIRM Irwin Mitchell is unchallenged when it comes to strength and depth of resources. The national juggernaut has offices across the UK and its base in Birmingham is considered to be one of its strongest for medical negligence work.

Sources Say: "Some of the most effective and highly experienced lawyers in the game are here."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Lisa Jordan heads the Birmingham office and is best known for her work on cerebral palsy claims. Sara Burns is recognised for her work on birth injury claims, and she is also well known for her success in dealing with a broad range of surgical claims. She is "really down to earth and approachable," clients say. Jonathan Peacock specialises in clinical negligence cases involving neurological injury. He has also developed a strong reputation for representing clients' interests at inquests, including cases involving deaths in mental health units. Mandy Luckman is new to the rankings, having won praise for her "meticulous preparation, commitment and incredibly empathetic manner towards claimants."

THE FIRM Challinors maintains its position as a strong alternative to some of the better known names in the Midlands.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Nigel Sellar keeps his clients informed at all times, "so we are never confused or in doubt about what is going on and we don't get false expectations."Richard Bannister leads the firm's clinical negligence team and "fights hard on behalf of his clients."

THE FIRM This expanding practice recently took on two new solicitors, one of whom is a member of the AvMA panel, whilst the other is on the Law Society panel for clinical negligence solicitors. The firm's clinical negligence practice is based in the Coventry office, although its strong reputation attracts claimants from across the UK.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Tom Barnes is the head of the department.

THE FIRM Shoosmiths has traditionally relied on a stream of lower-value clinical negligence cases, although it has diversified its workload and now attracts a number of higher-value claims. The practice has broad experience, from claims involving dental negligence to maximum severity birth injury claims. Recent work includes numerous cosmetic surgery claims.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Richard Follis heads the team and is credited with having driven its expansion.

THE FIRM This well-established practice is based predominantly in Kettering, although it also benefits from offices in Leicester and Northamptonshire. It has a sound reputation for handling clinical negligence claims, in particular those involving birth injuries and the delayed diagnosis of cancer. Recent highlights include settling a case that centred on a breach of duty that occurred in 1979 and which therefore required the standard of care from that era to be established.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Jenny Laskey heads the team.