Personal Injury: Mainly Claimant: London

THE FIRM This firm garners particular praise for its strong group of well-trained younger solicitors. The firm has expertise across the full range of personal injury cases, including RTA, accidents at work and public liability, encompassing brain, spinal and psychiatric injuries.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Managing partner David Marshall and Jenny Kennedy are commended by peers as "reliable practitioners, both of whom I feel comfortable referring work to." Recent highlights for Kennedy include acting for a 52-year-old cyclist who was left paraplegic after a road accident. Jon Nicholson also elicited praise for his "excellent practice.”

THE FIRM This group's expertise spans all areas of personal injury, including military claims and cases of historic child abuse.

Sources Say: “It is a reliable and committed practice.”

KEY INDIVIDUALS Jonathan Wheeler heads up the practice.

THE FIRM Based out of offices in London and the North West, Fentons has an increasing profile in the personal injury sector. Recent matters include a £766,000 accident at work case. The firm has also achieved notable victories in cases against the Motor Insurers Bureau.

Sources Say: “Featuring in an increasing number of the key cases.” 

KEY INDIVIDUALS John Reeder leads the team.

THE FIRM This well-established City firm enjoys a pre-eminent reputation in personal injury. It is best known for its efforts in industrial disease but has a burgeoning profile for catastrophic claims, particularly cases involving neurological trauma.

Sources Say: “It is an outstanding outfit staffed by extremely impressive practitioners.”

KEY INDIVIDUALS Jill Greenfield heads up the neurological trauma facet of the workload and elicits praise for her efficient management of substantial claims. Rodney Nelson-Jones is "absolutely first-rate in the field of industrial disease.”Peter Williams specialises in high-value RTA, employers' liability and asbestos-related claims. Paul McNeil is recognised as a highly effective catastrophic personal injury solicitor.

THE FIRM This firm is recognised for its considerable expertise across all areas of personal injury law, and is a reliable choice for high-value, catastrophic claims. The firm recently established a new military claims department. 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Patrick Allen is at the forefront of the practice and has "a wealth of experience across a number of different types of injury claims." Alison Parker has similarly broad expertise and is also well regarded by market sources.

THE FIRM Although some interviewees suggest that the London office is less substantial than others in the firm's national network, this personal injury goliath remains a top choice in the sector.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Colin Ettinger is widely regarded as the firm's main draw in the London office. He is supported by the redoubtable Keith Barrett, who is particularly regarded for his work on RTA cases and has developed a successful niche in air crashes. Alison Eddy enjoys a strong profile for her work on personal injury cases and is at the top of many competitors' referral lists. She is described as "a class act." Caroline Pinfold is a member of the firm's asbestos-related disease team and highly rated by peers. Recent work highlights include obtaining full compensation for a woman who was exposed to asbestos from the work clothes of her former boyfriend. Sarah Wolf is new to the rankings this year and is described as “someone who ensures that all of her clients are given the best possible service."

For commentary, please see Personal Injury: Mainly Claimant: North West.

THE FIRM This firm's personal injury expertise is split between two separate departments, the domestic personal injury department and the group action and international personal injury practice.

Sources Say: “Incredibly dedicated.” 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Sally Moore leads the domestic personal injury department and is "incredibly effective and on the ball." Her practice encompasses RTA and EL/PL claims, with recent highlights including securing a £4.6 million award for a child who fell out of a tractor at a rugby club summer party. Martyn Day leads the group action and international personal injury practice, and sources are keen to note that “his overseas work is fantastic.” His recent work includes handling a claim on behalf of 30,000 citizens of Côte d'Ivoire who allege that they suffered injury when toxic waste was dumped at 16 sites in Abidjan. Daniel Easton is recommended for his work on industrial disease cases.

For commentary, please see Personal Injury: Mainly Claimant: North West.

For commentary, please see Personal Injury: Mainly Claimant: North West.

THE FIRM Market observers agree that this personal injury group has had a strong year. With an established history acting for trade unions, it is best known for its work on claims involving accidents at work and industrial disease. 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Frances McCarthy is warmly praised by commentators for her adroit representation of her clients' interests.

THE FIRM This firm offers broad-based personal injury expertise but is best known for handling catastrophic cases.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Bryan Neill is recognised as a "heavyweight player" in the catastrophic cases sector and is esteemed for "achieving consistent success for his clients."

THE FIRM This national outfit enjoys a strong profile in London.

KEY INDIVIDUALS "Prominent lawyer" Paul Kitson is the managing partner of the London personal injury department and the joint head of the personal injury department nationally. He is particularly well regarded for his work on cycling work and sports injury claims. Alison Kerr elicited strong feedback for her work on industrial disease claims, particularly those involving exposure to asbestos.

THE FIRM Russell-Cooke handles a consistent stream of RTA and employers' liability cases, and is adept at taking on multimillion-pound catastrophic injury claims.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Deborah Blythe is the main contact here. 

THE FIRM This firm has an impressive standing in the sector and boasts particular expertise in spinal injury cases. 

Sources Say: "innovative in looking for solutions in the most complex and difficult cases."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Stuart Dench impresses with his contentious practice. Interviewees describe him as an "exceptionally talented solicitor who has a very balanced overview of claims and adopts a highly effective consensual and sensible approach." Managing partner John Cahill continues to be regarded as one of the key drivers behind the firm's success. Julian Chamberlayne focuses on claims with out-of-jurisdiction elements. He has "an incisive mind and an eye for detail." Andrew Dinsmore has developed a niche in cases involving gymnastic injuries. Charles Edwards is another esteemed personal injury solicitor, with the "ability to communicate effectively and solve problems in a very constructive and conciliatory way." Paul Paxton is held in high regard as "an easy person to work alongside – he's on the ball on the tricky cases." Clare Salmon also enjoys respect in the sector.

THE FIRM The London-based reputation of this substantial national player has soared over the past twelve months thanks to the firm's merger with fellow union outfit Rowley Ashworth. Recent work highlights include acting for the claimant in Allison v London Underground Limited in the Court of Appeal, which concerned employers' duties to carry out risk assessments.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Trevor Sterling arrived at Thompsons with the merger and enjoys a glittering profile. His recent highlights include acting in a case that reached the House of Lords and concerned employers’ liability in suicide cases. David Thompson is recognised as having "an extremely high profile within the trade union movement." He specialises in representing claimants who have suffered catastrophic injuries, including brain and spinal injuries.