Personal Injury: Mainly Claimant: The South

THE FIRM Clients are highly impressed by the personal injury practice at this firm. It is based primarily in the firm's Fareham office but benefits from the firm's presence in Southampton, Portsmouth and Gosport.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Sue Bowler is "meticulous and thorough in her conduct of a case.” She focuses on high-value brain injury cases. James King is best known for his work on cases involving RTA and accidents at work.

THE FIRM This personal injury team impresses with its work on high-volume, lower-value cases, as well as high-value catastrophic work.

KEY INDIVIDUALS The firm's spinal injury claims are managed by Paul Fretwell and Tony Goff. Fretwell is described as having “an incredibly effective, down-to-earth approach.” Goff is especially praised for high value work. Claire Watson specialises in brain injury and amputee cases.

THE FIRM This regional player has offices in both Southampton and Reading. Personal injury law accounts for a substantial proportion of the firm's complete profile, and commentators believe that the firm performs particularly well on disease claims.

Sources Say: “It's very consistent – the work is very strong irrespective of who you get.”

KEY INDIVIDUALS Gareth Wheeler heads the practice and enjoys the esteem of the market.

THE FIRM Shoosmiths' broad-based practice covers lower-value, high-volume work as well as high-value catastrophic cases. Peers note that they are comfortable referring work here.

Sources Say: "A team of highly gifted lawyers that offers exceptional service to seriously injured clients."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Rose Donoghue heads up the team and earns praise for her work in the sector. Joanne Jeffries and Nichola Pitman are “extremely able when dealing with complicated catastrophic claims.”

THE FIRM This firm’s operations are focused on the South and the South West of England. Recent cases of particular note for the personal injury department include an ongoing £1 million spinal injuries claim.

KEY INDIVIDUALS One source praised Gavin Lane as “one of the first solicitors I would trust to deal with a personal injury claim involving a member of my own family.”

THE FIRM This personal injury practice is expert at managing a broad spectrum of personal injury claims. Recent work highlights include settling a £900,000 claim for a 62-year-old client who had sustained multiple orthopaedic and internal injuries in a head-on collision. 

Sources Say: "If you give Blake Lapthorn any type of claim then it will do it well.” 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Alison McClure is a highly regarded head and spinal injury lawyer.

THE FIRM Sources highlight this firm as a specialist high-value practice, well deserving of its inclusion in the rankings.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Department head Philippa Luscombe recently settled a claim for a paraplegic client arising out of an accident at work.

THE FIRM This established personal injury practice encompasses complex industrial disease and catastrophic injury work, and it is noted for its dedication to settling cases swiftly and via ADR if possible.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Jonathan Clement heads the team.

THE FIRM Recent work highlights for this young, forward-thinking team include acting for the young victim's family in an RTA case.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Amanda Stevens is highly regarded in the field.

THE FIRM This Richmond-based practice enjoys fields expertise across a broad spectrum of claims, including RTA, EL/PL and fatal accident cases. The firm is also well known for handling work against the MoD. 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Fiona Fitzgerald heads the team.

THE FIRM This busy practice handles a broad spectrum of personal injury cases, including head injuries, spinal injuries and high-value fatal claims, as well as industrial disease claims.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Damian Horan leads the team.