2020 Legal 500 guide hails Hudgell Solicitors for growth of business as specialist departments climb rankings


Amanda Stevens chief executive Hudgell Solicitors

Amanda Stevens chief executive Hudgell Solicitors

Hudgell Solicitors’ continued growth and success has been recognised in the 2020 Legal 500 guide with the firm’s specialist departments and lawyers hailed for both their expertise and approach in putting the needs of clients first.

Specialist departments, offices and legal experts from the firm’s teams across the country have climbed the rankings in the guide, or been included for the first time.

Hudgells has again been recognised as ‘one of the most progressive and ambitious’ firms of its kind in its traditional work areas of personal injury and clinical negligence.

And significantly its successful expansion into new specialist work areas, including Civil Liberties, Travel, Abuse and Inquest representation, is recognised.

Specialist London team has ‘excellent senior staff’

The firm’s London office has climbed the rankings for its work in supporting people who suffer catastrophic personal injuries. The guide says a highly experienced personal injury department ‘puts the rehabilitation needs of clients first, while demonstrating an excellent anticipation of the other side’s strategy during litigation.’

It highlights senior solicitor Kent Pattinson for having ‘a proven track record of securing multi-million-pound damages’ in personal injury cases.

Testimonials for Mr Pattinson say he ‘exemplifies absolutely everything that one would wish to see in the skill sets of an ace personal injury lawyer. He is professional and sociable and will let nothing get in the way in his efforts to achieve the best result for his clients.’

Abuse claims specialist Malcolm Johnson is described as ‘always completely calm and unflappable’ and the ‘go-to claimant solicitor’ for such cases.

London’s clinical negligence team is also hailed for its progress in supporting those who suffer life-changing and limiting injuries, saying it has ‘specialist knowledge in claims involving brain and spinal cord injury, fatalities, missed diagnosis of medical conditions, avoidable amputations, as well as birth negligence leading to conditions such as cerebral palsy.’

The department manages to ‘combine empathy and diligence with ruthless determination to secure the right outcome for their clients’, the guide says, adding that Hudgells ‘has drawn on some of the best talent from other firms and recruited an excellent senior staff’, naming Josie Robinson and Sue Jackson as key team members.

Solicitor Jodi Newton is referenced as having ‘a huge track record of successful clinical negligence work’ and being ‘forensic in her attention to detail’ whilst seeing a ‘broad sweep of strategic considerations.’

Also of note in this year’s guide is the firm’s inclusion in the Travel Litigation section for the first time, a department representing people who suffer illness and catastrophic injuries abroad.

The guide highlights work over the past year including supporting a claimant who suffered multiple, severe orthopaedic injuries in a road traffic accident in Belgium and a man diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease on his return home to England from holiday in Turkey.

It describes Hudgell Solicitors as ‘an up-and-coming entrant to the market led by a very experienced partner’ in Senior Solicitor Paul McClorry, who is again featured as a ‘Leading Individual’ and described as ‘an experienced and safe lawyer in the field’.

Yorkshire legal teams continue to win industry recognition

Hudgells continues to be well represented in its heartlands of Yorkshire and the Humber, served from its headquarters in Hull and an office in Leeds, where it is again ranked for both clinical negligence and personal injury work.

Hull-based clinical negligence Team Supervisor and Chartered Legal Executive Helena Wood is identified as a ‘Rising Star’, a section which highlights standout performers coming into their own at major companies.

The guide says she is ‘developing a strong reputation for her work in claims against NHS trusts.’ Other solicitors highlighted for their expertise include department heads Chris Moore, Vince Shore and Paul Cain.

Yorkshire-based personal injury specialists included are Hull-based Jane Woodcock, who is described as having ‘expertise in coordinating and obtaining substantial rehabilitation packages’, and Karen Smith in Leeds, who handles a wide variety of personal injury matters.

The expertise of Amanda Stevens, chief executive, is again highlighted in the guide, as she is described as ‘exceptional, bright, knowledgeable, energetic and sympathetic with a wide list of contacts and the ability to mentor other practitioners to strive for the best client care.’

Mrs Stevens was delighted with the increased recognition for the firm across a wide area of work.

“Once again we have seen our entries and rankings in this much respected legal guide improve,” she said.

“It is very rewarding to be winning increased recognition for our work in our traditional areas of personal injury and clinical negligence, and for having an approach which always sees us place the rehabilitation of our clients first.

“It is also extremely pleasing to see that the Legal 500 researchers have recognised that we are a business which is not standing still and has been developing successful new areas of work through a clear strategy.

“This Legal 500 guide has recognised that we have added some very talented and experienced legal specialists to the team, but also that we are developing our own staff at the same time to provide the very best client service.

“Since the research for this guide was completed we have recruited more experienced members to the team and further grown our Travel and Inquests work, as well as acquiring more clinical negligence cases. That will hopefully help us continue to climb the rankings next year.”

 

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