Eliza Hudgell
By Legal Futures Associate Hudgell Solicitors
Hull-based solicitor Eliza Hudgell has been named as one of the country’s standout young legal talents after a year of impressing colleagues and clients with her work on major national cases.
Following in the footsteps of her father Neil, Eliza studied for a Law degree at Hull University and competed her Legal Practice Course at Law School, joining Hudgell Solicitors as a legal assistant in 2017.
She learned the ropes by assisting colleagues across different areas of the firm and is now a key member of a growing Civil Liberties team which has won national acclaim.
Having started on a training contract in 2020, Eliza, 27, spent time alongside some of Hudgells’ most experienced lawyers and became fully qualified in February 2022.
Over the past 12 months she has supported families who lost loved ones in the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing as a Public Inquiry has been staged, and former subpostmasters wrongfully jailed as a result of the Post Office Horizon Scandal, which is widely recognised as the biggest miscarriage of justice in UK legal history.
She is now working on malicious prosecution civil compensation claims against the Post Office on behalf of clients, which has seen her prepare witness statements, review records and gather evidence, also preparing schedules of loss for the claims, and liaising with senior solicitors and counsel.
Eliza is also the lead solicitor for Hudgells in representing a number of victims of the terror attack which took place at Fishmongers’ Hall in London, in November 2019, compiling and issuing damages claims on behalf of a number of people who suffered psychological injuries as a result of the events which unfolded directly in front of them.
Her work has resulted in her being named as a shortlisted finalist in the category of Young Achiever of the Year at the national Personal Injury Awards, which celebrate the highest standards of legal work across the UK.
The awards will be held at the Hilton Manchester Deansgate on 24 November.
‘A star in the making’
Vicky Richardson, Head of Civil Liberties at Hudgell Solicitors, says Eliza is fully deserving of the recognition.
“Eliza is determined, efficient and reliable. Her attention to detail is second to none and she has a genuine empathy towards those she is helping. She is an outstanding talent and certainly one to watch,” she said.
“She quickly established herself as key member of our team, particularly in supporting victims of the Manchester Arena bombing. She has developed an amazing relationship with clients and is a “go to” person when urgent tasks arise for the Public Inquiry.
“There will be few, if any, newly qualified solicitors working on cases of national significance like Eliza – and winning the admiration of both her clients and peers.
“She has set the bar for other junior solicitors and will be a very hard act to follow as she is a star in the making.”
Alongside Eliza’s impressive legal work, judges took into consideration her fundraising activities to support clients and good causes.
This has included raising money for Swan Bereavement Nurses, who were invaluable in supporting families who lost loved ones in the immediate aftermath of the Manchester Arena attack.
She has also taken part in various activities to raise funds for the charity Martin’s Mountain, led by client Martin Hibbert, on behalf of the Spinal Injuries Association (SIA).
Martin suffered life-changing injuries as a result of the Manchester Arena attack and set himself the challenge of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in a specially adapted wheelchair. Inspired by Martin, who completed his challenge in June 2022, Eliza climbed Snowdon Mountain in Wales.
