The Manchester-based practice at Irwin Mitchell has well-established capabilities representing claimants across a broad array of complex and high-value clinical negligence matters of the utmost severity. The team’s areas of expertise includes the remit of birth, brain, and spinal injury cases, amputation matters, and fatal accidents and inquests. Furthermore, it boasts niche expertise relating to mental health and suicide, which are the focus areas of Ayse Ince, and military cases. ‘Standout litigator’ Kristofer Inskip helms the practice and handles a plethora of maximum severity cases. Jennifer Cawthorne has expertise spanning birth and spinal injury cases, as well as cases regarding delays in cancer diagnoses. Lindsay Wise handles brain and spinal injury cases on behalf of adults and children, and acts for members of the armed forces in military-related cases. Kevin Saul has a specialism in cauda equina syndrome, oral cancer, and neurological injury matters. Dental and medical negligence expert Shahin Master is noted as ‘exceptionally efficient and intellectually sharp’ by clients. Inskip and Master split their time between the Manchester and Liverpool offices. Margaret Ryan departed the team in August 2024.

The Manchester-based team at JMW Solicitors LLP is well-placed to represent claimants across a plethora of complex clinical negligence work, with multi-million-pound brain and spinal injury matters being a particular area of specialism across the group. ‘Absolutely outstanding’ practitioner Steven Brown has a notable specialism in high-stakes brain and spinal injury matters, as does Angharad Hughes, who is well-regarded by clients for her ‘steely determination’. Mark Havenhand is developing experience acting for claimants in cauda equina syndrome-related negligence matters in particular; such matters also form a prominent portion of Nicholas Young‘s workload. Sally Leonards‘s practice incorporates complex birth injury cases whereby children have suffered physical and learning disabilities as a result of maternity failures, and Melissa Gardner‘s matters range from wrongful birth cases to those where a delayed diagnosis has led to a need for 24-hour care. Jodie Miller also has experience acting for clients in cases where delayed diagnoses have led to life-changing injuries. Eddie Jones oversees the team and harnesses over 25 years’ experience handling a variety of clinical negligence cases. Sara Stanger joins the practice from Bond Turner to head up the new Liverpool-based clinical negligence team.

The team at Fieldfisher, based in Manchester, is well-placed to represent claimants in a broad range of complex and high-stakes clinical negligence cases, including wrongful birth claims, as well as cases regarding maximum severity injuries and fatalities. Claire Horton has experience in acting for clients in complex catastrophic injury cases where causation ranges from maternity negligence to delayed diagnosis. Julia Hamilton has notable capabilities in handling high-value, sensitive, and complex negligence issues. Lindsay Holt's areas of focus include acting for adults with brain and spinal cord injuries and children with cerebral palsy resulting from negligence. Team lead Jenny Urwin ‘achieves incredible outcomes’ and has 30 years of experience handling clinical negligence matters of the utmost severity, including brain, birth, spinal, and neurological injuries.

The team at Fletchers Solicitors spans Southport, Manchester, and Liverpool, and the group is well-versed in handling the remit of complex clinical negligence cases, particularly in catastrophic contexts, including birth, brain, and spinal injury matters of multi-millions in value. Lauded as a ‘fountain of knowledge’, Trevor Ward has noteworthy expertise handling quantum and liability aspects of birth injuries, Iain Dodd has notable capabilities spanning brain, birth, and spinal cord injuries, as well as amputation, while Michael Gray is well-equipped to handle the entire remit of catastrophic spinal injury cases. Representing claimants across a range of complex group actions forms a significant portion of Francesca Paul’s workload. Those aforementioned helm the practice alongside managing director Peter Rigby. ‘Stand-out in the sector’ Margaret Ryan joined the team in August 2024.

The Manchester-based offering at Hugh James is well-regarded by clients for its ‘vast experience in catastrophic clinical negligence work’. The team is overseen by the ‘fantastic’ Gill Edwards who has experience in acting for claimants across the range of catastrophic injury matters up to Supreme Court level, including high-value birth, brain, and spinal injuries, as well as amputation-related cases. Alongside Edwards at the helm is Lesley Herbertson, whose workload also incorporates cerebral palsy and cauda equina syndrome matters. Helen Budge is a name to note for her experience in representing children with cerebral palsy. ‘First-class’ practitioner Anna Higham also stands out for her capabilities in representing adults who lack the capacity to litigate and children in an array of multi-million-pound claims. Team changes in 2024 include the retirement of former team lead Helen Dolan and the departure of Nina Roland.

The Manchester-based cohort at Leigh Day is well-known for its capabilities in handling complex clinical negligence matters regarding cerebral palsy, amputation, spinal injury, wrongful birth, and fatal claims, among others. The ‘absolutely amazing’ Stephen Jones heads up the team and his workload ranges from mismanagement of birth cases to delayed diagnosis matters. Brendan Hope has experience in obtaining multi-million-pound settlements for his clients who have suffered injuries from a range of contexts; a recent example of his work alongside Jones is a sensitive and complex matter in which failure to properly diagnose a mental health issue resulted in a fatality. Lauren Tully‘s workload incorporates complex maternity cases, including those where PTSD and sepsis have resulted from labour mismanagement. Rebecca Ridgeon is noted by clients as a ‘stand-out solicitor’.

The ‘formidable’ Altrincham-based practice at Price Slater Gawne is well-placed to represent claimants in multi-million-pound cases. Mark Slater is vastly experienced across an array of complex matters, with a workload that encompasses improper treatment-related group actions, as well as inapt psychological care which leads to further harm. Slater also handles matters brought against the Ministry of Defence by those who have suffered negligently treated PTSD during military service. Chris Gawne specialises in handling matters regarding injuries resulting from surgeries and in-hospital deaths; he and Slater co-lead the practice and both are considered ‘phenomenally experienced’ in clinical negligence cases. Andrew Harrison's broad practice features delayed cancer diagnoses, and cerebral and Erb’s palsy cases. Sarah Ratcliffe is also noteworthy for her ‘outstanding compassion and client care’.

Slater and Gordon's practice is well-placed to represent claimants in the entire remit of complex clinical negligence cases. In Manchester, Victoria Beel has a specialism in maximum severity birth injury matters, as well as noteworthy experience supporting families through high-profile inquests and inquiries. ‘Superstar’ Rosalyn Steeple is another name to note at the same office, as is catastrophic injury specialist Helen Lewis. Liverpool-based Helen Barry has expertise in cases whereby obstetric negligence has led to brain injury, and in cases of delayed treatment and diagnosis. With experience in handling cases from complex birth injuries to fatal misdiagnoses, Ben Gent heads up the team from Manchester alongside national team lead Emma Doughty, who is based in London. Former co-lead John Doyle departed in January 2025.

The Blackpool-based team at Addies Solicitors is led by the ‘outstanding’ Diane Rostron, who has broad ranging expertise in clinical negligence. Rostron’s workload includes supporting families at inquests where inadequate care has led to fatalities, and securing settlements for individuals who have suffered lifelong injuries as a result of negligence during birth. Eleanor Rostron is a key name specialising in stillbirth and early neonatal death-related matters. Alison Battersby departed the group in June 2024.

Catastrophic birth injuries form a significant portion of Bond Turner‘s workload, as do complex matters of delayed diagnosis. September 2024 arrival Carla Duprey is well-equipped to act for claimants who have experienced loss of sight, amputations, and obstetric injuries as a result of negligence, amongst other matters. John Doyle joined the team in January 2025 and divides his time between the Liverpool and Bolton offices. Doyle’s fellow co-head is Bolton-based pregnancy and childbirth specialist Neil Crossley. Helen Neville and Sara Stanger left the group in January 2025 and March 2025, respectively.

The team at Express Solicitors Ltd is based in Manchester and noted for its ‘client-focused ethos’. Its workload features various clinical negligence matters, including surgical errors, birth injuries, and amputations, as well as cases regarding whether reasonable steps were taken to obtain patient consent. Carlos Lopez helms the group and ‘brings his huge experience in maximum severity claims’ to the group. Sarah Smith is a name to note for her experience in handling matters relating to the psychological and physical impacts of birth injuries. Tanzeela Aslam joined the practice in March 2025.

The group at Hudgell Solicitors is well-placed to assist its claimant clients with the array of complex clinical matters, including those relating to birth injuries, brain injuries, and amputations, often resulting from surgical negligence. Maria Repanos heads up the team and has capabilities in matters of wrongful birth, brain and spinal injury, and those concerning delayed diagnosis and wrongful treatment. Matthew Gascoyne is considered to be ‘nothing short of exceptional’ and has experience in matters of traumatic brain injury, delayed cancer diagnosis, and fatal cases. Abigail Frudd is ‘brilliant with clients’ and Caroline Murgatroyd has specialisms in fatal accidents, and brain and orthopaedic injuries.

Oliver & Co Solicitors's Chester-based offering has a specialism in handling matters where delayed diagnosis or delay in treatment has led to lifelong disability, pain, and suffering, or fatality. ‘Powerful advocate’ Linda Schermer-Jones oversees the team and harnesses experience in acting for claimants in varied and complex matters of severity, including in cases of delayed cancer, stroke, and Crohn’s diagnoses. Kerry Goulden harnesses delayed diagnosis expertise in addition to her experience in complex birth injury cases. Clients note that Liz Fry also has demonstrable expertise.

The Wigan-based group at Stephensons Solicitors LLP is overseen by Judith Thomas-Whittingham, who has particular experience in handling birth injury cases, including wrongful birth, as well as brain injury matters, including cerebral palsy. Laura Sheehan is a key name in the team with expertise in complex and rare conditions; Claire Stockley has a birth and brain injury specialism, as well as experience in spinal injury and amputation matters; and Jamie Cruickshanks is noted as ‘an incredible lawyer’. Carla Duprey departed in August 2024.

Butcher & Barlow LLP's team is well-equipped to assist claimants with a wide range of clinical negligence cases. Northwich-based Greg Porter leads the team and has noteworthy dispute resolution capabilities. Thomas Sedley works from Bury and is a key practitioner with experience in handling brain and birth-related matters, those involving surgical errors or delays in diagnosis, and dental matters. Former co-lead of the team Anthony Higham moved into a managing partner role at the firm.

The team at The Dental Law Partnership in Nantwich is formed of ‘leaders in their field’. It harnesses expertise across the broad scope of dental negligence cases, including failures to perform treatment, failures to obtain consent to perform treatment, and negligence during surgery leading to ongoing health issues. The team is co-headed by David Corless-Smith, Heather Owen, and Helen Coleman from Nantwich, alongside Elstree-based Chris Dean. Justine Jones is a name to note with experience in cases where tooth extraction surgery errors have led to permanent injury.