The practice at Clyde & Co is based across Manchester and Liverpool, and the team is well-equipped to assist its renowned roster of clients, which includes public and private organisations, corporates, and insurers, the list of which includes well-known names such as Axa and Aviva, with the gamut of PI matters. The team handles cases of the utmost complexity, defending claims of abuse and neglect, including sexual abuse and harassment. Furthermore, it is highly experienced in handling catastrophic injury matters. Stuart Furniss assists clients with motor, employers’ liability, and public liability cases, especially those involving issues of amputation and severe head injuries. Large loss and catastrophic cases are also areas of expertise for experienced PI litigator Chris Murray, Andrew Kerr, and Chris Eccles. Helen Kanczes advises on claims regarding spinal and brain injuries, while psychiatric and psychological disorders are areas of strength for Gemma Quinn. Furniss and Murray oversee the practice alongside occupational disease specialist Chris Fletcher and police and local authority expert Siobhan Mullins. David Spencer and Nicola Overmire are also recommended. Judith Martin, Luisa Lamb, Ruth Graham and Elizabeth Wallace departed the team in 2024.

Clients have ‘nothing but praise’ for the personal injury group at Forbes Solicitors, which has strong capabilities in handling the full scope of complex PI cases; the team spans Central Lancashire and Manchester. Its expertise includes defending sports associations and construction and housing groups in complex and catastrophic injury claims of significant value, which is a specialist area of the ‘brilliant’ litigator Ridwaan Omar. Further, it assists public sector and sporting clients in abuse cases of the utmost sensitivity and is also well-equipped to handle fundamental dishonesty fraud cases. Anti-fraud is a focus area of Chris Booth, who represents local authorities in such cases. The remit of disease, motor, and highway casualty-related cases also fall under the team’s areas of specialism. Kella Bowers and Natalie Argent stand-out for their child abuse and sexual exploitation cases, as does Alastair Gillespie, who is vastly experienced in handling complex abuse and neglect matters. Omar, Booth, Bowers and Gillespie helm the practice alongside Elizabeth Bower, Claire Opacic, and occupational disease expert Nicola Dawn. Jonathan Clay is also a key practitioner. Paul Geldard retired in May 2024.

The Manchester-based team at Kennedys has well-established capabilities defending renowned insurers and well-known companies across the entire gamut of complex and high-value PI matters. The team’s expertise spans various sectors, with particular specialisms across hospitality, transport, and elite sport, which is a particular focus for ‘standout practitioner’ Christopher Oldfield, wherein he represents UK Athletics and British Cycling, as well as various football associations. Oldfield helms the practice alongside Gordon Davidson, ‘excellent lawyer’ Paula Garvey, both of whom frequently handle public and employer liability matters, Richard McKeown, who acts for well-known hospitality, retail, and transport clients, and ‘genuine star’ Lauren Gosnell, whose practice predominantly features serious and catastrophic cases. The ‘exceedingly good’ Ian Ford is another name to note, as is Natalie Hardy, who has experience handling cross-border claims. Disease litigator and ‘one of the best at defending stress and abuse claims’ Judith Martin bolstered the practice with her April 2024 arrival.

The offering at Keoghs LLP is based across Liverpool, Bolton, and Coventry, and the team focuses predominantly on defending its well-known company and insurer clients in complex and catastrophic loss cases, as well as in fraud and abuse contexts. ‘Standout performer’ Mark Whalley is experienced in representing insurer clients in RTAs as well as in employer and public liability-related accidents. Mike Pope is well-regarded for his ‘exceptional knowledge’ of PI, with expertise in polytrauma and brain injury matters; Pope notably represented Hastings Insurance in securing the dismissal of a £6.6m fundamental dishonesty claim. The ‘outstanding’ Emma Spencer has expertise in handling RTA-related catastrophic injury cases, while Lauranne Nolan has a safeguarding specialism. Damian Ward has a motor and fraud focus, Peter Kenworthy is a disease expert, Ian Carroll focuses on abuse claims (including historical) of the utmost sensitivity, acting for clients ranging from religious organisations to charities, and Gary Herring has a credit hire focus; the four co-head the practice alongside Andy Smith, Ken Young, and Andrew Evans.

The practice at Weightmans LLP is considered a ‘leading force in insurance law’ by its clientele. The team’s extensive client list features well-known companies across various sectors, as well as insurer clients. Rebecca Blythe is experienced in catastrophic injury cases, including those surrounding brain and spinal injuries, amputations, and cases resulting from casualties and motor-related accidents. Peter Forshaw also handles casualty matters of significant complexity, including those pertaining to employer and product liability. David Holt boasts expertise in non-indemnity insurance work in particular. Forshaw and Holt oversee the practice alongside Rob Williams, Leeds-based Helen Brown, Chris Ball, disease claims specialist Graham Dean, and Kieran Jones. Will Quinn is recommended in the team and healthcare sector specialist James Hough is ‘an expert in his field’. The practice was bolstered with the arrivals of Elizabeth Wallace and large loss specialist Luisa Lamb in June 2024 and, Lee Cook in January 2025. Unless otherwise specified, all mentioned are based in Liverpool.

The group at DWF is noted for its ‘vast experience in catastrophic PI work’. In Manchester, catastrophic injury specialist Ian Slater and David Wynn, who handles legacy matters relating to the construction, chemical, and mining sectors, are names to note. In Liverpool, large loss expert Rob McKee and January 2025-promoted partner Hannah Fitzgerald, who has experience in handling multi-party litigation and matters involving an array of serious injuries, are key practitioners. Also in Liverpool, Dave Young is lauded by clients as ‘one of the very best defence PI solicitors around’. The practice is overseen by Jewels Chamberlain, who has expertise in RTAs, particularly in whiplash cases, PI fraud specialist Stuart Poole, and major injury expert Rob McKee in Liverpool, alongside Tom Higson in Manchester. Ruth Graham joined the Manchester team in August 2024.

Horwich Cohen Coghlan Solicitors‘ Manchester offering is helmed by Mark Woodall, who is well-regarded by clients for his ‘acres of experience in the PI world’. Woodall is well-equipped to defend clients, including cross-border and national insurance companies, bus transport companies, and liability insurers, in complex PI claims that often involve incidents which occurred in the UK brought by foreign claimants.