Fielding one of the largest defendant personal injury teams in the region from its Southampton base, Clyde & Co‘s practice is a go-to name for high-value claims. The catastrophic injury and large loss group is jointly led by Andrew Hibbert, Joe Wakeford, Clare Garnett and Stephanie Atkinson; Hibbert is also head of the catastrophic injury subject matter groups, Wakeford leads the Southampton team, Garnett excels in equestrian and livestock-related matters, and Atkinson handles liability and quantum catastrophic injury work. Gemma Parker and Gus Peake are also recommended for catastrophic injury cases.

With ‘top-rate knowledge, a sensible approach to litigation and an excellent appraisal of risk‘, Kennedys‘ personal injury practice is led from Chelmsford by Jennifer Harris, and is active in complex, high-value catastrophic injury claims, acting for a client roster of global insurers, corporates and public bodies. Harris, who is managing partner of the firm’s Chelmsford office, specialises in motor, casualty and property claims, while Richard West is global head of the firm’s liability defence practice and handles catastrophic injury and motor coverage cases. Other key names include employer and public liability specialist Joy Middleton, and catastrophic injury and abuse matter expert Kathryn Oldfield.

DWF fields ‘a fantastic team made up of some exceptionally bright and knowledgeable senior lawyers augmented by some bright junior stars‘ from its base in Southampton. Key individuals include Michael Renshaw, who leads the traumatic brain injury group; Stuart Giddings, who focuses on large loss and catastrophic injury work; Rachel Coombs, who is praised as ‘an outstanding lawyer, who is completely on top of every case on her desk‘ and specialises in spinal injury claims; and Sarah Parker, who is the firm’s lead for claims relating to functional neurological disorders.

The complex and catastrophic loss practice at Keoghs LLP is ‘extremely knowledgeable and experienced‘ and acts for a client roster of insurers, MGAs, brokers, corporates and public entities. The team excels across liability, abuse and catastrophic injury claims and has been notably active in motor accident cases. Matthew Perkins heads up the Southampton-based practice and focuses on motor risk work, as does Paul Baxter, who is ‘excellent in providing high-quality and thoughtful advice‘. Andrew Williamson is also recommended, covering road traffic accident and casualty claims.

With expertise across a varied spectrum of claims, Trethowans LLP‘s practice has specialist experience in foreign claims and animal-related cases, acting for a roster of European and domestic insurers and corporates. Kelvin Farmaner leads the Southampton-based insurance and regulatory group and focuses on catastrophic injury claims relating to road traffic accidents as well as animal cases. Bethany Blamire is also recommended for motor-related work and liability cases, and Sarah Wheadon focuses on regulatory mandates.

Mayo Wynne Baxter LLP is noted for its travel sector experience, acting for tour operators, travel agents, packagers and travel insurers. Further areas of expertise for the practice include liability matters, industrial disease claims, fatal injury issues and class actions. Lee Hills leads the Crawley-based group and excels in international personal injury work.