Highlighted for its ‘person-centric’ approach, Clarke Willmott LLP stands out for its longstanding reputation handling catastrophic injury and fatal accident claims. The firm is particularly adept at acting for adults and children requiring complex, long-term care and rehabilitation. The firm’s South West offering is led by the ‘stand-out’ Lee Hart, who leverages decades of expertise in brain and spinal injury claims, alongside a niche specialism in cases relating to injuries caused by animals. Working across the Bristol and Birmingham offices, Marguarita Tyne heads the firm’s personal injury and medical negligence teams, while Philip Edwards specialises in brain injuries, amputations and fatal claims.

With a deep bench of experts operating across several South West offices, Enable Law is well equipped to handle the most ‘heavyweight’ personal injury claims. In Bristol, the personal injury practice is led by ‘legend in the region’ Huw Ponting, who leverages three decades of expertise representing clients in maximum severity claims. Ponting is joined by Katherine Moyse, a specialist in brain, spinal cord and serious psychiatric injuries; Leigh Woodham, who handles ‘the most difficult and complex litigation’ involving polytrauma and acquired brain injuries; and the ‘excellent’ Sue Stoll (née Upton). Exeter-based Gary Walker leads the firm’s abuse team, while Tim Jones acts for clients following brain and spinal injuries from the Taunton office. Plymouth-based Charlotte Morgan is a key contact for claims involving road traffic incidents. Pamela-Jane Riley departed the firm in January 2025.

The 'outstanding' personal injury team at Irwin Mitchell is highly regarded for its specialist expertise in asbestos-related and occupational disease claims, and is considered to be 'at the top of their game' when it comes to handling high-value cases involving catastrophic injuries and fatal accidents. Bristol-based James Davies leads the serious injury team, acting for children and adults in catastrophic brain and spinal cord injury claims. Davies is joined by the 'simply excellent' Georgina Moorhead, who specialises in high-value serious injury cases, and senior litigator Declan French. The 'highly talented' Virginia Chalmers leads the industrial disease team, joined by Hayley Hill and Alexandra Lausen, who bring considerable expertise in asbestos-related disease claims.

The ‘first class’ personal injury team at RWK Goodman offers comprehensive expertise across a range of specialisms, including brain and spinal catastrophic injuries, fatal accidents, asbestos and industrial disease, as well as equine and animal cases. In Bath, practice head Louise Hart is noted for handling complex, high-value claims involving amputations and orthopaedic injuries; Stuart Brazington leads the brain and spinal injury neurotrauma team; and the ‘highly conscientious’ Mark Hambleton leads on polytrauma and fatal accident claims, alongside a practice focused on injuries caused by animals. In Bristol, Jennifer Seavor heads the asbestos and industrial disease practice, working alongside the ‘very professional and knowledgeable’ Laura Wilkinson. Michael Wolstencroft and Charlotte Webb are key contacts in Bath and Bristol respectively.

The ‘powerhouse’ personal injury team at Thompsons Solicitors LLP boasts a strong reputation for handling complex claims involving accidents at work and amputations, alongside a robust asbestos practice. At the helm, Nicholas Seymour is noted as a ‘first class industrial disease lawyer’, specialising in claims involving asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma and asbestosis. Lisa Gunner, Robert Lawton and Jacqui Bridges act for clients with catastrophic brain and spinal injuries following workplace and road traffic incidents, as well as public liability claims, while industrial disease-expert Ian Cross is described as ‘a studious and technical solicitor’.

Humphreys & Co.‘s ‘reputation for excellence in the asbestos disease field is well deserved’, with the firm representing clients and their estates in mesothelioma claims arising from terminal asbestos-related illnesses, both across the UK and internationally. Rhiannon Davies leads the Bristol team, leveraging extensive expertise representing clients in high-value asbestos-related disease claims brought in life and under the Fatal Accidents Act. The ‘highly knowledgeable’ Rebecca Ryan and consultant Stephen Burbidge also come recommended for claims involving asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis and pleural thickening. Former practice head Fabio Seccatore left the firm in May 2024.

Lester Aldridge LLP has developed a strong reputation for handling the full gamut of personal injury claims, most notably brain and spinal injuries arising from road traffic and workplace incidents. Spanning offices in Bournemouth and Southampton, the personal injury practice is led by the ‘very experienced’ David Healy, a specialist in medical negligence cases. Healy is joined by ‘top-class lawyers’ Karen Watts, Fiona Brooke and Tom Hartigan, who handle spinal injury, brain injury, fatal accident and dependency claims.

Highlighted as a national firm with ‘the client care and personality of a local firm’, Lyons Davidson offers a comprehensive yet client-centric personal injury practice, with expertise in cross-border disputes involving accidents abroad. Emma Saville heads the Bristol-based offering, while Laura Merry has developed a specialism in child brain injuries. Kerry Dutton, Rachel Green and Katie Charlesworth are key contacts for a range of injury claims, most notably catastrophic brain and spinal injuries, while Chris Kemp leads the firm’s non-motor and foreign claims team. Sally Welsh and Oliver Marsh left the firm in 2024.

Slee Blackwell is distinguished for its expertise in personal injury claims across various niche specialisms, earning a reputation as the ‘go-to’ firm for victims of dog attacks, as well as for handling cases involving abuse, police misconduct, and workplace accidents. Taunton-based practice head James McNally is regarded as a ‘national expert’ in Animals Act matters, while Elizabeth Duncan specialises in historical, institutional and individual abuse claims. Jasmine Moxey-Butler handles police misconduct, Animal Act and serious workplace injury cases, alongside the ‘exceptional’ Carly Sylvester, who is a key contact for employer liability claims.

The ‘exceptional’ personal injury team at VWV acts for clients in a range of complex catastrophic injury claims, with notable expertise advising high-profile and high-net-worth sports personalities and entertainment industry figures. The Bristol-based team is led by Nicola Bickham, while Jonathan Peacock  is well-regarded for handling high-value brain injury, fatal accident and abuse claims. Dan Thompson and Dawn Mardling are also key contacts for fatal accident and brain injury cases.

Barcan+Kirby LLP provides a ‘very personable service’ to clients across a broad spectrum of claims, including those involving brain and spinal injuries, amputations, and fatal accidents. In Bristol, Samantha Castle heads the personal injury practice, while Myfanwy Buckeridge handles serious injury claims arising from road traffic and construction-site accidents, alongside a specialism in post-traumatic stress disorder and secondary victim claims. The ‘phenomenally hard-working’ Emily Williamson is noted for a niche specialism in beauty treatment claims.

Described as ‘an experienced and very able team’, GA Solicitors represents clients in a wide range of personal injury claims, with particular expertise in industrial diseases. A notable aspect of the practice is its growing focus on representing servicemen injured in the line of duty in claims against the Ministry of Defence. Matthew Sheather leads the Plymouth team, specialising in chronic pain, fatal accident and motorcycle incident cases. James Walsh and Kevin Digby harness particularly extensive expertise in asbestos and occupational disease claims, while the ‘tenacious’ Harry Smyth handles workplace injury and road traffic incident claims.

The ‘very effective, organised and efficient’ team at Co-op Legal Services leverages a national network of specialists to handle a broad spectrum of serious and catastrophic injury claims. From the Bristol office, practice head Jason Harries specialises in injuries arising from road traffic and workplace accidents; Sarah Campbell acts for clients in public liability and employers liability claims; while James Wormell is regarded as a ‘very effective and astute litigator’ in claims involving spinal and brain injuries.

Coles Miller Solicitors LLP‘s Dorset-based personal injury team is highlighted as being ‘highly professional, efficient and knowledgeable in their field’, with a strong accidents claim practice. Managing partner Adrian Cormack heads the personal injury department, specialising in complex brain injury claims and other high-value catastrophic injuries. Other key names to note are Jonathan Rich, a specialist in amputations, sexual abuse and asbestos-related diseases, alongside Crispin Cormack and Brian Parsons.

Going ‘from strength to strength’, the personal injury practice at Coodes Solicitors continues to expand its offering, with new specialisms in minor traumatic brain injuries, large limb amputations and secondary victim claims. The Falmouth team is led by the ‘highly experienced and dedicated’ Rachel Pearce, who acts for claimants in matters involving traumatic brain injuries and severe orthopaedic injuries. David Usher is recommended for high-value catastrophic injury claims, while Holsworthy-based Demelza Pallant‘s practice spans public liability claims, chronic pain and brain injuries.

With a nationally recognised, specialist asbestos practice, Hugh James is well-equipped to support clients in the South West in claims for asbestos-related diseases. The firm’s asbestos litigation group is led by Cardiff-based Richard Green, while the ‘exceptional’ Andrew Walker heads the Plymouth office. Walker leverages his ‘vast knowledge’ to act for clients affected by asbestos exposure, notably those formerly employed at Devonport Royal Dockyard.

Working alongside an integrated travel, tourism and insurance team, the personal injury practice at Trowers & Hamlins LLP is well-equipped to handle complex injury claims arising from accidents abroad. In Exeter, Ian Brown leads the team, with particular expertise in brain and spinal injury claims for incidents arising from leisure activities. Tom Sampford has a wide-ranging practice that spans clinical negligence, medical malpractice and fatal accidents.