Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant: Midlands

This "first-class" team has a fantastic reputation for the clinical negligence work it undertakes from its Birmingham office. It is successful across the entire range of clinical negligence and has vast experience of dealing with complex, high-value claims. With expertise in connected areas such as community care, Court of Protection and trusts, the firm is able to offer a comprehensive service to clients. The team is increasingly active in cases with public law or human rights elements.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Tony Hall is regarded by peers as "a key operator" and earns praise for his "strong, thorough and meticulous" approach to running cases. He handles an interesting and varied workload. The "superb" Rankeshwar Batta is well liked by clients for combining a firm grasp of the necessary legal knowledge with a professional and supportive manner.  

This leading Nottingham-based team has a stellar reputation for its clinical negligence work. It handles the full range of claims but has particular expertise in high-value, complex birth injury cases. Peers praise the team's "very personal service" and say it "really goes the extra mile for its clients and leaves no stone unturned." Another impressed market source stated: "They just do it right."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Alison Brooks has "good judgement" and a "keen eye for detail," and will "always explore every avenue." She specialises in birth injury cases, as does Malcolm Goff, who is "careful, thorough and very good with clients." Associate Emma Veasey has a wide-ranging practice and is "experienced and very pleasant to work with." 

Freeth Cartwright's five-partner team continues to be a leading player in the Midlands. It has had numerous successes over the past year, including settling three claims in excess of £1 million. Peers are complimentary about the firm, suggesting that its "highly experienced and very good" lawyers "energetically represent their client's interests."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Julie Hardy is commended by clients for her approachability and "sensible and caring" style. She is currently working on high-value birth injury cases. Karen Reynolds "has a first-class mind and is able to analyse complex medical cases." She is also "fantastic to work with and great with clients." Paul Balen is an "innovative and bright lawyer" with extensive experience of running complex market-leading trials. Jane Williams heads the team and has a good record of settling group action cases.

The talented team at Irwin Mitchell is able to draw on the firm's huge depth of resources to handle the most demanding clinical negligence cases. Peers and clients alike are impressed with this "well-run and efficient" team, which earns praise for its "hands-on, client-friendly service." Satisfied clients state: "Without exception, everyone in the team was fantastic."

KEY INDIVIDUALS "First-class" lawyer Lisa Jordan heads the clinical negligence team in the Birmingham office. She is the "driving force" behind the team and is particularly praised for her people skills. Sara Burns is "focused and industrious, with a great understanding of clinical negligence." One client highlighted her "great balance of the personal and professional – she made me feel at ease." Mandy Luckman also impresses sources, who consider her to be "attentive, sympathetic and extremely thorough," with a real depth of knowledge. Victoria Blankstone "works really hard for her clients" and impresses peers with her work on "interesting, complex and difficult cases." Luke Daniels is another impressive associate, described as a "real star for the future" with an "absolutely superb manner – sympathetic and attentive." 

This well-regarded firm has offices in Coventry and Birmingham. The clinical negligence team undertakes a wide range of work, including cases relating to birth injury, cancer and obstetrics.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Tom Barnes heads the department.

This three-partner team benefits from the firm's network of five offices in the Midlands. It is well respected by peers and effectively handles a wide range of clinical negligence cases. Clients are impressed with the service, saying the firm is "patient, interactive and manages cases exceptionally well."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Richard Bannister heads the department and is highly regarded in the market. Popular with clients, he comes up with "good practical solutions to difficult problems." Nigel Sellar is a "professional, rational and practical" lawyer with a particular focus on complex orthopaedic cases.

Shoosmiths' clinical negligence team operates as a national unit across all its offices. The team has been revamped recently, shifting focus onto direct consumer instructions and launching a new programme, Access Legal, focusing on client service. Clients remain happy that the team "covers all the angles" and is "always helpful and cheerful."

KEY INDIVIDUALS The "excellent" Richard Follis heads the department. Clients have "a lot of confidence" in his approach, and peers are consistently impressed with his sensible, solution-focused method of running claims.

This four-partner team has been involved in a diverse range of clinical negligence cases in the past twelve months. Peers in the Midlands are impressed with the firm and recommend it for its "personal service and hand holding of clients." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS James Wright heads the team.