Alexander Harris Solicitors
Jump to navigation.

"Boasts considerable strength" ... "continues to be involved in high-profile cases" ... enjoys "remarkable success".

Alexander Harris have been recommended for providing claimant clinical negligence, personal injury and product liability in the North West, London and the West Midlands by two renowned, independent and objective legal directories. Chambers and Partners, a comprehensive legal directory who use full-time researchers throughout the year to investigate the reputations of leading lawyers throughout the world and The Legal 500, the definitive guide to the legal market in over 70 countries, have yet again recommended Alexander Harris as the leading claimant health law firm for 2004 - 2005.

The directories cover in-depth independent editorial and recommendations of law firms and lawyers. See below what comments have been made about Alexander Harris following their extensive research.

Clinical Negligence North West

Chambers and Partners
The traditional heartland of this firm and home to a number of key market leaders. Although the group undertakes a full range of claims, the tendency here is towards the high-value cerebral palsy cases. The team is growing and has taken on no less than five hundred new instructions over the past year. Clients benefit from a separate department that is dedicated to providing advice on post-settlement issues.

Managing partner Ann Alexander now divides her time between the London and North West offices. A nationally recognised player, she has been heavily involved in a number of inquiries and investigations, including the Shipman Inquiry. Partner Nicola Castle "has a huge amount of experience in cerebral palsy cases," acknowledged defendant solicitors. A portion of her practice is devoted to post-settlement work. Lesley Herbertson heads up the clinical negligence practice nationally. Her focus rests with injuries of maximum severity, and she has recently acted in two birth-asphyxia cases, achieving substantial settlements of £4.5 million and £3.5 million respectively.

The Legal 500
The department continues to enjoy a remarkable success rate thanks to the work of Lesley Herbertson and Nicola Castle. Founding partner Ann Alexander at the London office ensures the 17-strong team retains its national status.

Clinical Negligence West Midlands

Chambers and Partners
This practice scored a coup with the recent recruitment of partner Louise Hunt from rival firm Freethcartwright. The growing team has cultivated a broad practice that encompasses birth trauma and orthopaedic cases, psychiatry and claims following substandard surgery. The group has recently taken over a cerebral palsy claim taken from other solicitors, and acted in a case concerning two patients who died following tonsil surgery. Lawyers here have also been involved in a series of inquests.

"Outstanding" Richard Follis heads the team. His practice focuses on clinical negligence and some multi-party actions, with a special interest in inquest representation. Over the past year he has advised a group of women who raised concerns to the GMC about negligent gynaecological surgery. Louise Hunt works alongside Follis on catastrophic birth injuries and fatalities.

The Legal 500
Alexander Harris' practice is headed by the experienced Richard Follis. The niche firm's Solihull office handles maximum severity cases such as brain injury at birth.

Clinical Negligence London

Chambers and Partners
The London-based team has recently seen the arrival of Muiris Lyons from Bath-based firm Withy King to head up the clinical negligence department. This group also operates along national lines and can draw on the support of the team based in the Altrincham office. All manner of typical high-value claims are handled by the team, which has also seen a growth in the number of inquests, inquiries and investigations.

New department head Muiris Lyons has taken on an active caseload of both clinical negligence and catastrophic brain- and spinal-injury work. He acted in the Natallie Evans frozen-embryo case. The firm's managing partner Ann Alexander divides her time between the North West and London offices.

The Legal 500
[Alexander Harris recruited new department head] Muiris Lyons previously a partner and head of litigation at Withy King in Bath. He acted in the high-profile frozen embryo litigation for Natallie Evans in the Court of Appeal. The firm boasts considerable strength in the North where it continues to be involved in high-profile cases. In London, managing partner Ann Alexander is handling the investigation into unexplained deaths at Gosport War Memorial Hospital.

Personal Injury North West

The Legal 500
Alexander Harris handles high-value brain and spinal cases. Ex- Russell Jones & Walker Partner, Warren Collins [joined as Head of the National Personal Injury Department and] specialises in catastrophic injury claims and is based in the firm's London office. Catastrophic and military injury expert, Lesley Casey formerly a partner at Donns Solicitors, has also joined the firm.

Personal Injury West Midlands

Chambers and Partners
Although perhaps better known for its profile in clinical negligence, the personal injury side of the firm's Midlands practice has been boosted recently by the arrival of ex-Irwin Mitchell associate Simon Taylor, who will head up a separate holiday travel litigation unit. Recent significant pieces of work for the team include the conclusion of a substantial case involving a severely brain injured claimant following an RTA, and several group actions. Lawyers acted for a group of residents affected by a nearby landfill site, and advised a group of factory workers in Kent who have been exposed to the drug Imuran. Richard Follis and Jane Wilson are key members of the team. London-based Warren Collins heads the PI practice nationally.

Personal Injury London

Chambers and Partners
The London office of this Cheshire-based firm offers specialist expertise in catastrophic injury claims. Commentators observed, "they are the ones to go to for a class action." Areas of focus include head and spinal cord injuries, traumatic amputations and fatal accidents. Claims often involve a cross-jurisdictional element. The team is currently representing more than 500 families who suffered severe illness from cryptosporidium whilst staying at a hotel in Majorca.

The firm endorsed Warren Collins (national head of PI) for his success in "picking up some major work." He is particularly noted for his work with spinal cord injured claimants. Barristers described him as "the shrewdest for PI in the country." He recently concluded a £6.5 million settlement for a spinally injured child.

The Legal 500
Managing partner Ann Alexander and brain and spinal injury expert Warren Collins are focused on strengthening the practice. Nationwide, the firm continues to be involved in some high-profile cases including the Shipman and Neale inquiries. Other recent successes include securing a £6.5m settlement for a spinally injured child. The firm is also representing more than 1,000 clients who contracted cryptosporidium at a hotel in Majorca.

Travel Nationwide

Chambers and Partners
This firm has long represented claimants - often in group actions involving hundreds - in personal injury, clinical negligence and product liability cases. It also boasts a smart 'injuries abroad' practice and has a growing presence in other fields related to the travel sector. The firm's profile was recently boosted by cases in the food-poisoning sphere.

Warren Collins heads the national personal injury group. Recent work includes acting for the family of a small boy killed by a speedboat whilst sunbathing on the beach in the Bahamas. He is also representing more than 1000 clients who contracted cryptosporidium at the Alcudia Pins Hotel, Majorca, in the pursuit of claims against the tour operators.

Clients are mainly claimant individuals and groups taking action against operators for personal injury accidents abroad.

Product Liability Nationwide

Chambers and Partners
Sources described this group as "a significant name" in product liability and clinical negligence. It is seen as an important contender for national product liability, for example, negotiating settlements for more than 100 women with Trilucent breast implants. The firm is also acting for patients who received faulty DePuy Hylamer Hips.

National head of practice David Harris is "robust and tough." He won acclaim for his "commitment and wonderful proficiency" in product liability.

Legal 500
David Harris is an expert in complex injury and product liability cases, with experience in many high-profile group actions. The firm is currently acting in medical claims relating to adhesive gel and spinal implants, and in the negotiation of settlements in trilucent and silicone breast implants. It was also involved in the MMR litigation and is coordinating group actions relating to the antismoking drug Zyban.

Education nationwide

Chambers and Partners
The success of this "dynamic" team with its "hands on approach" is widely viewed as testament to its leader Douglas Silas. According to interviewees, the developing team is "well informed and enthusiastic about education." In particular, it is hailed for its expertise at "combining good technical knowledge of the law with a broader perspective of disability issues." The team recently acted for a Jewish child in an appeal against SENDIST regarding the impact of the child's religion on the assessment of its special educational needs. Clients claim that the team "knows all about the relevant politics and considerations."

"Sound, conscientious " team leader Douglas Silas is praised by market sources for his client-focus, particularly in the field of disability discrimination. He is "completely on top of all the case law" and possesses "a real commitment to children receiving the right provision."

Clients are primarily children and their parents. The team regularly represents clients on behalf of the Independent Panel for Special Education Advice.

Other comments

Legal 500
The departure of litigator Muiris Lyons from Withy King to Alexander Harris in London is a blow to the Bath firm. Lyons led the team which acted for Natallie Evans in the media-intense 'frozen embryo' case.