Hudgell Solicitors’ legal teams have once again been hailed for putting clients ‘at the heart of everything they do’ in the latest publication of a leading legal directory.
The 2024 Legal 500 Guide describes Hudgells as ‘very much a national firm’ – hailing the ‘maximum severity’ of claims handled by our experienced clinical negligence team and for becoming a ‘go to firm’ for ‘large scale and complex inquests and inquiries’.
Our civil liberties, clinical negligence, personal injury and travel claims teams have once again secured places in the list of leading firms, whilst our growing Manchester-based team, established in 2018, is included for the first time as a ‘firm to watch’.
In total 13 legal team members are included in the guide, recognising their ‘standout contribution to respective practices.’
Chief executive Rachel Di Clemente says the latest rankings demonstrate how the firm has ‘maintained the highest standards’ in traditional work areas, whilst ‘carving out a reputation as leaders’ in civil liberties, inquests and inquiries.
Owner and executive chairman Neil Hudgell is once again named as a leading individual in the national Civil Liberties and Human Rights section, recognising how he has ‘spearheaded’ the growth of the department.
It highlights department work including representing former sub-postmasters across England and Wales who were victims of the Post Office Horizon Scandal, families at the Manchester Arena Inquiry, victims of the 2019 London terror attack and bereaved families in Article 2 inquests where there is suspicion of death resulting from the state breaching its duty to protect the right to life.
Testimonials describe the work of the civil liberties team as ‘unique’ for the way lawyers ‘approach human rights cases with common sense and put the client’s interests above any broader attempt at vindication’. It adds that they provide client care which is ‘second to none’, with ‘the client simply at the heart of everything they do.’
Public inquires manager Terry Wilcox and Victoria Richardson, head of civil liberties, are each also recommended for their work in a department hailed for living up to its pledge or ‘righting wrongs’, adding ‘they are not afraid to take on a challenge, no matter what size.’
Recognition for ‘maximum severity’ of clinical negligence work
Hudgells’ Hull-based clinical negligence claims team is once again listed, with joint national department heads Chris Moore and Vince Shore described as having ‘great knowledge and judgment’, leading a team which handles ‘maximum severity and other work from all over the country.’ Amongst the testimonials given to the guide by clients were comments that:
You don’t just feel like another client, they get to know you as a person and you feel they want to do everything they can to get a resolution for you.
The guide names team members Helena Wood for her expertise in handling delayed diagnosis and misdiagnosis claims, and Elizabeth Maliakal for her work on claims relating to the mistreatment of strokes.
Also recommended for their work in Hull are Samuel McFadyen, who leads serious injury claims, particularly those relating to brain and spinal injuries, and Sarah Kidd, in relation to public liability and road traffic accident claims.
Manchester team named ‘firm to watch’
In Manchester, experienced solicitor Paul McClorry, head of travel litigation, is once again named as a Leading Individual, heading up a national department which represents those injured when abroad and is described as a ‘highly-experienced and extremely competent team of sector specialists.’
Also recommended is solicitor Tracy Stansfield, with testimonials for the team highlighting how travel clients are ‘treated as a person not a number’ adding that the team is ‘very knowledgeable in this sector and firm but caring when explaining complex issues that arise, with empathy.’
For the first time since being established in 2018, Hudgells’ growing Manchester-based team is included in the guide as a ‘firm to watch’.
The guide highlights acting for around 160 potential claimants injured in the Manchester Arena bombing, and a number who were psychologically injured, and names serious injury manager Sarah Patten and experienced clinical negligence solicitor Caroline Murgatroyd as ‘key names’ in the office.
“As ever when these rankings are published, we are always pleased to see both departments and individuals highly ranked in the listings,” said Mrs Di Clemente, adding:
These latest rankings reflect how we have maintained the highest standards of performance in our long-standing work areas, whilst forging a strong reputation in key areas of growth, and where we lead on cases of huge national significance.
However, once again it is the testimonials of our clients, and those we work alongside in pursuing justice, which are the most pleasing.
To see comments that our client care is viewed as second to none by others in our industry, and that our clients feel we provide a personable and friendly service, and will fight to secure justice for them, is the most rewarding feedback of all.