When I founded Hudgell Solicitors, I set out to create a business where client care was always the priority. That focus remains the same today.
Clients can easily find someone else who knows the law. What they want is someone to care about their case and situation, care about looking after their needs and give them the best possible service. In other words to shoulder the burden for them.
Get to Know Neil
Neil established Hudgell Solicitors in 1997 and has led its growth and expansion, establishing it as a renowned national brand that is one of the 200 Best Law Firms recognised by The Times.
His legal work includes representing victims of the Post Office Horizon scandal, and he has been at the forefront of the fight to secure justice for former sub-postmasters who suffered from what is now recognised as the biggest miscarriage of justice in UK legal history. Neil and his team have helped more than 70 people to clear their names, with more following in the same path to the Court of Appeal.
Campaigning for change is a driving force for Neil and he has supported and represented the widow of Jason Mercer who was killed on one of the UK’s controversial ‘smart motorways’. At his inquest a coroner ruled Mr Mercer was unlawfully killed in an accident and that the operation of the smart motorway system had been a contributing factor.
His widow Claire amplified calls to the government to scrap plans to expand the network and in April 2023 it was announced that smart motorways were to be to be removed from government road-building plans citing a lack of confidence felt by drivers.
Neil also oversees the work of Hudgells’ legal team in representing the families of people killed in the Manchester Arena bombing at the long-running Public Inquiry, with the firm also representing more than 150 injured survivors.
In another high-profile case, which has led to calls for institutional change, Neil represented the families of four young men who were murdered by serial killer Stephen Port, including representing them at an inquest. This identified a string of failings by the Metropolitan Police which a jury found had ‘probably contributed’ to at least three of the deaths.
Career Highlights
I like to get involved in cases where we can make a difference, often involving big institutions as is the case in The Post Office Horizon scandal and the failures of the Met Police.
It’s been a privilege to successfully challenge the wrongful convictions of former sub postmasters. Their reputations were destroyed but they are decent, hard-working people and it is their perseverance in continuing to ask questions which has uncovered, and continues to uncover, shocking failures.
I take a great deal of my inspiration from my clients and one of those is Steven Gallant. He was given a life sentence in 2005, having been convicted of murder. In 2019, on his first day out on licence, he tackled terrorist Usman Khan on London Bridge. Steve was later granted a Royal pardon “in recognition of his exceptionally brave actions”.
Recognition
Chambers and Partners – “He is a force and is incredibly committed to his clients’ interests.”
The Law Society Gazette - Legal Personality of the Year
Lawyer of the Year – Yorkshire Legal Awards
Sports Resolutions – Disciplinary Commission Panel Member
He is a force and is incredibly committed to his clients’ interests. – Chambers and Partners 2023
Neil does an amazing job on the biggest inquests. – Chambers and Partners 2023
Neil Hudgell leads an exceptional team. He holds the trust and confidence of his clients in a way which I’ve rarely seen. He approaches his business and his clients’ claims in a way which strikes an enviable balance between strategic thinking and human empathy. – Legal 500 2023
Neil Hudgell is an outstanding lawyer, and recognised as such widely. He regularly appears as a commentator on TV and radio. He is, in every respect, a staunch defender of human rights.” – Legal 500 2023
Giving More
I am very proud of our firm’s long-established track record of having a positive impact within the communities we serve. We established the Neil Hudgell Trust to help good causes and address social needs, and to date the Trust has donated well over £500,000 to support organisations and individuals.
I’m also proud of the work we have done supporting inspirational people who have set out to help others after suffering serious harm themselves.
I struck up a close relationship with Paul Spence, who suffered a brain injury following an unprovoked attack, supporting his own charity, P.A.U.L For Brain Recovery. It now runs a community support centre which has helped hundreds of people on the road to recovery after brain injury. Paul is an ambassador for our firm, helping our clients, but importantly he is also a friend and inspiration to us all at Hudgells. Together, to support the charity, we have run many marathons around the world.
More recently we have supported another inspirational man in Martin Hibbert, who was left paralysed from the waist down in the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing. Martin set out to raise £1m for the Spinal Injuries Association, and I am proud that as a firm, Hudgells committed to raising £100,000 of that target for ‘Martin’s Mountain’, which we did through our staff organising, and taking part in fundraising events.
Away from Hudgells, I have been the owner of Hull Kingston Rovers rugby league club since 2004. The club is part of the fabric of the city and I have been a fan since being a boy, so to be custodian of a club which means so much to so many is a role I am truly honoured to be entrusted with.
