BLM 'remains a top-tier firm' serving the needs of the insurance industry in the context of catastrophic injury claims. Apart from major insurers, corporate clients as well as public sector entities seek the practice's advice on the full-range of personal injury matters, including accidents at work, motor claims as well as disease, public liability and fatal cases. The London casualty team is headed by Matthew Ford, who has a substantial track record defending complex and large loss claims across a range of industries, namely construction, retail, manufacturing and travel. Leading disease specialist Michelle Penn leads the occupational disease group; while the catastrophic injury team, which handles claims of the utmost severity often including cross-border elements, is under the supervision of Antony French. The team is regularly instructed to advise on spinal cord injuries, amputation cases, high-value chronic pain claims, as well as brain injury cases, for which Claire Collins is noted as a subtle brain damage specialist. High-profile group litigation related to sexual/physical abuse and bullying cases are the key areas of expertise for Michael Pether, who has a strong reputation for claims concerning local authority and institutional liability.

DAC Beachcroft LLP is, according to one client, 'the stand-out personal injury defendant firm' and fields a 'knowledgeable' team of lawyers with wide-ranging expertise across high-value motor and other catastrophic injury claims, complex employers' and public liability cases, international matters, and the full array of disease work. Heavyweight names from the insurance, corporate and public sectors feature prominently in the practice's client list.  David Knapp is noted for his advice offered to public entities; while Tania Sless excels in employers' liability, high-value motor and international claims. Head of strategic litigation Andrew Parker advises on emerging issues in the injury and insurance fields, such as the whiplash reform and discount rate. The motor injury team includes Michelle Traxler, while Adrian Cottam's expertise encompasses catastrophic brain, spinal injury, amputations and chronic pain claims. Tom Walshaw is a key name for public sector work and has longstanding experience in complex liability claims.

DWF 'is one of the market leading defendant firms' for catastrophic injury and large loss, and also fields other specialist teams advise insurers on occupational health and industrial disease, as well as motor traffic accidents and public liability cases. The practice has particular strength in claims involving spinal injury and paralysis, amputation, fatal accidents and severe brain injury. Claire Bowler heads the international claims team and has a proven track record acting for UK and European insurers in claims of the utmost severity, including those with multi-jurisdictional elements. Graham Dickinson leads on catastrophic injury work, while John Lezemore's expertise includes 'invisible illnesses' cases, such as chronic pain claims. Recently promoted partner Rhys Sanchez is active across the full array of severe injury cases, but stands out for his depth of knowledge in complex brain injury cases.

The liability division at Kennedys 'manages a prodigious' caseload of the highest value and 'most technically challenging' claims and is instructed by a range of leading insurance companies. Severe brain injury claims, including those concerning locked-in syndrome, vegetative state and altered consciousness, are the key areas of strength for Mark Burton, who is also recognised as 'a market-leading specialist in technology' and its application to the care and rehabilitation of the catastrophically injured. Charles Martin excels in cases of the utmost severity, namely those involving spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries, while Stephen Foster has a particular specialism in the defence of amputation claims.

Clyde & Co LLP is a popular choice for domestic and international insurers, large corporate clients and public sector organisations in cases regarding serious injury and disease litigation. The team has strength in dismissing exaggerated or fraudulent claims, as well as defending class actions. Practice head Jennette Newman has extensive experience in casualty and motor claims, while Tony Cawley handles catastrophic injury claims arising from employers' and public liability matters, as well as complex occupational stress, workplace harassment and bullying claims. Multi-party claims, utmost severity cases and fatal incidents are all areas of expertise for Leanne Conisbee.

Plexus Law is regularly instructed on catastrophic injury and large loss claims, complex employers' liability matters and public liability cases. The firm also fields one of the leading occupational disease teams, and provides in-house services to a number of insurance clients. Anthony Baker, who specialises in work-related stress claims and is experienced in cross-border litigation, leads the casualty team, which also includes group actions' expert Michael Gwilliam. Joanne Pizzala predominantly acts for UK Motor insurers handling high-value claims, but is also experienced in dealing with cases involving sport injury.

RPC has a proven track record of handling complex personal injury cases, that usually involve life-altering injuries, namely amputation and brain injury. Practice co-head Gavin Reese's expertise includes cases involving stress and chronic pain claims. Nick McMahon's specialisms cover health and safety regulation, but he is also experienced across high-value severe injuries and group actions. Catastrophic as well as fatal injury claims are key areas of activity for Steven Aitken.

Weightmans LLP fields a team that specialises in providing advice to insurers, local governments and major commercial entities on the full spectrum of catastrophic personal injury and accident circumstances. Practice head Elaine Chapman has extensive experience handling cases concerning severe brain injury, spinal cord damage and amputations. Nick Richards has core strength in cross-border litigation and motor claims. Seva Singh is a key name to note for maximum severity injuries arising from road traffic accidents, employers' and public liability claims. Phillip Bratt regularly advises defendants on claims with challenging rehabilitation issues, and is experienced in severe brain damage and chronic pain injuries. David Johnson departed to DAC Beachcroft LLP.

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP's personal injury practice focuses on providing advice to leading corporate clients from a range of sectors, particularly heavyweights in the energy field pertaining to serious injury claims and group litigation. The team is adept at handling both the civil claim and criminal prosecution that may arise from the same incident. Multi-party actions and catastrophic injuries specialist Howard Watson, who has notable experience of paraplegia and head injury claims, leads the department, which is frequently instructed on multi-jurisdictional matters.

Keystone Law handles the full range of defendant personal injury matters arising from accidents at work, public liability issues, industrial disease and abuse. The team receives instructions from insurers, local authorities, self-insured organisations as well as income protection providers. Steven Conway is the go-to lawyer for local authority litigation and Cordelia Rushby stands out for representing defendants in substantial claims for psychiatric loss. The department also includes Naomi Hatchard, who has experience in claims involving foreign and multi-jurisdictional issues.

Browne Jacobson LLP has particular strength acting for clients from the public sector, notably those operating in the health and social care fields, in relation to claims that regularly involve sexual and physical abuse. The department is also well versed in employers' and public liability matters, stress at work cases, as well as fraudulent claims. The London team is led by David Maggs, who specialises in local authority insurance litigation and advises on risk management along with health and safety issues.

Hill Dickinson LLP fields a team of specialist personal injury lawyers that handle claims within the marine sector, involving crew and passenger accidents, fatalities, sexual assault and group actions. The practice is instructed on the majority of disease claims in the ports and marine sectors, and predominantly deals with multi-jurisdictional cases where questions on choice of law are raised. The team is led by John Caddies, whose expertise spans catastrophic injury cases, stress and asbestos claims. Tony McDonach is the key point of contact for industrial disease cases concerning noise-induced hearing loss, while Laura Wilson's caseload includes brain injury cases, amputations, abuse and suicide claims.

Ince fields a personal injury team that undertakes the complete spectrum of low- to high-value public liability claims in the aviation, shipping and construction industries. Mesothelioma claims, cross-border matters, as well as catastrophic injury and group actions are key areas of activity for the practice. Practice head John McGowan is a go-to specialist for claims arising from incidents in lifts, travelators and escalators.