The product liability practice at Hugh James has a strong track record representing claimants, particularly in claims relating to medical devices and pharmaceutical drugs. Team head Mark Harvey has an excellent reputation in the industry and is regularly involved in individual or group actions. He acts as the lead solicitor in the PIP breast implant litigation, in which multiple settlements have been reached. Chartered legal executive Pauline Roberts is experienced in multi-party litigation in the life sciences sphere. Senior associate Carlos Land combines criminal law and civil litigation experience. The team is based in Cardiff.
Product liability: claimant in London
Hugh James
Les références
‘The team at Hugh James undertakes work of the utmost complexity in this field. They have the strength-in-depth to be able to take on litigation of any size, from single claims to complex, multi-party medical product litigation‘.
‘Mark Harvey is a complete master in the field; he combines legal knowledge, sound tactical skills and good judgement‘.
‘Mark Harvey is excellent and the person you would want running your product case‘.
Principaux dossiers
- Representing clients at the pre-litigation stage in product liability and cross-jurisdictional border claims against Schaeffler and Airbus in regard to the Norwegian Super Puma Helicopter Crash.
- Pursuing breach of contract claims against clinics that sold women Allergan-textured breast implants, which allegedly caused the lymphoma BIA-ALCL.
- Obtained £2m in recovery in the PIP breast implant class action.
- The firm, in conjunction with other claimant firms, is pursuing multiple cases seeking personal injury compensation under the Consumer Protection Act 1987 for the premature failure of Zimmer hips.
- Acted in an against manufacturer DePuy, involving 342 claimants, regarding claims concerning the early failure of metal-on-metal hip prostheses.
Irwin Mitchell
Irwin Mitchell has a highly regarded practice, which is experienced in representing individuals and groups in claims relating to defective products and group actions. One area of expertise is medical negligence claims but the team has also noted an increase in work relating to claims arising from electrical and other consumer goods. Sallie Booth and Tim Annett are regularly instructed to handle pharmaceutical and life sciences cases. Birmingham-based Clive Garner, who jointly heads the team with Booth and Annett, is an expert in group actions. Associate Matthew Newbould is also noted. Named individuals are based in the firm's Sheffield office unless otherwise stated.
Les références
‘The Irwin Mitchell team is arguably the best in the field of claimant product liability, and is good on all fronts: client care, strategy and tactics, and understanding of complex expert evidence, etc.’
‘Sallie Booth is a fantastic tactician and is excellent to work with‘.
‘Tim Annett has an impressive grasp of technical issues. He provides insightful legal knowledge with a realistic appraisal of legal issues‘.
Principaux dossiers
- Representing multiple claimants in a group action against Johnson & Johnson arising from the use of its pelvic organ prolapse products.
- Acting for various claimants in a group action against DePuy International regarding its Pinnacle metal-on-metal hip implants.
- Handling new claims on behalf of individuals (or their families) who have developed Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease; the claims are brought against the Department of Health and concern a contaminated human growth hormone.
- Representing serving and ex-military personnel in claims brought against the Ministry of Defence for negligent medical treatment involving the incorrect prescription of the antimalarial drug, Lariam.
- Acting for a range of individual claimants injured by exploding lithium ion batteries used in e-cigarettes.
Leigh Day
Leigh Day stands out for its ability to handle claims relating to medical devices, pharmaceutical products, household appliances and electronics as well as toys, among others. The team saw an increase in demand to handle food and allergy-related matters following its involvement in high-profile work relating to fatalities pertaining to inadequately labelled food from Pret A Manger. The team is led by the highly regarded Bozena Michalowska-Howells and also includes Jill Paterson, Michelle Victor and Gene Matthews. Thomas Jervis, Sarah Moore, Chris Haan and Tina Patel are the names to note at associate level.
Autres avocats clés:
Jill Paterson; Michelle Victor; Gene Matthews; Thomas Jervis; Sarah Moore; Chris Haan; Tina Patel
Les références
‘A great team from top to bottom, knows the area inside out and has a great feel for where a case’s strengths or weaknesses lie, and is absolutely on top of the law.‘
‘Leigh Day is almost unique in shouldering the burden of group action claimants taking on giant pharmaceuticals and medical device manufacturers and regularly goes beyond the call of duty on behalf of its clients.‘
‘Bozena Michalowska-Howells has good overall management of the relevant claims and is very knowledgeable in this area.’
Principaux dossiers
- Representing the families of the victims in inquests and potential civil claims following their deaths as a consequence of consuming inadequately labelled food from Pret A Manger.
- Continue to act in a group claim relating to the provision of NHS blood contaminated with the Hepatitis C virus, which seeks to force the Department of Health and Social Care to pay compensation.
- Representing various clients against white-goods manufacturers following fires resulting in damage to property and/or loss of life.
- Acting in a group claim against Volkswagen concerning the claimants’ purchase of vehicles that were fitted with the emissions cheating software.
- Acting for claimants against various eye clinics in the UK, which used oculentis intraocular lenses that allegedly caused vision problems.