Legal 500 recognises “brilliant team” at law firm

Some of the Partners at the solicitors firm.

LEADING regional law firm Bridge McFarland is recognised for its “brilliant team” working on Yorkshire and Humber commercial litigation in the 2018 edition of the Legal 500.

The publication, which is accepted as a leading authority for the legal profession, describes the service as “a gem in the Hull legal market” with “a brilliant team of exceptional litigators who manage to balance a legal framework with a commercial approach to find the best possible solutions”.

It highlights the team’s expertise across contract disputes, business sale disputes, restrictive covenants, property litigation, professional negligence claims and insolvency matters.

The guide says Rob Ripley, who leads the group, “exudes confidence and well researches every case he has” and it reports how he is praised by clients as “a vastly experienced lawyer, whose key strength is his ability to work with the client and maintain an eye on the broader commercial outcomes”.

Property litigator Lydia Hamnett is described as a “noteworthy individual”, as is Mike Wilson for his “great tailored advice”.

Nicola Barrass and Lee Whiting are recognised in the Yorkshire and Humber listing as part of Bridge McFarland’s “exceptional” employment practice which is “outstanding in service and cost effective in practice”.

The team is praised for being “quick to respond and having a strong commercial understanding” in acting for local and national companies in a range of employment matters, as well as for senior employees. 

Lee, who heads up the practice, is described as “the ‘go-to’ lawyer for employment advice in this region”.

The guide states: “With a 'straightforward, no nonsense approach' Whiting 'considers matters from a business perspective, offering pragmatic solutions' and has significant experience handling restrictive covenant and trade union issues.”

Nicola is recommended for her “diligent, skilful and in-depth knowledge on the application of the law” and for offering “excellent, informed and pragmatic advice, particularly on TUPE-related issues”.

Overall, the Legal 500 recognises five key areas of Bridge McFarland’s work and 14 of its specialist lawyers – up from 11 a year ago.

Bridge McFarland’s Grimsby-based clinical negligence and personal injury team has secured a number of high-profile successes for claimants during the last year and the Legal 500 specifically mentions department head Ian Sprakes, Danielle Barney, Chris Gresswell-Green, Stephanie Capindale and Kathryn Hudson.

The guide says the “excellent” team enjoys “a very good reputation” and is especially well-versed in a wide range of clinical negligence instructions, including birth and brain injuries, orthopaedics claims and surgical negligence.

It identifies ophthalmics, GP negligence, cauda equina syndrome and fatal cases as other areas of strength and acknowledges the team’s ability to assist with clinical negligence and personal injury cases involving Human Rights Act claims, representation at inquests, judicial review proceedings and cross-jurisdictional issues.

On the personal injury side, Kathryn Hudson is said to be particularly experienced in instructions involving injured seafarers, fatal accidents, brain injuries, amputations and burn injuries.

Kathryn is also mentioned for her personal injury expertise in the Yorkshire and Humber region along with department head Leanne Keating and James Burrell. The publication highlights the department’s work in matters ranging from work-related and industrial disease claims to those concerning catastrophic injuries, regional pain syndrome and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Yorkshire and Humber region also features Lorraine Taylor, head of the clinical negligence practice in Hull, and her colleague Lynsey Furney for their ability to “handle a full spectrum of clinical negligence matters”.

Lorraine is listed for her experience in birth injury claims as well as representing families at inquests. Lynsey focuses on claims arising from delay in diagnosis and surgical error.