The world’s leading legal directory has hailed Hull-based Hudgell Solicitors for providing a ‘professional service with a human heart’ in its latest publication – highlighting how lawyers across all departments develop a ‘real connection with clients’.
The Legal 500 Guide hails Hudgells as an ‘innovative and forward thinking firm’ which has put ‘considerable thought into providing the best possible service to their clients.’
Executive chairman Neil Hudgell is named as a ‘Leading Individual’ in recognition of his continuing representation in civil liberties cases of national significance, including helping almost 70 former subpostmasters clear their names in relation to the Post Office Horizon scandal.
He is described as ‘holding the trust and confidence of clients in a way rarely seen’, leading an ‘exceptional’ Civil Liberties team, which is ranked in the guide for the first time on the back of cases such as representing families of the Manchester Arena bombing at Public Inquiry, and representing the families of four young men murdered by serial killer Stephen Port at inquest.
Head of Civil Liberties Vicky Richardson is also hailed ‘a star among the civil liberties field’ and is named as a ‘recommended lawyer’, with Public Inquiries Manager Terry Wilcox named as a ‘key lawyer’ and described as a ‘standout solicitor’ who is ‘excellent with clients’.
Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence teams achieving ‘successful results’
Long-standing departments at Hudgells have continued to win recognition in the guide also, with joint clinical negligence heads of department Chris Moore and Vince Shore praised for their ‘excellent leadership’ and ‘substantial case load of high value, maximum severity claims.’
The guide says the team is ‘hugely dedicated to their clients and has huge experience in getting successful results across the full spectrum of clinical negligence claims.’
Helena Wood, who is named as a ‘key individual’ and a ‘rising star’ of the sector, is described as having ‘all the key characteristics of a great claimant lawyer: she is highly dedicated to her clients, she is personable and patient with them, she works hard, and she is realistic about her cases.”
The personal injury department, which has climbed to its highest ever ranking, is described as focusing on ‘providing high quality rehabilitation support to clients’.
Chief executive Rachel Di Clemente, who is leading the firm in supporting more than 130 injured survivors of the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, and Associate and catastrophic injury specialist Samuel McFadyen, who has excelled in providing complete packages of rehabilitation support to clients alongside securing many six and seven-figure value settlements, are also ‘recommended lawyers of note’.
Finally, Hudgells Travel Litigation department, which supports people seriously injured abroad, is again ranked by the guide and described as being ‘recognised for excellent standards of client support, evidenced by their rehabilitation support including medical treatment’.
Solicitor Paul McClorry, Head of Travel Litigation, is again named as a ‘Leading Individual’ and described as having a ‘vast amount of experience’, focusing on complex cross-jurisdictional cases. The guide says that ‘with his personable and approachable nature, fortitude, and trust, Paul’s knowledge and conversance with both the claimant and defendant sides is outstanding.”
Lawyer Tracy Stansfield and Litigation Executive Stacey Cave are also named by the guide in recognition of their contribution to the department establishing itself as ‘an up-coming player in the travel sector who are beginning to make a name for themselves, with an expanding portfolio of cases.”
‘No better feedback than clients feeling understood, confident, and trusting’
Chief executive Rachel Di Clemente says that the highlight is Hudgells ‘client centric’ approach being strongly featured in the guide.
She said: “We take great pride in being a firm that is fully focussed on doing the very best for our clients, for challenging injustice and giving a voice to the vulnerable. To see that reflected in totally independent comments from clients, and industry experts, is immensely rewarding and something everybody within the business can be hugely proud of.
“It is obviously very pleasing to see our lawyers hailed for their legal expertise and knowledge, but I can think of no better feedback than our clients saying that; knowing that, no matter what department of Hudgells they turn to they feel listened to, understood, supported and fully confident and trusting of our team.
“It is a superb endorsement of what we do and one which myself and Neil are immensely proud.”
