Slater & Gordon set up clinical negligence team in Yorkshire

Last week, Slater & Gordon became one of Britain’s biggest general law firms when it completed the acquisition of Pannone Solicitors.

Neil Kinsella, Slater & Gordon’s head of UK, said the acquisition of most of the practice groups at Pannone, increased Slater & Gordon’s head count by about 50 per cent. It now employs more than 1,200 people across 18 offices.

Slater & Gordon is also looking to increase the scale of its Yorkshire operations, after appointing specialist clinical negligence lawyer Rachel Brown to its Sheffield office. She joins the firm from Irwin Mitchell’s Sheffield office.

Ms Brown specialises in all types of clinical negligence cases, including birth injury, inquests, CJD cases, neurological and orthopaedic injury cases.

Ms Brown said: “Clinical negligence has a devastating impact on the lives of victims and their families. It is an honour to help people in Sheffield and Yorkshire through what is very often one of the most difficult times of their lives and ultimately help them get the justice they deserve.”

Slater & Gordon has 58 staff in its Sheffield office, and it plans to hire more.

Simon Allen, the head of Slater & Gordon’s Sheffield office, said: “Clinical negligence is an area that can be incredibly upsetting for our clients. We look forward to providing a world class legal service to clients seeking help in this area and to further growing our team in the future.”

Slater & Gordon also employs eight staff at its Wakefield office.

Huddersfield-based law firm Chadwick Lawrence recently sold its personal injury (PI) book to Slater & Gordon. Last December, Slater & Gordon took control of the Yorkshire’s Injury Lawyers’ personal injury and clinical negligence cases.

At the time, Jeremy Garside, Chadwick Lawrence’s managing partner, said the acquisition would generate funds which the firm will use to invest in its growth strategy.

According to its website, Slater & Gordon was the world’s first publicly listed law firm. It was founded in Australia in 1935 by William Slater.

In February 2012, Slater & Gordon acquired Russell Jones & Walker and the enlarged firm has grown rapidly since then.

The Pannone acquisition has transformed Slater & Gordon into one of the UK’s biggest general law firms.

Mr Kinsella said: “We are proud that both firms have a strong history of fighting for justice for our clients, for example in the practice area of abuse law, where we have the responsibility and privilege of representing the majority of victims of Jimmy Savile.”

He added: “We look forward to advocating for our clients to ensure their interests remain a priority for Government and the community.”

Pannone’s staff in Manchester will remain in their current offices, while the London team will join Slater & Gordon’s office on Chancery Lane.

Slater & Gordon plans to bring all the Manchester-based staff, which is more than 700 people, under one roof during 2015.

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