Chambers and Partners
Chambers and Partners have been publishing their world-famous guides to the legal profession since 1990. The Chambers Guides list the top lawyers in 175 countries, providing independent rankings and editorial commentary
The following are extracts from Chambers and Partners in respect of Trethowans LLP:
Personal Injury
2011
Entry under 'The South'
The Southampton office of this regional powerhouse offers clients top-class service across a range of personal injury matters, including RTAs, catastrophic injuries and industrial disease. Gavin Lane is praised by sources for his "thorough, professional, personable" approach and is described as a lawyer who is "not easily deflected from his objectives." He handles employers' liability, RTAs and catastrophic injury cases, and is also known for his expertise in the field of asbestos-related disease.
Entry under 'South West'
Trethowans' Salisbury team is a major regional player in the personal injury field, handling brain injury, spinal injury, RTAs and asbestos-related cases. Chris Whiteley heads the practice and is highly respected amongst sources for his "very industrious" approach and ability to "think his way through the details of a case and meet it with appropriate evidence." Clare Carter is a highly regarded practitioner who is noted by sources for her "great industry and attention to detail," as well as her "ability to maximise the potential of a case."
2010
Entry under 'The South'
This firm's operations are focused on the South and the South West of England. Recent cases of particular note for the personal injury department include an ongoing £1 million spinal injuries claim. One source praised Gavin Lane as "one of the first solicitors I would trust to deal with a personal injury claim involving a member of my own family."
Entry under 'South West'
This firm is highly esteemed for its work and service in personal injury law. Sources Say: "This well-respected outfit offers an excellent service to its clients." Chris Whiteley impresses interviewees with "his ability to explain the litigation process to clients." Clare Carter joins the rankings this year, having elicited a wealth of strong feedback: "She is very mindful of the needs of the claimants and their families."
2009
Entry under 'The South'
With dedicated personal injury teams at two offices in the region, Trethowans handles a significant volume of catastrophic personal injury cases in the South. The practice has recently won high-value settlements for both employers' liability and road accident claims, including a recent £4.3 million settlement for a major head injury case. Sources note that "it doesn't buy work in - it gets work because it's good," and the lawyers are lauded as "super, prompt and really focused on nurturing good relationships with clients."
Entry under 'South West'
This small team has a solid reputation in the market and particularly praiseworthy organisational skills: "The information it provided was extremely well presented and annotated, and communication was always prompt," said one client.
2008
Entry under 'The South'
"The people at Trethowans are utterly committed to their clients." say sources. With offices in both Salisbury and Southampton, the firm has the south well covered for personal injury work. It offers advice in brain and and spinal injury cases as well as RTA's. For example, the team settled a £1 million claim for a passenger in a car accident. The firm has also developed a solid reputation for providing top quality clinical negligence work.
Entry under 'South West'
The small team at Trethowans concentrates on head and spinal injury work. It has managed high-value claims and often achieves settlements in excess of £1 million for it's clients. The group has a place on several high-profile panels such as Headway, and consequently attracts a steady stream of new instructions. It also has a growing reputation for top-quality clinical negligence work.
Clinical Negligence
2011
Entry under 'The South
Split between offices in Salisbury and Southampton, the three-partner clinical negligence team at Trethowans carries out a wide range of work, including brain and spinal injury claims. It is increasingly well regarded for its work on birth and severe injury cases. Sources are quick to draw attention to the "thorough and professional" service provided by the team. Chris Whiteley is a highly experienced practitioner who "thinks his way through the details of cases, and meets them with appropriate evidence." He heads the clinical negligence team, and handles brain and spinal injury claims. Clare Carter acts on a wide variety of claims involving severe injury. She impresses sources with her attention to detail and ability to maximise the potential of the case.
Entry under 'South West'
This firm has a highly regarded clinical negligence practice and acts on a range of claims, including multimillion-pound cerebral palsy cases. Its team of "responsible, responsive and well-organised lawyers" is split between offices in Southampton and Salisbury. Chris Whiteley heads the team and focuses on claims relating to catastrophic injuries. Sources say: "He is very attentive to detail and has good empathy for the clients."
2010
Entry under 'The South'
This clinical negligence practice is now well established as a force to be reckoned with, including in high-value catastrophic injury claims. Chris Whiteley is head of the clinical negligence group. Sources are impressed by his "vision and clarity" and his "ability to explain the litigation process to his clients in a straightforward way." Clare Carter is a "safe pair of hands who is a pleasure to work with." She is also commended for being "always extremely mindful of the needs of the claimant families."
Entry under 'South West'
This strong local firm builds good relationships with clients and offers a personalised approach. Chris Whiteley is "impressively intelligent and encouragingly decisive" and stands out for "his willingness to listen to others and move negotiations forwards."
2009
Entry under 'The South'
"You can always rest assured that your case will be brilliantly handled if entrusted to Trethowans." With offices in Southampton and Salisbury, this eight-strong clinical negligence team has recently settled a number of cerebral palsy, birth injury and other injury cases. The group also has a legal aid franchise, and "does simply fantastic claimant work in the South."
Based in Salisbury, Chris Whiteley is "an excellent lawyer" with specific expertise in handling catastrophic cases, including head injuries, paralysis and injuries at birth. Associate Clare Carter "always puts up a valiant fight for her clients," and is experienced in dealing with catastrophic injury claims and cerebral palsy cases. Both Carter and Whiteley are approved members of the Law Society's Clinical Negligence Panel.
Legal 500
The Legal 500 Law Firm Recommendations are based on what those clients tell them - plus they also get the opinions of thousands of rival commercial lawyers.
The following are extracts from Legal 500 in respect of Trethowans LLP:
South East
2010
Within Personal injury - claimant
The 'highly-rated' Trethowans LLP specialises in RTAs, spinal injury, asbestos and head injury claims. Practice head Chris Whiteley secured a six-figure sum for an elderly client, who sustained brain and orthopaedic injuries when a bus hit him.
South West
2010
Within Personal injury - claimant
Trethowans LLP's team is headed by Chris Whiteley, who specialises in catastrophic cases including head, spinal and birth-related injury claims.
Within Clinical negligence - claimant
Trethowans LLP's Chris Whiteley is a widely recognised cerebral palsy and birth injury specialist. The team is advising on numerous multimillion-pound birth injury cases, while another focus is catastrophic injuries.
2009
Within Clinical negligence
Trethowans LLP's team in Salisbury features birth injury specialist Chris Whiteley.
Within Personal injury - claimant
Salisbury-based head injury claims specialist Chris Whiteley at Trethowans LLP is recommended.
