The UK's number one claimant firm, this group has been credited with being almost single-handedly responsible for driving up operator standards.
Chambers and Partners Directory (2005)
Chambers and Partners
Following extensive independent research, the Chambers & Partners Guide to the Legal Profession has consistently ranked Irwin Mitchell’s International Travel Litigation Group as the U.K.’s leading lawyers for pursuing claims arising overseas. As well as heading Irwin Mitchell’s Foreign Claims team, Clive Garner is also ranked as the leading individual lawyer in this field.
Below are the entries in the Chambers and Partners’ Directory:
2011 - 2012
Irwin Mitchell's ample travel team wins applause for its "legal expertise, language skills and knowledge of overseas jurisdictions." The claimant travel litigation group is spread throughout offices in London, Birmingham and Málaga and it offers vast experience of handling injury and fatal accident cases, as well as holiday illness claims. Recent work includes representing a client who suffered severe injuries in an RTA in Italy and now requires 24-hour care.
Key Individuals:
Clive Garner heads the department and is widely respected among peers. He is said to be "stratospherically amazing" and offers long-standing expertise in all manner of travel litigation. The "professional and accessible" Demetrius Danas is "an extremely competent lawyer who gets on with people" and is an "expert in his field." He is particularly experienced in representing clients who have suffered severe injuries abroad and whilst travelling. Philip Banks wins praise as a "charismatic and very talented" individual. He focuses on injuries abroad, as well as acting for groups of clients who sustain illnesses whilst on holiday. Michael Zurbrugg "knows his stuff and is a super guy," according to admiring sources. Clients applaud his language skills and appreciate that he is "aware of his clients' requirements."
2010-2011
This large, impressive claimant team is based in Birmingham and principally deals with personal injury work overseas. The team boasts vast experience and knowledge of the sector, and acts on mass claims such as representing the passengers injured in a coach crash in Bulgaria. Clive Garner is "the godfather of claimant travel personal injury." He heads the international travel litigation group at Irwin Mitchell.
2009-2010
Praised Clive Garner for his "cutting-edge strategies, proven trial techniques and compassionate nature." , Demetrius Danas for his "extremely successful negotiating style and sound appreciation of travel clients' business." and Michael Zurbrugg for his "empathic nature and considerable experience."
2008-2009
With huge resources, an impressive track record and a constant flow of cases, this firm is one of the recognised leaders in claimant work.
Lawyers at this "eminent and highly motivated practice" are applauded for their wide-ranging experience, and for "always responding extremely quickly to clients’ needs."
2007
The Firm:
This team is rated as the best international PI claimant group in the country, having built an “established and high-quality practice” that “commands respect throughout the industry.” The group is a recognised force in handling both mass class actions and individual claims against operators and suppliers in more than 80 jurisdictions across the world. The team is often involved in securing damages and compensation for those involved in mass outbreaks of illness or injury abroad, and due to the size of the team is able to allocate solicitors to individual cases depending on their particular circumstance. Fifty-three lawyers litigate on claims ranging from several thousand pounds to those of seven figures. The firm also has offices in Madrid and Marbella.
The Lawyers: Head of practice Clive Garner is championed by sources as a lawyer “at the very top of his game,” and whose involvement on behalf of plaintiffs is seen as the “kiss of death for defendants.” Garner has acted on securing millions of pounds in damages for illnesses and injuries suffered abroad in 90 mass class actions over the past year. “A wily operator” who is a “great public speaker” and has a good deal of experience in litigating multiparty actions, Stuart Henderson is also highly recommended by commentators. Henderson heads up the personal injury department at the firm’s Birmingham office.
Clients/Work Highlights: The team has fostered a niche practice in litigating on behalf of claimants injured in coach crashes abroad: approximately 50 claimants have had liability established in their favour in accidents across Europe over the past year. The group has also successfully recovered damages for more than 2,500 plaintiffs who suffered illness abroad, including mass class actions involving holidaymakers at hotels in southern Spain and Majorca.
2006
"A firm that is home to the crème de la crème of Claimant lawyers."
"You cannot help but be impressed by them… the amount of work it handles is extraordinary” Observed sources. Renowned for its skills on multi party claims, the group is perceived as the expert on all aspects of illness, PI and serious injury abroad, it is especially praised for its work across America and in Europe".
2005
"The UK’s number one claimant firm"
2003 – 2004
"Excellent media profile and acknowledged as market leaders. The heavyweight champion of travel Claimant work."
Thank you very much for your help, advice and the settlement concerning my accident in Florida. You have been very helpful.
Julie, Stafford