The Personal Injury and Costs team is led by Frances Lawley (barrister, 2007 call).

We cover the work of a variety of teams within DWF, including Cat PI, Occupational Health, Motor, Fraud and Costs, providing a full service including advisory, drafting and advocacy work as well as attendance and representation at ADR.

We are able to accept a wide range of instructions from very high value catastrophic personal injury matters down to volume work such as representation at stage 3 quantum hearings.

Unlike traditional chambers, our ‘in-house’ nature means we are able to draw on deep and broad sector understanding from our position within the firm. Our barristers and advocates sit alongside specialist solicitors, as well as a range of in-house connected services, providing a seamless client experience. This allows us to deliver the very best representation at rates competitive with the external Bar.

Working alongside DWF’s 1000-strong, award-winning insurance team our Cat PI and Occupational Health advocates bring market-leading insight, deep legal expertise and a seamless client service. Our innovative in-house structure supports this in a way traditional chambers can’t. By working alongside many solicitors and claims specialists, as well as Medical and Rehabilitation managers, iForensic (our forensic accountancy service) and in-house collision investigation experts, we’re able to develop a better cultural understanding of the case, as well as improving its day-to-day management.

Our advocates are skilled in drawing in sector-specific understanding of claims ranging from RTA and motor claims, through to NIHL and disease claims, EL/PL, product liability, police and prison claims. We have particular expertise in handling interlocutory matters, fraudulent claims and matters relating to costs and case management.

Our team act in both domestic and international matters in different commercial sectors, from banking, energy to aviation. Our team appear regularly in the High Court of England & Wales, and act in cross-border litigation. The team also has experience of acting in high-value worldwide freezing injunctions. The advocates have experience acting from the pre-action stage, to trial.

The team also has considerable experience in arbitration having acted in ICC, LCIA, DIFC-LCIA, UNCITRAL and SCC arbitrations. The instructions have concerned commercial, BIT, maritime and tax arbitrations.  Additionally, a member of the team has provided expert evidence in a foreign jurisdiction in relation to the interpretation of an arbitral award.

Our employment law advocates represent both employers and employees at all levels of tribunal and Court across England, Wales and Scotland on a wide range of employment claims.

With a particular specialism in advising on discrimination claims unfair/wrongful dismissal, TUPE, misconduct, and regulatory matters. In addition to advising on and leading internal disciplinary proceedings, our advocates understand the sensitive and complex elements within every employment law case.

Unlike traditional chambers our ‘in-house’ nature means we are able to draw on deep and broad sector understanding, from across DWF, in particular in the education and public sectors. Our advocates sit alongside specialist solicitors (as well as taking external instruction), providing a seamless client experience. This allows us to deliver the very best representation at rates competitive with, and often lower than, the external Bar.

Our Consumer Sub team is headed by Kim Clifton.

Prior to joining DWF, Kim worked as an Ombudsman for the Dispute Resolution Ombudsman working with the furniture and rail industry and has recently completed a secondment with BT's Consumer Disputes Team. Kim has worked on contractual disputes and data protection matters during her secondment, both at pre-litigation and litigation stage. The aim is to service large client consumer based complaints and claims and to provide a managed effective but comparably low cost end to end service for the company.

Stephen Pritchett spent over 30 years at the external Bar as predominantly a property specialist before joining DWF as Head of Advocacy. He was recognised by Legal 500 and Chambers as a leading individual in real estate litigation outside London. His experience ranges from the County Court to the Court of Appeal and covers matters such as property development work : advices on covenants and easements etc, commercial landlord and tenant work : 1954 Act renewals [especially in the retail sector] and dilapidation claims, ranging to private client claims for injunctions etc arising out of neighbour type disputes over boundaries and covenants.

Our team act in a range of Insolvency applications across England & Wales. Our advocates are regularly instructed in applications for the extension of the Company's administration term and possession and sale applications.

Our team has experience in a range of company law-related matters, from general shareholder disputes, include unfair prejudice petitions, to breach of fiduciary duties.  Furthermore, the team is instructed to advise in corporate transactions.