This year's Legal 500 names national law firm Irwin Mitchell (IM) for the first time in the North-East rankings, following the opening of the firm's Newcastle office earlier this year. While IM remains the number one personal injury firm in the UK, Legal 500 says it "is expected to become a major player in the market" in the North-East. Already the firm has handled some of the most significant and highest profile cases in the region. As well as representing clients in nationally-known cases, from former miners with vibration white finger and respiratory diseases to those who have lost family or friends to CJD, IM handles all manner of personal injury issues. The ongoing case of Richard Harrison, is typical of the firm's expertise. Mr Harrison, a Hexham man left severely brain injured when he was knocked off his bicycle by a motorist, won his three-year legal battle last year when the car driver's insurers admitted liability for the accident. There will be a court hearing in the next few weeks to agree compensation. John Davis, head of personal injury at IM Newcastle, says: "We are now working on finalising a full compensation payment for Richard so that he can receive the very high level of care that he needs. "Already he has been awarded a significant interim payment to meet the cost of a new house which will be fully equipped for him and the funds are there to pay for the nursing staff needed to assist him with his daily tasks." A further example of IM's tenacity on behalf of clients was shown with the out-of-court compensation settlement of £1.2m for a Newcastle father who was seriously injured in a car crash outside Fishburn, County Durham in 1996. Alan Harris, 49, received serious head injuries and the compensation was awarded to cover his lost income and his personal care support needs made necessary by the effects of the accident. More recent IM cases have included high value brain injury compensation awards and asbestos-related cases. John Davis manages the IM Newcastle office along with two other partners - clinical negligence specialist Angela Curran, who joined IM from the Newcastle firm Watson Burton, and occupational health expert Roger Maddocks, formerly of the Newcastle office of Thompsons. Fran Mayes, an associate solicitor, has expertise in serious injury cases to further enhance the spectrum of services offered within the region. Mr Davis said: "As demand for our personal injury services grew quickly in this region we expanded our office so that our clients in the North-East can have greater local access to specialists handling a full range of injury litigation; from complex medical negligence claims to road traffic accidents and work-related injuries." | 
