HUDGELL SOLICITORS - Key Persons
A Sussex Police officer has been found guilty of misconduct at a disciplinary panel today over his failure to properly investigate Shana Grice's complaints that she was being stalked by the man who would later murder her. The charge was downgraded from gross misconduct. Shana was killed by her former stalker boyfriend in August 2016, […]
Job Titles:
- Central Lancashire - Director, 2018 - 2020
Job Titles:
- Senior Solicitor & Joint Head of Clinical Negligence
Hudgell Solicitors has today received the High Court judgment following a Judicial Review into the outcome of a Jury Inquest, which concluded in October 2021, in relation to the fatal shooting of Hull man Lewis Skelton by a Humberside Police officer in November 2016. The Inquest Jury unanimously concluded that it was more likely than […]
The local business community is being asked to come together to help Hudgell Solicitors celebrate 25 years of success - and raise vital funds for those who suffer serious spinal injuries - at a charity Golf Day later this year. Marking a quarter of a century since established in 1997, Hudgells are staging a number […]
The Post Office Horizon Scandal Podcast Series Hudgell Solicitors' Post Office Horizon Scandal Podcast series, with Neil Hudgell, is available to listen to now on Spotify. Episode 1 - ‘It was so bad it was unbelievable' Episode 2 - The impact on lives Episode 3 - Pursuing justice Episode 4 - The £600,000 compensation offer […]
Job Titles:
- Solicitor
- Principal Solicitor for Training & Business Development
- Specialist
Elizabeth is a medical negligence solicitor with more than 20 years' experience who joined the team at Hudgells in 2020.
Job Titles:
- Head of Court of Protection
- Specialist
Eve is a specialist Mental Capacity / Court of Protection Solicitor managing the property and affairs of adults and children through the Court of Protection where clients do not have the capacity to manage their own.
Harriet is a paralegal and joined Hudgell Solicitors following a work experience placement in 2020. She began her career in our New Claims Department as an advisor, supporting the Criminal Injuries team.
Job Titles:
- Marketing & Onboarding Manager
Helen joined Hudgell Solicitors in 2019 and has been instrumental in raising both the firm's national profile and strengthening its relationship with clients. She leads a marketing team responsible for all brand activities, internal and external communications and public relations, along with events.
Helen also manages our New Claims department, which is often the first time clients will discuss their case with a member of our expert legal team, ensuring they receive, from the start, the best possible information, advice, care and support. Helen is also responsible for lead generation and conversions and client onboarding.
Job Titles:
- Paralegal & New Claims Advisor
Iftikhar has more than 25 years' experience representing clients in Civil Liberties cases and specialises in Actions Against the Police and holding public bodies to account.
Iftikhar has successful represented clients and the families of those who have experienced injustices such as false imprisonment, death in custody, police assaults and malicious prosecution cases. His work has involved taking action against all major police forces in England and Wales.
Iftikhar's clients include activists, politicians and ordinary people who have found themselves needing specialist advice to successfully take legal steps against state institutions.
Iftikhar also represents bereaved families at Inquests, particularly deaths in police custody, prisons and in mental health hospitals and he is an expert in identifying failures in public policies, enabling families to challenge those responsible for an explanation of the death of loved ones. Clients have described Iftikhar as going ‘above and beyond' when representing them.
Iftikhar joined Hudgells in 2022 and was previously head of Civil Liberties at Irwin Mitchell Solicitors.
Career Highlights
In one case, West Yorkshire Police agreed a settlement of £310,000 after a man they treated as drunk and disorderly was, in fact, suffering from the effects of a blood clot. He was left in a cell with no medical attention and the consequences were life changing.
Job Titles:
- Head of Operations
- Solicitor
Jennifer is a solicitor with a proven track-record of leading teams within the personal injury and clinical negligence sector and joined Hudgell Solicitors in 2023 as Head of Operations. She works closely with Chief Executive Rachel Di Clemente and heads of our legal departments with a focus on ensuring the firm upholds its pledge of making ‘justice accessible to all'.
Health secretary Jeremy Hunt's admission that between 135 and 270 women ‘may have had their lives shortened' due to 450,000 crucial screenings for breast cancer being missed is both shocking and completely indefensible. Mr Hunt has quite rightly launched an immediate inquiry, to be led by Public Health England (PHE), into the computer system failure
Job Titles:
- Head of Corporate Services & Strategic Partnerships
Experienced serious injury solicitor Kerry Gillespie has been recognised for establishing her position as an ‘integral figure' at Hudgell Solicitors by being promoted to the role of Associate Solicitor. Since joining in 2021, Mrs Gillespie, who works out of the firm's Manchester office, has developed her own impressive caseload of serious injury claims, many with
My case was one of which was a 4 year ordeal, my case worker Kirsty Yates held the same amount of professionalism and upmost care throughout. i do not think i have enough words to write down just how helpful she has been, she answered every question, she made sure i was constantly informed with what was going on, etc. going through a legal process knowing nothing about legalities is the most daunting thing, but i can't stress enough how having someone like kirsty can make such a difference, because she made this part of my life feel a little easier, and there will never be enough thank yous. i would 1000% recommend hudgells & especially kirsty!
Job Titles:
- Head of Risk & Compliance & Associate Solicitor
Lauren is a senior clinical negligence claims specialist who deals with a variety of cases including hospital negligence, delayed diagnosis of cancer, surgical errors, misdiagnosis, birth negligence and GP negligence, she also supports families at Inquest.
Lauren has handled a significant number of high-profile cases including matters relating to the neglect and abuse of elderly care home residents, claims arising from breaches of the Human Rights Act including unlawful killing and the death of a prisoner. She takes an active role at Hudgell Solicitors in leading our campaigns for improved standards in care homes.
Lauren joined the firm in 2010 after working in personal injury and family law. She qualified as a solicitor in 2012 and is now part of the firm's senior management team overseeing legal compliance and regulatory requirements, she also undertakes the role of Data Protection Officer.
Career Highlights
Securing an unlawful killing verdict following the inquest into the death of Jack Barnes was a huge achievement for his family.
Job Titles:
- Solicitor
- Manager of Group Actions, Inquests and Actions Against the Police
I support people whose lives have been forever changed by the acts or omissions of others. It is fundamental that I develop a good relationship with my clients to ensure that they trust me to do my very best for them. I pride myself in ensuring that all my clients feel fully supported during the legal process.
Leanne is a solicitor with more than 20 years' experience, having worked in law since 1998, joining Hudgells in 2010.
Statement from lawyer Leanne Stephenson, of Hudgell Solicitors, on behalf of the family of Lewis Skelton; "It has obviously been a long and difficult year for Lewis' family who to this day still have many unanswered questions around the final day of his life and the events which led to him being shot dead by […]
A jury has returned a verdict that Lewis Skelton of Hull, who died after being shot by armed officers from Humberside Police in November 2016, was ‘unlawfully killed'. At the conclusion of the inquest, solicitor Neil Hudgell, of Hudgell Solicitors, who represents the family of Mr Skelton, made the following statement: "When stripping this incident […]
Job Titles:
- Head of Clinical Negligence ( Manchester )
Maria Repanos joined Hudgell Solicitors as Head of Clinical Negligence in Manchester in 2023 and during her legal career, which has spanned almost two-decades, she has led cases relating to birth injuries, spinal injuries, amputations, orthopaedic injuries, surgical negligence and delays in diagnosis of cancer, securing many high-value catastrophic settlements.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Manager
- Solicitor
Nicola has been with Hudgell Solicitors since 2010 and qualified as a solicitor in 2006. She has led on a broad range of serious and high value injury cases, including fatal accidents, class actions and has represented families at inquests.
Now, as a manager in our Civil Liberties Department, Nicola runs a case load including police assaults, unlawful arrests and breaches of human rights. She also represents families at inquests, when loved ones have died whilst under the care of the state, or when it appears the state either failed to protect or in some cases were responsible for a life being lost.
Nicola has also been part of a team working on compensation cases for malicious prosecution on behalf of former subpostmasters affected by the Post Office Horizon IT Scandal.
She also supervises our Criminal Injuries compensation team and has extensive experience in dealing with claims to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), representing victims of sexual and domestic abuse as well as those involved in serious assaults leaving them with life changing injuries.
As part of this work Nicola represents injured survivors of the 2017 Manchester Arena terror attack, some of whom had initial claims rejected and have required representation at appeal hearings.
Career Highlights
I have done a great deal work highlighting the failures of police forces to properly investigate allegations of sexual assaults, helping to bring the media spotlight onto an important issue.
This included a case against Greater Manchester Police for their failures to investigate allegations that a homeless woman was sexually assaulted by a stranger as she slept in her tent at night. Despite reporting the incident to police, the case was closed shortly afterwards without officers having taken a formal statement from the woman or a witness.
In another case, against the same force, I secured damages for a mother who was told ‘nothing would come of it' when she told police she feared she had been drugged and raped on a night out. Both of these cases brought were covered in regional and national media.
Nicola Bailey-Gibbs, Associate Solicitor in criminal injuries says spiking is a crime that needs reporting It's that time of year when going out should be one of the highlights of the year. Christmas parties, New Year's Eve and meeting up with friends, these are often the times when memories are made. What shouldn't be on […]
By Nicola Bailey-Gibbs solicitor and manager of criminal injuries, We deal with a shocking and increasing amount of abuse cases at Hudgell Solicitors and yet I'm aware that many instances are not reported or disclosed until something comes to the surface that prompts a response such as the case with the recently reported historical football […]
Job Titles:
- Solicitor
- Accidents Abroad
- Head of Travel Litigation
- Litigation Expert
- Litigation Solicitor
- Personal Injury
Paul is a highly-experienced and respected travel litigation solicitor who qualified in 2001. He was recruited to head Hudgell Solicitors' work in representing people who suffer serious injuries abroad in 2017.
An expert in international, cross border laws, Paul specialises in leading representation on complex and high-value cases across Europe and the world, representing people who have sustained spinal and brain injuries, and families who have lost relatives as a result of incidents abroad whilst working in another country or on holiday.
Many of Paul's cases involve issues concerning jurisdiction and applicable law, and he also acts on behalf of people in group action claims and former British servicemen who were stationed as the US military training base Camp Lejeune and were affected by the contaminated of drinking water.
Career Highlights
I acted for a child who was three-years old when involved in a road traffic accident in Spain, suffering significant spinal and urological injuries. The case involved complex issues concerning the applicable law but we successfully persuaded the English court that English Law should apply to determine the amount of compensation that should be awarded. This made a very significant difference to the increased amount of rehabilitation, care and case management that could be provided to the child. The case ultimately settled for a multi-million pound figure.
Hudgell Solicitors' head of travel litigation, Paul McClorry, says his appointment as co-chair of the American Association for Justice's International Practice Section will enhance the firm's ability to provide clients with the best legal representation around the world. Mr McClorry, who joined Hudgells in 2017 to head the company's work in representing people who suffer […]
Solicitor Paul McClorry to run four miles every four hours for two days for Martin's Mountain appeal
Solicitor Paul McClorry, of Hudgell Solicitors, is leading further investigations into the death of Jake Taylor, 11, who drowned on holiday in France in 2019. Legal investigations are to continue into the death of a UK schoolboy who drowned in a man-made lagoon on a French campsite last summer, despite French authorities saying no criminal […]
Paul McClorry is a highly-experienced and respected travel litigation solicitor. He qualified in 2001 and headed up a large travel department at a national law firm before joining Hudgell Solicitors as Head of Travel Litigation to launch our work in supporting people seriously injured abroad in August 2017. Approaching almost three years into the role, […]
Travel litigation lawyer Paul McClorry has secured a prestigious role with the world's largest trial bar after being elected as a new Vice Chair of the International Practice section of the American Association of Justice (AAJ). Established in 1946, the AAJ is an international coalition of attorneys, lawyers, law professors, paralegals, and law students who […]
Charity founder Paul Spence to mark 10 years of recovery from brain injury when running Boston Marathon with Neil Hudgell
Pounding through the streets of Hull and over the hills of East Riding when training together three times a week, Paul Spence and Neil Hudgell have formed a friendship out of adversity and a passion for helping change lives for the better. Having completed a series of iconic marathons together in recent years including New […]
Rachel joined Hudgell Solicitors as Chief Executive in 2020 and has successfully overseen the expansion of the firm's legal teams in both the Hull and Manchester city centre offices, enhancing her established record of business development and executing transformational growth.
Hudgell Solicitors has promoted three of its most experienced lawyers to managerial roles within its growing Civil Liberties team. Chief executive Rachel Di Clemente says the new roles have been introduced as the department has extended its Civil Liberties work into several specialisms, each offering ‘significant opportunity for future growth' and requiring direct management. It […]
Hudgell Solicitors has appointed two new members to its executive team to steer the firm into further growth. It has seen Michelle Maltby appointed as chief operating officer and Jonathon Wells join as chief financial officer. They will support owner and executive chairman Neil Hudgell, and chief executive officer Rachel Di Clemente, as part of […]
Hudgell Solicitors' Chief Executive Rachel Di Clemente says she is delighted to announce the promotion of two current members of staff who will join the firm's management team. Corporate Services Solicitor John Cuss becomes the Head of Corporate Services and Strategic Partnerships, while Lauren Dale an Associate Solicitor in Clinical Negligence is promoted to Head […]
Chief Executive Rachel Di Clemente has received national industry recognition for the leading role she has played since joining Hudgell Solicitors as she has today been named a finalist in the ‘Managing Partner of the Year' category at the 2022 Modern Law Awards. It comes as event organisers say there has been an ‘unprecedented level […]
Hudgell Solicitors has promoted eight members of its legal teams to new ‘Associate' roles in which they will support senior managers in leading the work of key departments across the business. Chief Executive Rachel Di Clemente says the move has been taken to ensure those in managerial roles are afforded extra time to focus on […]
Hudgell Solicitors' chief executive Rachel Di Clemente says she is delighted to welcome the clinical negligence team from HH Legal following negotiations to take over their entire clinical negligence offering. This further strengthens the firm's position as a leading clinical negligence claims specialist, having acquired high value work and a talented team of lawyers from […]
Job Titles:
- Senior Solicitor
- Solicitor
- Manager of Serious Injury ( Hull )
Senior solicitor Samuel McFadyen has won further industry recognition for continually demonstrating his dedication and ability to ensure catastrophically injured people are given the very best support. Mr McFadyen has been named as a shortlisted finalist in the national 2019 Personal Injury Awards, in the category of ‘Catastrophic Injury Lawyer of the Year'. It is […]
Job Titles:
- Associate Solicitor and Manager of Fast Track Personal Injury Team
- Personal Injury
Job Titles:
- Senior Solicitor and Manager of Serious Injury ( Manchester )
Shana Grice was killed by her former stalker boyfriend in August 2016, despite repeatedly reporting her concerns to Sussex Police. Instead, officers gave Shana Grice a penalty notice for wasting their time. Five months later she was dead, killed by her former boyfriend, Michael Lane. Lane was sentenced to life imprisonment for killing Shana. At […]
We are delighted to be announcing our support for Manchester Arena bombing survivor Martin Hibbert in his inspirational challenge to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Martin, 44, was one of the closest people to the terrorist blast at the Ariana Grande concert in May 2017 to survive and is hoping to raise £1m to provide better support
Job Titles:
- Solicitor
- Associate Solicitor and Manager of Public Inquiries
Terry has worked in law since 1981, working for both claimants and defendants before specialising in Public Inquiries and Inquests. He qualified as a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives in 1986 and was admitted as a solicitor in 1997.
Terry was instructed in his first Public Inquiry in 1987 and is currently instructed in the Manchester Arena Bombing, Post Office IT Horizon and UK Covid-19 Inquiries.
He was one of the original solicitors instructed to represent families at the Second Hillsborough Inquests and supported our legal teams at inquests into the deaths of the four young men murdered by serial killer Stephen Port, and Jack Barnes of Hull, who died after being restrained by guards at a rail station.
He is motivated to find the truth following a tragedy as his brother was a survivor of the Hillsborough disaster. Terry's cases are often covered by the national media and he has made numerous television and radio appearances to discuss the legal aspect of his cases.
Career Highlights
It is always difficult to select a case as the highlight of a career as I hav e been lucky enough to have so many, all for differing reasons.
Solicitor Terry Wilcox, of Hudgell Solicitors, is representing the families of two people killed in the Manchester Arena bombing at the ongoing Public Inquiry. The Manchester Arena Inquiry will leave ‘no stone unturned' in seeking to ‘establish the truth' about the bombing which claimed 22 lives in May 2017. Speaking at the first morning of
Job Titles:
- Head of Civil Liberties & Criminal Injury
The jury inquest into the death of murdered hairdresser, Katrina O'Hara, is continuing at Bournemouth Town Hall. Victoria Richardson and Alexandra Eldon of Hudgell Solicitors are acting on behalf of the family. Katrina, 44, was murdered by Stuart Thomas on 7 January 2016 at her hair salon in Blandford Forum, Dorset. Thomas was later convicted […]
Manchester Arena Attack: Statement from Vicky Richardson acting on behalf of victims' families as Public Inquiry is announced
Job Titles:
- Joint Head
- Joint Head of Clinical Negligence ( Hull )
Vince is joint head of the clinical negligence practice and has been supporting clients with their compensation claims since 1998.