JMW personal injury team retains Tier 1 ranking in Legal 500 UK 2027
JMW Solicitors has retained its Tier 1 ranking for claimant personal injury in the North West in the 2027 edition of the Legal 500, maintaining its position among the region's leading personal injury practices.
The latest rankings also recognise five individual JMW personal injury solicitors. JMW's specialist travel litigation team has also retained its Tier 3 ranking.
Published on September 30th 2026, the results reflect the department's established expertise in serious and complex personal injury claims, as well as the contributions of its individual solicitors.
JMW's Legal 500 2027 rankings: at a glance
The latest Legal 500 rankings recognise JMW's achievements across both personal injury and travel litigation:
| Category | Ranking or recognition |
|---|---|
| Personal injury: claimant – North West | Tier 1 |
| Travel – London (national practice area) | Tier 3 |
| Individually recognised solicitors | 5 |
| Hall of Fame | Cathy Leech |
| Leading Partners | Gordon Cartwright, Andrew Lilley and Joanne Brine |
| Next Generation Partner | Caroline Fox |
The rankings maintain JMW's established positions in both practice areas.
JMW retains Tier 1 ranking for personal injury in the North West
JMW has maintained its Tier 1 position in the Legal 500 North West claimant personal injury rankings.
The guide recognises the Manchester-based team's expertise in representing people who have sustained serious and complex injuries, describing the department as being regarded as "one of the most prominent and capable" teams by our clients.
The Legal 500 highlights the work of joint practice heads Gordon Cartwright and Andrew Lilley, who handle high-value and complex personal injury claims. The directory also recognises the team's specialist expertise in several areas, including:
- Serious brain injury claims
- Spinal cord injury claims
- Amputation claims
- Motorcycle accident claims
- Military injury claims
The retained Tier 1 ranking reflects JMW's continued recognition for its work on serious injury cases and the specialist legal support it provides to injured people.
Five JMW solicitors receive individual Legal 500 recognition
Five JMW solicitors have received individual recognition across the claimant personal injury and travel litigation categories in the 2027 UK Legal 500.
Cathy Leech – Hall of Fame
Cathy Leech retains her place in the Legal 500 Hall of Fame, which recognises lawyers who have established a longstanding reputation for market-leading work.
Cathy is a Partner and Head of Catastrophic Injury at JMW, specialising in complex spinal cord injury claims. Her work also encompasses traumatic brain injuries, amputations and other serious injuries.
Gordon Cartwright – Leading Partner
Gordon Cartwright, Head of Personal Injury at JMW, retains his recognition as a Leading Partner.
The Legal 500 highlights his experience in handling high-value claims involving serious injuries and his leadership of the department alongside Andrew Lilley.
Andrew Lilley – Leading Partner
Andrew Lilley also retains his Leading Partner recognition in the North West claimant personal injury category.
As joint Head of Personal Injury at JMW, Andrew has extensive experience in complex and catastrophic injury litigation, including cases involving brain injuries, spinal injuries and amputations.
Joanne Brine – Leading Partner
Joanne Brine is recognised as a Leading Partner in both claimant personal injury and travel litigation.
Joanne heads JMW's specialist travel litigation team. Her expertise includes international personal injury claims, cross-border disputes and cases involving serious brain injuries.
Caroline Fox – Next Generation Partner
Caroline Fox has been newly recognised as a Next Generation Partner, marking one of JMW's notable achievements in the 2027 rankings.
Caroline is a Partner in JMW's Catastrophic Personal Injury team. She represents people who have sustained serious brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and amputations.
The Legal 500 particularly highlights her experience in securing regular interim payments, which can help injured people access rehabilitation, care and other essential support while their claims progress.
Alongside these individual rankings, the directory identifies several other key lawyers within the department, including:
- Clare Stevens: Partner, Military Claims and Personal Injury
- Charlotte King: Senior Associate, Personal Injury
- Jonathan Holling: Associate, Personal Injury
- Paul Breen: Partner, Personal Injury
- Amanda Marsh: Partner, Military Claims
Their inclusion reflects the depth of specialist experience across JMW's wider personal injury team.
JMW's travel litigation team retains Tier 3 ranking
JMW's travel litigation team has also retained its Tier 3 ranking in the Legal 500 travel category.
Although the category is listed under London, it covers specialist travel litigation practices nationally. Maintaining this ranking represents another achievement for JMW's travel team.
The Legal 500 recognises the team's experience in handling international personal injury claims, including cross-border road traffic accidents and package travel claims. It also highlights the team's knowledge of foreign regulations and complex jurisdictional issues.
Joanne Brine's continued recognition as a Leading Partner reflects her experience in catastrophic injury claims and international litigation, particularly cases involving brain injuries and cross-border disputes.
This recognition reflects the team's specialist expertise in helping people pursue compensation following accidents abroad.
What does the Legal 500 say about JMW's personal injury solicitors?
Alongside its rankings, Legal 500 publishes independent testimonials about the firms and solicitors it assesses. These provide further insight into the strengths recognised by those who have worked with JMW's personal injury and travel litigation teams.
Recognition for JMW's personal injury team
“They have an excellent team of lawyers with a specialist interest in personal injury and clinical negligence litigation. They have a proven track record of success and excellent client service. They go the extra mile to promote the interests of their clients.”
“The key strength of this team is their empathy for their clients. They have represented people in some really sensitive cases with tragic stories, and they are always sensitive and caring in how they approach their clients, while also taking a no-nonsense approach to settlement negotiations.”
Recognition for JMW's travel litigation team
“Easily accessible, very understanding, friendly, helpful, and efficient.”
“We found JMW to be top-notch. Always responded to queries, acted totally in our interests, with a superb outcome.”
“Joanne Brine is a thoroughly knowledgeable and wily practitioner - she has experienced most of what litigation has to throw at her, and she knows how to deal with it. She is unflappable. Natasha Ross is similarly talented, and clients value her approachability and her willingness to make herself available to them.”
These independent assessments complement JMW's departmental rankings and individual lawyer recognition. They highlight the combination of technical expertise, specialist experience and personal support that the team brings to its work.
The full rankings, testimonials and editorial commentary can be found on JMW's official Legal 500 personal injury and travel litigation profiles.
Talk to us
Our team represents people who have sustained serious injuries in accidents at work, road traffic accidents and other circumstances. We provide specialist legal advice on compensation claims and help people access rehabilitation, care and practical support where needed.
If you or a loved one has sustained an injury due to someone else's negligence, our solicitors can assess your circumstances and explain your options.
Contact our personal injury solicitors today by calling 0345 872 6666 or completing our online enquiry form. We offer free initial advice and can discuss whether you may be able to make a no win, no fee compensation claim.
