A recognised expert in claimant medical accident, and personal injury work, she has a strong commitment to a claimant practice. Jane fights passionately on behalf of all her clients regardless of their type of injury. She recognises that a “minor” injury resulting in two weeks off work can result in as much financial devastation for a low paid worker as six months for someone on full sick pay so “You need to fight their corner just as hard.”

Jane has a long personal history acting on behalf of clinical negligence victims, with an emphasis on actions for children, and the Legal 500 acknowledges her ‘excellent reputation’ in the clinical negligence field.

Under Jane’s guidance Pattinson & Brewer’s York Office continues to build on a solid reputation for claimant clinical negligence work in the North of England. She is particularly sensitive to the needs of claimants in actions for clinical negligence who already feel badly let down by professionals by the time they meet a solicitor.

She continues to act for claimants (including claims for injuries of the utmost severity and psychiatric injury) and advises on settlements, many in excess of £1 million, Court of Protection matters, structured settlements and cases arising overseas.

Notable cases are:-

• Norman -v- Ali & Aziz (CA) – Interpretation of the MIB Uninsured Drivers Agreement and limitation periods for Monk v. Warbey breach of statutory duty claims.
• -v- North Yorkshire Health Authority – £3.25 million for claimant suffering cerebral palsy as a result of birth injury.
• Rhodes -v- Walton – £1m for child injured in a near drowning incident. Claim brought against individual acting in loco parentis.

Frances McCarthy is head of the Personal Injury Department and the senior partner. She acts exclusively for Claimants; specialising in workplace accidents and occupational disease claims. She also has extensive experience handling injuries of maximum severity, fatalities, asbestos-related claims, clinical negligence cases and other areas of personal injury. Frances has represented victims in most of the major disasters in recent years.

Frances is recognised as a leader in her field in both the Legal 500 and Chambers directories and acknowledged by peers as “robust and tough, but sensible – a fighter and knowledgeable with it.” She is highly respected by those she works with and, during her career, Frances has managed successful appeals to the European Court of Justice on the question of equal treatment in matters of social security.

Further independent recognition of Frances’s work has also come from two leading international rating services – Super Lawyers, a listing published by Thomson Reuters and Best Lawyers, the eldest peer reviewed listing published in over 65 countries around the world. Their selection processes include independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.

She is a joint editor of Jordans’ new Personal Injury book, a contributor to the ‘Brown Book’Civil Procedure Rules and former editorial board member of the ‘Journal for Personal Injury Law’. (JPIL). Experienced trainer of other legal professionals, regular lecturer, broadcaster and active campaigner for law reform which retains access to justice for injured people.

Frances is a member of the working party set up by Lord Woolf for pre-action protocols. She is a past President of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL), a former member of the Civil Justice Council; an accredited senior fellow of APIL and a member of Unions 21committee.

Frances and her husband, a journalist, have three boys and she believes this makes her an expert on all matters sporting. She is a keen supporter of Munster in particular and Irish Rugby in general.

Client Comments:

“I wanted to personally thank you for taking over my case and dealing with it in such a friendly and professional manner. It was always a pleasure talking with you…” – Miss W

“… I would like to take this time to thank you for your continued commitment and support over the years. I myself would not have got this far without your continuing fighting for what I was clearly owed” – Mrs S

“…I am really pleased with the services provided by Frances McCarthy. She kept me updated regularly and was always very fair and professional. She took time to explain the legal situation…” – Miss L

Find out more about Frances McCarthy here: