We’re celebrating Claire Burnell today as she is promoted to Legal Director at Higgs LLP.
Claire first came to the firm for work experience when she was just 16, working through the summer holidays. She went on to secure a training contract and subsequently qualified into the Personal Injury team.
From a work-experience schoolgirl, and now to Legal Director, she has been a part of the Higgs team spanning more than 32 years. Claire is an integral part of the firm.
Claire explained the reasons why she’s been committed to Higgs for such a long time, “I had gained experience with other larger (and smaller) law firms, the Courts and Barrister’s Chambers, but I knew instantly that Higgs was where I wanted to work – it was a perfect fit for me. I made myself known to everyone across the firm at all levels when I first started. Whilst the firm has grown significantly since then, the welcoming warmth that I experienced back then has not wavered. I see it every day and so I haven’t looked back.
“I was delighted to become a newly qualified solicitor at Higgs – and that feeling has never left me. It’s a real privilege to support the victims and their families of those that have suffered a life changing, and often catastrophic injury. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else!”
Andy Shaw, Head of Personal Injury at Higgs LLP commented “Claire is a hugely respected lawyer, and I am lucky to have her in my team. She is hugely committed to the firm and the clients we support. She has a very unique way of empathising and supporting victims and their families through the most difficult time in their lives. She builds longstanding relationships with those who she supports and epitomises everything that is Higgs. It is clear that they greatly value having her on their side. There is simply no one better for the job.”
Claire’s success stories include, most recently, supporting a victim of a road traffic accident who sustained life changing, catastrophic brain injury to rebuild his life, having taken his case all the way to the Royal Courts of Justice and secured an award of £18 million.
The Higgs ethos is that everything it does is centred around its people. Recently, the firm was awarded Gold by Investors in People, a distinction awarded to only a quarter of those firm’s assessed worldwide.
As Higgs closes out its remarkable 150th year, it is embarking on a new phase of growth having announced completion of its investment from August Equity, which means the firm will be able to better support its clients and people in the years ahead.
This information is for guidance purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. We recommend you seek legal advice before acting on any information given.
