James Thompson
Director & Head of Clinical Negligence
James heads up our experienced and accredited Clinical Negligence team.
James heads up our experienced and accredited Clinical Negligence team.
James is the head of the clinical negligence team at Ison Harrison Solicitors. He trained and qualified at Ison Harrison Solicitors in 2007 before doing a tour of 2 national firms in Leeds before returning in 2016. James always considered Ison Harrison Solicitors to be the best firm he had ever worked for and he considers himself as extremely fortunate to have been able to return when the opportunity presented itself. He became a Director in January 2022 when the firm became an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).
He is a member of the Law Society Clinical Negligence Accreditation Scheme and is an accredited Senior Litigator with the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL). His accreditations means that we are one of the few specialists able to undertake legal aid work for those who qualify and wish to choose this funding option.
James deals with all types of clinical negligence, but specialises in acting for patients with life changing catastrophic injuries including Erb’s & Cerebral Palsy. He also supervises the senior lawyers in the team, manages the department and is a member of the firm’s Senior Management Team.
James gets job satisfaction from helping people. He always wanted to be a lawyer and was interested in medicine from a young age. He likes solving complex problems. Being a clinical negligence lawyer was the perfect fit for him as it allows him to use his eye for detail, analytical skills, ability to communicate complex issues clearly, effectively and construct persuasive arguments so as to help others in their time of need. He fights hard and smart for his clients and delivers a high standard of care.
It is really difficult for James to pick a case which means the most to him as he has been fortunate to have successfully represented so many lovely clients and their families over the years. However, since he became a father he has to confess that he finds working for children and their parents close to his heart. He understands the need to know what happened and why, to have lessons be learnt and avoid it happening to others. He does not underestimate the importance for a parent to know that their child will be safe and secure if anything happens to them in the future. He is also keen to ensure that as part of understanding what happened and why, parents learn to accept that it was not their fault and they must leave any guilt they carry.
James and his team are the only Erb’s Palsy Group (EPG) recommended solicitors in the North of England, http://www.erbspalsygroup.co.uk He is also a Director/Trustee for the charity Little Hiccups. Little Hiccups is a Leeds based support group for families with children with special needs: http://www.littlehiccups.co.uk
Outside of work, James is kept busy with his two children and German Wire Haired Pointers.
I heard about Ison Harrison Solicitors through a connection that my father had when he was working in the Insurance industry. I was recommended James Thompson for my case.
I just wanted someone to take my case on and try to prove that the claim was entirely their fault. James most certainly did this for me. I didn’t have high expectations to be honest as I have heard that cases do not always win.
I was advised every step of the way by James, and he explained everything to me in simple terms for me to understand. If I had any questions no matter how big or small, he was always there to provide the answers. James was always happy to help and guide me and always listened tentatively whenever I had to relive details that were very sensitive to myself. Even when I was crying down the phone to him, he always had this kind nature and reassurance that made me feel better.
My experience working with Ison Harrison Solicitors was nothing than professional, curtesy and quick.
I would recommend Ison Harrison Solicitors and James to anyone that would need a solicitor or solicitor’s firm for Clinical Negligence.
The most important thing for me was not about the money, it was more to get the Defendants to realise that they had done wrong on so many levels and to admit to their big mistakes. For me to get justice, closure on this awful matter and for me to be able to move forward.
I seriously can’t thank James enough for all the time and effort and years it took to get me the positive outcome I had.
