What people say about us

Penningtons Manches LLP’s team, led by John Hargreaves, assists institutional clients with financing transactions, NHS restructurings and wider corporate work. Its client base includes digital economy medical providers, in addition to professional councils and healthcare groups. Head of corporate banking Rich Eldridge assisted a company in the Carebase Group with the £7.5 million debt and corporate refinancing of Alderwood Care Home. Professional regulation expert Nicole Curtis acts as a legal assessor to the General Osteopathic Council. Restructuring expert Séamas Gray  is also recommended. 

The Legal 500 - 2017 edition

The firm mixes warmth with professionalism. This is not always easy to maintain, but Penningtons Manches Cooper achieves it well.

Helen Drayton, CEO

You are an honest practice and want to help your clients. Gave me back my confidence in solicitors. 

Client MG

Well-positioned in the market to deal with both claimant-side personal injury cases and defendant insurance disputes. Benefits from the considerable reputations of key individuals to attract both high-value and smaller injury claims in which liability and applicable law are hotly contested.

Notable practitioners

Mark Lee receives particular praise for his Spanish language skills and for being a 'hard worker who is extremely ambitious.' 'He is very client-friendly and go-getting.' He leads the firm's advice on complex personal injury claims arising through accidents on holiday, at work and while in medical care.

Sources highlight the fact that Warren Collins 'understands precisely where the case needs to be and knows his way around the medical side too.' He is particularly experienced in cases involving spinal cord injuries. One client says: 'If it was not for Warren Collins, I don't know where I would be today.'

Chambers UK - 2016 edition

Experienced in acting for claimants in high-value catastrophic injury claims arising from RTAs and marine accidents. Well-versed in assisting with contested issues of jurisdiction, applicable law, liability and quantum. Also adept at representing defendant insurers in disputes.

Strengths: ‘They  know the market well and can easily obtain the necessary assistance from foreign representatives.’ 

‘The whole team acts in a professional manner, providing niche detailed advice with clarity and enthusiasm.’ 

Notable practitioners

Mark Lee acts for catastrophically injured claimants, and is noted for his very active practice. Clients describe him as ‘very approachable and knowledgeable,’ and appreciate that ‘his advice is always very clear and he's adept at putting things into simple terms.’

Chambers UK - 2017 edition

Experienced in acting for claimants in high-value catastrophic injury claims arising from accidents abroad. Well versed in assisting with contested issues of jurisdiction, applicable law, liability and quantum. Also noted for its handling of insurance coverage disputes and foreign clinical negligence cases. 

Strengths: Sources note the team's strength in the travel arena: ‘They are knowledgeable and experts in their field. They are resourceful and always on hand to provide practical advice around the varying differences and requirements of differing jurisdictions.’

Further interviewees confirm: ‘They are highly experienced with a deep talent pool of diligent, responsible, responsive lawyers.’

Notable practitioners
Mark Lee heads the travel law team and offers experienced support to catastrophically injured claimants who have suffered from accidents abroad. Sources say: ‘His technical knowledge is exceptional and his passion for his subject matter is inspiring.’ 

The ‘superb’ Warren Collins of Penningtons Manches LLP is described by sources as ‘creative, hard working, detail-oriented and extremely well organised’.

Chambers UK - 2018 edition

Strengths: Sources note the firm has 'an excellent team that is very responsive and has good relationships with its clients.'

Notable practitioners
Mark Lee handles a wide range of complex claims, including those involving catastrophic injuries sustained in road traffic and marine accidents. Interviewees describe him as 'a charismatic and switched-on claimant lawyer who has good judgement on cases.'

Joanna Wylie regularly advises clients on claims against tour operators, foreign insurers and hotels. Her broad experience covers road traffic, skiing and marine accidents across Europe, with a focus on those occurring in Spain and France.

Chambers UK - 2021 edition

Strengths: ‘They are pragmatic and thoughtful.’

‘Penningtons have standout expertise in cross-border litigation; they have an extensive network of global contacts and provide a seamless service.’

Notable practitioners

Mark Lee: ‘Mark is extremely knowledgeable, always prepared and well versed in any developments in this field.’

Joanna Wylie: ‘She is an experienced travel lawyer.’

Chambers UK - 2023 edition

Penningtons Manches LLP ‘demonstrates a committed approach with dedicated knowledge’, and advises on a range of travel-related personal injury cases for claimants and defendants. The team is led by Mark Lee, who has ‘strong leadership skills’, and includes the ‘very experienced’ Warren Collins.

The Legal 500 - 2015 edition

Penningtons Manches LLP’s team advises on claimant and defendant travel injury cases. Clients include Direct Line Group, UK General Insurance Group and Vitality Health. The team is led by Mark Lee, who is ‘one to watch’, and includes the ‘excellent’ Warren Collins and ‘very experienced’ senior associate Keith Dean.

The Legal 500 - 2016 edition

Penningtons Manches LLP is praised for its ‘high level of specialist knowledge’. The team handles international personal injury cases for claimant and defendant clients and is ‘not afraid to run with risky cases’.

Team head Mark Lee is ‘very committed to his clients’ and ‘is able to explain the differences and intricacies of foreign jurisdictions; he is acutely aware of the need to assess risk and cost in order to consider the best way of settling claims to the satisfaction of the client’. Warren Collins and Keith Dean are also key members of the team.

The Legal 500 - 2017 edition

Excelling in cross-jurisdictional personal injury cases and serious brain injury claims, Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP’s ‘personable and highly competent team’ is predominantly active on the claimant side, but also has capacity to handle defendant instructions, often acting for policyholders. Group head Mark Lee is ‘skilled, pragmatic and absolutely the go-to guy for travel-related accident and injury issues’ including catastrophic injury claims, while Warren Collins regularly handles catastrophic injury and fatal accident litigation. Louise High is the key contact for insurers.

‘They have a solid team of people who have been doing travel law for many years and have the experience to deal in a very efficient manner with this type of claims.’

‘They have a good reputation in the field and Mark Lee is always solid and sensible. On the defendant side, Louise High is excellent.’

‘Mark Lee – debonair, clever. Louise High – commercially minded, sensible.’

‘Mark Lee – extremely approachable. Flexible and accommodating, Mark is happy to pick things up at short notice.’

The Legal 500 - 2023 edition

The team at Penningtons Manches LLP are ‘specialists in the field with a deep knowledge of travel law and dealing with EU jurisdictional issues’ and handle international personal injury cases for claimants and defendants, acting for a number of insurer clients. Travel law team head Mark Lee is ‘very practical in his approach and capable of dealing with very complex matters in a straightforward manner’ and is particularly experienced in head injury cases. Warren Collins and senior associate (non-solicitor) Keith Dean are also key figures.

The Legal 500 - 2019 edition

The team at Penningtons Manches LLP is adept at handling complex and high-value cross-border personal injury claims for claimants and defendants and is instructed by a number of insurers. It is particularly noted for its specialist brain injury expertise. Team head Mark Lee is leading advice for an individual who suffered life changing injuries, and his family, following a catastrophic road traffic accident in France.

The Legal 500 - 2020 edition

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP has a 'broad range of knowledge' in travel litigation, with a varied caseload covering road traffic accident claims as well as cases involving incidents which occurred while on holiday or working abroad. The 'very knowledgeable' Mark Lee heads the practice and is experienced in advising on catastrophic injury claims, including those concerning complex and traumatic brain injuries. Lee has handled cases in multiple jurisdictions, but is particularly well known for his expertise in claims involving Spain, and is a fluent Spanish speaker. Warren Collins has a similar background but has a greater focus on claims involving the US.

‘Key experience from a long-established and stable team who understand their specialism and are able to work in line with commercial agreements in an efficient and pragmatic manner.’

‘Mark Lee has fantastic human intelligence, lots of experience, is prompt in his client engagement, a real pleasure to deal with and leads his team with commercial nous and acumen.’

The Legal 500 - 2022 edition

Operating as part of a large, multi-disciplinary team, Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP's personal injury practice is instructed on complex cross-border cases by both claimants and defendants. It often acts for those affected by a life-changing injury; high-profile cases involving individuals who have sustained catastrophic brain injuries are a key area of strength.

Mark Lee is building a reputation as a leader in the field. Warren Collins has extensive experience in handling cross-border claims involving personal injury of the greatest severity.

Mark Lee and Keith Dean have always demonstrated absolute professionalism, and manage to combine pragmatism and clarity of advice, with a friendly and open approach to whoever needs their advice.

The Legal 500 - 2021 edition

Experienced acting for claimants in high-value catastrophic injury claims arising from road traffic, marine, hotel and work accidents abroad and in the UK. Well versed in assisting with issues of jurisdiction, applicable law, liability and quantum.

Strengths: An impressed commentator remarks: ‘The team are experienced, know how the system works and provide a good service to clients.’

Notable practitioners

Mark Lee: ‘An experienced litigator.’ ‘He is a pleasure to deal with due to his combination of experience, knowledge, approachability and enthusiasm.’

Joanna Wylie: ‘She has good expertise in travel claims and is very efficient.’

Chambers UK – 2022 edition

I would like to thank you for all your work over the past three years. I know I would not have been so lucky with my compensation claim without your expertise. I would also like to commend you for your patience. When I needed an explanation of the law, I always found you approachable.  

Client CC

Thank you for all your help with this matter - you have dealt with it very efficiently. I'm glad we were able to arrive at an acceptable solution before proceeding to trial.  

Client SL

The service was excellent and had it not been for the efforts put in by your team, the case would have carried on for far longer and with a less satisfactory outcome.  

Client LC