James Shrimpton

James qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales in 1996. He has been a partner with Kennedys since 2008. James is based in the Birmingham office and is part of the liability division.

James has extensive experience of defending employers’, public and product liability claims involving complex liability issues, contractual issues and multiple defendants across the leisure, manufacturing, construction, healthcare and energy sectors. His clients range from local authorities, insurers and self-insured corporates.

He deals with high value losses involving brain damage, amputations of arms and legs, spinal injury, chronic pain and psychiatric injury as well as claims for occupational stress.

In addition James, specialises in defence of Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecutions and inquests.

He has been closely involved with the defence of civil claims and criminal health and safety defence and in June 2015 was instructed to handle a catastrophic roller coaster crash on the Smiler ride at Alton Towers. Due to the strong connections Kennedys has with the client James was able to quickly assemble a team which was fully familiar with this insured and the insurer to support on the criminal investigation and civil claims during this unprecedented period of international media scrutiny.

His long standing experience of the often complicated claims and his knowledge of both civil and criminal matters means that he is well placed to assist clients in the wide variety of claim scenarios.

James is a member of the Forum of Insurance Lawyers and the Health and Safety Lawyers Association.

Qualifications

• Qualified in England and Wales in 1996