We act for people living with mesothelioma and for families where a diagnosis has already resulted in bereavement. Priority is given to taking the patient's own account of exposure while they are able to give it, because that evidence is often central to the claim.
Can I Make a Claim?
- You or a family member has been diagnosed with mesothelioma.
- There was exposure to asbestos, whether at work, through a family member's clothing or in a contaminated building.
- A claim may proceed even where the exposure was brief, because there is no recognised safe level.
- Where the patient has died, the estate and dependants may bring a claim.
Situations We Are Instructed On
- Exposure in construction, engineering, shipbuilding and utilities
- Work in schools, hospitals and other buildings containing asbestos
- Secondary exposure from a spouse or parent's work clothing
- Short-term exposure during maintenance or refurbishment work
- Multiple employers over a long working life
- Cases where an employer no longer exists and insurers must be traced
What Compensation Could I Claim?
- Damages for pain, suffering and loss of amenity, reflecting the seriousness of the diagnosis
- Immunotherapy and other treatment costs where privately funded
- Care, nursing and equipment needs, which can escalate quickly
- Loss of earnings and, for dependants, loss of financial dependency
- Funeral expenses and statutory bereavement damages where applicable
What can be recovered in any individual case depends on the medical evidence and on the losses that can be proved. We do not estimate figures before that evidence is available.
Evidence That Helps
- An early, detailed witness statement from the patient about exposure
- Histology and oncology records confirming the diagnosis
- Employment history and insurer tracing results
- Colleague and family statements corroborating the working conditions
- Care records and evidence of increasing support needs
How Long Could the Claim Take?
Mesothelioma claims are actively expedited. Where liability is established, interim payments can often be obtained relatively quickly so that treatment and care needs can be met without waiting for final resolution.
No Win No Fee Funding for This Type of Claim
A No Win No Fee agreement — known in law as a conditional fee agreement — is a written contract between you and your solicitor. Under it, our fee for the legal work becomes payable only if your claim is successful. It is a way of funding a claim without paying our costs up front. It is not a promise about the outcome of your case, and it is not available in every matter.
How a No Win No Fee agreement works
- Assessment first. We review the facts, the likely evidence and your prospects before deciding whether we can offer this type of funding.
- If the claim succeeds. The opponent is usually ordered or agrees to pay a substantial part of your legal costs. A success fee — a percentage uplift on our charges, capped by law in personal injury work — is deducted from your compensation. The percentage will be stated in your agreement before you sign it.
- If the claim does not succeed. You would not pay our fee for the legal work covered by the agreement. You may still be responsible for certain disbursements and, in some circumstances, the opponent’s costs, which is why insurance arrangements are discussed with you at the outset.
- Deductions and other costs. Expenses such as medical reports, court fees, expert evidence and any insurance premium are dealt with separately. We will explain which of these may be deducted from your damages and how they are calculated.
- Alternatives. You may already have legal expenses cover through a household, motor or credit card policy, or through a trade union. We will ask about this because it may be a better option for you.
Who may be eligible
Eligibility depends on the individual case, including whether another party appears to be legally responsible, whether the injury and losses can be evidenced, and whether the claim is brought in time. Some claims are not suitable for this form of funding. We will tell you honestly if we cannot act on this basis, and explain the alternatives that may be open to you.
The exact terms — including the success fee percentage, the disbursements involved and what would happen if the claim were unsuccessful — are set out in writing and explained to you before you decide whether to proceed. Nothing on this page is a guarantee about the outcome of a claim or a statement that any particular funding arrangement will be available. Please take advice about your own circumstances.
Speaking to a No Win No Fee Solicitor
The first conversation is an assessment, not a commitment. A solicitor will listen to what happened, identify who may be legally responsible and consider what evidence is likely to be available. In the context of mesothelioma claims, that usually means looking closely at how the incident occurred, what records exist and how your injury has affected your work and daily life.
Once we understand the case, we can discuss funding. Where a conditional fee arrangement is appropriate, we will explain the terms, the deductions and the risks in writing so that you can make an informed decision. Where it is not appropriate, we will say so and set out any alternative route available to you, including existing insurance cover or union support. Either way, you will know where you stand before any work begins.
Mesothelioma Claims FAQs
- Should I start a claim while undergoing treatment?
- Early advice is important. Your own account of exposure is valuable evidence, and the courts have procedures to progress these claims urgently.
- My relative has died. Can the family still claim?
- Yes. Claims may be brought by the estate and by dependants, and any inquest material is usually relevant.
- What if the employer cannot be identified?
- A statutory scheme exists for certain diffuse mesothelioma cases where no employer or insurer can be traced. We will explain whether it may apply.
- How quickly can funds be released?
- Where liability is admitted or established, interim payments can frequently be secured well before the claim concludes.
Speak to our team
Tell us what happened and we will assess the claim and explain the funding options that may be available to you, in writing, before you decide how to proceed.