Mark Douglas

Mark started his career with Crutes in 1989 and was offered position of trainee in 1990. He became qualified and admitted as a member of ILEX at the age of 22. Subsequently, he was admitted as a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives in 1998. He has a wide range of experience dealing with civil litigation matters specialising in defendant personal injury litigation. He acts for a number of insurance clients and local authorities dealing with employers, public and occupiers liability cases. He has specialist knowledge dealing with disease litigation to include asbestos related matters, deafness, hand/arm vibration syndrome and occupational asthma. Mark also routinely acts on behalf of clients in relation to contribution/indemnity proceedings.

He is also the editor of Crutes 'Publicity' newsletter which is periodically distributed to both our insurer and insured clients, providing articles on a variety of relevant issues.

Email: mark.douglas@crutes.co.uk | DDI: 0191 233 9737

David Foster

David joined Crutes in 1993 and was admitted as a Member of the Institute of Legal Executives in 1999.  Following qualification as a Fellow of the Institute, David further qualified as a solicitor in 2006.

David undertakes a wide range of civil litigation, in particular personal injury cases of most types.  Much of his case load involves defending local authorities in relation to employer’s liability cases.  He has experience of dealing with claims of high value and those involving complex quantum arguments.  He has represented local authorities at inquests.  David is a member of Crutes' Health and Safety/Regulatory Team, which advises and defends a number of clients in relation to health and safety prosecutions brought against them. David is also a member of Crutes' police team, and his work involves defending police authorities in relation to claims at wrongful arrest and assault.

David regularly attends ALARM seminars and has provided training to local authorities, and insurers.

Email: david.foster@crutes.co.uk | DDI : 0191 233 9742

Joanne Kingsland

Joanne studied at Sheffield University qualifying as a Solicitor in 1989. Following graduation she returned to the North East and has worked for Crutes since January 1995.

Joanne works in the Public Services’ Department acting on behalf of a number of local authorities spread across the north of England, including clients in the Yorkshire area, dealing with a range of public, occupiers’ and employers’ liability claims. She has a particular interest in dealing with claims against schools including sporting accidents and claims involving children’s play. She has also talked at various training sessions and seminars on this subject.

Joanne’s specialist area of work is dealing with highly sensitive and high profile claims involving child abuse, failure to educate and bullying. She recently conducted the case of C v Middlesbrough Council [2008] resulting in a landmark House of Lords’ decision on limitation.

Email: joanne.kingsland@crutes.co.uk | DDI : 0191 233 9727

Simon Matthews

Simon joined Crutes specialist claims team in 2007 from national rival DLA Piper, bringing with him a wealth of experience and knowledge in defending claims arising from industrial disease, fatalities and product liability. Simon has a particular specialism in claims arising from exposure to vibration, noise, dust and fumes and chemicals, as well as work related upper limb disorders. He also acts for insurers and self-insured’s in catastrophic claims including periodical payments and complex case management issues.

Simon was involved for the defendants in the case of Gray v Vesuvius where the defendant successfully argued that the exposure to vibration was not “near daily” as required by the guidance of the time. He has also secured a number of discontinuances on arguments relating to medical causation in vibration induced CTS, de minimus in Deafness and HAVS, plateauing in HAVS and employer date of knowledge in HAVS. Simon was a member of the steering committee on behalf of the Contractors Group in the British Coal HAVS Group litigation. He has also conducted other groups of cases involving claims arising from noise, vibration and dust.

Simon is a member of the Executive Committee of the Law Society Dispute Resolution Section. He regularly provides training to clients, insurers and others on a range of topics as well as writing articles for various industry publications. Simon also speaks at Regional and National seminars including the Quarry Products Association Health & Safety Seminar on the subject of silica related respiratory diseases in 2006 and the 4th HAVS Symposium in Newcastle upon Tyne on 10th October 2008. Simon also co-organised the 2nd and 4th HAVS Symposia.

Email: simon.matthews@crutes.co.uk | DDI : 0191 233 9734

Paul Nickalls

Paul studied Law and European Legal Systems at university in both Norwich and Leiden in the Netherlands, qualifying as a solicitor in 1997. He joined Crutes in August 2008 as an assistant solicitor and was promoted to associate status in April 2009.

Paul heads up the Private Client Team at our Stockton on Tees office where he is responsible for the day-to-day management of the department as well as building upon the reputation that it has gained over many years for providing excellent private client services in the Teesside and North Yorkshire area.   

Paul has a broad range of experience in relation to drafting wills, providing inheritance tax planning advice, administrating estates, preparing lasting powers of attorney and advising on issues involving the Office of the Public Guardian and the Court of Protection. Since qualifying as a solicitor, Paul has acted for some of the region’s wealthiest individuals.

Paul regularly gives seminars to local retirement groups.

Email: paul.nickalls@crutes.co.uk | DDI: 01642 623442

Jane Varvell

Jane is a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives who qualified in 2000, and has worked at Crutes for ten years. Working in the Public Services Department, she has over thirteen years experience in Civil Litigation and is responsible for working with, and for, a number of Local Authorities and their insurers. The majority of Jane's work involves defending claims against Local Authorities dealing with public liability, road traffic, employer’s liability and disease claims, including asbestos, vibration white finger and rhinitis.Prior to joining Crutes she gained experience dealing with employer’s liability claims including generic industrial disease work notably for the British Coal Corporation.

Email: jane.varvell@crutes.co.uk | DDI : 07792 248 044