The Firm - An Introduction

Thompsons Solicitors is a trade union law firm which has been helping to protect the interests of working people for over 90 years.

History

Thompsons was formed in 1921 by W H Thompson. In 1974 the founder's sons, Robin and Brian, created two firms, 'Robin Thompson & Partners' and 'Brian Thompson & Partners'. Those two firms came together on 1 May 1996 and created the firm of Thompsons Solicitors. This new firm is now the UK's most experienced personal injury and employment rights practice.

Size

Thompsons current national network of offices covers Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and England. Thompsons is the only law firm to offer such comprehensive national cover.  For the most up-to-date list of our offices and details of where they can be found please see where to find Thompsons offices.

Successes

Thompsons consistently wins over £200 million every year in compensation for clients. It has led the field in many areas of personal injury and employment rights law. For example:

Road traffic accidents - Our specialist serious injuries team have secured several multi-million pound settlements for road traffic accidents.
Asbestos - Thompsons pioneered the establishment of legal liability in the field and recovered the first compensation for asbestos contracted by a bystander.
Stress injury - Thompsons won the first, and three out of the first five cases, of compensation for stress at work.
Passive smoking - Thompsons brought the first ever successful cases.
Clinical negligence - Thompsons has won millions of pounds for victims including one single award of £495,799.

Commitment

Thompsons Solicitors is uniquely committed to and wholeheartedly supports the trade unions and the labour movement. It is our belief that joining a trade union is the best way to protect your interests at work and brings with it an exclusive and comprehensive package of legal services.

Our vision statement from our partnership deed says:

"Our vision is always to be the leading legal advisers to the Trade Union & Labour Movement and to the victims of injury."

Our partnership deed also states:

"We do not seek to maximise the income of our partners. Instead, we seek a fair return for our work, consistent with high quality legal services at modest costs."

Thompsons will not, on principle, act for insurance companies or for employers that are not trade unions. We only act for injured people, employees and trade unions.

Thompsons' Union Legal Service

The legal package we can offer includes:
a free personal injury service available to union members and their family
holiday injury cover
conveyancing
wills
free legal advice
employment services.

Innovation

At any one time Thompsons will be running over 70,000 cases. To progress cases Thompsons utilises a sophisticated computerised case management system, developed by and for the firm.

Working with our trade union clients Thompsons has developed a call centre uniquely committed to the trade union movement and equipped to offer telephone access arrangements for union members from reporting a personal injury to accessing any legal service offered by a union as well as 24 hour legal advice.

Additional Information

Thompsons also produce a wide range of Information and Resources on employment rights and personal injury issues as well as a Weekly LELR and the Labour and European Law Review.