Hodge Jones & Allen—Joanne Candlish

Hodge Jones & Allen (HJA) has appointed Joanne Candlish, a highly experienced asbestos solicitor, to support its growing reach into the North of England.

An accredited Senior Litigator of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL), Joanne has close to 30 years’ experience, acting for asbestos victims and their families. Based in Liverpool, Joanne specialises in mesothelioma and other asbestos related lung disease claims. She also represents those who have suffered serious and complex injuries caused by road traffic and workplace accidents. She has taken the fight for victims to the highest courts in England.

Joanne’s notable cases include representing one of the lead parties in the landmark Supreme Court case known as the “Employers’ Liability Trigger Litigation”. In this case the Court ruled that the relevant employers’ liability insurance policy which should meet a mesothelioma claim was ‘triggered’ at the time of exposure to asbestos and not at the time of development of the disease, usually many decades later, by which time the business may have ceased to exist. This decision protected the right to compensation for thousands of mesothelioma victims and many more victims of asbestos and other long tail occupational diseases.

Joanne said: “I am really pleased to be joining HJA. The last year and a half has been an extremely challenging year for victims of asbestos exposure. Not only have hospital waiting times increased exponentially but, by its very nature, the COVID-19 virus has exacerbated problems for those with breathing difficulties, and made it harder for people to prove that they have been victim of industrial disease. It is more important than ever to get the right advice to ensure that families are compensated because of the irresponsible and unforgivable negligence of employers and companies.”

Isobel Lovett, partner and head of the industrial diseases team at HJA, said: “We’re delighted to have Joanne join us. Her appointment marks the ongoing expansion of the HJA asbestos team as we build on our successes over the past years, in supporting and representing clients across the country. Joanne is highly regarded within the legal profession as an expert in asbestos litigation, recognised for her empathy, dedication and determination to secure justice for her clients. She is an excellent fit for our team.”