Expertise

Cheryl’s experience includes running and leading teams on complex, high-value claims, in particular acting for patients with brain and spinal injuries. She also has experience in claims involving multiple fractures, psychological trauma, fatal accidents and clinical negligence.

Cheryl deals exclusively with cases which involve a cross-border element and specialises in conflicts of law issues, as well as in International Convention claims including the Montreal and Athens Conventions. She often acts for bereaved families in fatal accident claims, including representing families during the inquest.

Experience

• Represented the claimant in Hutchinson v Mapfre España Compañia de Seguros Y Reaseguros SA and another[2020] EWHC 178 (QB).
• Represented a man in his early 30s who was hit as a pedestrian while in Rome, securing an approved significant eight-figure settlement.
• Represented a teenage US national who was hit as a pedestrian while visiting family in the UK, securing an approved settlement for her and defeated a liability challenge ahead of trial. This case involved facilitating access to specialist advice on transfer of protected funds to from the UK courts to the US.
• Represented a teenage coach passenger who sustained an incomplete spinal cord injury while on a school trip in France.

Recognition

Cheryl has been ranked in Chambers UK and the Legal 500 consistently throughout her career.

• “Cheryl can perform at the highest level in very complex jurisdictional matters. She is terrific with clients and easy to work with.” (Chambers UK)
• “Cheryl Palmer-Hughes is a name to note for her expertise in overseas medical negligence matters, as well as international convention claims.” (The Legal 500)
• “Cheryl has exceptional knowledge of cross-border clinical negligence cases and she is meticulous in her prep.” (Chambers UK)

Career

Cheryl trained at Irwin Mitchell, where she qualified in 2011. She was promoted to Associate in 2014, Senior Associate in 2018 and Partner in 2020. Cheryl moved from Birmingham in 2017 to set up and lead the firm’s Manchester International Injury team.

Accreditations and Memberships

Cheryl is a member of the American Association for Justice, where she serves on the Board of Governors as Revitalisation Officer for the UK. She is a specialist in Accidents Abroad and an accredited Senior Litigator with APIL. Cheryl also sits on the Executive Board of PEOPIL and is the honorary co-secretary of the Manchester Law Society. In addition, she chairs the Society’s specialist Personal Injury and Medical Negligence Focus Group and actively contributes to its International Practice Group. She is regularly invited to speak at both domestic and international conferences on issues relating to cross-border litigation.

Foreign Jurisdictions

Cheryl has experience worldwide and has been involved in cases throughout Europe, including Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Finland, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, the Isle of Man, Italy, Jersey, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain and Switzerland. In the Middle East, she has worked in Egypt and Turkey. Her experience in Asia includes India, China, Mauritius, Pakistan and Thailand. In Africa, she has been involved in cases in Algeria, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Tunisia and Zambia. In North America, she has experience in Barbados, the British Virgin Islands, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Mexico. In South America, she has worked in Saint Martin and Venezuela and she also has experience in Australia.

Personal

Cheryl lives in Cheshire and has connections across the North West. In her spare time she enjoys yoga, keeping fit, cooking, spending time with family, following Formula 1, visiting the coast and taking photographs of her cats.