Chambers UK 2012: leaders in their field

Caroline Coates – personal injury: mainly defendant (Midlands)

Legal 500 2011

Personal injury: defendant

Buller Jeffries is listed as a first tier firm with its ‘complete and comprehensive understanding of complex litigation’.

Local government

Caroline Coates’ team at Buller Jeffries has a ‘very good understanding of the public sector, and the quality of advice is first class’. The firm largely focuses on handling abuse claims for local authorities.

areas of work, expertise and clients
Acting for insurers and large corporates on disease, product claims and serious fires, Caroline also works with public sector clients on their most serious cases such as historic abuse claims, HSE prosecutions and cases involving a risk to reputation (member of Buller Jeffries’ strategic & sensitive litigation unit).  Increasing work on mediation in large construction disputes and specialism in professional negligence claims, acting on behalf of education professionals for local authorities. Caroline is partner in charge of the Coventry office and divides her time between the 2 offices.  A frequent speaker at training events for clients in-house and at seminars within the insurance industry.

career history/ route to Buller Jeffries
Having started life as a barrister, Caroline joined Buller Jeffries 1993, and became a partner in 1999. Her original career option of archaeologist (aged 9) has been temporarily put on hold.

publications/ professional memberships
Caroline was President of Birmingham Law Society (2008-09) and continues to be an active Council member and on various committees. She has recently set up and chairs the personal injury group for the Society which is very active in the current climate of reform. In addition, she is a member of FOIL (member of the public sector focus team and Coventry court representative), a member of the College of Law Birmingham Branch Advisory board and was Chairman of Coventry and Warwickshire First (2007-08), a network of local professionals. Contributor to local media and to Current Law on legal issues.   In 2002-03, Caroline was chairman of Birmingham Future, a group for young professionals and has an ongoing interest in graduate retention in the region. She has promised not to join anything else just yet.

Contact Details
e-mail: caroline.coates@bullerjeffries.com
direct line: 0121 200 0432

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