Hodge Jones & Allen

Hodge Jones & Allen is a London solicitors founded in September 1977 by Henry Hodge, Peter Jones, and Patrick Allen, initially specialising in legal aid work and favouring radical causes.^[1] The firm has a reputation for taking on human rights cases.^[2] They cover crime, family law, clinical negligence, housing, civil liberties, dispute resolution, and personal injury cases.^[2]

History

Mr Allen had been discussing the possibility of setting up a legal aid firm to offer services to people in dire need with fellow trainee Peter Jones. Working for Mayfair lawyers Offenbach, the pair were keen to finish their articles and take on radical law work, but they needed a third partner. In stepped Henry and the plan was sealed over a few pints of ale in Covent Garden’s Freemasons Arms pub. They identified areas in which they could use their legal training in the pursuit of social justice, and Hodge, Jones and Allen’s work in criminal, family and housing law begun

Camden New Journal, 2009^[3]

The firm was founded with the aim of supporting social justice in September 1977 by two trainee lawyers at Offenbach, Peter Jones and Patrick Allen, and Henry Hodge, the ex-boyfriend of Allen's then girlfriend Maggie Rae. The three became duty solicitors in north London police stations. The firm first had offices on Camden High Street, chosen because they were in an area of social deprivation and not far from the law courts.^[3]

They moved to offices double the size in Twyman House, Camden Road, in November 1997, with 75 employees. The offices were opened by Cherie Booth, who worked for the firm early in her career.^[4][5] They launched their first website shortly after the move.^[6]

The firm now employs around 200 people at its offices on North Gower Street, Camden, with an annual turnover of £12 million. The senior partner is Patrick Allen, one of 35 partners.^[2]

Notable clients

Disasters

• Victims of the Marchioness ferry disaster^[1]
• Victims of the King's Cross fire^[1]

Health

I feel sad because it’s been a long struggle. And I feel sad that some can’t trust the answer that we’ve come up with. But it hasn’t been a close decision insofar as it’s been finely balanced. The fact is that we haven’t got the causation or the negligence.

—Patrick Allen on the collapse of the firm's Gulf War Syndrome litigation in 2004^[7]

• Families who claimed their children were harmed by the MMR vaccine, part of the MMR vaccine controversy.^[8][9]
• Families of girls alleged to have been harmed by Cervarix, the cervical cancer vaccine.^[10]
• Gulf War veterans who claimed that they suffered from Gulf War Syndrome. The case collapsed in 2004.^[11]

Military

• The family of Scottish soldier Private Jason Smith, who died of heatstroke in Iraq in August 2003.^[12]
• The family of Private Phillip Hewett, who died in Iraq in July 2005 when the Snatch Land Rover he was travelling in was hit by a roadside bomb.^[13][14]

Civil liberties

• Miners during the 1980's strike^[2]
• Winston Silcott, who was accused and acquitted of the murder of Keith Blakelock during the 1985 Broadwater Farm riot.^[2]
• Vincent and Michael Hickey, two of the Bridgewater Four.^[15]
• Members of UK Uncut who were arrested in Fortnum & Mason during a 2011 protest.^[16]
• Neville Lawrence, the father Stephen Lawrence, who was murdered in a racist attack.^[17]
• A woman arrested and denied bail for allegedly handling stolen goods after the 2011 England riots.^[18]

References

1. "Sir Henry Hodge". The Telegraph. 22 June 2009. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
2. Pugh, Andrew (21 June 2010). "Hodge Jones & Allen". The Lawyer. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
3. Carrier, Dan (25 June 2009). "Sir Henry used legal expertise to fight for needy". Camden New Journal. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
4. The New law journal 147. Butterworth. 1997. p. 1318. Hodge Jones & Allen's new premises in Twymen House, Camden Road, London, were officially opened by Cherie Booth QC at a reception held on November 17.
5. "Legal aid lawyers becoming disillusioned, claims Booth". The Lawyer. 25 November 1997. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
6. "Hodge Jones' move takes it into the 21st century". The Lawyer. 9 February 1997. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
7. Robins, Jon (23 February 2004). "The blame drain". The Lawyer. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
8. Todd, Peter (23 January 2001). "Why my child won't have the MMR jab". Guardian. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
9. "MMR vaccine litigation update". Hodge Jones & Allen. 5 January 2007. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
10. Foggo, Daniel; Rosie Millard (4 October 2009). "What has cervical cancer drug done to our girls?". The Times. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
11. Dyer, Clare (5 February 2004). "Gulf war syndrome: the legal case collapses". Guardian. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
12. Peev, Gerri (3 May 2007). "Family hit out after soldier's heatstroke death blamed on 'obesity'". The Scotsman. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
13. Gibb, Frances (11 July 2009). "Soldier's mother wins court fight over Snatch Land Rovers". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
14. Rayner, Jonathan (11 March 2010). "Jocelyn Cockburn acts for families of soldiers killed in Iraq". Law Society Gazette. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
15. Dyer, Clare (29 January 2007). "Freed Bridgewater pair fight deduction of jail 'lodging costs'". Guardian. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
16. Rayner, Jonathan (7 April 2011). "Human rights partner acts for London Fortnum & Mason protestors". Law Society Gazette. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
17. Hughes, Mark; Andy Bloxham (18 May 2011). "Stephen Lawrence: two charged over murder". The Telegraph. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
18. Curtis, Polly (22 August 2011). "Riots: Metropolitan police planned to hold all suspects in custody". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 August 2011.

External links

• Official website
• Hodge Jones & Allen LLP, The Legal 500