Kevin 
 Coakley 

Partner

Catastrophic & Complex Injury

Kevin is a Partner in our Liverpool office with over 25 years’ experience in large and complex personal injury litigation. As one of the founding members of our Large and Catastrophic Injury Group (LACIG), he specialises in high-value claims involving catastrophic injuries, including severe brain injuries, tetraplegia, and amputation.

His caseload typically includes multiple claims valued in excess of £10 million, with many involving periodical payments and statutory funding. Kevin also leads a team of rising stars handling significant claims ranging from £150,000 to £3 million.

Known for his collaborative approach and strategic insight, Kevin is frequently instructed in cases requiring sensitive handling and long-term planning. He is particularly experienced in cases where rehabilitation, capacity issues, and deputyship intersect with legal proceedings. His work often involves close coordination with multidisciplinary teams and statutory bodies.

Kevin is also a trusted advisor to insurers on industry-wide issues. He has been involved in FOIL's Serious Injury Sector Focus Team (SFT), particularly regarding Universal Credit, and has delivered numerous client training sessions on all aspects of complex and catastrophic injury related issue. He is involved in the firm’s response to legal developments involving micro-mobility vehicles.

Notable cases include:

• Colborne v Sumner & Others - A Court of Appeal case involving statutory duties owed by local authorities, where a £22m claim was resolved for £10m with a focus on statutory funding.
• Astley v Moore - A £10m tetraplegia claim settled for £1.6m after positive collaborative progression.
• Roberts v Finn - A catastrophic brain injury case involving a teenage cyclist, settled for £13.75m following comprehensive engagement with the claimant’s legal and medical teams.
• X v Y - A catastrophic brain injury claim involving a 19-year-old, settled after liability was agreed on a 75/25 basis. Key issues included contributory negligence, life expectancy, and statutory funding. The case settled for a £5.7m lump sum and £262,500 PPO, with remaining care costs (~£450k p.a.) met by statutory funding, which the claimant retained in full.