Hugh Preston

The focus of Hugh's practice is on personal injury and clinical negligence, involving a wide range of claims from £15,000 up to £1m+. He is also well known for his expertise in product liability claims, notably those involving drugs and prostheses, and he has a particular interest in cases involving cross-jurisdictional issues.

Hugh also undertakes a significant volume of commercial and employment and discrimination law cases. His commercial cases include sale of goods, civil fraud, insurance law issues, general contract law and competition/competitive tendering disputes. Hugh's caseload in employment and discrimination law covers the whole spectrum of the jurisdiction of the Employment Tribunal.

Hugh speaks and writes frequently on his areas of specialism.

Recent cases

• Smith v Northamptonshire County Council [2008] EWCA Civ 181: Court of Appeal ruling on PUWER 1998
• Broughton v North Lincs [2007] £3.75m birth injury claim
• Iraq litigation [2007]: several related claims arising out of injuries sustained in Iraq by private security personnel
• Declan O'Byrne v Aventis Pasteur SA [2007] EWCA Civ 966; (2008) PIQR P3 (CA) & O'Byrne v Sanofi Pasteur MSD Ltd (formerly Aventis Pasteur MSD Ltd) (C-127/04) (2006) 1 WLR 1606 (ECJ): Limitation in product liability
• Barclays Bank v Amstrong [2007] QBD:£1.4m contract/guarantee dispute
• Atkinson & Ors v Redcar BC & Ors [2007]: equal pay group litigation: major group action against local authorities in the North East of England
• Baybut & 73 ors v Eccles Rigg Country Park Ltd (ChD), Times, November 13, 2006: group litigation - applicability of the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999
• Jamaluddin v Bumiputra Commerce Bank [2006]: unfair dismissal claim against foreign bank