Oliver Shaw

I began my career in personal injury law over 25 years ago. During that time, I’ve developed experience across various case types, covering a breadth of injuries and complex circumstances. I currently focus exclusively on catastrophic cases, but I’ve also worked in operational management, overseeing teams on a broad range of personal injury claims.

I’ve always been drawn to work that makes a real difference during some of the most difficult times in people’s lives. For me, serious injury work is about more than compensation — it’s about helping people regain stability, independence and dignity after life-changing events.

Throughout my career, I’ve supported clients and their families in cases involving brain injuries, multiple trauma, fatal accidents and complex rehabilitation needs. What continues to motivate me is building long-term relationships and guiding people through uncertainty, while securing the support they need for the future.

I believe people value honesty, consistency and accessibility, especially during what can be a stressful time. Many of people come to us during periods of enormous stress and uncertainty, so clear communication and trust are essential. I take the time to understand not just the legal aspects of a case, but how an injury has impacted my client’s daily life, family and future. Serious injury claims are often long and complex, and I aim to guide clients through that process in a practical and supportive way, always focused on achieving the best possible outcome.

Many clients remember far more than the legal result itself. They remember feeling how they were treated, whether they were listened to, understood and supported. Being able to help clients access rehabilitation, care and long-term security is incredibly rewarding, particularly seeing them regain confidence and stability after such a traumatic experience.

ANON

I supported a client and their family after they suffered a serious brain injury in a road traffic collision. A significant part of the work involved securing rehabilitation and helping my client access the support they needed to maximise their independence and quality of life. It was so important to build trust with both my client directly, and their wider family during what was an extremely challenging period.

H v Chief Constable of Merseyside Police

My client was the widow of an elderly man, who sadly died after being struck by a police car at a pedestrian crossing. The police car didn’t have its lights or siren on and was travelling over the speed limit at the time of the crash. The elderly man had been using the crossing whilst the signal was on red. The circumstances were further complicated by a set of temporary traffic lights that had caused a queue of vehicles to form over the crossing. Despite the complications, I secured a substantial compensation package for the lady I was supporting which gave her some financial security for the future.

NS v The Estate of BO

My client had suffered a traumatic brain injury in a road traffic collision when he was 12 years old. He came to us 12 months after his 21st birthday and after a previous solicitor had told him the claim was unlikely to succeed. This also happened to be during the COVID pandemic, which further complicated procedures. There were significant challenges in getting evidence from the police and his previous solicitors. There were also complications in tracing the defendant and his insurers, so long after the incident. Enquiries came to a head when we learned that the defendant had sadly committed suicide during the pandemic. We eventually settled the case successfully and secured substantial compensation for the client – who was given the opportunity to lead a better quality of life.

BGP (Minor) v CS

My client had suffered a severe brain injury at just 3 years old, when a motorcycle struck the side of the car she was travelling in. Due to the extent of her injuries, the case could not be settled until she was 18 years old. We settled successfully with a £20 million compensation package. This meant that her parents could have some reassurance about the future – particularly in being able to cover our client’s future care needs.

Our team brings a wide range of experience across catastrophic injury law, rehabilitation and client care. This allows us to deal effectively with highly complex cases, while keeping a personal approach. Serious injury cases require careful coordination across legal, medical and support professionals, and we work closely together to keep everything running smoothly.

Working at Fletchers has allowed me to develop my practice in serious and catastrophic injury law, working on complex and meaningful cases. I value building long-term relationships with clients and working alongside colleagues who share a commitment to achieving positive outcomes.

I’ve been able to further develop my specialism, particularly in brain injury and polytrauma claims, while also contributing more widely through mentoring and involvement in broader initiatives.

Outside of work, family is very important to me, and I enjoy spending time with my wife and children. I have a strong interest in health, fitness and wellbeing, and in my spare time I enjoy playing guitar, reading and exploring new technology – particularly the growing role of AI.

I also lead one of Fletchers’ Employee Led Networks, ‘Enable’, supporting colleagues and their families who are affected by disability or long-term health conditions.