Consultant Solicitor and Head of Personal Injury
Mark Hambling
Department: Personal Injury
Mark is a Consultant Solicitor and Head of the Personal Injury Department at Rogers & Norton Solicitors. His accreditations include the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) and is a Legal 500 Recommended Lawyer 2019.
Background, Qualifications and Areas of Practice and Expertise
I joined Rogers & Norton Solicitors at age 20, after completing my A levels in Norwich and spending a short period of time working for Norwich Union. Having been recruited by Philip Rogers, who was then senior partner.
I joined Rogers & Norton Solicitors as a Trainee Legal Executive, qualifying as a Fellow of the Institute in 1996 and passing the Legal Practice course to qualify as a Solicitor on the 1st October 1998, achieving one of the highest marks for the Legal Practice course in the country. Following qualification, I was privileged to be offered Partnership with Rogers & Norton Solicitors in April 1999, subsequently becoming a Director on the incorporation of the Partnership.
In March 2026, I stepped down as a Shareholder and Director, and now continue as a Consultant Solicitor and Head of the firm’s Personal Injury Department.
My areas of specialism include personal injury arising from accidents at work, in public places, and on the road, as well as claims involving animals. I have undertaken cases involving assault and criminal injury claims being pursued in the Criminal Injury Compensation Scheme (the CICA scheme) at both first and upper tribunal level.
I also undertake clinical negligence work, handling cases at all levels of injury, ranging from birthing injuries causing lifetime consequences to misdiagnosis and delayed treatment.
Through my work in personal injury, industrial disease, and clinical negligence, I will represent clients at inquests, often as an information gathering exercise for the claim which may be subsequently pursued.
I also advise on cost issues involving both claims in personal injury, but also wider issues, having recently advised and been successful in defending a client’s liability for costs in a claim under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974.
I have very significant experience handling the defence of large credit hire claims and the investigation and defence of fraudulent road traffic claims for self-insured defendants, achieving very substantial savings in both negotiation and defended court actions.
I run cases in all levels of courts and tribunals.
Notable cases include:
Personal Injury
- Smithurst v Sealant Construction [2011] EWCA Civ 1277
An appeal involving causation of future losses following a cauda equina. - Rust-andrews v First Tier Tribunal (Social Entitlement Chamber) and Another The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (Interested Party) [2011] EWCA Civ 1548
An appeal to the Court of Appeal to establish the correct test to be employed when assessing damages under the 2001 Criminal Injuries Compensation scheme.
I have also acted in many cases in the High Court, achieving successful outcomes at both trial and in settlement negotiations and mediations, including:
- A very significant road traffic accident causing the death of a mother, successfully recovering dependency damages for the bereaved children at a mediation. This case, on approval by the court, is believed to be the first occasion a High Court Master has approved the use of a discretionary trust for the benefit of the class of dependents.
- A serious road traffic accident in North Suffolk involving multiple parties and a highly contentious dispute between the drivers, recovering damages for both the adult and child passengers and achieving appropriate compensation for a multitude of life-changing injuries.
- An electrocution case involving life-changing injuries, recovering damages with a grossed-up value in excess of £4,000,000 and including awards for periodical payments and provisional damages to allow for a deterioration occurring. This case was fully prepared for 10-day trial with multiple experts in the High Court and settled at our offer on the Friday before the trial was due to start on the Monday. The claim included significant accommodation, future treatment and lifelong care claims.
- A life-changing accident at work where my client fell from a roof, suffering both orthopaedic and neurological injuries, ceasing the Claimant’s work capacity and giving rise to significant accommodation and care requirements. The claim was negotiated robustly by all parties and settled in negotiations, which I undertook without the involvement of counsel.
Inquests
- Mr M - Inquest into the death of an oil rig worker when he fell from an oil platform following significant errors with the management of the platform. I handled the inquest myself, undertaking all cross-examination and submissions before a jury.
- Mr D – inquest into the death of the patient following a complete failing on the nursing and clinical staff to analyse fluid charts and the failure to note the fluid retention following liver surgery.
- Ms W – A very significant RTA on the A11 involving an analysis of the contributing factors, including drink and psychiatric well-being. Both drivers died and I handled a very highly charged inquest.
- Numerous inquests into the death of former employees of carpenters, electric power stations and chemical factories leading to deaths from exposure to asbestos and diagnosis of mesothelioma.
- Mrs J – Inquest into the death of a patient whose condition was not appropriately investigated and diagnosed despite her own GP telling the hospital of the likely condition. Art 2 human rights issues engaged.
Costs
- Pennington v Creation Financial Services v Pentagon Limited G9QZ6C77 (Blackpool County Court).
- A defence of a claim for costs in excess of £14,000 in the small claims court, seeking to disapply the rule of the small claims court of costs. A full defence of the costs claim was achieved. This case is being reported widely as it is of interest to many commercial organisations and overturns a long line of contrary and poorly argued authorities.
Interests
Outside of the office, I enjoy music of many genres and attending concerts, comedy clubs and theatre productions. I can often be found in the most obscure small music venue, either watching my son play or seeking out the latest new band to follow, or watching my daughter enjoy her performances on the stage.
My main sporting hobby is cycling, and there is really nothing better than getting out on my bike in the fresh air and getting lost in the Norfolk countryside. I have undertaken many sportive rides for charity, including Ride London and the hills of Surrey. I regularly cycle with my clients and the barristers who I work with. It is an excellent way to discuss cases and a fantastic way to put clients in a relaxed environment. What can be better than a cycle ride followed by a meeting on the case with some excellent food and a pint of the local ale? Cycling is excellent rehabilitation for my clients and a means of staying in contact long after the case has settled.
