Swindon-headquartered personal injury law firm Novum has continued its expansion by opening a flagship office in Southampton specifically for people affected by asbestos-related illnesses.
Novum, a sister business of M4 corridor law firm Thrings, has taken on the specialist asbestos team from Southampton firm Lamport Bassitt to open the office, which will focus on asbestos compensation claims. 
The move means Novum now has offices in London, Bristol, Bath, Salisbury, Plymouth, Reading, the Isle of Wight and as well as Southampton and Swindon, where it shares Thrings’ office off Drakes Way.
It also comes as the UK reaches the peak of an asbestos disease epidemic. Around 2,500 people die each year in the UK from mesothelioma – higher in any other country and twice the number of people killed in road traffic accidents.
Former Lamport Bassitt partners Lynn Yeates and Peter Hilditch, who have more than 30 years’ experience working with clients diagnosed with serious asbestos-related diseases between them, join Novum as partners.
The pair have for many years worked closely with asbestos support group HASAG, which support asbestos disease sufferers across the South of England.
Novum already has a dedicated team of specialist industrial disease lawyers which have successfully obtained millions of pounds in compensation for people who have contracted serious illnesses, such as mesothelioma or asbestosis, after being exposed to asbestos in the workplace.
Novum Law Chief executive Thomas Sheppard said: “The launch of our new office in Southampton is an exciting development for us. We wanted to ensure Lynn and Peter were as close as possible to the many clients they look after in the area and we therefore decided to launch a new office in Southampton to continue the fantastic work they do.
“We believe in a strong personal connection between our lawyers and their clients and families and so having a base in Southampton makes good business sense and ensures that more people suffering from asbestos-related diseases and their families have access to expert legal advice and representation.
“Southampton is recognised as the commercial and cultural capital of the South Coast and is already well serviced by good law firms. But we believe that our hands-on approach will be attractive to many lawyers and future clients and so we will be looking to introduce our other specialist personal injury services into this office.
“Lynn Yeates’ and Peter Hilditch’s experience and expertise in asbestos cases combined with their compassionate approach is absolutely first class and I know they will both be a huge asset to the team.
“We are always on the look-out for likeminded, talented lawyers to join us as we continue with our ambitious expansion plans and I’m looking forward to seeing our business grow further in 2016.”
Lynn Yeates added: “Novum Law is committed to helping people with serious illnesses, such as mesothelioma, due to past asbestos exposure. Both myself and Peter will continue this fantastic work in Southampton and the surrounding area, offering the highest level of legal expertise to ensure people suffering from asbestos-related illnesses and their families get the advice, support and compensation they deserve.”
Novum Law also specialises in serious injury and medical negligence. Its teams of specialist solicitors act for people who have been involved in serious accidents or have a serious illness, however and whenever they occurred.
