About Lorna Webster
With over 25 years of dedicated experience, Lorna specialises in fighting for individuals and families affected by asbestos exposure, industrial diseases and accidents, including road traffic claims, accidents at work and claims for injured children. Her career is defined by a deep commitment to every client, a meticulous approach to complex legal battles and a passionate drive to secure justice. Whether guiding a grieving family through the tragedy of a fatal accident, ensuring an injured child has their future secured financially, or helping a client face a terminal asbestos related illness, Lorna applies her trademark meticulous precision and profound empathy to ensure her clients receive absolute justice and financial security.
Lorna understands that behind every claim is a human story, often involving families navigating the most difficult moments of their lives. Her goal is to carry the legal burden entirely for her clients, providing clear, compassionate guidance while aggressively pursuing the compensation, accountability and specialised medical care they deserve.
Areas of Expertise
- Asbestos Diseases: Expert handling of all asbestos conditions, including mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis and pleural thickening, for both living clients and in fatal matters.
- Complex Personal Injury: Drawing on a vast background of dealing with and supervising personal injury cases of all types across many years, Lorna’s personal injury work is focused on high-value and fatal matters. This includes serious road traffic accidents, accidents at work, and accidents involving children.
- International Claims: Specialised assistance for pursuing mesothelioma claims in the USA, working closely with expert American Attorneys, for claims arising from contaminated talcum powder and makeup products.
- High-Value Settlements: A proven track record, spanning over two decades, of regularly securing six-figure settlements. For her mesothelioma clients, Lorna also secures agreements to cover the costs of medical treatment not available on the NHS.
Litigation in these fields is highly complex, often involving multiple defendants, historical evidence, highly detailed medical and financial matters and urgent timelines. Lorna relishes these challenges and applies a logical, thorough and relentless methodology to every claim.
Lorna is widely known for driving cases forward rapidly without ever sacrificing detail. Due to her structured preparation and sharp negotiation skills, she always ensures the very best outcome for her clients.
Navigating multi-party claims and legal complexity without fear, Lorna does not shy away from tough cases. She will actively issue Court proceedings whenever necessary to ensure her clients receive the correct level of compensation and a meaningful sense of justice for the situation they find themselves in.
Lorna prides herself on being down-to-earth, friendly and professional, translating complex legal jargon into clear answers for her clients. Because many of her clients are facing terminal illnesses, have suffered serious injuries or are dealing with sudden family loss, she approaches every interaction with the utmost dignity, warmth, and respect.
Lorna’s passion for justice extends far beyond her case work. She helped establish the London Asbestos Support Awareness Group (LASAG) and continues to provide vital legal assistance and training to the charity. She is an active campaigner against unfair legal frameworks. Her work includes launching a national petition regarding unfair asbestos regulations and she has experience of sharing her legal knowledge on live national television, radio, and in publications like The Times.
Notable Cases
- Lorna acted for a lady who had developed mesothelioma as a result of washing her husband’s work clothes. The husband of Lorna’s client had worked at a power station many years ago and unknowingly brought home asbestos dust on his clothing. Lorna’s client washed the work clothes by hand and many years later she unfortunately developed mesothelioma. The case was successful against the husband’s former employers. In addition to the significant compensation the client received, the full costs of private immunotherapy treatment were recovered.
- Lorna acted for a client who developed asbestosis as a result of his previous work with asbestos. He had a significant respiratory disability of which two thirds was due to the asbestosis condition. The case was settled on a provisional damages basis for £80,000. The provisional damages settlement means Lorna’s client received compensation for the asbestosis condition he had but he also retained the protection of being able to bring a further claim in the future should he ever develop a more serious asbestos related condition.
- Lorna was instructed to act for a client who had pursued a claim many years ago for a relatively minor asbestos related condition. The settlement in that earlier claim allowed for a further claim to be pursued if the client developed other specified asbestos related conditions. Unfortunately, the client later went on to develop mesothelioma and so Lorna re-activated the original claim in order to secure compensation for her client in excess of £170,000.
- Lorna was instructed by the widow of a man who had died from mesothelioma. He developed that condition as a result of carrying out work on board ships during the 1960s. The claim was ignored by the former employers until Court proceedings were commenced against them. In addition to the compensation recovered for the widow, Lorna was also able to secure a payment for the hospice that cared for the deceased during the last few weeks of his life.
- Lorna was instructed in a fatal mesothelioma matter. There was little evidence available about how the deceased was exposed to asbestos but Lorna was able to identify and obtain evidence from former colleagues of the deceased. The case settled for almost £300,000.
- Lorna was instructed to act on behalf of a man suffering from mesothelioma. She pursued ten of her client’s former employers and the case was successfully settled for over £140,000.
- Lorna settled a mesothelioma claim for a man who was exposed to asbestos for just two weeks as a 16 year old. The case settled days before the final Court hearing for in excess of £300,000.
- Lorna recovered over £370,000 for a man who developed mesothelioma although he had never directly worked with asbestos materials himself. After investigation it became clear that Lorna’s client was exposed to asbestos as a result of colleagues around him disturbing asbestos lagging when he was in the immediate area.
- Lorna has pursued a number of claims under the Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme. This Scheme makes payment if someone has developed mesothelioma and they would have won their compensation claim had the former employers or their insurers been available to pursue. Where there is no one to pay any compensation in what would have been an otherwise successful claim, the claim is re-directed to the Scheme for payment.
Client Comments
- “Hodge Jones and Allen Solicitors were very hard working on our behalf. Our case was resolved quickly so I can enjoy some of the compensation they obtained for me and my family. Everyone from the solicitors we came in contact with were very nice, pleasent, friendly and reassuring. We were not sure we would get any money, but we did. There is nothing to lose, so I would urge anyone in the same position to give it a go. Lorna she was very nice and very efficient. She explained everything in detail and kept us updated throughout. She came to our house and was very hard-working – we did not have to visit a solicitors. Everything was done by post/email/phone and in person with her visiting us. I am very grateful for what she achieved for me and my wife. She took away immediate money worries and provided some hope for the future.” Greg
- “…I think you made two home visits for interviews and many emails since then. Your persistence and diligence is admirable and you have a delightful personality. I had never expected compensation certainly not at such an amount. Thank you very much.” Avrill Lynne Evison
- “We would like to say we were in total shock of the diagnosis of Asbestos/Mesothelioma. We were told that a solicitors would be in touch via the MacMillian Nurses. Well your lovely lady Lorna Webster came to my house. She made us at ease straight away with explanations information + questions for me to answer at the best of my ability. Excellent with a considerate caring way to put us at ease. Thank you so much for everything ” Ray
- “Lorna Webster was an amazing person a power house. I thank her for everything she has done, her support and empathy have meant so much for us on this sad journey. Lorna said getting justice and recognition is important and what she strives for.” Janet Sparkes
- “Excellent service from start to finish. Lorna informed me of every development as it arose. Lorna’s commitment to her clients is second to none. All eventualities was fully explained and her reassurance ensured a smooth experience from start to finish. Her empathy helped me navigate through a very difficult time in my life.” Linda Cowell
- “I found Hodge Jones & Allen Solicitors especially Lorna and her team to be very understanding and professional in all aspects of my claim. I genuinely appreciate Lorna’s help with my compensation claim. It was impressive work for a job well done by her and her team. Very quick, very efficient. Thank you.” Mick Woods
- “From the beginning, I found your service to be very professional. Overall, I’ve been pleased with everything HJA have done for me!I found Lorna conducted her interview with me in a very professional and calm manner. She took me through everything in a manner that I understood therefore there was no ‘jargon’, which made her visit with me a very pleasant experience. Thank you very much.” Gerry Colk
- “Lorna at Hodge Jones & Allen was great throughout our entire claim. Lorna and her team communicated with us every step of the way and were always there for us when we needed help. I could not recommend Lorna and Hodge Jones & Allen anymore. Thank you for all your help.”
- “I must thank Lorna for her help and guiding someone who is not great at computers and the internet through the process of fighting a claim. A young lady that knows what she is doing and how to help people.”
- “The level of personal care, professionalism and desire to get the very best result was exceptional. They dealt with everything supporting us every step of the way. They genuinely care about their clients and their welfare.”
"From start to finish everyone in Lorna’s team were totally professional and helpful,but no one more so than Lorna. Lorna visited my dad at home so that he would feel relaxed.She explained things in layman’s terms,in order for us to understand the legal technicalities.This was very much appreciated. Lorna showed empathy and understanding,in what was a difficult time for me and my family and I would wholeheartedly recommend Hodge,Jones and Allen. Thank you Lorna, Rae Wall"
- “I would like to thank you for all your hard work that you have put into this claim. I know there have been obstacles and it has not been easy, however, you have left no stone unturned and continued to fight this case despite the difficulties. I cannot thank you enough as this was my husband’s wish to fight this case to help me in the future. As he said “ someone should pay for this”. I would certainly recommend you and your company to fight any claims relating to Mesothelioma. Your service has been first class and handled with such professionalism.” J.C.
- “Lorna made a difficult situation very easy. Her help and understanding saved us a lot of stress. Her advice and commitment was exemplary. She explained things that were easy to understand and she was always available when needed. We feel she is excellent in her job. And very caring, B.T.
- “Dealing with Lorna Webster and her team has been first class, she has just concluded the case surrounding the death of my father due to mesothelioma. I cannot thank Lorna enough, brilliant work by Lorna.”
- “After my Husband’s diagnosis I was given a list of solicitors. For no reason I went for the firm in the middle of the list. I can honestly say it was a good choice. Lorna has been extremely helpful. Nothing was too much trouble. After the initial telephone appointment to discuss the case (due to covid) Lorna has dealt with every issue smoothly and efficiently always keeping us informed of progress. I cannot fault the service we have received.”
- “I found Lorna extremely helpful and caring. Explaining any questions I had, and following up immediately. Her help and guidance were extremely helpful at this traumatic time.”
- “Hodge Jones & Allen have just brought to a successful conclusion a claim made against my late fathers employers for asbestos exposure despite the company he worked for no longer trading. The team at HJA tracked down insurers from many years ago keeping us informed as the case progressed. Very efficient service, I can’t thank them enough, would recommend HJA to anybody finding themselves in similar circumstances to ours.”
- “Dealing with Lorna Webster and her team has been first class, she has just concluded the case surrounding the death of my father due to mesothelioma. I cannot thank Lorna enough, brilliant work by Lorna.”
Memberships
- Accredited Asbestos and Occupational Disease Specialist with the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL).
Career
- Partner: Hodge Jones & Allen, London (Since January 2020)
- Training & Early Career: Thompsons LLP (London and Dagenham)
Personal Interests
Lorna’s two daughters keep her very busy outside of work! She also likes to read whenever she can.
