Chambers Guide to the legal profession 2008 lists Underwoods as one of the leading employment and personal injury firms. About the firm it says:

'Underwoods is a highly influential flagship firm and a model for other law firms. It provides a superlative service and with its unparalleled standards of client care Underwoods' glowing reputation is fully deserved. It has an innovative and commercial approach and provides clients with secure websites for 24-7 access to their files.

In South Africa the firm operates as Underwoods South Africa. Underwoods specialises in civil litigation and is particularly well known for its employment, commercial, personal injury, costs and public and administrative law work. It is unique in giving clients an appeal procedure to a QC funded by Underwoods Solicitors in the event of a client being unhappy about terms of settlement in a fixed fee or contingency fee case, and in publishing its monthly fee-earner audit results on its website and paying £50 each and every time the firm's four core client care promises are not met.

It is one of the very best firms and now has significant commercial and tax-planning practices. It has Investor in People accreditation. Kerry Underwood leads a team of talented specialist solicitors. The firm is a consultant to Commonwealth governments, government departments, local authorities and law firms large and small, and now has a substantial Costs Law Department.

Former Judge Michael Cook (Cook on Costs) is now a consultant, giving Underwoods an unrivalled costs expertise. Kerry Underwood is a member of the Employment Law Advisers Appeal Scheme (formerly the Employment Appeal Tribunal Advice Scheme) and is on the Equal Opportunities' Commission panel of solicitors.

The firm is on the Disability Rights' Commission panel of solicitors. Michael Cook and Kerry Underwood are leading authorities on costs.

Michael Cook is the author of Cook on Costs and editor of Litigation Letter, general editor of Butterworths Costs Service and was Honorary President of the Association of Law and Costs Draftsmen and was President of the London Solicitors' Litigation Association. He is a former Circuit Judge and High Court Costs' Assessor. He contributes to Cordery on Solicitors.

Kerry Underwood is author of the best seller, No Win No Fee No Worries, and of Fixed Costs (2nd edition July 2006). He is editor of the Costs, Funding and Referral Fees section of Butterworths Personal Injury Litigation Service. He also conducts seminars for the University of Cambridge and the Law Society and contributes to radio, television and to legal journals. He is a former Chairman of Employment Tribunals and is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

Robert Males lectures for a number of concerns and is a member of the Civil Justice Council's Working Party on Fixed Costs, and is a fellow of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies. Robert Males was nominated as Best Trainer at the LawCareers.Net/Trainee Solicitors Group Awards 2005.

John Bartholomew has joined the firm as a partner in the Commercial Department specialising in all aspects of commercial property work as well as general business advice and tax planning for individuals..'

Read Kerry Underwood's profile on the Chambers Guide website:
Kerry Underwood

The Legal 500 for 2007 (the current issue) says of Underwoods Solicitors:

'Underwoods was founded in 1991 by Kerry Underwood. It has developed into a highly respected practice in its core areas, through a combination of first-class legal expertise and a belief in close personal relationships with clients, as well as an understanding of their concerns. It does not compromise on standards. It also makes effective use of marketing techniques, becoming the first solicitors firm to advertise on prime-time television in 1991. It is currently running a series of adverts on ITV to promote its family department..

Underwoods is accredited by the Law Society Personal Injury Panel and is a member of the Disability Rights Commission Legal Panel and Equal Opportunities Commission Panel. It has Investors in People accreditation. It has been an innovator in the offshoring of legal work and gives clients secure around-the-clock access to their files on its website. The firm has a branch in South Africa called Underwoods South Africa..

Underwoods is passionate about access to justice and will try to take on a claim whenever it can, but, if a claim is not good enough, it will tell the client.

Kerry Underwood was a part-time chairman of employment tribunals from 1993-2000 and is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He is a member of the Employment Appeal Tribunal Advice Scheme and the Equal Opportunities Commission Panel and stood for parliament in the 1979 general election. He appears regularly on radio and television and in the national press in relation to legal topics and is the author of the classic book.'

Read the partner's profiles on the Legal 500 website:
Kerry Underwood
Robert Males
John Bartholomew

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