Meet some of the people and firms behind our Legal Panel: Chris, Lindsay and Russell-Cooke
7 October 2026
Back Up’s Legal Panel brings together legal firms we trust, with specialist experience of supporting people affected by spinal cord injury. The panel is here to help people find a solicitor with the right experience for their personal circumstances.
In this feature, we meet three people from our Legal Panel firms: Chris Stewart at Digby Brown Solicitors; Lindsay Tomlinson at Irwin Mitchell; and Russell-Cooke Solicitors. They share more about their work, their connection to Back Up and why specialist legal support matters after spinal cord injury.
Lindsay Tomlinson, Irwin Mitchell: Back Up’s Legal Panel Spotlight
Lindsay Tomlinson has worked at Irwin Mitchell since 2001 and has 25 years’ experience in medical negligence claims. Lindsay is an APIL-accredited clinical negligence specialist with particular expertise in spinal injury cases, including claims arising from negligent surgery and delayed diagnosis of cauda equina syndrome.
Lindsay has secured multi-million-pound settlements for clients but also understands the importance of getting answers and ensuring wider patient safety lessons are learned where there has been poor care.
Lindsay works alongside colleagues in Irwin Mitchell’s Serious Injury team who specialise in helping those who have suffered an injury in an accident, abroad, and in the workplace. Lindsay and the wider teams are also supported by Support and Rehabilitation Coordinators, who help clients with their rehabilitation needs from the outset, as well as a dedicated welfare benefits team.
What do you value most about working with Back Up?
“I love working with Back Up as I share their mission to improve the lives of those living with a spinal cord injury and get them the support they need to move forward in life”.
What would you say to someone looking for specialist legal support after spinal cord injury?
“If you feel like something isn’t right, or if you feel like something might have gone wrong in your medical care, speak to me. Irwin Mitchell offers free legal consultations that are at no risk to you and can help you understand your options”.
Why is specialist support for people affected by spinal cord injury so important?
“Rebuilding your life after suffering a spinal cord injury can be a complex journey that can be difficult to navigate if you don’t have the right support in place. We’ll not only help you with your legal case, but we’ll also signpost you to all the charities and organisations that can aid you in your recovery journey as well as assist with your rehabilitation needs.”
Chris Stewart, Digby Brown Solicitors: Back Up’s Legal Panel Spotlight
Chris Stewart is a Partner at Digby Brown Solicitors, Scotland’s largest personal injury law firm, and heads the firm’s Serious Injury department. With more than twenty years’ legal experience, Chris leads a specialist team handling some of the most complex and sensitive spinal injury cases where long-term care, rehabilitation and financial security are essential.
He is recognised by leading independent legal directories, including Chambers & Partners and Legal 500, as one of Scotland’s leading serious injury lawyers and is consistently ranked among the leaders in his field. He is also a member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL).
Chris combines outstanding legal expertise with a compassionate, client-centred approach. He is committed to securing the best possible outcomes while supporting clients through what is often one of the most challenging periods of their lives. Beyond his legal practice, he has spent many years supporting the spinal injury community through charity work and events.
What is your role and specialist area?
“I’ve been with Digby Brown for more than 20 years and for the last decade I’ve led the firm’s Serious Injury department. This is one of the few personal injury legal departments in Scotland which specialises in helping people who have acquired a serious spinal, brain or limb loss injury from an accident.
We know a spinal injury can happen to anyone at any age and can have a huge impact on a person’s life and affect their quality of life if they’re not given the best legal and medical support early on in their recovery. This is why we don’t just focus on a client’s financial security but we look at ongoing care, rehabilitation and ensuring their home is functional.
As head of the department, I take on some of the most serious and complex cases, but I also guide and mentor team members to ensure the next generation of serious injury lawyers at Digby Brown remain the best in the country.”
How do you support people affected by spinal cord injury?
“Digby Brown is Scotland’s leading personal injury law firm. Not only do we give the best legal advice and guidance, we also work with families to arrange extra support like rehabilitation, home adaptations, benefits advice and support with essential bills.
Over the years we’ve helped children, teenagers and adults of all ages who have a spinal cord injury. Our specialist legal expertise and in-depth understanding of healthcare services means many clients can access the best medical and physical rehabilitation experts early on in their recovery and we can arrange financial support in the more serious cases.
Supporting the spinal injury community is important to the firm and everyone in the team. As well as making regular visits to the National Spinal Injuries Unit in Glasgow to support activities and events, we also sponsor the wheelchair skills course run by Back Up because we know how important it is for people with a spinal injury to access this support early on in their recovery.”
What experience do you have in this area?
“For more than 20 years I have handled complex and highly sensitive cases at the highest civil courts including the Court of Session and UK Supreme Court. Beyond our work in the courts, we have helped our clients transition from hospital into bespoke adapted accommodation with appropriate care and support packages to help tackle the challenges their injury presents.
As well as my own recognition from charities and independent legal publications as a leader in serious injury law, we have some of the most experienced and highly regarded specialist lawyers in the country.
Moira Kay and Stuart Barton, Partners in the Serious Injury team, are the only two lawyers to have been recognised and accredited by APIL as dual spinal and brain injury specialists in Scotland.”
Why is this work important to you?
“Our role is very much about helping people and we are with them from the very beginning of their journey.
A spinal injury case can run for three or four years from start to finish so myself and the whole department go beyond the role of legal advisor and become quite involved in clients’ lives.
Often the first time we meet a client is when they are in hospital when they’re scared and worried about what their future will look like.
Then at the end of the case our final meeting can be in their home we’ve helped adapt for them and they feel positive about the future because they have financial security and ongoing care in place to help them lead a fulfilling life. Over the years I’ve worked with a number of charities and that has reinforced to me that recovery is not just about medical treatment or legal outcomes – it’s about dignity, independence, confidence and community.”
Is there anything personal you would like people to know about you?
“Away from my day-to-day legal work, my involvement with the spinal injury community has always been very important to me.
Over the years I have been fortunate to work closely with Back Up, Spinal Injuries Scotland and Horatio’s Garden, all of which do incredible work supporting people and families affected by spinal cord injury. Being able to get out and take part in activities might seem like a small step, but for someone adjusting to life after a spinal injury it can make a real difference and help people regain confidence, reconnect with everyday life and feel less defined by their injury. The charities I’ve mentioned have shaped the way I approach my work as a serious injury lawyer and have helped me understand the wider impact of spinal injury.
I genuinely care about helping people rebuild their lives in the fullest sense.”
Image of Russell-Cooke Annual charity golf day
Russell-Cooke Solicitors: Back Up’s Legal Panel Spotlight
Russell-Cooke is a leading London law firm with a long-standing commitment to supporting people whose lives have been affected by serious and life-changing injuries.
As a member of Back Up’s Legal Panel since 2022, our specialist personal injury and clinical negligence team helps clients secure access to rehabilitation, ongoing care, suitable accommodation and the financial support they need following a spinal cord injury.
Our relationship with Back Up stretches back many years, reflecting a shared commitment to helping people rebuild confidence, independence and opportunity after injury. We are proud to work alongside Back Up and support its vision of a world where people with spinal cord injury can reach their full potential. In addition to our legal panel membership, we actively support Back Up’s fundraising efforts and are delighted to have hosted a charity golf day in September 2026 in aid of the organisation. The event will bring together clients, contacts and colleagues to raise funds for Back Up’s vital services and awareness of the challenges faced by people living with spinal cord injury.
What do you value most about working with Back Up?
What we value most is Back Up’s unwavering focus on empowering people to live independently and confidently after spinal cord injury. Their practical support, peer mentoring and community connections make a genuine difference at every stage of recovery. As lawyers, it’s rewarding to work alongside an organisation that shares our belief that the right support can help people achieve their goals and live fulfilling lives.
What would you say to someone looking for specialist legal support after spinal cord injury?
Look for a solicitor with specialist experience in spinal cord injury claims and a proven understanding of the challenges you may face. The right lawyer will do more than pursue compensation; they will work to secure early rehabilitation, specialist care, suitable accommodation and the support needed to maximise independence and quality of life. A spinal cord injury can have lifelong consequences, so it is important to have advisers who understand both the legal and practical issues involved and can support you throughout the journey.
Why is specialist support for people affected by spinal cord injury so important?
A spinal cord injury can impact every aspect of a person’s life, as well as the lives of their family and loved ones. Specialist support helps people navigate complex medical, practical, emotional and financial challenges, ensuring they receive the care, rehabilitation and advice they need. Early access to expert support can be transformative, helping individuals regain confidence, rebuild independence and plan positively for the future.
To find out more about our Legal Panel, including the firms involved and how to get in touch, visit our Legal Panel page. We encourage anyone looking for legal support after spinal cord injury to speak to two or three firms before deciding who is right for them.
