London personal injury specialist OH Parsons has acquired the industrial disease department of medical negligence firm Neil Hudgell Solicitors.

Staff from Neil Hudgell Solicitors have been redeployed to the new practice. Both firms said the deal will help them focus on their own specific areas of growth.

Paul Meehan, partner at OH Parsons, said: ‘Given our background in trade unions, we have the expertise and experience in dealing with industrial disease claims, from asbestos-related illnesses to hearing loss and vibration white finger, that stands us apart from other firms,’ he said.

He described industrial disease as ‘a growing area of work for a firm like ours. Claims for asbestos-related diseases and illness were supposed to peak initially in 2010, then in 2015, and now predictions are for some time between 2020-2025’.

Neil Hudgell (pictured) said: ‘This represents a good piece of business for both firms. For us, in many ways it is the opposite of what we have been doing in recent times, as we have been buying, rather than selling off work. Industrial disease is a specialist, niche area of work which need proper expertise and focus to be a success.’