Meet the Team
Shane joined the business as a trainee solicitor in 1995, qualifying in 1997 and eventually becoming Partner, Director and now CEO. He specialises in all forms of personal injury including all aspects of industrial disease.
Shane Hensman
CEO
Catherine joined Cordus Law in November 2020 having previously worked for some of the UK’s leading Claimant and Defendant firms. Catherine has an extensive knowledge of all aspects of civil litigation with a particular expertise in personal injury and complex litigation. Catherine leads the Operations for the Industrial Disease department and was appointed as a company Director in April 2022.
Catherine Clayson
Operations Director
John is a Chartered Accountant who has worked in commercial insurance for over 30 years. He was Group Financial Director and de facto CEO of a large provincial insurance broker and financial services group for much of that time. As well as being Finance Director of Cordus Law, John has a number of Non- Executive Directorships in the insurance sector.
John Steele
Finance Director
Colin joined Cordus Law in March 2021. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales and after 36 years with accountancy firm PKF Cooper Parry, he now acts as a Non-Executive Director for a number of professional service businesses. 24 years as a PKF Cooper Parry Partner included 9 years as Chairman and 6 as a Board Member - working with a wide variety of privately owned businesses.
Colin Shaw
Chairman
Umair is a Senior Associate Solicitor. He has gained vast experience in different areas of personal injury since 2013, and specialises in military deafness claims. Before joining Cordus Law in 2021, he has worked with industry leaders in this field and has gained key skills which are essential for handling claims of such nature. He always keeps his clients at the heart of his practice. Outside work, he devotes his time to family, gym, and swimming.
Umair Virk
Senior Associate
David studied law at Leeds Met University and graduated in 2011, completing the Legal Practice Course in 2012. David qualified as a Solicitor in 2015 and has dealt with industrial disease matters and clinical negligence cases. David joined Cordus Law in September 2023 and has dealt with Noise Induced Hearing Loss and Military deafness claims obtaining compensation for clients.
David Nicholson
Senior Associate
James joined Cordus Law in January 2023 with nine years previous experience restoring companies, particularly for the purposes of personal injury claims. Since joining the firm, James has expanded his role and now assists on military deafness claims. In his spare time, James enjoys reading and watching rugby league.
James Ausobsky
Company Restorations Specialist
In 2011, Nikita graduated from the University of Hull with a 2:1 degree in Law. Nikita joined the company upon graduation and in 2020 qualified as a Legal Executive. Away from the office, Nikita is kept busy by her young family and pet dog Cooper but, when time permits, she enjoys the outdoors and playing sports; namely netball, golf, and skiing.
Nikita Hill
Chartered Legal Executive
Ansar qualified as a Solicitor in 2018 while working for one of the country’s largest industrial disease practices in Cheshire. He provides straightforward and easy to understand legal advice without confusing clients with jargon. Ansar gained his legal qualifications from Nottingham Law School and has been acting for claimants since 2014 in both pre-litigation and post-litigation industrial disease claims.
Ansar Anwar
Solicitor
Paul qualified as a Solicitor in 2015 and has worked predominantly in industrial disease throughout his career. He is skilled in finding commercial solutions to complex legal problems and enjoys working with clients and defendants to ensure that matters are resolved to the satisfaction of all Parties. Paul is well versed in the intricacies of military deafness claims, handling such cases with energy and empathy.
Paul Marsh
Solicitor
Claire Thomas is a Solicitor within the Ministry of Defence claims team. Claire read Law at Cardiff University and then again at University of Bristol West Of England. She has worked in Personal Injury since 1999, starting out as a Paralegal, training as a Fellow of Institute of Legal Executives and then qualifying as a Solicitor in 2007. Claire has worked for both Defendant and Claimant and has dealt with a range of Employer Liability, Public Liability , Road Traffic, Industrial Disease and Military Claims.
Claire Thomas
Solicitor
Sara joined Cordus Law in 2022 having specialised in EL/PL and ID work since 2010. She is experienced in litigation in both fast-tract, multi-track and MOD work. Sara enjoys reading, hiking and travel.
Sara Williamson-Bradbury
Associate Litigation Executive
Wendy is an experienced case handler who joined the company in 2003. She specialises in noise claims induced hearing loss claims, but also has experience handling claims in other areas of personal injury.
Wendy Wallace
Litigation Executive
Matthew is an experienced case handler specialising in Military Hearing Loss Claims and Industrial Disease claims including claims for Noise Induced Hearing Loss, Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome and a range of other conditions. Matthew has a wealth of Fast Track and Multi Track Litigation experience and also has experience in other areas of Law including Professional Negligence and Commercial Litigation
Matthew Barlow
Litigation Executive
Craig brings over three decades of experience in handling personal injury claims from both a Claimant and Defendant perspective, often involving serious and complex injuries and complex litigation issues. He has extensive expertise in both Fast Track and Multi-Track cases and has worked across a broad range of legal areas, but mainly Civil Litigation. He now specialises in representing current and former military personnel in personal injury claims against the Ministry of Defence, with particular focus on cases involving Noise Induced Hearing Loss and other service-related injuries.
Craig Norris
Litigation Executive
Naomi graduated from the University of Bolton in 2018 with a LLB (Hons) Law degree and went on to do the Legal Practice Course with Master of Law in Legal Practice at the University of Law. Naomi has primarily worked on Industrial Disease claims and more recently Military claims, specialising in noise-induced hearing loss.
Naomi Ogbebor
Litigation Executive
Alex brings over a decade of experience in handling personal injury claims, often involving serious and complex injuries. He has extensive expertise in both Fast Track and Multi-Track cases and has worked across a broad range of legal areas, including Commercial Litigation and Medical Negligence.
Alex has successfully taken cases through to the Court of Appeal. He now specialises in representing current and former military personnel in personal injury claims against the Ministry of Defence, with particular focus on cases involving Noise Induced Hearing Loss and other service-related injuries.
Alex Howe
Litigation Executive
Amanda studied Sociology and Criminology at the University of Liverpool before going on to do her Graduate Diploma in Law and Legal Practice Course. She has worked in personal injury for over 10 years specialising in Employers Liability and Public Liability work and Military claims. Outside of work much of Amanda’s time is taken up by her two young children and pet dog Sweep.
Amanda Formby
Litigation Executive
Emma joined Cordus Law in 2023, and is an experienced case handler specialising in Noise Induced Hearing Loss claims. Emma now specialises in representing current and former military personnel in personal injury claims against the Ministry of Defence, with particular focus on cases involving Noise Induced Hearing Loss and other service-related injuries.
Emma Shepherd
Paralegal
Bethany joined the firm in March 2020 where she started as a personal injury secretary. Bethany has since gained experience in industrial disease claims and has been working as a case handler since January 2021 running her own industrial deafness caseload. She has experience with pre-litigated and litigated cases. When away from work Bethany enjoys making memories with her family.
Bethany Hinchcliffe
Paralegal
Olivia graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University in 2012 with a degree in Law. She joined the firm in 2013 and assists clients with progressing their industrial disease claims. Outside of work, Olivia enjoys time with her family.
Olivia Clark
Paralegal
Poppy graduated from the University of Lincoln in 2024 with a LLB (Hons) Law degree. She joined Cordus Law in 2024 as a Paralegal and her ambition is to become a qualified Solicitor.
Poppy Hensman
Paralegal
Beth achieved a BTEC diploma in Applied Law in 2019 and graduated from University in 2023 with a Bachelor of Laws with Honours in Law and Criminology degree. She joined Cordus Law in 2024 as a Paralegal.
Beth Cook
Paralegal
Charlie achieved A level’s in Law, Biology and Chemistry in 2024 whilst working part time in an administrative role. He joined Cordus Law in August 2024 as a Legal Administration Assistant and very quickly moved into his current role as a Paralegal. He enjoys mountain biking, attending the gym and playing the guitar.
Charlie Dobson
Paralegal
Following her graduation from Newcastle University with a degree in English Literature, Katie joined Cordus Law in 2017. Katie has worked exclusively in the noise induced hearing loss sector since joining Cordus Law and is currently training to become a qualified Solicitor.
Katie Hensman
Trainee Solicitor
