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Edwards & Co. has a strong history of putting clients first and providing them with a quality service. Many of our clients have been with us through several generations of their family businesses, rewarding our loyalty with their own. We are also known for our work which is often at the cutting edge of legal practice - we are proud to have had conduct of some of the most important litigation in the past 30/40 years. This includes:

• Industrial deafness claims - we have conducted more of these claims than any other solicitors' firm in N.I. and are responsible for the increase in damages in general in these types of claim and for persuading the Courts to move outside of the pre-set scale of damages which for so long was restricted in deafness cases.

• Asbestos cases - for many years Edwards & Co. represented employees of Harland and Wolff and were therefore at the coal-face of industrial disease litigation in Belfast. We had conduct of hundreds of asbestos-related claims and represented both "Shipyard men" and, sadly on many occasions, their widows.

• Vibration White Finger - again we acted for many manual workers who suffered from a condition known as VWF, often the result of the use of vibratory tools. In the late 1980's we ran the first test cases in the UK, establishing the liability of the employer for this disease, which led to many successful cases for Plaintiffs.

• Chinook/Kegworth Litigation - we have been involved in several well-known pieces of litigation which also involved public inquiries. Edwards & Co. represented the majority of the widows in the Chinook disaster, and a number of families and individuals in litigation arising out of the M1 Kegworth Air Crash.

• PTSD Group Action - In 2005/2006 we ran the biggest Group Action in Northern Ireland's legal history which also became the longest running civil trial, lasting 102 days in the High Court. This was an action for approximately 5000 police officers suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other psychiatric conditions as a result of their duties in the RUC. The trial finished in July 2006 after several years of preparation. At the time of writing judgment is outstanding. It is hoped that early 2007 will bring news of the Court's decision.

• Jonathan Simms - perhaps one of Edwards & Co.'s proudest moments was the Order of the High Court in December 2002 authorising the revolutionary treatment of Jonathan Simms who suffers from vCJD. We acted for Jonny's parents, Don & Karen Simms in their fight for him to receive the treatment which had been discovered in Japan for use with prion diseases. Jonathan is the longest known survivor of the disease and continues to live at home with his devoted family, almost 5 years after his diagnosis.

• Public Inquiries - We are currently involved in acting for a large number of clients in relation to the series of public inquiries which have been ordered in N.I.

• Public Bodies - Amongst others we act for the Northern Ireland Social Care Council, the regulatory body for social and care workers, carrying out their professional conduct investigations and proceedings.