Melloney Harbutt

Melloney Harbutt, Legal Director in the Mesothelioma and Asbestos Disease team, has nearly 20 years’ experience of successful claims for clients with asbestos-related disease. She is accredited by the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) as an Asbestos Disease Specialist and Senior Litigator. Her expertise is recognised by both the Legal 500 and Chambers UK Legal Guide, as well as by prominent asbestos support group, HASAG, whose clients she represents.

For the last 20 years, Melloney has specialised in helping individuals and families who have been affected by asbestos exposure, whether at work, school, in public buildings or in their local environment, to recover compensation for life-changing asbestos-related disease, such as lung cancer, pleural thickening, asbestosis and mesothelioma. She is best known for her specialist expertise in complex, asbestos-related lung cancer cases.

Melloney has acted for clients with asbestos-related disease from negligent asbestos exposure in a wide range of trades and occupations. She succeeds in complex and challenging claims for individuals whose asbestos-related disease arose from indirect or low exposure, such as from living near an asbestos factory or from contact with asbestos dust on a relative’s clothing.

Melloney is a highly skilled litigator and succeeds in fiercely contested and evidentially difficult cases, undeterred by obstructive defendants, through her meticulous research, persistence and hard work, whilst demonstrating exceptional compassion and care for her clients and their families.

Melloney’s dedication is demonstrated in the results she achieves for her clients, providing the quickest and best outcome for each client’s needs, often obtaining early admissions of liability, substantial interim payments and lifetime settlements with guaranteed funding for future private immunotherapy treatment. Where an immediate settlement may not compensate fully for a future diagnosis of malignant asbestos disease, Melloney protects her client’s right to return to court for additional compensation by securing a provisional damages order.

Where compensation is not available via a civil claim, Melloney helps eligible mesothelioma sufferers to apply for payments under the Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme (DMPS).

In claims arising from the injured person’s premature death from mesothelioma or asbestos-related lung cancer, Melloney supports the deceased’s bereaved, dependent family, providing representation at the inquest and guiding them through the fatal injury compensation claims process. Where a hospice has provided end-of-life nursing care for her client, Melloney negotiates with the defendant insurers to secure a voluntary repayment of the hospice’s end-of-life care costs, in addition to compensation for the deceased’s bereaved family and dependants.   

Away from the office, Melloney is an active supporter of charitable causes and participates regularly in fundraising events, including endurance challenges, such as the Thames Path Challenge. She is committed to raising awareness of the devastating impact of asbestos-related disease, sharing her knowledge through articles, industry updates and regular briefings for healthcare and medical professionals.