Tom is an established member of Weightmans' professional negligence and insurance disputes team, as well as having key roles in the professional discipline and public inquiries teams. Although based in Newcastle, Tom acts for clients across the country.
Tom has been ranked as a Tier 1 "next generation partner" for both professional negligence and professional discipline in the latest round of the Legal 500 and described as an “exceptional lawyer: very quick to react to developments and knows his clients very well”: "calm and methodical" with "excellent client care" and "wise beyond his years, Tom is “a very good lawyer who is prepared to put in all the hours to get to the final article". Considered "very attuned to his clients' needs" and “the go-to name for construction disputes”, Tom is considered by his clients to have “exceptional ability to analyse cases and plan strategies”, with “a calm approach to difficult issues” able to “marry great professional capability and skill with empathy”. Considered “very competent in managing a diverse team and keeping the clients focused on the issues” with “outstanding knowledge of the sectors in which he practises, and that cut across several legal disciplines (crime, regulatory and public law)”, Tom and his team have been described as “market-leading authorities on specialist areas of law, including building control and regulatory matters emerging from the Grenfell inquiry. Their support and expert technical advice have been invaluable and well beyond the competition”.
The mainstay of Tom's current practice involves complex professional negligence construction disputes, with a particular focus on cladding and related façade claims arising in the wake of the Grenfell Tower Disaster. As well as being instructed on the Grenfell Tower Inquiry itself for one of the Core Participants, Tom has also assisted various professionals involved in disputes concerning allegedly defective cladding/façade products, including one of the ‘top-20 cases to watch for 2024’ as well as acting on associated recovery actions.
Alongside this, Tom has an ever-expanding practice in disciplinary/regulatory and alternative forums work, and is currently acting on various matters before disciplinary bodies, public inquiries and appeal panels. Tom has in recent years taken a regulatory prosecution to trial on a previously untested point of law, obtaining a favourable result for the client, and has been instructed on a number of novel, construction-based Judicial Reviews. In recognition of his unique expertise in this area, Tom is now regularly retained to conduct risk audits and investigations for clients, both in crisis situations, but also proactively to identify and eliminate potential risks before they materialise.
Tom also continues to be instructed on a broader range of disputes spanning the traditional and emerging professions and is regularly instructed by a wide range of insurers, and other clients.
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Tom Thurlow is an exceptional lawyer: very quick to react to developments and knows his clients very well.
Legal 500, 2026 -
We have used Tom Thurlow and he and his team have demonstrated themselves to be market-leading authorities on specialist areas of law, including building control and regulatory matters emerging from the Grenfell inquiry. Their support and expert technical advice have been invaluable and well beyond the competition.
Legal 500, 2026 -
Tom Thurlow has outstanding knowledge of the sectors in which he practises, and that cut across several legal disciplines (crime, regulatory and public law).
Legal 500 2025 -
Tom Thurlow has an exceptional ability to marry great professional capability and skill with empathy.
Legal 500 2025 -
Tom Thurlow has great expertise in the construction industry and a calm approach to difficult issues.
Legal 500 2025 -
Tom Thurlow has outstanding client management skills. He keeps them happy while ensuring that their expectations are managed, and counsel can get on with their tasks.
Legal 500 2025 -
Tom Thurlow and team go above and beyond in their work dealing with us as a client, they have become our go-to advisers on anything we require solicitor guidance, and they also are always on hand when we need them.
Legal 500 2025 -
Very competent in managing a diverse team and keeping the clients focused on the issues.
Legal 500 2024 -
Exceptional ability to analyse cases and plan strategies. A rising star.
Legal 500 2024 -
The go-to name for construction disputes.
Legal 500 2024