Joe Speed

Joe is a partner at Horwich Cohen Coghlan and heads up our office in Birmingham. He represents clients across the country and those who are abroad but who have suffered life-changing injuries whilst in England and Wales.

He has worked in law since 2006 and has a superb eye for detail which gives him the edge when handling difficult cases for our clients.

Joe excels at working on high-value and complex claims and has handled actions for clients suffering from wide-ranging and life-changing injuries, including:

Catastrophic, serious and complex brain injuries.
Complex spinal cord injuries.
Upper and lower limb amputations.
Multiple serious orthopaedic injuries.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.
Fatal injuries.
Cases involving children and secondary victims.
Criminal injuries resulting in life-changing impairments.

Joe always endeavours to approach cases with sensitivity and takes time to help his clients understand the legal process in the hope of making it less daunting.

Joe and his team routinely secure significant settlements, including multi-million pound settlements, but adopts the same level of care and compassion to every client who he gets to meet and represent.

The vast majority of clients that Joe represents experience a combination of issues and pressures, ranging from physical and emotional pain; issues affecting their ability to live independently; pressure and strain on their home life, relationships and employment; and financial difficulties arising from the life-changing event they have had to endure. Joe meets his clients when they are often in the most difficult circumstances they have ever faced and at their most vulnerable. He places a real emphasis on trying to secure rehabilitation for every client at the very first opportunity and to ensure that, where desired, clients are signposted to all avenues of help and support.

Joe is proud to represent and get to know so many truly inspirational clients and to try and help them in any way he can on their individual journey. He is passionate about ensuring his clients get the right settlement and strives to give realistic advice at every step of the way to help his clients understand the likely outcome.

Independent Legal Guide – The Legal 500

Joe has been ranked as a Leading Partner in the 2026 edition of the pretigious independent legal guide, the Legal 500. Independent feedback Joe received includes:

“Joe Speed is a stand out partner. He is very experienced and gets great results.”

What Joe's clients say

I wanted to reach out and personally thank you and your team for all that you have done throughout this long journey...

Your kindness, diligence, and constant communication kept us informed and cared for over the last five years since my cousin passed away. It has been a difficult road, but your compassion and professionalism have made a lasting difference.

Please extend my gratitude to everyone who played a part in bringing this matter to resolution.

Thank you once again for everything you’ve done.

Joe's Client - VP

Very brilliant team of solicitors. From right after my road accident, which resulted to a spinal injury, to the closing of my case, they were very understanding and supportive. They kept me informed of all the details of my case. My solicitor Joe Speed and his assistant Lisa took their time to explain to me in a way that I could understand.

Sharon - 5* Review on Review Solicitors

Following our family member being in hospital after a serious head injury, we were unsure and worried about what the future would hold. In an instance life changed for all of us. Taking one day at a time we never thought at any point about professional help through a solicitor, but after some advice at the hospital we ended up in contact with Joe Speed and his team at HCC Solicitors.

We were initially worried as we didn’t want it to be about financial gain, well what can I say, Joe and his team were the furthest away from our worries. They understand the person injured is the most important thing, concentrating on rehabilitation and supporting our family has always been their priority, as a family we can honestly say we wouldn’t have got through the past year without their help and support throughout it all, genuine people that care for those they are helping. Thanks again Joe and his team.

Seriously Injured Client

I was involved in a serious car collision through no fault of my own and received a serious injury, broken pelvis and damaged femur. I was put in touch with Joe Speed, he was a recommendation made to me. To add insult to injury the other drivers insurers accepted no liability, Joe stood firm alongside me and explained that this was common and this I found reassuring and professional of him. I found Joe to be honest professional and clear about our position every step of the way even if it was to state that things were unclear because of the various dynamics of an insurance claim. My word of advice to anyone going through a similar experience would be this: find an honest reliable and professional solicitor like Joe Speed, I write this today as some guidance for anyone going through something similar but also as a credit to Joe Speed, I would recommend him to anyone.

Seriously Injured Client

We will be forever grateful to you Joe for all the support you have given to us over the last 4 years, on our journey through life we meet many different people, but some, you will always remember, and Joe we will always remember you. In this fast and troubled world we live in Joe, to me you are like a breath of fresh air, when needed you reach out to others, thank you Joe for reaching out to us. We will always be grateful, and we will keep in touch.

MA & Family

I don’t believe that I could have done this without you and the support that you have given me.

Seriously Injured Client

A client who was a pedestrian struck by a vehicle said following the conclusion of her claim: “I would like to thank you for your patience, kindness and helpfulness throughout these last weeks. You made the proceeding less of an ordeal than it might have been, and I count myself fortunate to have had you acting for me.”

Seriously Injured Client

Thanks Joe for your understanding on all levels. You really are a wonderful team at HCC. Glad I chose you.

Seriously Injured Client

I just wanted to write to you to say thank you so much for all your efforts on my behalf…I know it was not always easy, but I will always be grateful for the considerable and sensitive treatment I received from you and your colleagues and of course your professionalism in handling my claim.

I advised [a family member] to use HCC because I have been so impressed with how I was looked after…I’m delighted to say [HCC were] able to connect with [my family member who] felt immediately supported.

Now that they are in contact I too feel the journey through this awful crisis will feel less onerous and easier to speak about. I’m so glad I found HCC it has been the turning point to better days in many respects. Thanks for helping me stay strong through unimaginable circumstances. Thanks again for everything Joe.

We wanted to take a moment to express our thanks and gratitude to you, Lisa, and the entire team for your efforts and support. Your collective efforts, alongside [the insurer’s] contributions, have ensured that our child had the best possible care and support throughout [the] rehabilitation journey, for which we are immensely thankful. Please also extend our thanks to the HCC team for their contributions.

You’re always so calm/rational and always there - really appreciate everything you’re doing for us 🙏

SS (the family of a client who suffered a serious brain injury)

You have been compassionate, professional and understanding throughout, and really made a huge difference to this difficult time for both of us. You must see people at their worst moments, and you’ve hugely helped us get over ours, though this recovery will continue your input has been invaluable. You’ve been great at supporting and explaining it all to us.

DM, a family member of our client

Thank you ever so much for your help, Joe. You’ve been really supportive and helpful, and really kind in explaining everything and walking us through what needed doing while being very realistic and empathic. Your support has been really beneficial throughout this whole process.

After my brother died in a car accident, everything felt like it stopped. The world kept moving, but for our family, time just froze. Grief has a way of making even the smallest decisions feel impossible, and suddenly we were faced with things we had never prepared for - legal paperwork, insurance claims, and questions we didn’t even know how to ask.

That’s when my cousin had a call with Joe Speed.

At first, I didn’t expect much. I thought they would just handle the formalities and speak in complicated terms we wouldn’t understand. But instead, they did something more important. They listened. They understood that this wasn’t just a case or a file. It was a person we lost. A life that mattered.

They took care of everything we couldn’t face. From dealing with insurance companies to guiding us through legal processes, they carried a burden that felt too heavy for us. They explained things patiently, never rushing us, never making us feel like just another client.

In a time when everything felt chaotic and unfair, they brought a sense of structure and calm. They gave us space to grieve without the added pressure of fighting battles we weren’t strong enough to handle.

Losing my brother changed us forever. Nothing can undo that loss. But having someone step in and support us through the aftermath made a difference we will never forget.

Sometimes help comes not in grand gestures, but in quietly standing beside you when you need it most. And in one of the hardest moments of our lives, that’s exactly what they did.

Joe's Client - NP

Thank you so much for your help and support. I could not have asked for a better solicitor. You have been so kind and patient even in times that I couldn’t understand, you took your time to explain to me in a way I could understand.

Joe's Client - SK

Very brilliant team of solicitors. From right after my road accident which resulted to a spinal injury, to the closing of my case, they were very understanding and supportive. They kept me informed of all the details of my case. My solicitor Joe Speed and his assistant Lisa took their time to explain to me in a way that I could understand.

Sharon - 5* Review on Review Solicitors

Following a head on collision in 2019 with an uninsured at-fault driver, I was recommended HCC. I was assigned a fantastic solicitor, a Mr Joe Speed who was was professional and genuinely invested in my case.

I required major surgery which impacted my career. Although the case did carry on for a good while (during Covid) and it seemed like there was a lot of hold ups due to the heel dragging of the Motor Insurers Bureau and the courts chasing the other driver to resolve the case, Mr Speed was able to secure a very complete and comprehensive settlement figure for me that will hopefully secure my financial burdens when further surgery on my injuries is required.

I highly recommend HCC and in particular, Mr Speed and wouldn't hesitate to hire them again.

Luke - 5* Review on Review Solicitors

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