MANCHESTER solicitors have joined the ranks of international law firms by winning the right to tender for the biggest legal cases in the country.

Abney Garsden McDonald may not have offices In New York or London, but they have been welcomed on to the Law Society's 20-strong national board for multi-party action cases. This means that the Cheadle Hulme firm - who have proven their abilities by handling child abuse cases Involving up to 300 complainants - could take on the biggest cases in the UK, which in the past have included tobacco companies and fighting for those involved in the Piper Alpha oil rig disaster.

The company with only one office In Manchester, are currently tackling 25 multi-party action cases. They will now join the prestigious panel as the only regional solicitors in the city and could tackle cases on behalf of claimants in their thousands.

Firms on the panel are allowed to  carry out the work with legal aid on behalf of a number of people who have suffered injury or disease in the same or similar circumstances and come together to bring one action.

Other solicitors will work on individual cases with Abney Garsden McDonald. They will take an overview role.

Peter Garsden, who applied for the position on behalf of the firm, said: "There are only 20 solicitors in the country on the panel. It is a prestigious position and we are flattered that it rewards the group's litigation team for their considerable hard work.

"We only started doing this work in 1995 and we could already prove that we have sufficient experience at every stage and can call ourselves specialists. We are joining the ranks of the multi-national firms and are amongst the big boys.

It is a compliment for our group action team who have worked so hard on several high profile child abuse cases, where the sensitivities and needs of survivors are so important."

The company at Station Road, Cheadle Hulme, was formed in 1985 by Paul McDonald and Peter Garsden, also a founder member of the Association of Child Abuse Lawyers.

The firm has now a staff of 40 including ten solicitors in the Child Abuse Department.