Background
I qualified as a solicitor in 2002 but have 20 dedicated years of experience in conducting personal injury claims exclusively on behalf of injured Claimants. I am an Associate Solicitor dealing predominantly with claims arising from road crashes (mainly acting for motorcyclists) where life changing injuries have been sustained. My case load consists of high value catastrophic injury cases (including amputation, very serious orthopaedic fractures, traumatic brain injury involving an incident that took place in France, chronic pain and a claim where a motorcyclist sadly died following a road crash. I have extensive experience of representing clients who have suffered a range of injuries and of complex liability and medical causation disputes. I was part of the legal team on a case of utmost severity where a high seven figure sum was recovered for a tetraplegic client (and where an application was required to recover a six figure interim payment given the fact that liability was disputed by the defendant). I have previously had conduct of a very broad range of high value cases involving complex and serious fractures (including spinal fractures), amputations, non-freezing cold injury (NFCI), chronic pain, psychiatric injury (including conversion disorder) and traumatic brain injury. I have regularly achieved settlements for clients of very high six figure sums. I have represented a number of victims involved in the Didcot Power Station collapse, the worst affected of which sustained PTSD symptoms that prevented them from undertaking any work and which meant that they suffered re-experience symptoms in many situations of day to day life. I have also dealt with claims where fatal injury has been sustained, clinical negligence matters, injury sustained on ships as well as a number of cases where the injury was sustained abroad but were the claim was brought in the jurisdiction of England and Wales. I have represented families at Inquests at Bolton Coroner’s Court, Wrexham Coroner’s Court and Carlisle Coroner’s Court. I am secretary and treasurer of STAR (Safer Travel And Roads) North East and Yorkshire, a charity which aims to prevent serious injury and deaths on roads through promotion of road safety campaigns. Prior to joining Minster Law, I have worked as an Associate at various firms in the North West and have been employed as both Technical Manager for one firm and Serious Injury Team Leader in another.
What are you most passionate about in your job?
I am passionate about securing early rehabilitation for my seriously injured clients so that they have the best possible chance of maximising their recovery and returning to their previous employment as well as returning to their hobbies. If a return to the previous way of life is not possible, I take great satisfaction in securing awards that allow my clients to live life to the full despite their injuries and take part as best they can in employment and hobbies. This often involves seeking awards for specialist accommodation where appropriate or innovative and cutting-edge aids and adaptations to accommodation, vehicles or leisure equipment. I strive to work collaboratively with my opponent wherever possible as long as this is in the best interests of my client and their family who remain at the heart of everything that I do.
What are your personal interests outside of work?
I enjoy spending time with my family and dog, travel, cycling and (in a previous lifetime) snowboarding.
