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TOP CLINICAL NEGLIGENCE LAWYER EARNS PLACE ON NATIONAL SPECIALIST PANEL
An award-winning Shropshire clinical negligence lawyer has earned a prestigious role on a national panel of specialists who deal with medical accident cases.
Beth Heath is head of the clinical negligence team at Lanyon Bowdler and also a partner at the firm. She has established an impressive record specialising in high value, complex cases including birth injuries, maternal deaths and delay in diagnosis.
Beth, who was named the 2022 Clinical Negligence Lawyer of the Year, has now been further recognised as one of the leading lawyers in her field by being appointed to the highly specialist legal panel of Action Against Medical Accidents (AvMA).
AvMA is a patient-focused charity which helps people who have suffered injury following avoidable medical accidents or errors.
The charity looks for solicitors who not only have the highest levels of expertise and experience, but also who are prepared to go the extra mile for their clients.
Beth said: "I am delighted to have been appointed to the specialist panel. AvMA is an amazing charity committed to helping people and their loved ones during what is likely to be the most difficult time of their lives.
"The charity supports individuals whose lives are often totally devastated by failings and errors, helping them through the process of getting their lives back on track.
"It is so important that people who find themselves in these circumstances have a voice through a professional who can guide them through the necessary legal procedures in order to get the compensation they deserve, and also to find the answers to questions that may otherwise be denied."
Brian Evans, managing partner at Lanyon Bowdler, said: "Congratulations to Beth on successfully applying to join the AvMA Specialist Clinical Negligence Panel - it is a great honour and fully deserved.
"AvMA is a charity which campaigns for patient safety and justice for those who have suffered clinical negligence and was the first organisation to develop a specialist clinical negligence panel - a body that has come to represent an essential quality mark for those clinical negligence practitioners who place clients at the centre of their practice."
Confirming Beth's place on the panel, representatives from AvMA said: "Beth came across as a very capable, thoughtful and committed lawyer with a strong client focus and a clear commitment to access justice.
"Both interviewers were of the view that she was 'one to watch' as a future leader in the field and overall had no hesitation in recommending acceptance of her application."
Beth joins fellow clinical negligence specialists, Lucy Small and Emma Broomfield, on the AvMA panel.
EMPLOYERS ALERTED TO CHANGES IN LAW OVER DECLARATION OF CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS
A senior lawyer is alerting Shropshire businesses to changes in the law, reducing the length of time before some offenders need no longer declare their criminal conviction to an employer.
John Merry, head of the employment law team at Lanyon Bowdler, said it was important for employers to be aware of the changes to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act which came into effect on October 28. Amendments to the Act are intended to better allow the rehabilitation into employment of reformed offenders, but do not apply to serious sexual, violent or terrorist offences.
John said: "Once a caution or conviction has become spent under the Act, unless an exception applies, it need not be disclosed, including when completing an application for employment or at a job interview.
"There are exceptions and they mainly relate to employment in particularly sensitive areas such as work with children, work in law enforcement and the legal system, and high level financial positions.
"Since October 28 the changes reduce the rehabilitation period for less serious offences, provided no further offence is committed in that time, and introduce a rehabilitation period for custodial sentences of over four years, which were previously unable to become spent.
"The reforms do not apply to serious offences which are never able to be spent or otherwise to roles where basic or enhanced DBS checks are required."
Under the new rules, an adult conviction carrying a custodial sentence of over four years, which was previously never spent, is now subject to a new disclosure period of seven years, unless an exception applies.
For a custodial sentence of two and a half to four years, where the previous disclosure period was seven years, the new disclosure period is four years, although for a custodial sentence of one to two and a half years, the disclosure period remains unchanged at four years.
For a custodial sentence of up to a year, the disclosure period has reduced to just one year, whereas it was previously two years for a custodial sentence of up to six months, and four years for custodial sentences of between six months and a year.
For those under 18 at the time of the conviction, half the adult rehabilitation period applies.
John added: "The new time periods are extended in the event of re-offending during the declaration period.
"Any new conviction attracts its own disclosure period and both the previous conviction and new conviction need to be declared until the end of the original conviction's active period or, if later, the end of the new disclosure period applied to the more recent conviction.
"Employers should note that although the Act states that an employer cannot refuse to employ or dismiss someone because they have a spent caution or conviction unless an exception applies, there is no penalty attached to that, and the law does not provide any individual who is refused employment contrary to the Act with any entitlement to compensation or any other remedy.
"However, as failure to disclose the detail or existence of spent convictions is not a lawful ground for dismissal, an employer cannot rely on such a failure as grounds for dismissal without notice.
"This also means that any employee dismissed for such a reason after they have acquired unfair dismissal protection - which is currently after two years' continuous employment - will be unfairly dismissed."
For more employment law advice, contact John Merry at Lanyon Bowdler by calling 01952 211010 or visit www.lblaw.co.uk.
INSPIRING STORIES OF THRIVING AFTER BRAIN INJURY TO BE SHARED AT CONFERENCE
A life-changing injury can be devastating - but it can also inspire an incredible response as people thrive in the face of adversity.
A life-changing injury can be devastating - but it can also inspire an incredible response as people thrive in the face of adversity.
Shropshire law firm Lanyon Bowdler is bringing together inspiring individuals who have done just that, as part of the ‘Thriving After Brain Injury’ conference.
The event is expected to attract professionals working with, and people living with, brain injury from across the country - with former captain of the England and GB hockey team, Alex Danson MBE, and GB paralympic footballer, Jack Rutter, headlining an impressive panel of speakers.
Dawn Humphries, head of the personal injury team at Lanyon Bowdler, said: “We are delighted to be welcoming a range of people, some of whom will share stories of incredible courage and resilience, with others discussing the very latest in rehabilitation and support services.
“A big thank you to all of our speakers for giving up their time to be part of this important event, and I would also like to thank our sponsors, ARAG, Frenkel Topping Group and No5 Barristers Chambers.
“We hope as many people as possible will join us for what is sure to be an inspiring, educational and uplifting day.”
Alongside Alex Danson MBE and Jack Rutter, speakers will include Andrew Worthington, a consultant in neuropsychology and rehabilitation with Headwise, Hannah Wright, a brain injury coordinator and counsellor at Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital, and Daniel Thomas, a qualified music therapist at Chroma. Stephanie Webster, of Frenkel Topping Group, said: “Frenkel Topping are beyond excited to support and attend the upcoming Thriving After Brain Injury conference and to celebrate those who have not only overcome life-changing injuries but have thrived despite adversity.
“We’re looking forward to hearing stories and insights from other experts in this industry that will no doubt inspire us all.”
William Theaker, practice director at No5 Barristers’ Chambers, added: “We are thrilled to be sponsors of the Thriving After Brain Injury event with Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors. No5’s Henry Pitchers KC and Chris Bright KC join a great line-up of speakers on the day.”
Mike Knight, of ARAG, said: “We are committed to supporting and facilitating access to justice through our legal insurance services, so we are delighted to be part of an event like this which will help build understanding of the challenges injured people face.
“Lanyon Bowdler is an outstanding firm of lawyers and we are proud to work with them.”
The conference will be held at Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury on March 6, 2024, and tickets are available now - for more information visit www.lblaw.co.uk/press-and-events/events-and-seminars
X-PRESS PARTNERS WITH LPG TO OFFER LOCAL LAW FIRMS HOME BUYER PROTECTION
X-Press Legal services has formed a new partnership with LPG, enabling Shropshire conveyancers to mitigate the financial costs of failed property transactions for their clients.
As reported by Today’s Conveyancer the average cost of a fall-through during the second quarter of 2023 was £3,394, up from £3,355 in Q1. At the same time, the estimated number of transactions that fell-through in Q2 hit 69,940, a 10.2% increase on the previous quarter.
As a leading provider of property searches and reports to the conveyancing industry, X-Press Legal Services is now on a mission to protect conveyancers’ reputations and consumers cash by raising awareness of a little-known insurance product - Home Buyer Protection.
The company has announced a strategic partnership with insurance provider LPG to ensure Home Buyer Protection is available to all legal firms that it partners with. Sharing the same values as X-Press Legal Services, LPG is dedicated to building meaningful client relationships. The partnership aims to empower consumers ensuring enhanced protection and peace of mind during the transaction process.
“This collaboration with LPG stems from our commitment to ensuring the legal firms we partner with can offer their clients an enhanced property buying experience,” commented David Mermod, owner of X-Press Legal Services Central. “Home Buyer Protection ensures consumers are safeguarded while also promoting confidence and transparency throughout the process. We hope this
additional asset will be welcomed by local law firms who recognise the financial damage that losing out on a purchase can cause their clients. Together, we can make buying a home less stressful for purchasers which is positive news for all parties.”
Property transactions entail an array of risks, both known and unforeseen during the 144-day average journey from deciding to buy and property instruction to purchase completion. Home Buyer Protection covers a spectrum of costs associated with the transaction process, including mortgage arrangement fees, professional fees (including legal costs) and disbursements.
“Clients will be thanking rather than blaming their conveyancers when transactions fall through, if they have Home Buyers Protection,” added David. “This insurance covers mortgage arrangement fees, professional fees and disbursements, making the loss of a purchase less financially painful and hopefully giving consumers the confidence to retain their conveyancer and start the process again.”
Law firms interested in Home Buyer Protection can order it directly via X-Press Legal Services’ Intelligent Conveyancing Online System ICOS or via David’s office.
X-Press Legal Services has earned its reputation as a trusted independent property search provider, offering valuable insights and meticulous searches to facilitate informed property decisions. To find out more about X-Press Legal Services Central and the expert property searches they supply, please call 0330 159 5365 or visit xpresslegal.co.uk
Lanyon Bowdler celebrates excellent showing in prestigious national law guide
A Shropshire law firm has maintained its excellent rankings in a prestigious national guide, with 13 lawyers highlighted as recommended practitioners.
Lanyon Bowdler, which has offices across Shropshire, Herefordshire and North Wales, has nine practice areas recommended in the 2024 Chambers UK legal guide, six of which are ranked in the top two bands.
The Chambers UK guide ranks law firms based on independent research and interviews with clients, and has been helping people find the best lawyers and firms in the country for more than 30 years.
Lanyon Bowdler is celebrating four lawyers ranked in Band 1, four in Band 2, three in Band 3 and two in Band 4, while the firm has three Band 1 practice area rankings, three in Band 2, one in Band 3 and two in Band 4.
Brian Evans, managing partner of Lanyon Bowdler, said:
“Chambers UK is a highly respected guide and law firms are always very keen to be included because it is shaped by comments from clients themselves, along with independent research and interviews with other professionals.
“We are therefore delighted to see nine practice areas and 13 individual lawyers recommended in the guide. It is a great achievement for every lawyer included, but we are particularly pleased to see Will Morse gaining a new Band 4 recommendation in the West Midlands Employment section and Debbie Humphries being included in Band 2 of the guide’s Midlands Personal Injury category.
“It is also great to see the firm’s new listing at Band 3 in the West Midlands Corporate (mergers and acquisitions) section, along with Clinical Negligence, Personal Injury and Family departments maintaining their Band 1 recommendations. “Congratulations to all those who have been included - our significant presence in the guide re-enforces our position as one of the leading law firms in the region.”
The full list of recommended lawyers is:
Edward Nutting, Agricultural & Rural Affairs (Wales); Beth Heath, Emma Broomfield and Lucy Small, Clinical Negligence (Midlands);
Grainne Walters, Corporate M&A (West Midlands); John Merry and Will Morse, Employment (West Midlands); Philippa Pearson, Family/Matrimonial (Hereford & Worcester and Surrounds);
Lisa Grimmett and Sue Hodgson, Family/Matrimonial (Shrewsbury & Surrounds);
Andrew Pegg, Litigation (West Midlands);
Dawn Humphries and Debbie Humphries, Personal Injury (Midlands).
The firm is recommended in the following practice areas: Family/Matrimonial (Hereford & Worcester and Surrounds); Family/Matrimonial (Shrewsbury and Surrounds); Agricultural & Rural Affairs, Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury (Midlands); Agricultural & Rural Affairs (Wales); Litigation, Employment and Corporate M&A (West Midlands).
WATCH THIS SPACE!
Upcoming Events in 2024, Further Details To Follow
•QUIZ
•LEGAL WALK
•BOWLING
SHROPSHIRE JUNIOR LAWYERS DIVISION
Our Annual General Meeting and quiz will be hosted on 24 January 2024. 8pm Start.
At the Corbet Arms, Shrewsbury SY4 4SN
Please come along to welcome your new Shropshire JLD Committee and raise some funds for Shropshire Mental Health Support.
Quiz teams are up to 4 people and payment can either be made on the night or via bank transfer.
