SOMEK award feature

AWARD FOR HEALTHCARE EXPERT WITNESS PROVIDERS

2018/2019

The Award Winning Somek & Associates is one of the biggest providers of Expert Witnesses in the UK delivering highly professional trained experts in a range of health professions: Occupational Therapy / Care experts, Physiotherapy, Speech & Language Therapy, Nursing, Midwifery, and other key health professions

Alison Somek Alison is CEO of Somek & Associates, which has been established for over 20 years.

She a Consultant Occupational Therapist and specialises in orthopaedics, brachial plexus/ Erb’s Palsy, upper limb hand injuries and general medical and surgical cases.

‘An excellent reputation...’ www.somek.com

Somek & Associates is one of the largest providers of Expert Witness services in the UK, delivering highly professional trained experts in a range of health disciplines; the depth and breadth of experience covers all types of personal injury and clinical negligence matters, as well as other medico-legal and regulatory needs.

The consultancy was set up in 1997 by Alison Somek, CEO of Somek and Associates who as an occupational therapist / care expert, had previously worked in the National Health Service for over 20 years. Alison has seen the medico– legal environment change dramatically over this period, but has always been passionate about professionalism and independence in her role as an expert witness, continuing to ensure that the integrity of the expert witness is embodied in the work of the associates and company as a whole.

This work is supported by a professional team led

by Jessica Thurston, Chief Operations Officer (and also an occupational therapy / care expert with many years’ experience).

Somek & Associates now has over two hundred experts, which include, occupational therapists (care experts), nurses, midwives, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, and other allied health professions. This is reflective of the growth in need for expert witnesses in a range of health care professions allied to medicine, as well as the high regard for Alison and the team at Somek and Associates.

Experts are selected following a robust recruitment process after which they are required to attend an extensive training programme, covering topics from the role of the expert witness (including CPR Part 35) to Courtroom skills. Somek works with leading expert training organisations to offer in house courses and an Annual Conference for all experts, with specialist speakers including solicitors and barristers.

All experts continue to undertake clinical practice in either statutory or independent settings, and importantly maintain their CPD. Reports for litigation (liability and quantum) are fully CPR compliant, or for advisory purposes. Reports are frequently commended; they are well written and presented and are relevant to the complexity and size of the case; they are clearly structured with robustly argued opinions and recommendations, summarised conclusions and costings, and above all, meet agreed deadlines.

Different report structures are available, according to the case need.

www.somek.com Somek & Associates offers competitive fees including deferred payment terms when required.

Fee estimates and guidance for costs budgeting is provided upon request.

Alison and the team are passionate about the integrity of the expert witness role, and as a company, they boast a balanced portfolio of claimant and defendant instructions in equal measure.

Professionalism, objectivity, independence and understanding of legal principles and tests as well as relevant procedure rules (especially CPR 35), are all key factors that Somek strives for and it is these core values that has led to Somek and Associates’ outstanding reputation in the field.

Somek welcomes feedback and responds with a ‘can do’ attitude to flourish in this ever-changing complex environment. The team members have extensive skills and knowledge and are happy to provide training sessions in their respective fields to lawyers and others, thus promoting the working relationships and building confidence.

Alison and the team at Somek & Associates have a goal to make Somek and Associates the organisation of choice for expert witness services in the UK.

Here is what our clients say: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank you most sincerely, once again, for your time and expertise, without which I know that such a favourable result could not have been achieved. Please also thank the rest of the team for being so helpful and super-efficient.”

— Claimant Solicitor’s feedback on Sunneva Thorpe

“The fine our Client received was £40,000, originally it was anticipated this could have been up to £1 million, and Sadia’s report was helpful in mitigation to try and reduce the fine as far as possible.”

— Defendant Solicitor’s feedback on Sadia Hussain

“This is an impressive report, and the narrative is wellreasoned. Reading the Claimant’s report, one might think that the Claimant was completely incapacitated – almost akin to an amputation type injury. However, Mr JuddCooper carefully analyses each of the features and, I think, gives a more balanced view of his condition.”

— Defendant Solicitor’s feedback on Mark Judd-Cooper

“I think Sarah did a great job on this Joint Statement.”

— Claimant Solicitor’s feedback on Sarah Walker.

www.somek.com

Contact us for a discussion of your specific case needs.

Somek & Associates 9 Chess Business Park Moor Road Chesham HP5 1SD

T: 01494 792711 E: admin@somek.com W: www.somek.com