OUR DISEASE TEAM
OUR OFFICES
Southend on Sea
Address: 1 Nelson Mews, Southend on Sea, Essex SS1 1AL
Tel: 01702 568 710 | Fax: 01702 667 961 Leeds
Address: 40 Park Square North, Leeds LS1 2NP
Tel: 0113 323 0460 | Fax: 01702 667 961 Ipswich
Address: Second Floor, Fraser House, Museum Street, Ipswich IP1 1HN
Tel: 01473 351 692 | Fax: 01702 667 961 Birmingham
Address: Grosvenor House, 14 Bennetts Hill, Birmingham B2 5RS
Tel: 0121 796 5280 | Fax: 01702 667 961 Cardiff – opening January 2016
Boris was a senior equity partner at Berrymans Lace Charlotte was an associate solicitor at BLM before she left Mawer LLP (BLM), a national defendant law practice, to establish BC Legal. She trained at Barlow Robbins before he left in November 2012 to establish BC Legal. Solicitors in Guildford and qualified into their clinical negligence team in 2004. Boris qualified as a solicitor and joined BLM in October 1998. He was made a partner in BLM’s London She joined BLM’s London occupational disease team in occupational disease team in 2000 and jointly headed the February 2005 and was promoted to associate in October team for 12 years. 2010. Charlotte was responsible for managing a noise induced hearing loss team of solicitors/paralegal and Boris has specialised exclusively in occupational disease developing innovative defence strategies. claims throughout his 16 year career and has handled hundreds of such claims for a variety of insurer, corporate, Charlotte specialises exclusively in occupational disease local authority, NHS Trust and defendant clients. litigation and handles a considerable number of claims relating to many different diseases. She has a particular He has run in excess of 50 claims to full trial including 2 interest in stress, noise induced hearing loss, and acoustic cases to the Supreme Court – Majrowski v Guys & St shock claims and has run several notable cases to trial Thomas’ NHS Trust [2006 UKHL 34], a claim relating to the setting a precedent for future handling in these areas. Protection from Harassment Act 1997, and Baker v She was also involved in the Supreme Court case of Baker Quantum Clothing Group Ltd & Ors [2011 UKSC 17], which v Quantum Clothing Group Ltd & Ors [2011 UKSC 17]. concerned NIHL claims. Both claims are leading judgements in occupational disease litigation. Charlotte handles a variety of claims for several leading UK insurers including London Market insurers and also Boris advises a number of insurer clients on cutting edge acts for local authorities and corporate clients direct. litigation strategies, latent reserves and new and emerging disease issues. He is a recognised leader in the field. In the Charlotte regularly runs internal and external training Legal 500 2011 directory he is described as ‘great courses both for in house staff, insurance companies and strategically and technically and had a notable success in corporate clients. 2011 in Baker v Quantum Clothing Group Ltd’. Boris speaks on many external client seminars and industry seminars on a variety of occupational diseases.
Southend-on-Sea Office
Ashley Collins
Ashley qualified as a solicitor in September 2010 with BLM London. He has since specialised exclusively in occupational disease claims, in particular NIHL and other long tail diseases.
Ashley joined BC Legal in February 2013 and undertakes his own caseload of NIHL claims and also manages a team of three other lawyers. His caseload is primarily NIHL claims and he has a particular interest in causation and limitation arguments in these claims.
Since joining BC Legal Ashley has had thirty discontinuances and two trial wins. One trial limitation in a HAVS matter featured in Edition 36 of BC News.
DD: 01702 568 714 |Email: [email protected]
Katie Brooks
Katie was admitted as a solicitor in June 2012, following cross-qualification from the Bar. Pre- and post-qualification, Katie has over 4 years’ experience of handling pre-litigation and litigated industrial disease claims for major employer’s liability insurance clients including claims for NIHL, HAVS/VWF, occupational dermatitis, work-related upper limb disorders, Baker’s lung and occupational asthma. Katie has previously worked within the industrial disease teams at DAC Beachcroft in Leeds and Clyde & Co in Manchester. In addition, Katie has assisted senior colleagues with claims for asbestos-related conditions and WRULD.
Whilst at DAC Beachcroft, Katie was part of a team which achieved recognition for the “lowest average case spend in NIHL claims for 2013 across panel” and “highest repudiation rate in team for that client”. During her time at DAC Beachcroft handling a pre-litigation caseload, Katie, specifically, had one of the highest repudiation rates within the team.
Katie has considerable experience of successfully disputing claims for claimant’s costs through to detailed assessment. Of particular note, is the judgment in the case of Alan Beaumont v Dunlop (2013, unreported) in which a bill of costs was reduced by more than half and the Defendant was awarded its costs of detailed assessment. Since the introduction of costs budgeting, Katie has predominantly prepared her own budgets, objections to claimant’s budgets and made representations at CCMCs.
Katie has experience of providing group and one-to-one training to junior colleagues and supervision to paralegals.
Katie has experience of providing group and one-to-one training to junior colleagues and supervision to paralegals and has prepared claims handling guides for insurer clients.
Since joining BC Legal in January 2015, Katie has had 3 discontinuances and successfully had a claim struck out for ineffective service.
DD: 01702 568 727 |Email: [email protected]
Alexander Buchanan
Alex qualified as a solicitor in March 2012 having trained at Collins Solicitors where he was part of team handling high profile, group litigation cases arising out of the Buncefield oil depot explosion, the Corby Steelworks reclamation [Corby Group Litigation v. Corby Borough Council [2009] EWHC 1944 (TCC)], the Paddington rail crash [Gray v Thames Trains - [2009] UKHL 33] and contaminated land in Motherwell.
Alex specialises in handling manual handling/WRULD and high value bacterial and chemical poisoning claims, but he also handles litigated NIHL and respiratory claims. With BC Legal Alex has achieved thirteen litigated discontinuances and two trial wins, one of which was a claim for chronic pain syndrome arising out of an alleged WRULD.
DD: 01702 568 709 |Email: [email protected]
Cresce Stokes
Cresce is a 7 year qualified solicitor and previously worked with Boris and Charlotte in the BLM London disease team. Cresce joined BC Legal in November 2013.
Cresce specialises in NIHL and HAVS claims, but more recently developed an expertise in defending claims for carpal tunnel syndrome arising from either exposure to vibration or repetitive movements. Cresce has a particular interest in the evolving medical literature in these areas. Over the course of her career she has averaged in the region 10 discontinuances a year. Cresce has successfully defended her insurer clients at 14 trials on issues of limitation and diagnosis / causation.
Cresce has worked with clients on secondment and regularly gives training to clients on NIHL claims.
DD: 01702 568 730 |Email: [email protected]
Laura Morrison
Laura obtained a 2:1 degree in Law and a Commendation in the Legal Practice Course from the University of Sheffield. She completed her training contract with Clear Law LLP in 2011 and subsequently handled a varied case load of employer’s liability, public liability and road traffic accident matters on behalf of claimants whilst supervising a team of four fee earners.
She moved to the serious injury team at Quindell Legal Services in 2012 where she handled a caseload of high value matters worth up to £300,000 and assisted the head of department with catastrophic injury claims.
Laura joined BC Legal in March 2014 and conducts a case load of NIHL, RSI and WRULD claims.
DD: 01702 568 720 | Email: [email protected]
Alison Mitchell
Alison graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Law from The University of Dundee and obtained a distinction in her Legal Practice Course. She trained as a solicitor with BTMK solicitors in Southend-on-Sea and completed seats in the personal injury and clinical negligence departments.
Alison joined BC Legal in September 2013 and now handles a mix of disease claims but particularly NIHL claims. Alison is a central contact for a number of large corporate insureds co-ordinating the handling of disease claims with the provision of MI and development of risk control strategies to reduce indemnity spend.
DD: 01702 568 726 |Email: [email protected]
Zoe Harker
Zoe obtained a 2:1 degree in Law and Spanish from The University of Sheffield and a Distinction in her Legal Practice Course at Nottingham Law School. She trained as a solicitor with Collins Solicitors, Watford and completed an 8 month seat in the personal injury and clinical negligence department.
Zoe joined BC Legal in September 2013 and has since handled a mix of NIHL and WRULD / manual handling claims. Zoe is currently co-ordinating the defence of group WRULD claims against a major UK retailer and its subsidiaries.
DD: 01702 568 728 |Email: [email protected]
Lee Powell
Lee obtained a 2:1 LLB with Philosophy from Keele University and a commendation in his Legal Practice Course at the University of Staffordshire. He qualified as a solicitor in 2010 with Harris Cuffaro and Nichols Solicitors. Lee spent four years handling claims within their criminal litigation department handling a variety of both defence and prosecution cases.
Lee joined BC Legal in February 2014. Lee handles a mixture of disease claims, predominantly NIHL together with WRULD, CTS and HAVs cases. He has developed a particular interest in causation/diagnosis of NIHL claims. This year Lee has achieved several discontinuances.
Lee is also a point of contact for a national dairy plc, overseeing their disease claims and preparing various MI reports and claims analysis to manage their risk.
DD: 01702 411 122 |Email: [email protected]
Sukhvir Kaur
Sukhvir obtained a 2:1 LLB from Brunel University and a commendation in her Legal Practice Course at the College of Law, Guildford. She qualified as a Solicitor in 2012 with a general practice law firm having spent most of her training in their personal injury department handling a variety of RTA and EL/LP claims on behalf of claimants.
Sukhvir joined BC Legal in March 2013 and spent a year in house with one of our major insurer clients handling NIHL claims. She continues to specialise in the handling of NIHL claims with a particular interest in complex causation issues.
DD: 01702 411 129 | Email: [email protected]
Abigail Weston
Abigail is a solicitor and joined BC Legal on qualification in September 2013. She trained at Irwin Mitchell working predominantly on asbestos related claims.
Since joining BC Legal she has continued to develop her expertise in asbestos related claims and handles mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis and pleural thickening claims. Abigail has particular interest in the causation and quantum aspects of lung cancer and asbestosis claims.
Abigail has also developed her practice covering all other respiratory diseases such COPD and occupational asthma. Abigail also handles claims for NIHL.
DD: 01702 568 725 |Email: [email protected]
Dylan Magnay
Dylan qualified as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives in September 2014. Prior to joining BC Legal Dylan dealt with a mixture of small, fast and multi-track RTA, EL and PL claims at Kennedys Law LLP and managed a team of 4 lawyers.
Dylan joined BC Legal in June 2015 and is currently handling a caseload of pre-litigated NIHL and WRULD cases.
DD: 01702 411 134 | Email: [email protected]
Stuart Bacon
Stuart joined BTMK Solicitor’s personal injury and clinical negligence department in 2002. Over the years he dealt with a varied caseload of mostly claimant personal injury cases including RTA, EL, PL and CICA claims. He conducted several high value pre and post litigated claims including a mesothelioma claim.
Stuart was appointed as business development manager in 2013 and took at active role in work generation, marketing and client relations. A role he undertook whilst continuing his personal injury case work. Following the extension of the claims portal system, Stuart was responsible for overseeing a small team of fee earners dealing with personal injury claims in the claims portal system.
Stuart joined BC Legal in June 2015 and is currently handling a caseload of pre-litigated NIHL, cumulative back injury and upper limb disorder cases
DD: 01702 411 133 | Email: [email protected]
Catrin Povey
Catrin studied French and Italian at the University of Bristol and subsequently undertook her legal studies at the Bristol Institute of Legal Practice. She was awarded a merit in her Graduate Diploma in Law and a commendation in her Legal Practice Course. She previously worked as a paralegal in the occupational disease team of BLM Cardiff where she specialised in NIHL claims.
Since joining BC Legal, Catrin has continued to handle NIHL and HAVS claims and has also handled manual handling/ WRULD and respiratory claims. Catrin has successfully defended her clients at 3 trials, one of which, Carnall v Jewel Blade, was reported in Edition 42 of BC News. Catrin began her training contract with BC Legal to qualify as a solicitor in September 2014. As part of her training contract, Catrin has completed a secondment at Resolute Management Limited where she provided claims handling assistance.
DD: 01702 568 729 |Email: [email protected]
Chris McCrudden
After completing his degree and graduate diploma in Law at the University of Central Lancashire, Chris spent 3 years specialising in personal injury and civil litigation and coordinated the handling of a nationally publicised case involving Human Rights.
Chris has a particularly strong background in IT and legal IT solutions and has extensive experience in developing bespoke complex case management systems. Chris has assisted a number of legal practices to fully realise the potential in their own systems with process analysis, training and customisations.
Chris joined BC Legal in July 2014 and began his solicitor training contract with the firm in November 2014. He is presently developing a number of new and exciting web based claims handling and management information tools which we will be rolling out to clients over 2015.
DD: 01702 411 126 | Email: [email protected]
Cathy Wood
Cathy gained a 2:1 in law from the University of Essex and a commendation on the legal practice course from the College of Law. She studied personal injury during her degree and her practical studies. She previously worked for 3 years as a paralegal at Irwin Mitchell where she specialised in asbestos related diseases.
Cathy joined BC Legal in May 2015 and is currently handling a caseload of pre-litigated NIHL cases.
DD: 01702 411 1124 | Email: [email protected]
Camellia Khorshid
Camellia recently graduated with a 2:1 in her LLB from Queen Mary, University of London before joining BC Legal in September 2014 as a paralegal.
Camellia provides support and assistance to the solicitors within the team and has a keen interest in disease litigation.
DD: 01702 411 121 | Email: [email protected]
Katherine Currie
Katherine joined in September 2015 and is a Paralegal based in the Southend-On-Sea office, working within the newly formed Audit and Compliance Team.
Katherine graduated with a 1st in LL.B. Law from Canterbury Christ Church University.
DD: 01702 568 710 | Email: [email protected]
Kira Gibbs – Paraegal
Kira joined in September 2015 and is a Paralegal based in the Southend-On-Sea office, working within the newly formed Audit and Compliance Team.
Kira graduated with a first class degree and gained a distinction in the Graduate Diploma in Law (CPE) from the University of the West of England.
DD: 01702 411 710 | Email: [email protected]
Hema Jharvery – Legal Executive
DD: 01702 411 138 | Email: [email protected]
Samantha Bryan
Samantha obtained a 2:1 degree in Law from the University of Sussex and a Masters in Public Law and Global Governance from King’s College London. In 2015 she completed the Bar Professional Training Course. Samantha joined BC Legal in June 2015 as a legal writer and researcher.
DD: 01702 411 | Email: [email protected]
Dr Rachel Sidda
Rachel obtained a 2:1 degree in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University, specialising in Chemistry. She then moved to the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy and completed a PhD as a member of the Cambridge Centre for Medical Materials research group. Her PhD involved the study of polyurethanes used to form an intervertebral disc prosthesis. Rachel advised the manufacturers of the device on how the manufacturing procedure could be improved to ensure that the device possessed physical and mechanical properties that were as close as possible to those of a native disc. She has a particular interest in science writing and reviews of the literature.
Rachel contributes to the firm’s publications and research on new and emerging diseases and IBNR reserves and also medical developments within existing diseases.
DD: 01702 411 | Email: [email protected]
Leeds Office
Gary Brankin
Gary was an associate with DAC Beachcroft and, together with Darren Goldthorpe, managed their Disease team in Leeds.
Gary is a Solicitor Advocate (All Higher Courts) and has held that qualification since 2008.
Gary’s main area of interest is asbestos litigation, in particular mesothelioma and fatal asbestosis cases. Gary has managed the EL/PL portfolio of a major UK corporate and dealt with asbestos outsourcing projects of mesothelioma files for a major EL insurer.
Gary acted for the Defendant in the successful trials of Treble v ICI (2009) Lawtel (fatal asbestosis) and Pugh v Joseph Parkes [2008] All ER 257 dealing with the duties of an occupier with asbestos on site in the 1970’s. Gary is also very experienced in all disease types, from HAVS, dermatitis, occupational asthma, and WRULD claims. Gary also has an interest in claims relating to microbiological agents.
Gary was lead contact for the volume outsourcing of over 22,000 NIHL claims by a major insurer in which the team delivered the lowest average case cost, lowest claimant costs paid and highest number of NIL settlements across a national solicitor panel over a 4 year period. Gary also has an interest in strategic points around costs in disease claims and acted for the insurers in Clegg v Cavendish (2012) Lawtel which dealt with PAD specific success fees in disease claims.
Gary has advised the DWP GIRO in respect of trends in the NIHL market and has given training and presentations to several insurers and corporations on the subject.
DD: 01133 230 462 |Email: [email protected]
Darren Goldthorpe
Darren was an associate with DAC Beachcroft and, together with Gary Brankin, managed their disease team in Leeds. Between 2010 and 2014 that team grew from 6 litigation fee earners to 10 litigation fee earners and 30 claims handling staff.
Darren is an expert NIHL lawyer and has a special interest in all aspects of medical causation in such claims. He has particular interest in claims of higher/lower frequency losses and exposures from non-traditional sources.
Darren has developed IT tools which helped to deliver lowest average case cost, lowest Claimants’ costs paid and the highest number of NIL settlements together with the highest repudiation rate of 77% across a portfolio of over 22,000 NIHL claims.
Darren is also very experienced in all disease types, from HAVS, dermatitis, occupational asthma, and WRULD claims. Darren has managed a mixed portfolio of disease claims for major corporations and led on a Risk Management programme for one major organisation on their NIHL portfolio, to assess and manage the potential for future claims.
Darren has given training and presentations for many major insurers and corporations across several disease types, but his recent focus has been on presentations regarding the changing NIHL market.
DD: 01133 230 463 |Email: [email protected]
Simon Dawson
Simon is a qualified solicitor with 11 years disease experience. He joined BC Legal from BLM Manchester in April 2014.
Simon has handled a mixed litigated caseload of asbestosis, pleural thickening, HAVS and WRULD claims and has a particular interest in the discrete areas of Toxic Mould and Norovirus claims.
Over his career Simon has won 16 trials on a variety of issues such as breach of duty, causation and limitation across various diseases. Simon also assisted on the case of Baker v Quantum, at the High Court stage. He has handled WRULD Claims with a value of up to £500,000 and Group litigation (Norovirus) up to £500,000
While at BLM, Simon was a team leader, supervising 8 paralegals in the pre-litigation NIHL team. He also supervised 2 solicitors undertaking litigated NIHL and HAVS claims.
Simon has developed and presented training to various insurer clients with a particular focus on common law calculation of special damages for claims under the BCVWF group litigation (Small Mines).
DD: 01133 230 469 |Email: [email protected]
Kirstie Lennox
Kirstie worked with Darren and Gary in the DAC Beachcroft disease litigation team in Leeds where she was responsible for technical supervision. Kirstie has been a qualified solicitor for 21 years and previously worked in house at a building society and with a regional electrical company, where she was litigation manager. Kirstie has specialised in occupational disease claims since 2008 and is experienced at handling all disease types but has a special interest in causation in noise induced hearing loss claims and unravelling complex corporate histories.
DD: 0113 887 1850 |Email: [email protected]
Harjinder Gill
Harjinder is a legal executive with 8 years litigation experience.
Harjinder has a particular specialism in NIHL claims and particularly in the area of limitation. Harjinder acted for the insurers of Hobourn Eaton in the Court of Appeal in the case of Johnson v Hobourn Eaton [2012] EWCA 1505 which extended and defined section 14 of the Limitation Act 1980 and the extent of its application in NIHL claims.
Harjinder also acted for insurers in the recent case of Heavey v TMD Friction 2012 Lawtel, which clarified the application of Keefe v Isle of Man Steam Packet [2010] EWCA Civ 683 in historic claims where no documents exist, due to the passage of time.
Harjinder also has extensive experience of asbestos related injuries and regularly acts in High Court asbestos matters. He is also experienced in all disease types including HAVS, dermatitis, occupational asthma, WRULD and RSI claims.
DD: 01133 230 464 |Email: [email protected]
Michael Witten
Michael has an LLM in European Legal Studies from Leeds University. He undertook his training contract with Ford & Warren, working in commercial litigation and spending a significant period in their insurance litigation team.
On qualification, Michael joined DWF in Leeds in their occupational health team and worked on a caseload of NIHL and EL/PL claims. Michael joined BC Legal in August 2014 to focus on an exclusively occupational disease caseload.
DD: 0113 887 9446 |Email: [email protected]
Sarah Holder Sarah Manners – coming soon Sarah joined BC Legal in February 2015 from DAC Beachcroft in Manchester, where she was a senior solicitor. Sarah hasSarah handled was o operationsccupational manager disease claims of Michael for 11 Lewin’s years and noise in her induced previous hearing role losswas responsible team where for she the supervised historic claims and acrosstrained several a team sites of of 9 aparalegals. major defence Sarah company. also has Sarahexperience was the of supervisorrespiratory for claims. a solicitor Sarah and handles a paralegal. litigated disease claims of varying type with a particular focus on NIHL. Sarah has a particular interest in the law of limitation in NIHL and HAVS claims and has successfully defended 10 trials onDD: the |Email: issue. Sarah has experience of all disease types but the main focus of her work is NIHL litigation.
DD: 0113 887 1852 |Email: [email protected]
Sarah Manners
Sarah joined BC legal from Michael Lewin solicitors in Leeds where she trained as a Solicitor, specialising in occupational disease.
While at Michael Lewin, Sarah was promoted to team leader and then operations manager within the disease team. As operations manager she was responsible for training and supervising 3 team leaders and 10 paralegals.
Sarah joined BC Legal in March 2015 and now handles a mix of disease claims but particularly NIHL claims.
DD: 0113 887 2891 |Email: [email protected]
Liam Gannon
Liam has 3 years occupational disease experience. He joined DAC Beachcroft in March 2011 and worked with Gary and Darren in their occupational disease team. Liam handled a caseload of pre-litigation and litigated NIHL and HAVS claims. Liam also has experience of Part 8 costs proceedings.
In March 2013 Liam was promoted to claims supervisor and managed a team of 7 paralegals. The team collectively handled in the region of 2,100 claims at any one time. Liam’s team produced the best project KPI’s in terms of claims settled at NIL, repudiation rate, average damages paid and average costs paid.
Liam joined BC Legal in April 2014 and is undertaking a caseload of pre-litigation and litigated cases of mixed disease type. Liam will shortly be starting a solicitor training contract with BC Legal. Liam began a solicitor training contract with BC Legal in November 2014.
DD: 01133 230 467 | Email: [email protected]
Liam Bedford
Liam began his disease career in August 2011 working at a claimant occupational disease firm.
He joined DAC Beachcroft’s NIHL claims handling team in 2012 and was promoted to acting supervisor in 2013 ensuring the quality of advice and tactics for 5 paralegals.
Liam also handled the relationship with several major corporate insureds. He was promoted to the litigation team in May 2013 and worked with Gary and Darren on a mixed caseload of NIHL, asbestos and HAVS claims and has achieved several discontinuances in such claims.
Liam is currently completing his Bar Vocational Course with a view to qualifying as a Barrister and has a particular interest in drafting and advocacy in occupational disease claims.
DD: 01133 230 468 | Email: [email protected]
Jeremy Rea
Jeremy has been a qualified solicitor for 28 years and joined BC Legal from Hamers solicitors in Hull, where he had specialised in Claimant personal injury litigation for 19 years. For the final 4 years of that role he handled almost exclusively NIHL claims. Prior to joining Hamers Jeremy had been a Partner at a local Yorkshire firm of solicitors.
Jeremy joined BC Legal in May 2015 and currently handles a caseload of mainly litigated noise induced hearing loss claims.
DD: 0113 887 2897 |Email: [email protected]
Richard Hey
Richard joins BC Legal from Plexus in Leeds where he was an Assistant Solicitor working on a predominantly NIHL based caseload but has experience of most kinds of occupational disease claims. Richard worked at Plexus as a trainee Solicitor until qualification. Richard has developed a deep understanding of the needs of insurer claims having spent significant time seconded to various insurers in Yorkshire.
DD: 0113 887 2898 |Email: [email protected]
Shella Lone
Shella obtained a 2:1 degree in Law from The University of Leeds and a Distinction in her Legal Practice Course at BPP Law School.
Shella joins BC Legal as a Paralegal working on pre-litigated noise induced hearing loss claims for insurers with lapsed policies. Shella previously worked at Silverbeck Rymer Solicitors in Leeds where she worked on NIHL claims. She is currently assisting Sarah Holder with her files.
DD: 0113 887 2892|Email: [email protected]
Avanee Dawoud
Avanee joins BC Legal as a Paralegal working on pre-litigated noise induced hearing loss claims for insurers with lapsed policies. Avanee joins from Michael Lewin in Leeds where she worked with Sarah Manners on NIHL claims. Avanee previously worked at Lyons Davidsons Insurance team on insurance recoveries. Avanee is assisting her supervisor Michael Witten with his files.
DD: 0113 887 2893|Email: [email protected]
Lottie Walker
Lottie completed the CILEx course in May 2015 making her a Graduate member. After 12 more months experience, she it set to become a Chartered Legal Executive Lawyer. Previous to joining BC Legal in May, she gained 6 years experience dealing with industrial disease claims at Langleys Solicitors, BLM and Keoghs and has undertaken work for many large insurance companies and self-insureds. She has dealt with a wide variety of diseases, both pre- litigation and litigated.
DD: 0113 887 2896 |Email: [email protected]
Kristian Nicholson
Kristian spent 12 years in Military Intelligence with the Royal Air Force before completing his law degree. Kristian is a qualified Arabic translator and has been seconded for periods with various UK security services and carries a commendation from one such organisation. Kristian is responsible for the document management and liaising with insurers in respect of a major PLC client.
DD: 0113 887 2894 |Email: [email protected]
David Messenger
David joined BC Legal in September 2015 and is a Paralegal based in the Leeds office, working within the newly formed Audit and Compliance Team.
David graduated with a 2.1 in LL.B. Law from Lancaster University.
DD: 0113 887 2461 |Email: [email protected]
Costs Team
Michelle Ackroyd
Michelle has a BTEC National Diploma in Business and Finance Association of Costs Lawyers.
Michelle will be joining BC Legal from DLA Piper/Hill Dickinson where she has been dealing with costs for private prisons including obtaining deduction orders against prisoners following discontinuance/lose of claims. Michelle was responsible for supervision/training new starters with little or no costs experience
DD: 0113 287 2889 | Email: [email protected]
Lai Rah Mayo
Lai Rah Mayo joined BC Legal from Just Costs Solicitors in Leeds.
Lai Rah is an Associate of Cilex with specialism in costs law. Lai Rah started her career as a law costs draftsman at Halliwells LLP prior to joining Hill Dickinson LLP in Sheffield where she headed the costs fraud team; Lai Rah provided training and supervised a team of 6 Costs Draftsman in all areas of costs and to manage caseloads of up to 100 files.
Lai Rah has handled a variety of caseload of both costs claims and recoveries for a variety of insurer, corporate and defendant clients. During her time at Just Costs Solicitors, Lai Rah dealt with the majority of adverse costs matters for major insurer clients.
Lai Rah has extensive experience on both recovery of costs and for the unsuccessful paying party. Lai Rah drafts bills of costs, points of dispute, points of replies, joint statements of issues, written submissions and skeleton arguments. Lai Rah has experience of advocating on application hearings and detailed assessments.
DD: 0113 887 1851 | Email: [email protected]
Ipswich Office
Wayne Donovan
Wayne began his career at Eversheds LLP where he worked on a mixed caseload of EL/PL and occupational disease claims. He qualified as a solicitor in 2008, at which time he was the supervisor for a team of 6 fee earners working for the department’s largest client. Wayne was responsible for all reports sent to the client, collating MI and providing training.
In 2012, Wayne joined the occupational disease team of DAC Beachcroft, London where he undertook a mixed caseload of mesothelioma, asbestos related lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural thickening, NIHL, HAVS and WRULD claims.
Wayne joined BC Legal in April 2013 and has extended his knowledge to cover occupational asthma, farmer’s lung and claims for leptospirosis.
Wayne has achieved several discontinuances this year but most notable was a claim for occupational asthma where he established the client was not in breach of the COSHH Regulations and a bladder cancer claim, where the claimant failed to prove any exposure had doubled the risk of contracting that condition.
Wayne supervises the respiratory team in our Southend on Sea office and is the BC Legal representative on the Royal Courts of Justice, Asbestos Users Committee.
DD: 01473 351 692|Email: [email protected]
Darshan Edwards
Darshan joined BC Legal in January 2015 having previously been an insurance partner at Parabis LLP for 7 years.
Darshan’s career as an insurance lawyer started at Prettys Solicitors in 1992 where he became a partner in 2001 before joining Gatson Whybrew Solicitors and then Parabis LLP.
He has over 21 years’ experience representing and defending claims against insurers, their insureds and self-insured corporate entities and managing, handling and litigating all types of injury claims, including long and short tail industrial diseases claims arising from exposure to asbestos, noise, vibration and irritants. Additionally, Darshan has provided training and advice to clients and colleagues on all aspects of risk management. He has a reputation for giving clear and concise advice reflecting his clients’ instructions but also the commercial realities of litigation, exploiting his skills of negotiation and other methods of alternative dispute resolution to ensure that the lifetimes of claims and their associated costs are mitigated as much as possible.
DD: 01473 351 691|Email: [email protected]
Carla Lane
Carla is a 6 years PQE solicitor who joined BC Legal in March 2015 having trained at Plexus Law where she was part of the General Insurance Litigation Team.
Carla has over 6 years experience representing and defending claims against insurers and their insureds and handling all types of litigated insurance claims including EL/PL, as well as providing policy coverage advice in respect of complex insurance issues and dealing with complex policy disputes.
Part of Carla’s training contract included a secondment at AXA Liabilities Managers (Legal Team) where she provided assistance to the claims teams on various personal injury claims as well as providing policy coverage advice.
Carla conducts a caseload at BC legal of NIHL claims.
DD: 01473 351 694 |Email: [email protected]
Lee Vowles
Prior to joining BC Legal Lee supervised a small team of paralegals conducting fast track EL/PL/RTA claims at national insurance practice Kennedys. He was responsible for day to day queries, performance reports, reporting to senior management and client relationship management. Lee was actively involved in the preparing of MI reports concerning case shelf life, success / failure reports and team performance.
Since joining BC Legal Lee has specialised in NIHL and HAVS claims. Over the last year he has had 30 withdrawn claims, one litigated discontinuance and 2 trial wins (one of which was the case of Matthews v Lloyds Animal Feeds which featured in the 15th edition of BC News). Lee has also developed an interest in the discrete area of claims for Bird Fanciers Lung.
DD: 01473 351 693 |Email: [email protected]
Gareth Hicks
Gareth qualified as a solicitor in 1982 initially handling general civil litigation claims before quickly developing a personal injury specialism and representing claimants and their trade unions and defendants and their insurers. Gareth joined international firms Eversheds in 2008 and Kennedys in 2013, where he continued to represent defendants and their insurers as well as companies with a national profile, water utility companies, financial institutions, rail franchises and government agencies. He has handled claims involving injuries of the utmost severity and occupational disease claims relating to exposure to noise, vibration and irritants.
DD: 01473 351 696 |Email: [email protected]
Elisa Vanhinsbergh
Elisa is a chartered legal executive who is 4 years PQE. Elisa joins BC Legal from True Solicitors LLP (formerly Gorman Hamilton) where she worked for 12 years as a fee earner. Elisa has previously specialised in RTA, personal injury and civil litigation claims and has acted for both claimant and defendant clients.
DD: 01473 351 697 |Email: [email protected]
Jenny Hickmott
Jenny joined BC Legal in September 2015. She was admitted as a solicitor in 2001, following her qualification as a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives in 1997.
Having studied towards qualification alongside work, Jenny has gained more than 20 years practical experience in the field of personal injury. During her career, Jenny has acted for both Claimants and Defendants, acting mainly for composite insurers and self-insured corporate clients, dealing with both fast and multi track EL, PL and occupational disease cases, including exposure to asbestos and noise, occupational asthma and WRULD.
Jenny was Deputy Team Leader of a team of 5 fee earners, engaged in ensuring cases were proactively driven forward to a swift and economic conclusion.
DD: 01473 351 695 | Email: [email protected]
Birmingham Office – Occupational Disease Manjit Virdee
Manjit has been qualified as a solicitor for almost 15 years and prior to joining BC Legal was an associate at BLM in Birmingham. Manjit has a wide ranging experience of occupational disease claims covering mesothelioma and asbestos related lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural thickening, NIHL, HAVS and WRULD.
Manjit currently supervises a team of four fee earners undertaking mainly NIHL claims.
He has previously been the lead handler for a major insurer client and worked with Loss Adjusters on legacy claims for a major UK Corporate.
Manjit has also had an article published in Post Magazine on Hospice Compensation Cases – (Drake and Starkey 2010)
DD: 01702 568 714 |Email: [email protected]
Claire Hamm
Claire began her legal career as a Legal Executive before converting to Solicitor in 2007. She has over 10 years experience of handling disease claims on behalf of major insurers and corporate clients.
Claire's client list to date has included Courtaulds Textiles (Holdings) Limited, Akzo Nobel UK Ltd and Acordis UK Ltd (in administration).
Claire's background is predominantly in noise induced hearing loss and all aspects of asbestos related injury. Notable cases include Baker v Quantum on behalf of one of the key Defendants. Claire handles both pre-lit and litigated claims on a daily basis.
Claire joined BC Legal in September 2015.
DD: 0121 796 5283 |Email: [email protected]
Laura Walker
Laura has 3 years occupational disease experience and began working for DAC Beachcroft in March 2012, working with Darren Goldthorpe and Gary Brankin in their occupational disease team. Laura has handled a caseload of pre- litigated NIHL and HAVS files and also has experience of handling EL/PL claims and Part 8 Proceedings.
In January 2014, Laura was promoted to Technical Claims Supervisor, managing a team of 8 paralegals which handled in excess of 2,400 claims at one time. During her time at DAC Beachcroft, Laura also handled the relationship with several corporate insureds.
Laura joined BC Legal in September 2015.
DD: 0121 796 5284 |Email: [email protected]
Birmingham Office – Fraud
Jonathan Lawrence
Upon qualification Jonathan joined Beachcrofts in their Claims Validation Team, later becoming the supervisor of a team of lawyers. During this time Jonathan mainly dealt with “standalone” motor fraud cases ranging from mere exaggeration to complex staged accidents. Jonathan also conducted/supervised a number of EL/PL fraud claim and investigated suspected linked claims.
After leaving Beachcrofts, Jonathan joined BLM’s Fraud Ring Team as a team leader. Jonathan supervised a team of lawyers whilst also managing a full case load of motor ringed fraud cases. This involved considering suspected linked claims ranging from only two linked claims up to extensive, cross insurer fraud rings. Jonathan utilised bespoke, tailored fraud strategies focusing on obtaining the optimal result for clients. Such enquiries focused on thorough analysis and comparison of extensive information and data, together with extensive enquiries with various third parties to scrutinise the activities of key attractors such as AMCs, solicitors, medical experts etc.
Jonathan has extensive litigation experience and has successfully defended a number of fraud rings involving detailed pleadings of fraud, utilising similar fact evidence. During his legal career Jonathan has utilised recovery action, including bringing tort of deceit action whilst also investigating/challenging first party fraud cases.
DD: 0121 796 5282|Email: [email protected]
Claire Joseph
Claire qualified as a Chartered Legal Executive in 2006 and has experience in claimant travel litigation claims and defendant RTA work. Previously employed by DAC Beachcroft and BLM fraud teams, Claire has over seven years of experience in defending suspected fraudulent RTA claims, including complex fraud ring litigation, with a focus on identifying cost effective and proactive strategies for various insurer clients. Several trial successes have been achieved, one of which included a finding of negligence on the part of the claimant’s solicitors.
DD: 0121 796 5288|Email: [email protected]
Mark Hendry
Mark is a Chartered Legal Executive having qualified as a fellow in 2004.
He has numerous years of legal experience in civil litigation cases and worked both in house for the police service and also within private practice for several of the UK’s leading law firms.
He has moved to BC Legal from BLM solicitors having dealt with a caseload of complex fraud cases and represented some the UK’s largest insurers such as Aviva, AXA and Direct Line Group.
Mark joined BC Legal in September 2015.
DD: 0121 796 5287 |Email: [email protected]
Jessica Dadley
Jessica joined BC Legal in September 2015 from the Claims Validation Team of DAC Beachcroft Claims Ltd, where she worked in the organised Ringed Fraud team, running her own caseload of both pre-lit and litigated fast and multi- track cases for Aviva Insurance Ltd. Having started her legal career 14 years ago as an office junior, Jessica has progressed to qualify as a Fellow of the Chartered Legal Executives in 2010, working mostly for insurer clients within the field of personal injury. Jessica moved from the Claimant field 5 years ago into the Defendant arena working in insurance fraud and has successfully defended numerous cases to Trial and recently obtained a finding of fundamental dishonesty against a Claimant and Policyholder double act.
DD: 0121 796 5286 |Email: [email protected]
Cardiff Office
Jonathan Bluett
Jonathan is an 8 years PQE solicitor who joined BC Legal in September 2013. He was previously an associate at BLM, Cardiff where he specialised in occupational disease claims – particularly NIHL, HAVs and asbestos related claims as well as EL and PL accident claims.
Jonathan has successfully defended clients at around 40 trials and acted for the insurers in the successful appeal before a Circuit Judge on the matter of Baines v Tata Steel. Jonathan also assisted on the Court of Appeal case of Jones v Caradon Catnic [2006] 3 Costs LR 427 considering materiality and Collective Conditional Fee Agreements. Jonathan has extensive experience of dealing with solicitors’ costs.
Jonathan currently supervises a team of three fee earners undertaking a range of disease work. He has been employed by Kaplan as a freelance lecturer on Civil Litigation for the PSC and has had an article published in the Personal Injury Law Journal (September 2010, Number 88) where he reviewed Dr Mark Friston’s work, “Civil Costs: Law and Practice.”
DD: 01702 568 708 |Email: [email protected]
Ben Ling
Ben qualified as a solicitor in 1998 and has been handling personal injury and occupational disease claims for 20 years, latterly specialising in group actions, test case claims, complex medical causation issues and corporate liability.
Ben was closely involved as part of a team advising on insurers’ strategic response to an influx of several thousand industrial deafness claims and was a key part of the team acting for the Quantum in Baker v Quantum Clothing Group Ltd & Ors as it progressed through the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.
Before joining BC Legal in January 2014 Ben was an associate at Weightmans LLP. Ben is a ‘guru’ on NIHL claims.
DD: 01702 568 715 |Email: [email protected]
Candice Rogers
DD: 01702 568 724 |Email: [email protected]