Meet the team
Organigram
Team Services
The Team remains the largest dedicated medical negligence department in the area with an extensive wealth of experience recovering in excess of £45million in damages for our clients 2022. It is a 5 * Trust Pilot department.
The team deals with all types of negligence cases specialising in complex high value claims currently supporting in excess of 700 clients investigating over 200 birth injury/cerebral palsy claims, 15 serious amputation, 30 spinal, 50 adult brain, 10 erbs palsy and several wrongful birth cases. The majority of clients come as direct referrals from fee earner reputation. Cases include takeovers from other firms.
Client care and support is our priority; supporting through our local charity relationships, our Support Rehab Coordinators, Welfare & Benefits Teams and due to our national offering we can signpost them to other teams including IM Asset Management for financial & budgeting advice, Public Law, Family Team, Court of Protection and Probate team to name but a few.
Upon admissions of liability, we obtain substantial interim payments supporting clients to put in place support workers, therapists and to adapt accommodation as well as support with the management of their finances.
The department remains committed to supporting charities that campaign for improvements in patient safety and justice, raising awareness around specific conditions to encourage early diagnosis and early treatment, wherever possible. This includes UK Sepsis Trust; Cauda Equina Syndrome Association; Group B Strep Support; Meningitis Now; The Stroke Association; and the SCOPE. In addition, Sarah and her team deliver training to Hospitals Trusts to improve patient safety.
The team runs the PRIME initiative for the office providing opportunities to those less privileged interested in legal careers.
We sponsor / support local charities such as Heel and Toe running monthly advice clinics; Grace House, Chronicle Sunshine Fund, Brainbox, Teeside PCF disability sports team to name but a few. We support local special schools including Hadrian School. We support charities and families through face to face training and Webinars which are open to all and cover a variety of topics including disability and Education, rehabilitation, therapy at home, equipment, financial advice and benefits and health and wellbeing. Providing invaluable support to families who have been isolated and without support and continue to face challenges in the current economic crisis.
The team have had extensive press and media coverage including:
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/heartbreak-newcastle-mum-full-life-25228769
https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/20165760.family-county-durham-jockey-talk-pain-death/?ref=rss
Testimonials
Awards and Recognition
Northern Law Awards
Ashlee Coates NQ was finalist for Northern Law Awards Rising Star of the Year.
Personal Injury Awards
Ashlee Coates NQ was finalist for Personal Injury Awards Young Achiever of the Year.
APIL and AVMA
We have 1 AVMA clinical negligence panel member; 1 Law Society clinical negligence accreditation; 1 APIL Fellow; 2 APIL Assessors; 3 APIL clinical negligence specialists; and 6 APIL Senior Litigators. Team members also volunteer on the AVMA helpline training as well as delivering training to local GPs, Nurses and Trusts.
TrustPilot
We are a 5* Trust Pilot department.
Northern Law Awards
Medical Negligence / Personal Injury Team of the Year 2023
Legal 500 Northern Powerhouse Awards
Legal 500 Northern Powerhouse Awards 2023