What do you currently do?
I am head of the medical negligence department at Fletchers Solicitors and oversee a very large claimant medical negligence team. There are currently more than 80 members of staff in the team, all of varying levels of qualification and experience. We handle in the region of 3,500 cases, picking up approximately one in eight medical negligence leads throughout the UK.
What is your inspiration in business?
I’d say that my inspiration is striving to achieve a fast and fair settlement for the claimant. Whilst this is a business, ultimately I am a lawyer and seek to obtain justice for the injured party. Medical negligence can have dramatic effects on a person’s life and can result in their life being turned upside down, and then having to pursue a legal case can just add to the stress. It’s really important then that we as lawyers provide the best possible support and legal advice to make the process as straightforward as possible so that our clients understand everything that’s involved. This helps to make the procedure less stressful for the client as they will have less things to worry about and will be in expert hands.
Who do you admire?
I admire people who work hard for what they have achieved and have done it all in their own right. Starting from the bottom feels extremely daunting, but it makes it all the more worth it when you know that you have earned your achievements through hard work and determination.
Looking back, would you have done things differently?
No, I wouldn’t say I would. I have worked very hard for what I have achieved and have learnt from any obstacles that I encountered along the way. I think it’s really important to be aware of the mistakes you’ve made so that you can take something away from them and learn from your experiences. Without acknowledging the areas that require improvement and then working on them, you’re unlikely to progress or develop your skills.
What defines your way of doing business?
My main aim is to always limit the pressure for the client and ensure that they are adequately compensated for the damage received. As I previously mentioned, being a victim of medical negligence can be extremely traumatic and so I need to ensure that the client has a positive experience of the legal process to limit any further undue stress.
In terms of my department, I have a very large team to manage and I firmly believe in the development and progression of our employees. As a manager it’s important to be approachable to everyone so that your team will feel like they can come to you any time they need to. To be a manager you need to be able to motivate your team, show them how to do things and inspire them to succeed and progress. In my role, it’s important that I am able to inspire my team and lead them by example.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out?
My best piece of advice is to work hard and believe in your capability. Don’t ever give up! You’re bound to face a whole host of obstacles that will seek to challenge and test you, but by overcoming them you will develop a much stronger character and be able to move on to bigger and better things. All good things are difficult to achieve, but when you do get there, your achievements will hold so much more value knowing that you’ve earned them.
