Ashtons Legal has recruited a further four new lawyers to its 50-strong regional Personal Injury Team and made an internal promotion to partnership in the Medical Negligence Team. This is a move which clearly signals the firm’s intention to remain one of the leading firms providing injury law services in East Anglia. The new recruits, joining from a range of firms across the region and beyond, are Andrew Wilson, Graham Heywood, Paul Sadler and Sophie Robson. Meanwhile, home-grown talent Ben Ward becomes a partner in the firm’s Medical Negligence team.
Ben, who is from Norwich, joined Ashtons as a trainee in 2008 and quickly made his mark within the firm. He is a former national winner of LawNet’s Young Lawyer of the Year, has held roles in the Norfolk and Norwich Law Society and the local Medico-Legal society, and has engaged with medics throughout his career locally to provide training on avoiding the pitfalls that lead to litigation having a clear focus on patient safety. He has regularly appeared on regional television and radio discussing the failings in regional mental health provision following the untimely death of those let down by the system. He now specialises in catastrophic injury claims, in particular cerebral palsy and other birth injury claims.
Andrew, Graham, Paul and Sophie have between them many years’ experience of personal injury claims at all levels – including everything from brain injury, spinal injury and amputation to broken limbs and soft tissue injuries. Andrew also has a niche in asbestos-related and other occupational disease claims and is a regular contributor to technical journals on personal injury law.
Michael Wangermann, who heads the firm’s Injury Services Group, says: “Ashtons has been a go-to firm for many years for those in East Anglia needing legal help with any type of injury claim and is recognised as such by independent reviewers at Chambers UK and the Legal 500. The most recent Chambers UK accolade described the firm as having ‘Impressive strength handling catastrophic injury claims, including a focus on brain and spinal injuries. Notable expertise in claims resulting from RTAs involving motorcycles, pedestrians and passengers. Active on claims arising from fatal accidents and amputations. Further strengthened by its specialist Court of Protection team.”
“We are delighted that while a number of other firms in the region have recently chosen to give up providing this type of legal advice, we continue to have this as a core area of our business and attract experienced additional talent into our team. It is also always rewarding to be able to promote from within and Ben, who has been instrumental in the firm’s Medical Negligence Team’s success and growth, will be an excellent addition to the Ashtons’ partnership. His appointment comes close on the heels of another recent key internal promotion, when Sharon Allison stepped up to the role of Business Unit Director of the Medical Negligence Team.”