I am delighted to see the Office for Veterans Affairs officially launched this week. As part of the launch, ministers have announced that the new head of the OVA will be Col David Richmond, the former Recovery Director of Help for Heroes. Further details of what the office will do have also been announced, including…
Former soldier Wayne Bass, who lost his legal claim against the Ministry of Defence (MoD) after contracting Q fever in Afghanistan, has been granted permission to Appeal. Mr Bass’ solicitor, Dianne Yates from specialist military law firm Hilary Meredith Solicitors, confirmed that the Appeal is listed to be heard on 5 and 6 December 2019…
The Government has dropped plans to protect military veterans from prosecution in Monday’s Queen’s Speech, according to reports over the weekend. Reacting to the news, Hilary Meredith, Chair of Hilary Meredith Solicitors and Visiting Professor of Law and Veterans’ Affairs at the University of Chester said: “I am dismayed by the lack of…
Hilary Meredith Solicitors is backing a new campaign by Help for Heroes calling for the Government to commission an independent review of the medical discharge process. Help for Heroes is calling for an independent review of the discharge process which was described as “negative” by 70% of veterans it spoke to in a new survey. More…
Hilary Meredith Solicitors has achieved its highest ever rankings in leading legal directory, The Legal 500, published today. Hilary Meredith is ranked as a Band 1 Leading Individual for Claimant Personal Injury in the North West, while Sinead Cartwright, Dianne Yates and Simon Quinn are named as other key lawyers. The Legal 500 says: “Niche…
It is encouraging to read that an increasing number of GPs are signing up to become ‘veteran friendly’ under a national scheme launched last year to improve medical care and treatment for former members of the armed services. The scheme, called the Military Veteran Aware Accreditation, has been adopted by NHS England and the Royal…
Hilary Meredith Solicitors has become a founder member of the Association of Consumer Support Organisations (ACSO). ACSO has been established as a not-for-profit membership body to represent the interests of consumers as claimants in the civil justice system. By engaging with policymakers, regulators, wider industry and the media, ACSO works to ensure there is a…
Hilary Meredith is a guest speaker at today’s Cheshire Armed Forces Covenant Partnership Symposium at the University of Chester. As Visiting Professor of Law and Veterans’ Affairs at the University of Chester’s Westminster Centre, Hilary will be speaking at 2pm on the legal support available to veterans. During her address, Hilary will refer to the…
I am delighted and proud that the Westminster Centre for Research and Innovation in Veterans’ Wellbeing at the University of Chester, where I am Visiting Professor of Law and Veterans’ Affairs, has been shortlisted for the Military and Civilian Partnership Award at the Health Service Journal Awards 2019. The Westminster Centre for Research and Innovation in…
On Friday, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) issued a statement in response to an article in The Times regarding proposals for a civil litigation longstop. Defence in the media: Armed forces recruitment and compensation claims Commenting on the MoD’s statement, Hilary Meredith, Chair of Hilary Meredith Solicitors said: “It is clear that the MoD is…
In a tragedy with chilling parallels for service personnel who were prescribed Lariam by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), there is growing concern that the death of Cambridge University student Alana Cutland – who threw herself from a small plane as it flew above Madagascar – might have been the result of a psychotic episode…
MPs have said that a “disproportionate” number of female and ethnic minority personnel in the armed forces file internal complaints. A Commons Defence Committee report said the number of complaints, which often allege discrimination, bullying and harassment, was a “serious concern”. The report published on Wednesday said there was “no clear data” to suggest why,…
The Ministry of Defence today stands accused of betraying thousands of troops who have served their country on deployments abroad by introducing “back door” legislation to prevent them from seeking legal redress for life-changing injuries. Under section 11 of the Limitation Act 1980, personal injury claims (including PTSD) must normally be brought within three years…
Hilary Meredith has been shortlisted for the Woman Solicitor of the Year accolade at the 2019 Law Society Excellence Awards. The Law Society Excellence Awards have been celebrating the hard work and inspirational achievements of solicitors, legal teams and firms of all sizes across England and Wales for the past 12 years. The expert judges…
I am delighted Prime Minister, Boris Johnson is to establish Britain’s first dedicated veterans’ office with the aim of stopping the legal witch-hunt against our troops. Conservative MP Johnny Mercer, a former Army officer and frontline soldier, was yesterday appointed veterans minister working across the Cabinet Office and Ministry of Defence. The idea is that…
A Legal Assistant at Hilary Meredith Solicitors in Wilmslow has achieved a lifelong ambition and appeared in a New York show. Niamh Finan, who works in the firm’s clinical negligence team, successfully auditioned for Buried in December 2017. After getting the part, Niamh, from Cheadle Hulme, went on to perform in London, Leicester, the Edinburgh…
Solicitor Hilary Meredith, who acts for service personnel, veterans and their families and provided evidence to the Drawing a Line: Protecting Veterans by a Statute of Limitations Inquiry, believes the Defence Committee has missed an opportunity to end the “great betrayal of our veterans”. Commenting on today’s Defence Committee report, Ms Meredith, Chair of Hilary…
Hilary Meredith Solicitors is proud to have worked with MPs on a new campaign to end a host of ongoing injustices against military veterans. Under the three-part Veterans’ Pledge, which is being supported by The Sun Newspaper, we are urging Boris Johnson or Jeremy Hunt when they enter No10 to agree to: 1. Create a…
A 36-year-old man who was rendered tetraplegic after a horrific road traffic accident is set to realise his long-held ambition to become a barrister after being offered a pupillage in an innovative partnership between a law firm and barristers’ Chambers. Simon Arnold was involved in a serious road traffic accident in 2006, which rendered him…
Hilary Meredith Solicitors is delighted to sponsor Macclesfield Armed Forces Day on Saturday (29 June). Working with Cheshire Silk’s 106.9 the firm is urging everyone to show their support for the Men and Women who make up the Armed Forces Community, from currently serving troops to Service families, Veterans and Cadets. The Parade starts at…