LAWYER Hilary Meredith has received a top accolade for her work in
representing members of the armed forces who have been injured or
killed through negligence.
The 48-year-old, who established
Hilary Meredith Solicitors in Wilmslow in 2003 after 17 years at Manchester outfit
Donns, has been made a senior fellow of the
Association of Personal Injury Lawyers.
Senior
fellow status is only open to those who can demonstrate `outstanding
contributions and accomplishments' in the field of personal injury law.
Hilary,
a married mother of one, was commended for her political skills, legal
expertise and her contribution to the Royal British Legion.
APIL
chief executive Denise Kitchener said she had played a significant role
in bringing justice to injured people with `a dedication and commitment
that was beyond the call of duty'.
Hilary has 20 years of
claims against the Ministry of Defence under her belt for thousands of
servicemen and women injured or killed in Northern Ireland, the first
Gulf War, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan.
She is a founder
member and present secretary of the Royal British Legion Solicitors'
Group, representing the group at national level, sitting on committees
with MPs and members of the House of Lords and raising issues with the
MoD.
She said: "I'm thrilled to become a senior fellow,
especially as this is in recognition of the work undertaken on behalf
of the armed forces personnel. They are a very courageous group of
people, not only in the work they undertake but who, despite
catastrophic injury, go on to achieve incredible feats. They cannot
help but inspire one to attempt your very best on their behalf."
Hilary,
who set up her firm with two staff, now employs 40 people at its
headquarters in Churchgate House and last year recovered £6.4m in
damages for accident victims.
The practice handles claims
for catastrophic injury, clinical negligence, industrial disease,
workplace and road accidents and criminal injury awards overseas.
Military
cases account for about a third of the firm's fee income, which was £4m
in the 12 months to March and is likely to be around £5m this year.
Hilary is aiming to increase turnover to £8m within two years and take staff numbers to 50.
Source: Manchester Evening News
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