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The deadline for service personnel and veterans to join the Military Hearing Loss Matrix Register has been extended to 31 January 2027. The Military Hearing Loss Matrix was established following litigation brought by current and former members of the Armed Forces. The extension follows the High Court's judgment in the Abbott test cases, which clarified a number of key issues affecting military hearing loss claims. Joining the Matrix Register does not determine whether a claim

Hilary Meredith-Beckham is the latest guest on Dawn of a New Era, the business and leadership podcast hosted by entrepreneur, author and speaker Dawn McGruer. In the episode, Hilary reflects on the experiences that inspired her to become one of the UK's leading advocates for service personnel, veterans and their families. She also discusses building a specialist legal practice, overcoming challenges as a female entrepreneur and the importance of trust, reputation and resilien

Hilary Meredith Solicitors has been reappointed to the Aftermath Support legal panel for 2026/27. Aftermath Support is a charitable organisation that provides support to people affected by road traffic collisions across the North West of England. Founded in 2005, the charity has grown to provide independent support to more than 13,700 individuals and families dealing with the consequences of road collisions. Aftermath Support assists families on a one-to-one basis from th

Hilary Meredith Solicitors fully supports Injury Awareness Week 2026, a national campaign organised by the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) to highlight the impact of injuries caused by negligence. Running from 22–26 June, this year's campaign focuses on the "ripple effect" of injury, recognising that the consequences of a serious injury often extend well beyond the individual involved. Families, friends, carers and colleagues can all face significant emotional,

New legislation removing the time limit for survivors of child sexual abuse to bring compensation claims will come into force on 29 June 2026. The change follows the passing of the Crime and Policing Act 2026, which received Royal Assent on 29 April. Section 96 of the Act abolishes the existing three-year limitation period, which has long been criticised for preventing many survivors from seeking justice. Under the new law, survivors will be able to pursue civil claims rega

Leading UK solicitor and armed forces champion Hilary Meredith-Beckham has been appointed a Dame of the Royal Order of Francis I, in recognition of her longstanding legal and charitable support for service personnel, veterans and their families. The honour was conferred at a formal investiture ceremony attended by senior clergy, diplomats and distinguished guests, reflecting the Order’s focus on service, charity and international goodwill. Hilary Meredith-Beckham has dedica

On VE Day we remember not only the victory, but the extraordinary courage, sacrifice and resilience of those who served our country in its darkest hours. We honour the generation who fought for freedom, and we remember all those who never came home. Their legacy lives on through the freedoms we enjoy today. Hilary Meredith-Beckham, The Veterans Voice.

Hilary Meredith-Beckham has called for an investigation into whether delays within Government departments are contributing to hold-ups in military injury claims and increasing legal costs for taxpayers. The call follows reporting by The Telegraph around office attendance and productivity across parts of Whitehall, amid continuing debate over hybrid working arrangements within the Civil Service. The report says managers have “no control” over remote staff who are “taking advan

Hilary Meredith-Beckham was last night named as Law Firm Leader of the Year (Boutique Law Firm) at the Women and Diversity in Law Awards 2026. Hosted by The Global Legal Post, the awards celebrate outstanding women leaders and practitioners, as well as legal teams and organisations driving meaningful change across the legal profession. This year’s winners were selected from nearly 350 entries across 32 categories and included 82 law firms and chambers - from global giants t

The High Court has now handed down judgment in Abbott & Others v Ministry of Defence, a significant decision arising from litigation concerning military noise induced hearing loss (NIHL). This judgment is likely to affect both current claims and new enquiries relating to military hearing loss. The case considered a number of test claims and addressed key medico-legal issues which will influence how thousands of military hearing loss claims are assessed going forward. What

Andy Reid made history at the TCS London Marathon after becoming the first triple amputee to complete the race. The 49-year-old Afghanistan veteran, who was supported and sponsored by Hilary Meredith Solicitors, showed extraordinary resilience over the 26.2-mile course, pushing on without stopping as he reached the finish line. Andy, who co-founded the St Helens-based Standing Tall Foundation, took on the challenge both as a personal test and to raise funds supporting veter

Hilary Meredith-Beckham has called for an inquiry into Attorney General Lord Hermer’s role in the Al-Sweady scandal, following revelations reported by The Telegraph. The newspaper reports that Lord Hermer acted as lead counsel in civil claims against the Ministry of Defence, pursuing compensation on behalf of Iraqi claimants despite what it describes as mounting concerns about the credibility of their allegations. The claims related to accusations that British troops had murd

Hilary Meredith-Beckham has been shortlisted in two of the most prestigious categories at the Women & Diversity in Law Awards 2026 - Woman of the Year and Law Firm Leader of the Year. Hosted by The Global Legal Post , the awards celebrate outstanding women leaders and practitioners, as well as legal teams and organisations driving meaningful change across the legal profession. This year’s shortlist was selected from nearly 350 entries across 32 categories and includes 82 l

New research by Hilary Meredith Solicitors has raised serious concerns about how the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) is operating in practice, despite repeated government assurances that it is being improved. The findings point to widespread dissatisfaction with the way claims are handled by Veterans UK, with many veterans describing the process as adversarial, poorly communicated and failing to properly recognise the life-changing impact of service-related injuries.

Welcome to our review of 2025. As we look back on the year, I am proud to share a number of life-changing successes for the firm. In 2025 we have acted for hundreds of armed forces service personnel, veterans and their families, securing outcomes that will make a real difference to their lives. To represent such a deserving community remains the honour of my life, and I’m deeply grateful for the trust our clients place in us and for the commitment shown by our outstanding t

On 22 May 2017, a devastating act of terrorism took place at Manchester Arena. Salman Abedi detonated a suicide bomb, killing 22 innocent people and leaving hundreds more with life-changing injuries. Many continue to live with the physical and emotional impact of that night. Venue management of the Arena was overseen by SMG Europe Holdings and crowd management for the Arena was provided by Showsec International. Policing of the Arena was overseen by British Transport Police.

A member of the UK armed forces has died in Ukraine while watching the testing of a new defensive capability, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced. "He was injured in a tragic accident whilst observing Ukrainian forces test a new defensive capability, away from the front lines," it said in a statement on Tuesday. Hilary Meredith-Beckham said: “Our hearts go out to the family, friends, and those who served alongside the UK soldier who has died in Ukraine. “It esse

A BBC investigation has revealed that more than 250 people were subjected to Electric Shock Aversion Therapy (ESAT) in NHS hospitals between 1965 and 1973, while the true figure may be closer to 1,000. LGBT Survivors have described ESAT as cruel and traumatic, involving painful electric shocks intended to change sexuality or gender identity, often imposed on teenagers who say they did not give informed consent and were warned not to tell their families. Many were referred by

After a 9-year David versus Goliath style legal action, Hilary Meredith Solicitors last night won Outstanding Case of the Year at the Personal Injury Awards 2025. The award recognised the firm’s groundbreaking success on behalf of hundreds of UK armed forces personnel and veterans impacted by the anti-malarial drug Lariam. Soon after Lariam was introduced to international markets in the late 1980s, users began reporting severe side effects. Over the following decades, as conc

The British Army has temporarily paused use of its Ajax armoured fighting vehicles following fresh reports that soldiers became unwell while operating the platform during training and trials. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed that personnel raised concerns about noise and vibration exposure, with some attending medical facilities for assessment. Ajax is a 40-tonne tracked vehicle built by General Dynamics for reconnaissance, troop transport and command roles. The