Kerry Gillespie, Hudgell Solicitors
Experienced serious injury solicitor Kerry Gillespie has been recognised for establishing her position as an ‘integral figure’ at Hudgell Solicitors by being promoted to the role of Associate Solicitor.
Since joining in 2021, Mrs Gillespie, who works out of the firm’s Manchester office, has developed her own impressive caseload of serious injury claims, many with potential settlement values into seven figure damages.
Providing a supporting role to serious injury managers Sarah Patten in Manchester and Samuel McFadyen in Hull, she has also helped reshape a growing department whilst playing a leading role in representing and supporting a group of more than 150 injured survivors of the 2017 Manchester Arena Bombing.
Mrs Gillespie has also played a pivotal role in establishing and implementing a dedicated serious injury client pledge which stretches from providing immediate and wide-ranging support for clients and their families at the outset of a claim, right through to ensuring vital longer-term assistance is provided well after legal matters are completed.
She has also taken the lead on Hudgells’ work in supporting people injured during military service, either through negligence claims against the Ministry of Defence or through the Government led Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.
More recently the department has launched support for former British servicemen and women to seek compensation from the US Government in relation to serious illnesses, including cancers, caused when stationed at the Camp Lejeune in North Carolina between the 1950s and 80s, when people were exposed to contaminated water supplies.
Associates rolls provide ‘clear pathway’ to managerial responsibility
Mrs Gillespie, who has been a solicitor since 2008 and specialises in spinal cord injury and amputation claims, becomes the 12th member of the Hudgell legal team to be promoted to the role of Associate since the positions were first introduced in January of last year.
Since then, five of the initial eight Associates, including Mr McFadyen, have been promoted into positions as managers.
Current Associates alongside Mrs Gillespie include clinical negligence specialists Caroline Murgatroyd, Michelle Tebbutt, Helena Wood, Hayley Collinson, Lauren Dale, and Elizabeth Maliakal, and travel solicitor Tracy Stansfield.
Rachel Di Clemente, chief executive of Hudgell Solicitors, said: “I’m delighted to confirm the appointment of Kerry as an Associate Solicitor. It is a reflection of the significant impact she has had since joining the firm last year. She has become an integral part of legal teams supporting on major cases for the business and she is also heavily involved in business development.
“We established the Associates roles to reward high-performing staff who not only commit to doing a great job for our clients, but also show dedication and passion each and every day for helping the business to develop and grow
“It is testament to the success of the roles that since they were established in January 2021, five of the initial group of eight have gone on to be promoted into managerial roles, and we have made a further four Associate appointments.”
Serious injury team reshaped with managers for Manchester and Hull
Hudgells’ serious injury team was reshaped this year following former Head of Personal Injury Jane Woodcock’s decision to step back from her day-to-day managerial role after 23 years with the firm. She now supports on a consultancy basis, part-time.
Accredited APIL Senior Litigator Mr McFadyen was promoted from Associate to Serious Injury Manager in Hull, with Mrs Patten made Serious Injury Manager in Manchester.
Solicitor Sarah Kidd, who was one also one of the first group of Associates, was also promoted to Manager of Personal Injury, overseeing cases which will fall under future fixed-fee limitations, with values up to £100,000.
