Year: 2023

We have a number of strategic partnerships with organisations that share our purpose and values.

We’ve been working with The UK Sepsis Trust, since 2015. The national charity supports people who’ve been affected by sepsis and bereaved families. It also works with the NHS at a high level to promote patient care, safety and treatment, in turn improving outcomes.

The statistics are startling:

• 245,000 people get sepsis in the UK each year
• 5 people die of sepsis every hour in the UK
• 40% of sepsis survivors have permanent life-changing effects post sepsis
• The UK Sepsis Trust had over 4,000 contacts with their support services in 2021-22 (telephone, online, socials)

Sepsis is the immune system’s overreaction to an infection or injury and can be life-threatening. But it’s also easily treatable if the signs are spotted early enough. A delayed diagnosis can prove fatal so every hour counts.

Our role

The UK Sepsis Trust will put people with clinical negligence legal issues in touch with us as their trusted legal partner. At this initial stage, we’ll provide them with free, no-obligation advice or signpost them to other resources. It may become clear they have a clinical negligence case, in which case we’ll work to secure compensation for them. One of our main aims, however, is to make sure people are aware of all their options.

As sepsis is so treatable, a key part of our work is helping the charity to raise awareness through information campaigns and publications so that people know what symptoms to look out for and what to do. We also support their work in hospitals to improve education and make sure the right processes are in place.

Sepsis Savvy

We take this message seriously as a firm too. So, we’re proud to have received our Sepsis Savvy accreditation which shows we’re committed to raising awareness about sepsis across our staff at Anthony Collins. This includes sharing information and making sure we all know how to spot the signs and what action to take.

Fundraising with fervour

As a national charity with far-reaching activities, The UK Sepsis Trust requires significant funding to continue its work so we’ve been delighted to get involved as a firm.

When the London marathon was postponed in 2020, over 30 Anthony Collins staff rose to the 2.6 challenge to raise funds for the charity. We did 245 miles between us – the equivalent of nine and a half marathons and raised more than £3,000 for The UK Sepsis Trust.

The charity says £1000 pays for the training, education and resources about sepsis for one hospital, so we’re thrilled that our challenge funded the equivalent of three. Other fundraising activities followed in 2021 and 2022, including a virtual ‘cook along’, a Zoom exercise class and running the Cardiff Half Marathon. We’re looking forward to continuing this in 2023.

John’s story

One personal injury and clinical negligence case that came to us through the UK Sepsis Trust was that of John McCarthy. Following a minor injury to his leg, John had gone to his local A&E department where he was given a brief examination, diagnosed with cellulitis and sent home. It turned out he had the early signs of sepsis but these were missed.

Sadly, his condition worsened rapidly until it became life-threatening. He was rushed back into hospital and had to have his leg amputated. On investigating the case, we found that the correct procedures had not been followed and, if intravenous antibiotics had been administered, his leg might have been saved.

With advice from leading medical experts, we brought a compensation claim against Warwick Hospital and secured a significant settlement for John. This has enabled him to buy an adapted bungalow, and pay for specialist equipment and therapy to improve his quality of life.

Positive impact

We also set up a personal injury trust, will and lasting power of attorney for John to protect his compensation and give him financial security for the future.

He now dedicates his time to being an ambassador for The UK Sepsis Trust to spread the word. As the compensation has enabled John to fund his needs privately, it has also alleviated pressure on public services.

Being partners in the widest sense

As in John’s case, we’re able to help individuals secure their future after the life-changing consequences of sepsis as well as improve their quality of life and independence. Some of these individuals are especially vulnerable, such as children, people who have lost their job and are at risk of losing their homes, or people who no longer have capacity because of a brain injury associated with sepsis.

But the impact of our partnership goes beyond our clients. By working closely with The UK Sepsis Trust across the breadth of their activities, we’re also contributing to improvements in patient care and sepsis outcomes throughout society, both now and in years to come.

“Our team has built up considerable specialist knowledge of sepsis, so it’s highly rewarding to work with the charity and use our legal expertise to make a difference to people at a traumatic time. Hopefully, by helping to raise awareness and share best practices, fewer people will be affected in the future.”
Ann Houghton, partner, Anthony Collins

We helped Mr Mohammed Belal become the UK’s first surgeon to perform an operation after being paralysed.

Mohammed, a keen cyclist, was riding his bike in Solihull when out of the blue a tree fell and landed on him. It was a completely freak accident which resulted in significant damage to Mohammed’s spine and left him with catastrophic life-changing injuries.

As a consultant neuro-urologist, Mohammed realised immediately that he was paralysed from the waist down and that it was going to be a long journey to recovery. Ironically, over his twenty-year-long career, he’d specialised in helping patients with the same kind of injury.

Acting quickly to establish the facts

Our clinical negligence and personal injury team were contacted soon after the accident. We knew swift action was required as falling tree cases are difficult to establish. We liaised with appropriate experts, and our team had the complex task of investigating who owned the land using Land Registry records.

We understood the importance of establishing where the tree was growing and whether any branches were overhanging. We also asked to see a record of inspections that monitored the tree’s deterioration and a maintenance schedule.

The defendant ultimately admitted liability which put us in a position to advance a claim for compensation.

Getting the right therapy and equipment

Mohammed was in hospital for a lengthy period which was followed by thousands of hours of dedicated rehabilitation at a specialist spinal injury centre. He had an incredibly positive attitude and was determined to try and get back to work.

From dealing with his own patients, Mohammed knew the right therapy and early intervention were key. To make this possible, we secured interim payments to fund Mohammed’s rehabilitation and a specialist catastrophic injury case manager to support him and his young family. She was able to take responsibility for dealing with relevant third parties and official bodies and liaised with the team at the hospital about what would be needed for Mohammed to return to work.

The interim payments secured enabled specialist equipment, including a state-of-the-art wheelchair and standing frame, to be bought for Mohammed so that he could achieve his goal and operate again. It also covered the adaptions that were needed at his home.

Never giving up

Through his positive mindset and total determination, Mohammed has managed to return to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham where he is believed to be the first surgeon in the UK to have performed surgery while being wheelchair-bound. He is grateful to his fellow doctors who painstakingly practised all the adjustments that would be needed.

“It has been amazing to be back doing what I love. I’m realistic that it will never be more than part-time and I’ll not be able to sustain it until retirement age. But the journey continues and I know it wouldn’t have been possible without the amazing support from the team at Anthony Collins.”
Mohammed Belal, client

Making a difference

Mohammed’s case is a fantastic example of how we can use the law to help individuals after critical events and improve their lives for the better. It was also a positive outcome for the NHS as it enabled a talented surgeon to return to his specialist area of healthcare and provide much-needed expertise.

“From the early days when Mohammed could not even sit up in bed after the accident, let alone perform an intricate operation, the transformation has been amazing. It’s been a truly humbling and inspirational case to work on. We’re all very proud to have helped Mohammed achieve his milestones and ambitions, as well as enabling the hospital where he works to regain a much-needed specialist expert back within their healthcare service.”
Rankeshwar Batta, head of clinical negligence and personal injury, Anthony Collins

Thanks to our clear financial management, Susan* is able to live in her own home once again.

Sometimes when a person has dementia, independent living gets too much, and residential care is the answer. But after it happened to her, Susan didn’t want that to be the end of her story. If she could afford to return home, even for a short time, she wanted to try.

Susan was officially objecting to being in care but water damage to her house had declared it unfit to live in. The local authority approached Anthony Collins (AC) to act on Susan’s behalf. Could taking her finances in hand get Susan back home with an appropriate package of care?

Accessing the financial landscape

Once appointed, we took on the complicated process of taking full charge of Susan’s finances. This meant comprehensive management down to paying bills, dealing with any income, protecting her assets and insurance claims.

Susan had lived a full, financially stable life. What was left of that lifestyle had to be fully appraised and reported to the court. For Susan to return home, there needed to be enough money to ready her property for her return and a surplus for

Acting for her

While getting Susan’s finances in order, it took many months to complete an insurance claim that had begun. Getting this completed was a crucial initial stage to repair her home so she could live there once again.

Overall, it took almost a year to have everything in place for Susan’s return. It was agreed this would initially be on a trial basis, but then for as long as her cashflow and dementia will allow. The court has confirmed AC’s permanent appointment. We’ll be there to sell Susan’s home and settle her finances when she needs to return to care.

“As a Court of Protection team, we aren’t about changing policy but at the micro level we bring about significant individual change that supports individuals and their lives. There was a very tight margin whether she could afford to leave care or not. At least this way, whether it be for six or 12 months, she’s where she wants to be.”
Doug Houghton, senior associate, Anthony Collins

*Name has been changed.

We helped our client avoid unnecessary legal fees while leaving their marriage and reaching a fair settlement.

Working with a divorcing couple often sees emotions run high. However, when one partner’s legal team is fanning those emotional flames, the other partner’s solicitors must keep their cool to stop fees and feelings spiral out of control.

In this case, it had already been decided that the safest home for a couple’s three children was with our client. The other parent’s substantial mental health issues put the parent at significant suicide risk, and they were living in secure accommodation. Our client was looking to leave the marriage with a fair settlement that would leave them financially able to continue full-time care of the children.

A strained relationship

With land, a house, pension and good income to divide, the case was shaping up to be fairly standard. But the case brought by the other parent’s solicitors proved to be far more complex. Initially trying to leverage a situation where the other parent could rebuild relationships with the children, they claimed the other parent’s mental condition was directly caused by our client’s abuse (allegation denied by our client). This was vehemently and repeatedly, within several solicitors’ letters, reinforced by the other parent’s appointed legal team.

The case quickly became highly acrimonious and the team at Anthony Collins (AC) had a judgement call to make. Engaging in such lengthy correspondence in reply was going to run up costs that could damage the outcome our client wanted to achieve. Working for this client meant being very aware of their needs, those of the children and their financial circumstances.

A fair result

The other parent’s team rejected the first attempt at a financial agreement claiming it had come under duress. Despite being invited to withdraw that claim, the other parent’s legal team continued to make the claim while simultaneously demanding to have the order submitted to the court. This further twist made it necessary for the couple to go to a court hearing to conclude that duress was never a factor.

Throughout all the allegations made, the AC team kept emotion out of its responses, avoiding tit-for-tat correspondence that escalates costs. This allowed the parties to finally settle on a financial package, which was approved by the court, that was fair and allowed the children to remain where they were safest.

“Settling as quickly, cheaply and amicably as possible is best. Emotion just doesn’t help. That was the case for this family and all those we represent. There are no winners or losers in what we do.”
Chris Lloyd-Smith, partner, Anthony Collins

Thanks to our support, a father can live without damaging labels and spend quality time with his child.

When it comes to working with families, cases are often emotionally charged and difficult for everyone involved. However, the stakes were particularly high for a father who was being accused of serious sexual abuse of both his former partner and their child.

Not long after their child was born, the mother and father’s relationship deteriorated. It was at this point that the mother started to make allegations. The father denied these, believing the mother was suffering from a mental breakdown in which she experienced delusional episodes.

As the situation unravelled, the mother stopped the father from seeing their child. Within a very short space of time, the father had gone from helping look after the child as part of a family unit to zero contact.

Evaluating the evidence

As it was so unclear what was going on, the court decided to hold a fact-finding hearing where the mother’s allegations could be tested. With a police investigation taking place in parallel, it meant there was a huge amount of evidence that needed to be taken into consideration.

Looking critically at the evidence, including 30 witness statements, the team at Anthony Collins (AC) were able to analyse the evidence in depth and uncover inconsistencies between the mother’s narrative and some of the key witnesses she sought to rely on.

Preparing for court

The stakes were incredibly high. If allegations against the father could be backed up, it would stop him from seeing his child outside of a supervised environment for a very long time. If the mother was found to be making false allegations, it would raise questions about whether she was mentally well enough to look after their child.

Before the hearing, our team prepared the father for the realities of court. They asked him questions in a similar way to what would happen under cross-examination to ensure he made a positive impression. Ultimately, we needed to help him communicate the truth of what happened under very stressful circumstances.

A positive result

The court found no evidence to support the mother’s allegations. Not only did this mean the father would not be tarnished with negative labels, but most importantly, it meant he had the chance to build a relationship with his child and a healthy co-parenting partnership with the mother.

There were concerns about how the mother would react to her allegations being overthrown. However, it seemed the hearing was a significant step in her mental health journey, and a final agreement was made outside the court that the father could spend extended, unsupervised time with his child.

“My motivation for working in this area is to make a positive, tangible impact on people’s lives. In this case, a father is now allowed to have a relationship with his child. Without support from AC, he probably wouldn’t be in this position.”
Tom Gregory, solicitor, Anthony Collins

We helped a family hold on to what was rightfully theirs during a difficult divorce settlement.

When a marriage ends, it’s typically only the couple at the centre of the divorce who need support with settling finances. But, in this case, Alex’s* family came to us for help.

Robin* was attempting to claim a share of the assets that belonged to Alex. Our clients declared these to be family-owned assets, not to be part of any divorce settlement, so we were asked to intervene in the case on the family’s behalf.

Exploring ownership

It’s unusual for Anthony Collins to represent neither party during a divorce. Despite this, we took the same approach to finding a financial solution for Alex’s family as we would for a couple. Our two-stage process started with a thorough investigation as to the reasons why Robin was asserting an interest and what our clients’ response to that was.

Once we fully understood the history and our clients’ case, it was about obtaining and presenting the evidence in the most persuasive way to the court.

Time in court

With five parties involved in the case, we had to tread a very difficult line: showing particular care, expertise and knowledge in how we intervened in the case.

Our clients needed us to avoid doing anything that could unintentionally undermine any of Alex’s interests or that of the other intervenors. This backdrop was complicated further by Robin’s report of events changing on more than one occasion.

A clear way forward

After a three-day trial the court made the decision that everything in fact did belong to Alex’s family. With no assets to divide, Robin was entitled to half, but in this case it was half of nothing. Thanks to our support, this means that the assets will stay in the family.

“We were able to help this family hold on to assets built up over generations and stop them from getting into the hands of somebody who had no entitlement to them. Our input shows that if you do things the right way, thoroughly and diligently, you get the right answer.”
Chris Lloyd-Smith, partner, Anthony Collins

*Not their real names.