Specialists. Injury Award. Adding up the cost of business security. Buying a home? Expert family law services in Doncaster.

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1 Issue 4 // Issue 2 // Autumn 2011 Injury Award Specialists Adding up the cost of business security Buying a home? Expert family law services in Doncaster

2 Atherton Godfrey Solicitors // LEGALVOICE Recognising success I am very pleased to note that the achievements of both our individual team members and the firm as a whole continue to be recognised nationally with recommendations received by both Legal 500 and Chambers. These recommendations are based on many thousands of interviews with clients, peers and counsel and are testament to the hard work, dedication and commitment of all our staff. Recognising success is important to all of us at Atherton Godfrey and we are proud to have been able to support several community awards recently, where the achievements of local people were recognised; there is more about these in this issue. I was also very pleased to see that a Junior Lawyers Group has recently...we are proud to have been able to support several community awards... started up in Doncaster, particularly so as a number of staff from Atherton Godfrey have been instrumental in establishing the group, and I think this is exactly what is needed to complement the area s already thriving legal community. The group is open to members from across Doncaster and district and I wish it every success. You can find more details about the group on our website. I hope you enjoy this issue. CHARLES GODFREY Senior Partner In this issue Law Society Ball hailed a success Page 03 Adding up the cost of business security Page 03 Injury award specialists Page 04 Buying a home? Page 06 Strong support for local athletes Page 06 Polish speaker joins legal team Page 07 Time to plan for the future Page 07 Expert family law services in Doncaster Page 07 Movers Page 08 Himilayan Trek for injury claims specialist Page

3 Issue 4 // Law Society Ball hailed a success The annual social event, organised by the Doncaster Law Society, brought together over 150 people from a range of professions. Almost 1,000 was raised for Doncaster based charity CLIC and Help for Heroes. The event was so successful that tables are already being booked for next year! Pictured (L to R) are past presidents James Sutherland of Atherton Godfrey and Andrew Isaacs together with current president, Alison Turner, senior vice president Mark Appleyard and junior vice president Emma Beazley of Atherton Godfrey. Emma will take up the role of president in 20104/15. Photograph courtesy of Flashbash Event Photography Almost 1,000 was raised for Doncaster based charity CLIC and Help for Heroes. Adding up the cost of business security Business owners are being urged to do the sums when it comes to protecting their livelihood. Sarah Naylor, who heads up the Employment Law Team at Atherton Godfrey advises: The number of employment disputes is rising and the costs can be devastating for a business. There is typically no costs recovery in the Employment Tribunal, meaning that even in the event of a successful defence of a tribunal claim, the company will not be able to recover the cost of legal representation. As an example, defending an unfair dismissal claim can easily cost 18,000. Compare this to the cost of protecting your business with a tailor-made plan and the figures speak for themselves. Making sure you don t fall foul of employment law costs much less than people would expect A typical company with 15 employees and an annual wage roll of 350,000 can expect to pay less than 178 per month with Atherton Godfrey s EMProtect scheme. Not sure how fit your business is? For a limited period, we will carry out a business Health Check which involves auditing contracts, policies and procedures and identifying areas of risk for only 150. If you d like to know more, call or visit Specialist services for developers Site acquisitions Regeneration projects Plot sales including sales under the FirstBuy and NewBuy schemes Collective sales to Housing Associations Site infrastructure agreements (highways and sewer agreements, electricity, gas and media easements) Available throughout the region competitive packages Contact us today for more details on how we can support your development Contact Charles Godfrey or Keelie Evans on or by at c.godfrey@athertongodfrey.co.uk or k.evans@athertongodfrey.co.uk providing expert legal advice to developers for over 20 years 03

4 Atherton Godfrey Solicitors // LEGALVOICE INJURY AWARD SPECIALISTS Top ranking for Clinical Negligence Atherton Godfrey has in the 2013 edition of Chambers UK, one of the leading international legal services directories, been ranked in a top tier for Clinical Negligence. The ranking was achieved following extensive research amongst clients and professional peers. Atherton Godfrey s clinical negligence practice has grown significantly in recent years and is now one of the largest in the area. John McQuater Bob Allen 04 Our team consists of both legal and medical experts who have the skills and expertise to handle even the most complex case, taking it all the way through the legal system if necessary. The researchers were also impressed by the work of individual team members and have given personal rankings to John McQuater, partner and head of litigation who made top tier and Bob Allen was highlighted as an associate to watch. Between them, John and Bob have recovered millions of pounds in damages for clients. Atherton Godfrey has also received the coveted Legal 500 recommendation for two of our practice areas and is now ranked amongst the leading practices in the Yorkshire and Humber region in both Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury. Also making it on to the recommended list are two of the firms partners Diane Parker, head of personal injury and John McQuater. As with the Chambers Directory, the Legal 500 series is complied following an extensive 12 month period of research and recommends firms and individuals purely on merit. Charity approval for personal injury work We have successfully retained our place on the Spinal Injuries Association s (SIA) approved list of personal injury solicitors. To be accepted on the list, a legal practice has to meet strict criteria determined by SIA which aims to demonstrate the ability to provide services according to individual needs. By selecting a legal practice with SIA approval, potential clients can be confident that their interests will be central at all times. They can also rest assured that the legal team will be committed to ensuring the best possible outcome. Further accolade for legal expert John McQuater, who already holds accreditation as a Personal Injury Specialist, has now received accreditation as a Clinical Negligence Specialist from the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) As an APIL Accredited Clinical Negligence Specialist, John will use his skills and knowledge to assess the competency of other lawyers working in this highly complex field both locally and nationally. John has also been elected to serve on the committee of APIL and will be actively involved in trying to protect the interests of injured people on a national level. I believe that a very important part of any lawyer s role is to carefully guide clients through what is an exceptionally complicated area of law and manage their expectations fully, while achieving the best possible outcome for them. John McQuater There are occasions when treatment falls below acceptable standards and there is now an increased willingness to enforce rights. Bob Allen

5 Issue 4 // SEPARATING? Injury compensation Here are some examples of our recent cases you can find more on our website Case file Our client suffered an internal injury while undergoing what should have been a routine operation. The injury resulted in significant lifestyle changes, including having to move home and will require continuing care. The amount we gained is needed to provide security for our client into old age. AWARD 1,000,000 Case file A GP failed to carry out the correct blood tests on our client who many years later suffered a heart attack. We were able to prove that if the GP had carried out the tests on the initial visit, the heart attack would have been delayed by a further seven years. AWARD 40,000 Case file A fracture went undiagnosed for several years, causing our client a sustained period of pain and suffering. When it was finally diagnosed, corrective surgery was required as the bones had fused in the wrong place. AWARD 220,000 Case file Our client was hit by a car while they were on a pedestrian crossing and sustained injuries which resulted in early retirement. AWARD 40,000 However difficult the case - you can be sure we will be with you every step of the way. If you have been injured through no fault of our own, contact us today and see how we can help you or visit our website for more details no obligation. NO WIN NO FEE What our clients say Easy to contact you throughout the claims process Very helpful staff on the end of the phone From my initial first meeting with your company the service was excellent I don t think the level of service could be improved Mediation provides a low cost alternative for separating couples Help with arrangements for children Help with the division of property Reduced legal costs Free no obligation initial meeting for both parties Over 30 years experience of getting the best for our clients Call us NOW or us at: info@athertongodfrey.co.uk 8 HALL GATE DONCASTER DN1 3LU 05

6 Atherton Godfrey Solicitors // LEGALVOICE Buying a home? For most people, buying a home will be the biggest purchase that they will ever make. We never underestimate the importance of this it s a huge financial commitment and that s why it is vital that you have excellent legal advice right from the start. But choosing the right firm can be difficult there are so many to choose from. A good place to start is by looking for the Law Society s Conveyancing Quality Scheme logo - the recognised quality mark for legal experts in buying or selling property and trusted by some of the UK's biggest lenders (including HSBC, Yorkshire Bank and Santander). Atherton Godfrey is an accredited practice - your assurance that the services we provide meet the high standards set by the Law Society. You can be sure our highly experienced team will: Be honest about what our costs will be we have no hidden fees Handle your transaction from initial instructions to key handover Ensure your transaction runs smoothly Stay in regular contact with you so you are kept informed throughout Respond to your queries quickly Meet our Team Charles Godfrey Charles qualified as a solicitor in 1973 and was cofounder of the firm in He is head of our Commercial Department and has particular expertise in commercial property, especially the acquisition and sale of residential development land. He also deals with business transfers and commercial agreements. Sean Gallagher Sean s expertise lies within commercial property, licensing and company law and he is on hand to deal with the more complex land issues or disputes. Sean qualified as a solicitor in 2005 and lectured in law in Singapore before joining Atherton Godfrey. Keelie Evans Keelie joined the firm as a trainee solicitor in 2007 and qualified as a property solicitor in 2009, specialising in both commercial and residential property. Eileen Brooks Eileen joined us in 1987 and deals with residential sales, purchases and transfers of equity. She completed an ILEX Vocational Studies Certificate in 1999 Caroline Johnson Caroline joined us in 2005, but has been dealing with residential sales and purchases for over 10 years. She is currently studying to become a Licensed Conveyancer. Strong support for local athletes The Keepmoat Stadium hosted the prestigious Doncaster Sports Awards 2012 and proved we have some real home grown talent. There were awards for every area of the sporting scene from sports personalities to unsung heroes and life time achievements. Atherton Godfrey was delighted to be able to sponsor the Junior Sports Personality of the Year category, which was won by 11-year old Taekwondo Champion Connor Lill. Charles Godfrey, senior partner of the firm said: It was an excellent event which really did showcase the talent and commitment of local athletes. I was very impressed with Connor s achievements this young man is definitely one to watch for the future. At only 11-years of age, he already has 20 gold medals to his name and has secured himself a place on the Great Britain squad. Pride in Doncaster We were also delighted to sponsor the Sporting Hero category of the Pride in Doncaster Awards The event is jointly organised by Doncaster Council and the Doncaster Free Press, and has been developed to recognise and reward exceptional people from across the region, who are working hard to make a difference to the borough. The Local Sporting Hero award went to a young fireman from Tickhill called Andrew Lansdell, who is a long distance runner and plans to run across the Sahara desert for 6 days to raise money for Mencap. Charles Godfrey went along to present the award and said: It was a pleasure to see such a genuinely nice lad achieve this recognition. 06

7 Issue 4 // Polish speaker joins legal team We are pleased to welcome a Polish speaking member on to our legal team. Marta Kuliga, from Wroclaw, originally joined the firm on an internship in May 2012 and quickly made her mark. Diane Parker, partner and head of personal injury said: Marta impressed us on so many levels, not least her customer focus and professionalism. We are very pleased that she has accepted a permanent role with us. Marta will primarily be based within our Personal Injury Department, but she will also help other departments with our Polish speaking clients. Marta said: I really enjoy the unique atmosphere at Atherton Godfrey; everyone is very friendly and helpful and I think that together we can expand the range of legal services available to the Polish community. Expert family law services in Doncaster Time to plan for the future? People are living longer and as a result the elderly are becoming increasingly concerned that their minds will fail long before their bodies. Dementia is a subject far more easily talked about today and there is a growing network of support agencies. There is also wide spread publicity and many of us will have seen the touching TV adverts showing a loved one disappearing in front of us. At Atherton Godfrey, we see first hand how this is a real concern to some of our clients, so we were pleased to be able to help support the Alzheimer s Society in their fundraising efforts, by putting together a team to compete in the Annual Charity Dragon Boat Challenge. Legal team take to the water Funds raised by the event went to help support the Society, which says that there are 800,000 people with dementia in the UK with numbers set to rise to one million by For clients who do want to plan for the future, we provide a specialist service for the elderly that can include Lasting Powers of Attorney, Property Transfers and advice on Inheritance Tax issues. If you would like to know more, please contact us on and ask to speak to James Sutherland or Rachel Weston. One of our team has again received recognition for his work in family law. Don Bird, partner and head of the Family Department at Atherton Godfrey, has been re-accredited by the Law Society and retains the ranking of Family Law practitioner with advanced status. Law Society accredited members have to meet strict criteria and undergo reaccreditation every five years to ensure the highest level of skills and experience are maintained. Advanced status signifies that the member is an expert in a given area of family law and that they have an excellent grasp of the law in general, essential when dealing with related property or financial matters. Don, who has been practising law for over 30 years, is also a member of the Law Society Family Mediation panel and is a qualified mediator and a member of Resolution. He said: The accreditation schemes operated by the Law Society are designed to give quality assurance and peace of mind to the public. It is important that client s are assured that their legal issues are being handled by fully qualified and suitably experienced professionals. 07

8 Atherton Godfrey Solicitors // LEGALVOICE MOVERS employment law. Qualified Lindsey Gaimster has qualified as a solicitor and is now busy establishing her career in both clinical negligence and Lindsey began her legal career with Atherton Godfrey in the summer of 2010 after developing an interest in law whilst covering court cases for a local newspaper. Lindsey said: Clinical negligence and employment law are very different, but actually complement each other well. The firm s senior partner, Charles Godfrey, said: We are delighted that Lindsey has successfully completed her training. Lindsay s appointment brings the total number of solicitors in the firm to 30. Promotions Katie Buckle to Senior Solicitor Clare Lawrence to Senior Solicitor Jodie Cook to Senior Legal Executive Kelly Homar to Senior Legal Executive High quality training and recruitment Atherton Godfrey was shortlisted in both Best Recruiter and Best Trainer categories of the prestigious legal awards organised by online training and recruitment specialists LawCareers.Net Charles Godfrey said: Several of our firm s partners actually began their legal careers as trainees with Atherton Godfrey, one of whom recently won a Lawyer of the Year award and I think this is a further illustration of the standard of training we have provided for more than thirty years. Himalayan trek for injury claims specialist One of our legal team opted for a holiday with a difference and headed to India to help locals improve their employment prospects. Diane Parker, partner and head of personal injury with the firm went in her role as a district commissioner with the Girl Guides. After a few days acclimatising in New Delhi, Diane and a party of colleagues from North East England Girl Guiding headed up to the Himalayan town of Leh, where she spent some time in a Tibetan school teaching the children, aged between 3 and 8 years, English and introducing them to arts and crafts. Then it was on to Pune where Diane worked with the residents of a women s refuge, many who are escaping from extreme poverty as well as violent or oppressive lives. The aim there was to teach the women practical household skills, such as basic catering and housekeeping, which they can then use to help them find work in service or the hotel trade. Find us on Facebook Like us to make sure you re kept up to date with developments, promotions and events. or follow us on 08 Atherton Godfrey is Authorised and Regulated by The Solicitors Regulation Authority No