header-logo header-logo

The Society of Clinical Injury Lawyers—Sharon Allison

11 May 2023
Categories: Movers & Shakers , Profession
printer mail-detail
Ashtons Legal partner Sharon Allison appointed as first female chair of national society
Sharon Allison from Ashtons Legal LLP has been appointed as the first female chair of The Society of Clinical Injury Lawyers (SCIL). Sharon previously held the role of vice chair and took up her new role in May 2023.

SCIL is a member organisation for specialist claimant solicitor firms who work in the field of clinical negligence.  They have 75 members and are led by an executive team made up of the very best specialists in the field. The Society works closely with its membership to drive changes and clarity on a wide range of issues relevant to practitioners.  

Previous successes include making the process easier for obtaining records of deceased patients, drafting the COVID-19 Clinical Negligence Protocol which led over £30 million in costs savings to the NHS/ the taxpayer and challenging the Government on its proposals around Fixed Recoverable Costs (FRC). There is an annual conference for members which in her new role, Sharon will be leading and delivering along with the executive team.
 
Sharon is Head of Medical Negligence at Ashtons Legal, which is ranked Band 1 for Clinical Negligence by Chambers and Partners.  She sits on the management board at the firm and is also a Fellow with the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL), a member on the esteemed specialist panel for AvMA (Action Against Medical Accidents) and is a Leading Individual with legal commentator, Legal 500.

Sharon comments: 'I’m very proud to have been elected as SCIL’s first female chair. I am very fortunate to be surrounded by incredible specialists in their field who have a wealth of knowledge and experience which makes SCIL the "go to" organisation for claimant Clinical Injury lawyers.

'A lot of the lawyers I work with in my day job and with SCIL have followed a very traditional route into law whereas mine has been quite different. I had an interest in medicine and the law but I did not have any legal qualifications when I joined the firm almost 23 years ago. I was given the opportunity to learn and qualify as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives whilst working and I was able to absorb and focus my efforts on doing the best I could for my clients.

'That enriching experience has given me a deep and longstanding passion for Access to Justice and fighting for better patient safety and this is a passion I share with my SCIL colleagues. I am delighted that they have the faith in me to Chair the organisation through some challenging times ahead.'

MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ Career Profile: Maria Karaiskos KC, Church Court Chambers

NLJ Career Profile: Maria Karaiskos KC, Church Court Chambers

Maria Karaiskos KC, recently appointed as the first female head of Church Court Chambers, discusses breaking down barriers, the lure of the courtroom, and the power of storytelling

Kingsley Napley—Jenny Higgins

Kingsley Napley—Jenny Higgins

Legal director joins regulatory practice to lead offering for actuarial sector

Bolt Burdon Kemp—Alan Collins & Danielle Vincent

Bolt Burdon Kemp—Alan Collins & Danielle Vincent

Bolt Burdon Kemp acquires Hugh James’ abuse team

NEWS
Writing in NLJ this week, Kelvin Rutledge KC of Cornerstone Barristers and Genevieve Screeche-Powell of Field Court Chambers examine the Court of Appeal’s rejection of a discrimination challenge to Tower Hamlets’ housing database
Michael Zander KC, Emeritus Professor at LSE, tracks the turbulent passage of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill through the House of Lords in this week's issue of NLJ. Two marathon debates drew contributions from nearly 200 peers, split between support, opposition and conditional approval
Alistair Mills of Landmark Chambers reflects on the Human Rights Act 1998 a quarter-century after it came into force, in this week's issue of NLJ
In his latest Civil Way column for NLJ, Stephen Gold surveys a raft of procedural changes and quirky disputes shaping civil practice. His message is clear: civil practitioners must brace for continual tweaks, unexpected contentions and rising costs in everyday litigation
Barbara Mills KC, chair of the Bar 2025 and joint head of chambers at 4PB, sets out in this week's NLJ how the profession will respond to Baroness Harriet Harman KC’s review into bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct at the Bar
back-to-top-scroll