Mark Fowles - Admitted 1988.
Senior Partner and Head of the Insurance Department

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Qualifications:
MA (Oxon); Solicitor

D.O.B:
19th May 1958

Education:
1976 - 79 - Magdalen College, Oxford University
1984 - 85 - C.P.E. Bristol Polytechnic
1985 - 86 - L.S.F. Bristol Polytechnic

Experience:
Mark joined Veitch Penny in 1993, became Partner in 1996, and Head of the Insurance Department in 2000. Mark specialises in employer’s liability, public liability and local authority claims, and in particular occupational stress and education claims. In 2004 Mark took Barber v SCC to the House of Lords.

Mark is ranked number one in the South West for Defendant Personal Injury work. The Chambers Guide has commented: “sources endorsed his straightforward, pragmatic approach to dealing with claims. You just know where you are with him.” Described as a "talented individual" the guide acknowledged him as a Leader in the Field of Personal Injury, an accolade he still holds.

Mark's reputation has also been highlighted in the Legal 500 who in 2007 acknowledged him as "a nationally recognised expert in the field of work-related stress and a fantastic supporter of public sector risk management." 

Mark frequently contributes to industry publications and the Radio 4 flagship legal programme 'Law in Action.' He is a regular on the circuit, and has lectured for the CII, C.L.T. and ALARM giving frequent talks and in-house training to local authorities and Insurers; recent topics being Employers Liability, Personal Injury Update, Witness Training, Negotiations, Human Rights and Stress at Work.

Mark has undergone training in the skills of alternative dispute resolution/mediation and sits on the Mediation panel at Exeter County Court. He has made use of those skills on behalf of Insurers, notably in a recent dual fatality 7-figure claim.

The Veitch Penny Medical Handbook for the Personal Injury Practitioner, edited by Mark Fowles and Dr Hames Mackenzie, is published as part of Kemp and Kemp.

Mark is a member of the Foil EL/PL Disease Working Party Committee.

Mark is a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts, is a keen cricket follower and a frustrated Bristol City supporter. He listens to classical music and jazz, and enjoys the theatre when he can.

Mark Hammerton - Admitted 1993.
Partner

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Qualifications:
LL.B (Hons); Solicitor

D.O.B:
12th August 1969

Education:
1987 - 1990 - Anglia University
1990 - 1991 - College of Law Chester

Experience:
Mark has approximately 14 years post qualification experience dedicated to defending road traffic and public liability claims on behalf of Insurers and Local / Public Authorities.

Mark specialises in Police Misfeasance Claims and is an active member of the Police Defence Lawyers Forum. He has vast experience of employer’s liability claims, including WRULD and stress claims. He oversees the department’s professional negligence caseload.

Mark was recommended in the Legal 500 for his ability to 'go that extra mile', he frequently lectures to clients and is happy to assist with bespoke training for Insurers and Local/ Public Authorities. He is a regular speaker at the firms’ annual personal injury conference.

Mark is a Member of Foil and a regular attendee at Wales and the West regional meetings.

Mark currently is the Veitch Penny Staff Partner and Training Partner.

Jessica Ross - Admitted 1995.
Partner

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Qualifications:
LL.B (Hons); Solicitor

D.O.B:
2nd January 1969

Education:
1988 - 1993 - Nottingham University

Experience:
Jessica joined Veitch Penny in 1995 and became a Partner in 1999. She has particular expertise in costs, highways, industrial diseases, repetitive strain injuries, vibration white finger, deafness, stress, and work related upper limb disorder cases; as well as substantial experience of dealing with large RTA Claims.

Jessica has qualified as a Solicitor Advocate (civil), with full Higher Rights in all UK civil courts. Attaining her Higher Rights reinforces the firm’s commitment to offering a complete and seamless service to our clients. It also further endorses the calibre of specialist expertise at Veitch Penny. Jessica regularly represents insurers at Inquests.

Jessica is an experienced lecturer, having lectured for The Law Society and Central Law Training, and gives regular talks to Insurers and Local Authorities.

In addition to her workload, Jessica became the Editor of the Personal Injury Law Journal in 2004. The Journal is devoted to covering key case decisions, legislation and practice matters affecting personal injury and clinical negligence lawyers, both claimant and defendant.

Jessica is a member of Foil and the Solicitors Association of Higher Court Advocates.

Darren Salter - Admitted 1997.
Partner and FCII

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Qualifications:
FCII

D.O.B:
9th April 1966

Education:
1993 - 1995 - University of the West of England
Postgraduate Diploma in Law.
1995 - 1996 - University of Exeter
Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice

Experience:
Darren has considerable experience of the Insurance Industry, having worked as a claims negotiator and loss adjuster for 10 years before joining Veitch Penny. He has a wealth of experience and commitment in handling cases - pre and post proceedings - on behalf of insurers and local authorities, and handles a varied caseload.

He specialises in highways and property damage and has a particular specialism in defending fraudulent cases.

One of his important cases, Beaton -v- Devon County Council (2002), has proved to be a lead Court of Appeal authority on Occupiers Liability Claims.

In 2004, Darren qualified as a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute, was elected as a Council Member of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Exeter, and is a previous President of the Exeter CII.

Darren is currently the deputy coroner for Exeter and East Devon. Darren has also undergone training in the skills of alternative dispute resolution and mediation, became Partner on the 1st April 2005, and heads our Investigative Team.

Richard Kaye - Admitted 1996.
Senior Associate Solicitor

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Qualifications:
LL.B (Hons); Solicitor; Legal Practice Course with Commendation

D.O.B:
27 April 1972

Education:
1992 - 1995 - University of Hull, Bachelor of Law (Hons) 2.1
1995 - 1996 - Legal Practice Course at the college of law in York
Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice (Commendation)

Richard has also assisted in providing training to clients in areas of law and procedure and has helped the department in compiling a list of medical and non-medical experts.

Richard is the Editor of The Update, our bi-monthly email newsletter, which provides information to clients about the latest legal changes, important decisions, and other news in the Insurance Industry, as well as within the department.

In his spare time, Richard enjoys playing the piano.

Marie Macfarlane - Admitted 1999.
Senior Associate Solicitor
Young Solicitor of the Year 2004

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Qualifications:
LL.B (Hons); Solicitor

D.O.B:
12th January 1974

Education:
1992 - 1995 - Staffordshire University Bachelor of Law (Hons) 2.1
1995 - 1996 - Legal Practice Course, Staffordshire University.
Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice (Distinction)

Experience:
Marie handles significant, complex, high-value caseloads of public, employers and road traffic liability claims, including emergency service claims and leisure claims. She deals with Health & Safety prosecutions and inquests. She has a particular interest in fraudulent claims.

In 2006 she joined the in-house legal team at Devon & Cornwall Constabulary to widen her experience in such areas as civil claims, licensing, firearms, disclosure and proceeds of crime matters, before returning to Veitch Penny in 2007.

Marie has prepared and delivered training courses on topics varying from psychiatric claims, Health & Safety prosecutions, tinnitus in road traffic claims, claims against the leisure industry and claims against emergency services.

Marie is a trained mediator, a committee member of the Devon & Exeter Law Society and chair of the social sub committee.

In December 2004, Marie was voted Young Solicitor of the Year 2004 by the Devon and Exeter Law Society.

In her spare time she enjoys skiing, running and the gym.

Sarah Aslett-Jones - Admitted 2000.
Senior Associate Solicitor

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Qualifications:
LL.B (Hons) and FCII, Chartered Insurance Practitioner

D.O.B:
19th September 1969

Education:
University of London – LL.B (Hons)
The College of Law, Guildford - Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice

Experience:
Sarah is a Solicitor with dual qualification as an FCII and joined Veitch Penny in July 2005, having come from the NHSLA where she worked in the non-clinical sector in a senior position dealing with all EL, PL and property claims.

Sarah has previously worked for Badhams, for Claims Service Group (the in-house legal division at Churchill) and as a Commercial Underwriter for Royal Sun Alliance and Eagle Star.

Sarah specialises in the handling of non-clinical claims on behalf of the litigation authority and has an interest in equine claims.

Sarah is an experienced lecturer and is presently an Associate Lecturer at Law with the Open University on their LL.B degree programme and is currently one of the co-authors producing the handbook on psychiatric injuries.

In her spare time she enjoys fast cars and horses. She has a keen interest in photography and has been awarded the LRPS (Licentiate of the Royal Photographic Society) qualification and is working towards her ARPS and LBIPP.

Sarah is also currently studying towards her MA in Social Policy and Criminology.

Joanne Pruden
Associate Solicitor

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Qualifications:
LLB Law Degree 2:1; Legal Practice Course – Merit

D.O.B:
2nd December 1977

Education:
1996 – 1999 - Law Degree, University of Wales, Aberystwyth
2002 – 2004 - Legal Practice Course (LPC), University of The West Of England, Bristol

Experience:
Joanne joined Veitch Penny in July 2004, having spent a number of years working as a claims handler in the legal department of a Unitary Authority in the South West, where she had full conduct of claims within the deductible on the Council’s public liability and employers liability policies.

Her direct experience in local government issues and in-particular defendant personal injury and risk management is a real benefit to our specialist public liability and local authority work, and she has already become a real asset to the firm.

Joanne joins us as a Trainee Solicitor, working alongside the Head of the Insurance Department, Mark Fowles.

Joanne has lectured at ALARM, and gives regular talks to local authorities and Insurers; recent topics being E-Disclosure, the changes to Part 36 and Employers Liability. She also contributes articles to Journals, the most recent is published in Insurance Times.

In her spare time Joanne enjoys swimming and mountain biking.

Hamish McConachie
Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives

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Qualifications:
F.Inst.L.Ex

D.O.B:
6th February 1946

Education:
1966 - 1968 - Birmingham College of Law

Experience:
Hamish has worked in the industry for over 35 years, and joined Veitch Penny as a fee earner in December 2001, adding weight and expertise to the department.

Hamish has specialised in Defendant Personal Injury work since 1975, and has a wealth of experience in local authority work having spent 9 years working for Birmingham City Council where he focused on employer’s liability and highway claims against the council.

Since 1984, Hamish has handled a varied defendant caseload including employer liability, public liability and road traffic accident claims for major Insurance companies and Authorities.

Hamish enjoys playing skittles for relaxation, and tries to keep fit at the local gym.

Alan Bates
Legal Execuitve

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Qualifications:
Filex

D.O.B:
13th December 1967

Education:
Matthew Boulton College, B'ham 1994 - 1998
Reading College 1998 - 2001
Guildford College 2001 - 2004

Experience:
Alan spent 10 years working for a large insurer claims handling before moving onto do Claimant work for Sydney Mitchell & Co and David Levene Solicitors in Birmingham and then Shoosmiths in Reading/Basingstoke. Moved to Devon in 2004 and worked for Goldbergs Solicitors in Plymouth.

Specialist areas include Road Traffic Accident work.

Alan is a Coventry City fan. Other interests include collecting books, railway history and looking after his many animals including two Flemish Giant Rabbits.

Lily Caine
Litigation Executive and ACII

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Qualifications:
ACII

D.O.B:
22nd November 1969

Education:
1985 - 1987 Exeter College
1987 - 1990 Long Distance Learning - ACII

Experience:
Lily has extensive experience of working with Insurers, having spent 12 years in the Insurance Industry, formerly as a claims correspondent for Municipal Mutual, and claims manager for Marsh UK Ltd; where she was responsible for the management and supervision of the claims department.

Since joining Veitch Penny in 1998, Lily has specialised in fast track and multi track public liability and employer’s liability claims, predominantly for local authorities. Lily has bought her experience to great effect in the handling of professional negligence claims, specialising particularly in surveyors and estate agents.

Her role and her understanding of the insurance industry make her a valuable member of the team.

Matthew Crockett
Claims Handler

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Qualifications:
LLB (Hons) Law Degree

Education:
1997 – 2000 University of Wales, Cardiff
1995 - 1997 Neath & Port Talbot College

Experience:
Matthew has extensive experience and knowledge of the Insurance industry having begun life with Diamond Insurance in Swansea.
At Diamond, Matthew was on the fast track scheme, working in various departments before sharpening his skills within the Personal Injury Department. He dealt with fast track claims for personal injury and uninsured losses. 
During this time at Diamond he was also awarded with the accolade of staff member of the year as voted for by his piers.

In 2003 Matthew joined the claimant department of Veitch Penny. Matthew developed his all around legal knowledge and claims handling skills working on fast and multi track caseload dealing with RTC, occupiers, public and employers liability claims.

In 2008 Matthew returned to his roots, transferring to the insurance department of Veitch Penny to work closely with Darren Salter.

Bridget Frankpitt
Investigator

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Qualifications:
ILEX Level 4 Diploma in Law

D.O.B:
28th September 1960

Education:
1977 - 1981 - Camberwell School of Arts; Higher Dip Conservation of Prints & Drawings
1994 - 1995 - Exeter College - A Level in Law
1998 - Present - Exeter College - ILEX Training

Experience:
Bridget joined Veitch Penny in 1999 having worked previously for Linklaters & Paines of London, and Jackson McDonald of Perth. She is a full-time Investigator, providing invaluable support to the Insurance Department and with particular experience investigating education and stress claims.

Bridget was the leading investigator in one of the 4 stress cases that went before the Court of Appeal in 2002 and subsequently the House of Lords in February 2004 - Barber -v- Somerset County Council, (2002).

Bridget has started to develop her own caseload in Claims Handling, and is a student member of ILEX.

In her spare time she enjoys going to the theatre, listening to music and playing tennis.

Lorna Herring
Paralegal

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Qualifications:
LL.B Law Degree 2:1; Legal Practice Course – Pass

D.O.B:
18th June 1984

Education:
2002 – 2005 Law Degree University of the West of England, Bristol
2005 – 2006 Legal Practice Course (LPC) University of the West of England, Bristol

Experience:
Lorna joined Veitch Penny in March 2007, having spent 5 months working in a busy company commercial department at Ashfords Solicitors, where she gained experience in drafting legal documents, putting together due diligence bundles and carrying out legal research, as well as the day to day admin side of the department.

Lorna also gained legal experience in a number of firms and a variety of departments during her law degree, this work experience gave her an insight into the day to day running of solicitor’s firms, and confirmed that law was the career path she wanted to follow.

In her spare time she enjoys horse riding and keeping fit by running when she can.