At Bott & Co we have a team of highly experienced solicitors who have helped many people who were injured at amusement parks or funfairs to recover compensation for the injuries they’ve suffered.  If you or someone you know has been hurt on a ride or in a theme park then give our team a call to discuss how we can help you.

We deal with a range of claims originating in amusement parks including:

• Faulty rides
• Inadequate safety equipment
• Slips or trips
• Food poisoning

If you’ve suffered an injury in a theme park or funfair then make sure you report the incident to staff or management and make a note of the owner’s contact information and the names and contact details of any witnesses.  Take photos of any injuries if they are visible at the time and also take photos of the location of the accident including any faulty equipment and signage.

We’ve helped Mrs W who was on a dodgem ride at a pleasure beach with her seven-year-old child when their vehicle hit the side wall and the safety harness on the child was not small enough to prevent the child being hurled forward into the steering wheel and damaging her mouth and teeth.  The ride operators should not have allowed the child on the ride due to the size restrictions.

We were also successful in another dodgem claim for Mr U at a funfair in Birmingham for a similar injury where the safety harness was not small enough for the child on the ride, despite him being allowed on by staff.

We recovered £3,000 for Mr R after the log flume ride he was on stopped suddenly and the carriage he was in was struck by the carriage behind resulting in soft tissue damage to Mr R’s back.  This incident also affected a number of other people at the theme park on the same day and the company was found to be responsible under the Occupiers Liability Act 1957.

For advice and help about claiming or for more information about injuries suffered at amusement parks and funfairs then call our legal team on 01625 415850 today.

The post Amusement Park and Funfair Injury Claims appeared first on Bott & Co.

This 960 mile journey will take place over nine consecutive days on the 5th to the 13th September inclusive, and will involve hill climbs of approximately 42,000 feet. To put that into context, Mount Everest is a mere 29,000 feet.

The Plan

Having signed up in March 2014, I was comfortable knowing that I had a good 18 months to prepare. I’d already done a reasonable amount of cycling over the last year since I first bought my bike, and I could cover a hilly 30 to 40 mile route at around 15 mph.

Before the event I wanted to increase my fitness to a point where I could cycle up a hill at 125 miles a day at the weekends, maintain an average speed of 15mph+ and not feel terrible.

So I thought I would get out on my bike over the summer months, and then hit the gym come winter. If I then got back on the bike come spring 2015, I’d be in the best shape of my life by the time the event came around.

The Reality

Without wanting to go into all the reasons (excuses), there was nothing other than a handful of short rides done over spring and summer and before I knew it, the good weather was a thing of the past.

With a house move lined up for October 2014, I decided that I would begin my training in earnest in January 2015, regardless of the weather.

The house move then became a full renovation, with the end result being that I had only covered 150 miles by the beginning of April 2015.

Panic ensued as the reality of the situation hit home; I had done so little cycling that I was now more unfit than I was when I signed up a year earlier! No more second chances, no more putting things off, I had to get on my bike or I wouldn’t make the finish line.

My Training Diary

Week 1 (6 – 12 April)

22 weeks to go

I kick things off with a 13 mile ride on Tuesday night. There were no hills and the ride was short, but just getting out on the bike is a positive.

This was followed up with an 18 mile ride on Thursday, and a longer 32 mile ride in strong wind on Saturday – it feels as though I’m back in my stride.

However, with a total of just 63 miles covered I knew I needed to do a lot more.

I therefore made the decision to give up my parking space at work, and begin commuting on my bike. It’s only 5 miles each way, but that’s 50 miles a week without having to allocate any additional time to training.

Week 2 (13 – 19 April)

21 weeks to go

Giving up my parking space proved to be a great idea. I woke up a couple of mornings thinking driving in would be better, but with nowhere to park I’ve had no choice but to get on the bike, and have felt great for it once I’m actually on the road.

Walking into work each day in Lycra has generated a bit of talk; I’ve even had to stop on the stairs for a photo. Whether I should consider this a compliment or something that will end up on an “epic fail” website remains to be seen.

In addition to commuting, I also took the scenic route home on Tuesday (32 miles), Thursday (30 miles) and Friday (16 miles). A day off on Saturday and another 17 miles on Sunday took my weekly total to 129 miles.

The weather was good all week and I felt positive for finally getting some serious training done. However, this is offset by the reality setting in that I need to cover nearly this distance each day for the actual event. My fitness is a long way from where it needs to be.

Week 3 (20th – 26th April)

20 weeks to go

Monday morning my lower legs were aching and I was experiencing cramp from a run on Saturday. Cycling is now more comfortable than walking, but neither are pleasant. Nevertheless, in the absence of a parking space the cycling commute continues for the week.

On Tuesday evening I decide to tackle a local hill called “the brickworks”. I’m told you know you’re nearly at the top when you see the sign “Duck Eggs for sale”. The hill is steep and long, and my legs are soon sapped. Nothing for it but to grit your teeth and press on.

I’ve never been so pleased to see duck eggs for sale in my life! The view from the top also makes up for it. 30 hilly miles again.

Thursday and my legs are still aching; I’m struggling with stairs and movement in general. I decide to keep it flat for this evening’s long ride, but manage to do 34 miles with an average speed of over 17mph. It’s the longest and fastest ride of my training so far.

On Saturday morning I drive up to Stalybridge to meet a friend for an 8am start. Unfortunately my inner tube has split by the valve and I’ve got the wrong spare. With no bike shops open the ride has to be aborted.

My calves have been sore all week, so I decide it must be fate and that I should have the weekend off to recuperate.

I haven’t hit my target of 160 miles due to the absence of long rides at the weekend, but the weekday riding ticked all the boxes.

The post Dan Boon’s Cycle Challenge appeared first on Bott & Co.

David has bought a new bike and has been training hard in the run up to the event. Many train for years in preparation for the Marmotte but David already seems on top of his game judging by his profile on Strava – a website and mobile app used to track athletic activity and performance via GPS.
We catch up with David to see how his training is going and how he feels about taking on the event itself.

1. Tell us a little bit about how you have been preparing for the big ride.

Last year I cycled up Mont Ventoux and I have never really stopped cycling since. Obviously the amount of rides and distance per week went down over winter, but last winter was the first one that I cycled all the way through the season. The lowest mileage per week was about 50 miles a week in January and since then the mileage has steadily increased to 165 miles a week in April – that will go up to over 200 as training continues. I’m also putting in plenty of feet climbed on the bike and again that will increase as the event gets closer.

2. What charities are you raising money for and why?

MND (motor neuron disease) Association as my mother died from the illness and Queenscourt Hospice in Southport as they looked after my father in his last days of cancer.

3. What inspired you to take part in the event?

As I get older I realise that I have no speed, but I do have doggedness and endurance. The plan is to do half the event on day one, the second half on day two and then do the official event on day three. So effectively twice in three days. Bearing in mind that the event is 108 miles and 17,000 feet of climbing, it’s going to be an intense three days. The inspiration is simple; to do something that will take me to the edges of my abilities and endurance. I’m pretty sure that the “enjoyment” will be in telling people that I have done it and comparing notes with others who have done the same, as actually doing it is going to be a lot of internal dialogue while I hurt and suffer.

4. You’ve taken part in a number of cycle events in recent years, how do you nutritionally prepare yourself the day before the event and on the day itself?

Drink lots of water in the lead up and during the event. I have two bottles on my bike. One with pure isotonic and one with isotonic and carbohydrate. One bottle per hour is meant to avoid cramps but sometimes you get them anyway. As for food, lots of carbohydrates and protein before, during and after. I recommend a whey drink and a diaralyte afterwards to help the muscles and avoid headaches. The “pro” cyclists drink tonic water afterwards as they say the quinine helps avoid cramp.

5. Is there any food you would absolutely avoid, or that you would particularly recommend when training for a cycle event?

Porridge is king on the morning of a ride and flapjacks and bananas or equivalent during a ride. Don’t have anything too heavy and for God’s sake nothing spicy that could come back at you during a long day in the saddle.

6. Have you changed your equipment with the changing of seasons and, if so, have you seen an improvement?

I now have a winter bike and a summer bike. The English winter is very hard on the bike, the grit; the dirt the rain etc. can all really break a bike in half. So rather than watch my pride and joy collapse in front of me I saved it for summer, well spring actually. I was never going to set any personal bests in winter so I just concentrated on churning out the miles and feet climbed on my winter bike. Also when you do go back on the summer bike, it’s like meeting a long lost friend and yes the times are better on it.

7. What advice would you give to riders who are looking to transition from winter into spring/summer?

I’m still waiting for spring to start. The weather has been pretty awful so far in 2015, but I have seen the odd person out in shorts. My advice is layer up; the wind is still cold, and don’t forget to keep your lights on as cars just don’t seem to see us.

8. What has been the hardest training day so far?

It has to be January 4th 2015 as I fell off while trying to go up a climb called “the brickworks”. It was minus six at the top, and I came off on ice. I shouldn’t have been up that high, that day, it was stupid, but I was with a group and group hysteria/bravado seemed to make us attempt the climb. After two of us came off the climb, the ride was abandoned. New shorts, new gloves and a bike service were all needed. I cut my right thigh quite badly and I’m left with a reasonably sized scar. I didn’t stop training, but it did smart for over a month.

9. Your training seems to be successful by the looks of your Strava account! How have you been finding Strava?

I have tried to not become a Strava-bore but it is so granular and so absorbing it is quite overwhelming. To put it into context to non-Strava people, it records your ride and tells you how far, how fast and how high you went. It also segments off the entire ride into Strava Segments; for each segment it will tell you how fast you went. Most importantly it tells you how fast you did against everyone else who rode that section and how you rank against your Strava followers. Once you upload your ride, all of your followers can see how you have done. The statistics that it throws off are addictive; the phrase is “if it’s not on Strava, it didn’t happen.” I’ve seen people going nutty bananas when they accidentally pressed pause and 40 miles went unrecorded.

10. How has training for the event changed certain aspects of your life?

My aims were to get stronger and to lose weight, as the physics of getting up a hill or mountain on a bike centre around those two variables. What seems to be happening is that I am slowly getting browner in the face, currently it is more wind burnt than tanned. Also I’m getting much thinner round the waist and in my face but the overall weight is staying the same. I’m drinking less and I’m eating more healthily. I’m trying to not totally alienate my wife and children; I get out as early as possible on the bike so that the training is as “family neutral” as possible and still allows time for me to be a husband and father.

11. Do you have any fears or concerns about the ride?

The main ones are about not finishing for whatever reason or getting hurt. There is a time limit and if you don’t beat it, they literally sweep you up in the “broom wagon.” It is going to be a long and painful day, and that is if things go well.

Thanks for taking 5 minutes to talk to us about your upcoming cycle challenge today David, we wish you the very best of luck.

Click here if you’d like to sponsor David.

The post David Bott Prepares for La Marmotte appeared first on Bott & Co.

Dozens of people were left in hospital suffering from breathing difficulties following a chlorine leak in a swimming pool at a holiday park in Norfolk.

Emergency services were called to Wild Duck Holiday Park at 2.31pm on Sunday after a suspected leak was detected.

According to The Guardian, 40 people from the park were taken to James Paget hospital and Ipswich Hospital for further monitoring. Ten others, described as being of “low acuity”, went to Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, and medics from the East of England ambulance service also assessed 38 patients at the park.

It has been revealed that a piece of grit had entered the system that controls the amount of chlorine and disinfectant pumped into the pool which had then jammed the flow switch open.

Swimmers showed symptoms of chlorine poisoning

The alarm was raised after reports of swimmers suffering stinging to their eyes. As yet it is not known whether the leak was caused by human error or technical fault.

Chlorine can be harmful, with health effects typically beginning within seconds to minutes. The most common symptoms are:

• Airway irritation
• Wheezing
• Difficulty breathing
• Sore throat/Cough
• Chest tightness
• Eye irritation
• Skin irritation

Fortunately, police say that none of the patients were thought to be in serious condition.

However, people put their trust in holiday organisers to look after them whilst relaxing, and in this case Haven Holidays seem to have let them down.

On Haven’s website they state “If you go down to the woods today, you’re sure of a relaxing time!” and also boast about their fun water activities they have at the park including a seaside-themed outdoor pool.

People spend a lot of money and time researching their holiday and do not expect to have that holiday potentially ruined by injury or illness.

Holiday sickness lawyer Andrew Peters of Bott & Co Solicitors said:

“This must have been a very frightening experience for those holidaymakers injured whilst simply expecting to relax and enjoy a break with their family. One hopes that the incident was due to unavoidable circumstances and not because of a lack of care on the part of the park owner”

An individual is eligible to make a claim if there is evidence that an illness or injury was caused by a lack of reasonable care and skill in the supply of their holiday.

The post Holiday makers at Norfolk Holiday Park hospitalised after a ‘piece of grit’ caused a chemical leak in swimming pool. appeared first on Bott & Co.

To celebrate his efforts, we’re giving away a Go Pro Hero (worth £100), two cans of reflective safety cycle spray and three Bott Cycle Team jerseys!

The Competition

We want to see your best cycling photos – illustrating the beauty, fun, hardships and adventure of bicycle travel

All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is comment on our Facebook competition post with your favourite photo of you on your bike.

The competition is open to anyone who cycles – whether it’s for sport, leisure or just part of your daily commute. Be as creative as you like and feel free to tell us a little about your photo and why it’s your favourite cycling picture.

First prize – 1 x Go Pro Hero, 1 x Bott Cycle Team Jersey

The Go Pro Hero is a versatile, powerful camera used across the globe by sportsmen and thrill-seekers alike to capture raw, in the moment footage.

The camera – which attaches to your cycle helmet or handle bar – is also great for recording your daily commute, so should you find yourself involved in an accident, you have video footage that can be used as evidence should you need to make a claim.

Two Runner-up prizes of – 1 x can of limited edition reflective spray, 1 x Bott Cycle Team Jersey

Two runners up will receive a can of limited addition cycle safety reflective spray, pioneered by Volvo. This amazing paint is invisible by day, but glows bright by night – hugely improving visibility and safety for cyclists who travel in the dark.

For more info, you can view an interview we did with the CEO of Abedo 100, who created the spray, here.

We’re also giving away a high quality Bott Cycle Team Jersey (made by BioRacer), as worn by the Bott Cycle Team as they train and compete throughout the year. You can view the jersey and find out more about the Bott Cycle Team here.

The competition deadline is midnight on 19th July, so make sure you have your entry with us by then. The lucky winner will be chosen at random and announced on Monday 20th July.

By entering this competition you’re agreeing to be bound by the competition’s Terms and Conditions. Download your copy here.

This competition is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with Facebook, Twitter, or any other social networking site.

The post Win a Go Pro Hero and cycling kit with Bott & Co Solicitors appeared first on Bott & Co.

“I recently returned to Wilmslow after seven long years away from my parents, due to living in Malta and Cyprus. I’ve now found myself starting again with my two much loved dogs, Beanie and Bailey”.

We catch up with Nicki and find out about her hobbies, life at Bott & Co and what makes her tick.

1. Nicki, how are you finding working on the ever busy Flight Delay Team?

Working on the Flight Delay Team is certainly keeping me busy; there’s a lot to do! The airlines have been settling a significant number of cases recently and it’s a real achievement to hear positive news and feedback from clients – especially those that were originally told they could not claim by the airlines.

I enjoy my time in the department; we work together as a team and nothing can get past us because we live in each other’s pockets day-to-day. I couldn’t ask for a better environment to spend most of my days.

2. What are the day-to-day challenges you face in your role?

Of course the most important element is to provide the best possible service to our clients and working as a team certainly helps that. Other challenges I find in my role are keeping on top of my work load; it’s forever growing, but it keeps me on my toes!

3. We hear you’re a boxer – how did you first get into boxing?

I’d always felt excitement at watching boxing, and I’ve always been known to look after myself fitness wise – so I decided to make an imaginary bucket list and fight in a ring with another person.

My first fight was in October 2014 where I lost by one point but won ‘fight of the night’. I was smoking at the time and didn’t take boxing seriously enough, so I had to take bed rest for nearly two weeks with bruised ribs.

But now I’ve upped my game and I’m taking my boxing hobby very seriously. We now have a re-match in July for a title belt (with no head guards either…) and we are training like crazy to give everyone a really great fight to watch and ourselves a great experience!

4. How do you manage work-life with training?

The pain during training is immense. Every day is a struggle to even sit on the sofa at home or at my desk at work. You never think of the different muscles your body uses to lift a cup of coffee; it makes you appreciate coffee even more! Training doesn’t affect my work in any way other than when I moan, and get told it’s self-inflicted. They have no sympathy for me.

5. What events/fights have you got coming up?

I have my big title belt match in Manchester on July 25th 2015 at Bowlers Exhibition. As well as boxing, I am a keen fitness enthusiast and am doing the ‘Tough Mudder’ on the 13th September which I’m really looking forward to.

6. How do you usually prepare for a fight?

I don’t eat processed food; I always eat clean and always balance my training throughout the week in order to recover. ‘Train Hard, Fight Easy’ I say, that’s always shouted at me when I’m running up a hill with a 20kg vest on!

7. If you had a superpower for a day what would it be and why?

If I had a superpower, I’d be a shape shifter. I’d turn myself into a dog, run around after work without a care in the world, and finally understand why dogs sniff bums. Or I would turn myself into bird and travel the world…the options are endless!

8. Who inspires you? Who do you aspire to be like?

To be perfectly honest with you, I don’t have anyone who inspires me; I believe you should be able to look at yourself and be inspired by how far you have come, the achievements you have made and how you can be the best you can possibly be.

9. If you could trade lives with one person for an entire day who would it be and why?

I would love to be the queen, and experience her life; I can only presume she has everybody doing things for her. I would even wear the crown to bed.
I also want to know how the royals party, that would be interesting.

10. Shark diving, bungee jumping, or skydiving?

Shark diving scares the life out of me; I don’t understand how people can swim in the ocean and have a huge fish underneath them and not get the willies!
Bungee jumping is my worst nightmare, I have seen a few videos of that going wrong, and I’m the person it would probably happen to.

Skydiving is another nightmare of mine, but I actually intend to do this at some point in my life for charity. So, Sky diving it is.

Thanks for taking the time to chat to us Nicki, we wish you the very best in your upcoming boxing matches and doing the ‘Tough Mudder’ challenge.

The post 5 Minutes With…Nicki Warburton appeared first on Bott & Co.

Recently, Ribia made the brave decision to sign up for the Manchester 100km bike ride, having never ridden a bike before. Ribia will take part in the ride alongside some of her colleagues and the Bott Cycle Team in September this year.

We catch up with Ribia to find out more about her and the impending 100km challenge.

What inspired you to sign up to the Manchester 100km bike ride?

I’ve always wanted to do something exciting and challenging for charity, but have never got the chance to. So when I saw the posters around the office about the Manchester 100km bike ride, I thought, ‘This is my chance’.

I was initially really scared to sign up and fully commit as I’ve never ridden a bike before, but I discussed it with the rest of my team and they motivated me to go ahead (with a lot of sarcasm and hope that I would fall so they could laugh at me).

Tell us a little bit about how you have been preparing and training for the ride

I’m changing lots of bad habits to make sure that I’m fit enough for the ride in September. I’m on a special diet where I’m mainly eating fruit and veg, followed by meat on a Friday and Saturday. This has given me lots of energy to go and cycle every day after work.

I’ve also been getting tips from the Bott Cycle Team on what to eat and how to prepare, including how to look after my muscles and joints whilst training to minimalize the risk of any injury.

What was it like the first time you got on the bike?

The first time was really scary; I felt like I was going to lose balance and hurt myself. At the beginning, pedalling was really hard because I didn’t know how to change gears etc. so going uphill I struggled a lot.

How has Bott & Co supported you so far with the challenge?

Bott & Co has arranged cycling training for me and encouraged me to think positively. My work colleagues have also been very supportive.

How have you been managing training alongside work?

I work on The Client First Response Team – we work on different shifts every week. I can’t do much training when I work the weekend shifts, but if I’m on a late shift (which usually starts at 1pm and finishes around 9.30pm), then I’m getting up early in the morning to cycle. My partner has also been helping me, including helping me to get onto the bike for the first time as I had no experience at all.

What advice would you give to anyone in a similar situation to yourself?

Don’t be scared of a challenge; when you start doing it you will actually enjoy it like I am. The support you get also spurs you on.

How has preparing for the ride changed certain aspects of your day to day life?

After work, I can’t just go home and relax as cycling is a priority right now, so my personal hobbies – including socialising and studying – have to work around the cycle training. I don’t mind as cycling is fast becoming a new hobby of mine.

What has been the hardest part of training so far?

When I started training I was actually fasting as it was Ramadan, so I was training without any food or water. This was really hard as I had to be really careful not to dehydrate myself and I could only do 30 minutes training at a time.

Do you have any worries about the ride?

Yes! I’m worried that I might not be able to complete the 100k as the odds are against me. But hopefully the training and effort I have been putting in will help my confidence grow as we get closer to the ride itself.

If you had a superpower for a day, what would it be and why?

I would like to have the power to fly because I could go anywhere, plus life would be so much easier; there would be no traffic and I could go wherever I wanted.

The post 5 Minutes With… Ribia Nisa appeared first on Bott & Co.

The sanctuary relies solely on donations from private individuals and corporate sponsorships as well as money raised from fundraising events. In the past 5 years, the sanctuary have rehomed 123 dogs, 1058 cats and 341 rabbits.

There is a policy in place of never putting a healthy animal to sleep; no matter how long it may take to find them a new home.

Sarah explained ‘I have two cats of my own that I adopted from an animal shelter in Liverpool, so when I moved to Manchester shortly afterwards I really wanted to get involved with a similar charity.

These animals have not had the best start in life but all they need is a loving family in order to thrive. The work that the sanctuary does is amazing and I would urge anyone to get involved. Volunteering just a few hours of your time per week doesn’t seem like a lot but it makes all the difference to the sanctuary’.

Often due to lack of funding some of the animal pens remain empty and consequently hundreds of animals in need have to be turned away every month; a problem which the shelter hopes to solve in part by building a new, larger cat-rehoming centre and quarantine building.

This will allow the old re-homing and quarantine buildings to be used as a cattery and generate a much-needed constant source of income for the shelter.
Currently, the sanctuary have raised just over £73,000 of the £80,000 needed for the building and work has begun, however a further £27,000 will need to be raised in order to equip the building with new cat pens.

Natasha, Sanctuary Manager says ‘Volunteers like Sarah are invaluable to the work that we do here. There are only 5 salaried members of staff at the sanctuary and therefore without the volunteers we would not be able to function. Many of our volunteers, like Sarah, work all week and then give up their time at the weekend to help us, which is truly appreciated’.

Paul Hinchliffe, Managing Partner of Bott & Co says “This is wonderful work that Sarah does to support the sanctuary run by the Society for Abandoned Animals. Giving her time so freely, having worked a full week, is no small challenge and I know her efforts make a real difference to the lives of the animals she works with.”

If you are interested in volunteering at the shelter or making a financial donation to this worthy cause, please click on the following link.

The post Bott & Co solicitor donates her spare time to the Society for Abandoned Animals appeared first on Bott & Co.

Outside of work Dan enjoys attending the gym, cycling (road and off road), football (watching) and travelling. Dan’s interest in cycling led him to sign up for the Land’s End to John O’Groats bike ride earlier this year and he has since been training in preparation for the ride which commences on 5th September, finishing in John O’Groats on 13th September.

Talking about the impending ride in his cycle diary, Dan said about the 960 mile journey: “Travelling from Land’s End to John O’Groats seems like a long and arduous journey at the best of times. However, I’ve decided to make it that much harder by doing it on a bicycle.”

We catch up with Dan to find out more about him and his fast approaching challenge.

Where did your initial interest in Law come from?

I started off my career as a 16-year-old office junior, which was at a law firm purely by chance; I had no idea what I wanted to do for a career at that point.

I quickly realised that working in law gave me an opportunity to help people who were unable to help themselves, and decided that was something I wanted to do.

What is the most gratifying part of your job?

Helping people get their lives back on track is clearly a big part of it. However on a more selfish level, I also enjoy proving people wrong and winning arguments.

What inspired you to sign up for the Land’s End to John O’Groats bike ride?

I had gone on a few bike rides with two other members of Bott & Co staff (who shall remain nameless) and the three of us decided it would be a great challenge.

I signed up for it but the other two realised they had other commitments.

The reason I want to do it is to prove that I can. It will certainly be something to tick off the bucket list so to speak.

Tell us a bit about how you have been preparing for the ride?

Unfortunately my training started a little later than I would have liked, due to moving house. What started as a bit of painting ended up as a full renovation taking six months.

Since then though, I’ve improved my diet and cut out the boozy weekends. I’ve also started cycling to and from work, which is only five miles. However, on alternative evenings I will also go for a long ride of 40 miles or so.

Weekends have also become dominated by cycling. I try to get up early and do four hours or more early on with the intention of leaving the rest of the day free. I’ve gotten into the habit of having a nap when I get back though – much to my girlfriend’s annoyance.

What are you most looking forward to about the ride?

The finish.

I’m sure there will be some great scenery along the way, but I’m under no illusions about how difficult this is going to be.

What are you not looking forward to about the ride?

Day seven is a particularly difficult day; between Hamilton and Fort William. It’s the longest day at 126 miles, and also has the joint highest amount of climbing at 7,000 feet. Given that, I’ll have already spent six days on the bike so by this point I think it will be a really hard grind to get through.

If you were king for a day what law would you pass and why?

I think everybody should be forced to ride a bike on a busy road for an hour, and likewise any cyclists who don’t drive should be forced to spend an hour in a car surrounded by cyclists.

I’m constantly amazed by the lack of consideration given by a small proportion of drivers and cyclists to one another.

As someone who drives and cycles I can see why each side gets annoyed with the other, but ultimately we are all just trying to get somewhere.

What is your idea of a perfect weekend?

It would have to be a day cycling somewhere scenic like the Lake District followed by a nice meal and a few glasses of wine.

Unfortunately wine and cycling don’t mix, so I have to choose one or the other.

We hear you’re a keen traveller, having recently visited Mauritius. Where in the world would you most like to visit that you haven’t been to yet and why?

I’ve been fortunate enough to have travelled to a number of wonderful places. San Fran is still a place I’d like to see, although I think I’ll leave my bike at home for that.

The post 5 Minutes with… Dan Boon appeared first on Bott & Co.

Jodi is a keen traveller, having spent five months in Australia in 2013 and three months volunteering in South Africa in 2014. She worked in a free legal clinic in South Africa and helped many nationals and refugees who could not afford private legal advice with their legal queries.

In her casual travelling time she visited many places in South Africa and took part in numerous activities, including going on Safari in Kruger Park. Jodi got up close and personal with a range of wildlife whist travelling, but back in England she enjoys spending time with her dog.

She is now undertaking further study to develop professionally and enjoys the occasional holiday.

We catch up with Jodi to find out what makes her tick.

Where did your initial interest in Law come from?

My interest in Law came from a young age. I was always looking for a challenge and when I was deciding which degree I wanted to do, it was the biggest challenge I could find. I found that I had a huge passion for law during my degree. I took some time out after university and ventured into other professions but after completing a volunteer project on Law and Human Rights in South Africa, I knew that Law was the career I wanted to pursue.

What is the most enjoyable part of your job?

The most enjoyable part of my job is sending out damages cheques. It’s a nice feeling knowing that you’ve helped to recover the rightly deserved compensation for the client. I also enjoy speaking to the clients so that I can build up a relationship with them throughout the claim.

What’s the best/worst gift you’ve ever received?

The best gift I ever received was a puppy who I named Donnie. Five years later and he is the naughtiest, most loving thing on the planet. I guess he also goes down as the worst gift I ever received.

Growing up, what career did you want to pursue?

Growing up I wanted to be a barrister. I believed it was because it meant that you were intelligent and you were getting justice for people. My mum would tell you that it’s because I like to be argumentative. I also went through a phase of wanting to be a police officer like in the show ‘The Bill’. That dream was short lived when I didn’t grow past 5ft 1.

What is a skill you’d like to learn and why?

I would like to learn another language. When travelling, I found that most people spoke English as a second language and I was envious that I only knew a few phrases in German and French.

We hear you’ve travelled far and wide! What is it that made you want to travel?

I visited Turkey, Greece and Egypt as part of a school trip when I was 14. On this trip, I experienced so many cultures and met so many people. That’s when I caught the travel bug.

What is the most daring thing you did whilst on your travels?

In South Africa, I got the chance to do a few daring things. I went cage diving with great white sharks and also walked with lions. The shark cage diving was an incredible experience. I was only slightly comforted that there were small metal bars protecting me from being a meal.

Walking with lions was probably the most daring and terrifying experience of my life. It involved free walking with no protective barrier with two lions. They were not impressed by the 40 minute walk with humans. They often turned around to growl, probably sensing my fear!

I also got the opportunity to sit in a Siberian tiger pen in Australia Zoo, Brisbane. I was allowed to stroke the tiger and spent around 40 minutes interacting with her. Luckily, despite having to sign a waiver stating that in the event of my death my family would not sue, I survived. It makes me sound very daring to strangers.

What did you get out of travelling?

The main thing I got out of travelling was an insight into many cultures and different ways of life. In particular, when I came back from South Africa, I got a renewed sense of just how fortunate I was to live in England. The effects of Apartheid are very much still in the minds of South African people and I felt very lucky to have not experienced something like that first hand.

Whilst travelling, what home comfort did you miss the most and why?

I am going to be typically British and say that I missed a nice cup of tea the most. Tea will never taste the same as it does at home. Other than that, I missed my bed and not having to walk up ladders to have a lie down.

What are you plans for the next year?

In the next year I hope to complete my qualifications to become a Legal Executive and hope to develop in my role as Portal Fee Earner. Personally, I have holidays to Los Angeles and New York in the next few months to look forward to.

The post 5 Minutes With…Jodi Ferns appeared first on Bott & Co.

Away from the office, she enjoys spending time with her two daughters. We catch up with Judith to find out what else makes her tick…

Where did your initial interest in Law come from?

I spent four weeks doing jury service at Liverpool Crown Court in the second year of my degree and thought I’d like to go into Law rather than pursue a career in Psychology.

What is the most enjoyable part of your job?

Being able to go out and meet clients, visit their homes and develop relationships with them – particularly when they have suffered life changing injuries. Meeting clients face to face enables me to get so much more from them, which then assists me in dealing with their claim.

You’ve been at Bott & Co for over 10 years now – how have changes in the legal industry affected you during this time?

Things have changed massively. I’m old enough to remember the law pre-Woolf (that will take too long to explain, so those not old enough should Google it!). The changes have been pretty dramatic for lawyers over the last decade and I’m lucky to have had experience during the early years of my career.
In the early days – when I was training as a Legal Executive – I would go out to court every day and attend hearings. I was even called to give evidence in a court case on one occasion.
Unfortunately these days we seldom go to court; most hearings are done by telephone. I really miss that part of the job.

What’s the best/worst gift you’ve ever received?

The best present I ever had was a car on my 21st birthday because it was a complete surprise. The worst present would probably be a salt and pepper set from my ex-husband.

What is your favourite holiday destination and why?

I loved Australia and had the opportunity to go there twice. It’s a fantastic country – I would do anything to go there again and would recommend it to anyone!

What would you be if you weren’t a Solicitor?

Occupational Therapist. They do amazing things for people in rehabilitation.

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go and why?

I would go to the Maldives so I could sit on a beach (which is what I’d want to do every day of the year anyway if I wasn’t at work), preferably with very few people on it and then go and have a really ritzy dinner with cocktails and fine wines. The perfect place to chill and unwind.

What is a skill you’d like to learn and why?

Sarah (my PA) will tell you that I have always wanted to learn to ice skate. Sarah paid for me to have ice skating lessons for my birthday last year. I’m rubbish but I love it!

What is your biggest achievement to date and why?

In my legal career it would be when Bott & Co nominated me for Legal Executive of the Year at the Manchester legal awards in 2013. I was lucky enough to be shortlisted as one of three finalists.

The post 5 Minutes with… Judith Mason appeared first on Bott & Co.

Today’s conference will include topical presentations from a variety of practices within the medico-legal industry, including Bott & Co Senior Partner David Bott.

Speakers will discuss changes to the medico-legal world from a variety of perspectives on the introduction of MedCo earlier this Year. The event, taking place today from 9am – 4pm at Birmingham NEC, will be Premex’s biggest conference yet.

David has been heavily involved with the RTA Claims Process Portal and is the APIL Director of MedCo board meetings.

As the Senior Partner at Bott & Co – the law firm that was named Manchester Law Society of the Year for the past two years – David is uniquely qualified to talk about the MedCo system and what it means for lawyers and claimants alike.

“It’s an honour to be selected to speak in front of expert medical practitioners at this prestigious event. I will be speaking in my capacity as Senior Partner of Bott & Co, providing my views on the future of MedCo and of Personal Injury Law from the perspective of a lawyer.”David Bott

When it launched in April 2015, MedCo obliged law firms to source medical reports for soft tissue injury claims through the MedCo system. It generates randomly selected medical experts and Medical Review Officers who have registered on the MedCo website and allows authorised users to select which expert they instruct to carry out a medical examination of the claimant.

David will be looking at several issues surrounding the new system including concerns over who the MROs will be, the varying levels of competence of medical providers and impractical technical issues with the system. He will also be looking at how a ‘more technological future’ will affect claimants and change fixed fees and costs in the RTA industry following on from the Jackson reforms.

He will be joined by a number of other medical/legal experts including:

• Giles Eyre – A Personal Injury Barrister specialising in personal injury, occupational disease and clinical negligence
• Tom Cosker – A Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon
• Sherief Elsayed – A Consultant Spinal Surgeon
• Michael Sabb and Nigel Zoltie – Consultants in Emergency Medicine
• Lisa Edwards – A Chartered Physiotherapist

For more news, comment and insight from David and other Bott & Co industry experts, follow us on Twitter and Facebook or contact: Charlotte Burn – Press Officer c.burn@bottonline.co.uk

The post David Bott looks at what MedCo means for whiplash claims in the UK appeared first on Bott & Co.

We spend 5 minutes getting to know more about Saphina and how she stays motivated enough to study in the evenings after helping clients with their claims during the day.

When did you decide you wanted a career in Law?

I knew I wanted to pursue a career in Law when I finished my GCSEs. I’ve always had an inquisitive mind and found it interesting applying rules to solve problems.

What has your experience in different roles taught you?

My role as an Office Administrator taught me how Bott & Co operates as a firm and how something as simple as placing a letter in the correct file is crucial to a case.

The most important thing my role in admin taught me was to be confident when speaking to people on the phone, especially clients. All the roles I have been in so far have taught me how important it is to be organised.

What challenges have you faced while studying and working?

It’s hard to find time to study while working 9am ‘til 5.30pm and I’m often tired when I get home, so it’s hard to find the motivation to study.

I try and get a lot of work done in short bursts of time instead of making myself sit and study for hours every night. I also go to the gym after work to break the night up before I go home to study.

What advice would you give to anyone looking to become a Portal Fee Earner without going to University?

If you feel like university isn’t for you, starting as a Legal Apprentice and working your way up from being an Office Junior to an Office Administrator is a good way to become a Portal Fee Earner. That way you’re getting first-hand experience by working in a law firm plus you still have the opportunity to study CILEx and get a qualification.

I found that working amongst Fee Earners helped me as I would watch what was going on and how people were dealing with certain situations. I learned a lot from the people I work with.

What do you do when you are not working?

When I’m not working I go to the gym or to the cinema or shopping with friends. I love baking when I get the time; my signature dish is chocolate cake, which is what I usually bake for the charity bake sales at work. One slice of it would probably cover your calorie intake for the day.

If you were queen for the day what law would you pass and why?

If I were queen for a day I would pass a law to make sure that charities receive 100% of any money donated to them, rather than just a small percentage. I think this is important; the charities would be much more productive in the work they do if they received the full donation.

Describe your Christmas day…

I open presents with my mum, dad and brother first thing; I still can’t help getting up ridiculously early with the excitement of opening presents.

Then I make breakfast with my mum (usually pancakes or waffles) before spending most of the day at my nana and grandad’s. We open more presents there and spend the day eating, drinking and watching Christmas films.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time?

I would like either to have continued to progress at Bott & Co or have won the lottery and be travelling around the world on my private yacht.

What has been your favourite place you have visited and why?

The best place I’ve visited is Jamaica. The beaches are beautiful and I love their food, music and culture. I visited there earlier this year; I climbed a waterfall and spent the rest of the time on the beach eating jerk chicken, drinking red stripe beer and listening to reggae music. I didn’t want to come home.

If you weren’t in the legal industry, what would you be and why?

I would be a travel journalist. I enjoy writing and would love to travel the world and see different cultures.

The post 5 minutes with… Saphina Uddin appeared first on Bott & Co.

Chantelle graduated with a degree in Criminology and joined Bott & Co in 2013 as a member of the Client First Response Team. Chantelle then became an admin assistant whilst studying with CILEx to qualify as a Legal Executive. Through hard work and dedication, Chantelle progressed to become a Portal Fee Earner in 2015.

We catch up with Chantelle to find out more about her, including what her New Year’s resolutions are…

Why did this type of work interest you, and how did you get started?

I like to help people, and make a difference to people’s lives when they most need it. I feel that I’m good at empathising and understanding different people’s circumstances.

What motivates you?

My family motivate me, particularly my son Leo. They are always very supportive in all aspects of my job.

What part of your job do you personally find most satisfying?

When I receive a thank you from a client or when I can send the cheque out to the client at the end of a case; I know that the money will make a difference to their lives following the incident.

Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?

I would like to be a qualified solicitor. I intend to complete CILEx and qualify as a Legal Executive before commencing the Legal Practice Course (LPC) through the Manchester University of Law.

What special advice do you have for anyone seeking to become a Portal Fee Earner?

I would advise anyone who has aspirations of becoming a Portal Fee Earner to work hard and ask as many questions as possible. If you are transferring from an Admin Assistant to a Fee Earner, I would recommend trying to understand why you are asked to do certain work.

What’s your greatest achievement and how has it shaped you?

I gave birth to my son Leo at the age of 16. Fortunately, through hard work and dedication, I was able to complete my A-Levels and degree whilst my son was very young and I am now a full-time working mum.

We understand that you volunteer at the moment – please can you tell us a little bit more about that?

I currently volunteer at Manchester Action on Street Health (MASH) which is a charity organisation drop in centre for women working in the red light district in Manchester. The drop in centre supports women with housing issues, mental health problems, health and counselling support.

It is a very valuable and important support to extremely vulnerable women. The skills that I have developed through volunteering at MASH are also transferrable to my full-time role at Bott & Co, particularly in communicating with vulnerable clients.

We hear you like to travel, having visited places such as Cuba and Morocco, where is next on your list to go to and why?

My next trip is to Thailand in May 2016 with my family. We’ve always wanted to travel to Asia to experience the different culture and wildlife.

What makes you happiest?

Coming home to my son and listening to him read before bedtime. Children have such vibrant imaginations.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?

In 2012 I did a skydive from 14,000 ft. It was extremely nerve-racking and exhilarating.

Do you have any New Year’s resolutions for 2016? If so, what are they?

1. Learn Karate
2. Read more
3. Learn another language

The post 5 minutes with… Chantelle Clifford appeared first on Bott & Co.

Now, fifteen years later, Bott & Co employs over 100 talented individuals who have worked together over the years to ensure that we are able to continue providing an outstanding service to the people who need our help.

In this video, Senior Partner David Bott looks back at how the legal industry has changed in the last fifteen years, and how Bott & Co has met these challenges head on…

“We wanted to create a law firm that we’d be proud of – that was the number one thing. The fact of the matter is we have achieved that. David Bott

As David points out in the video, Bott & Co’s success is reliant on over a hundred people working together towards a common goal. It’s impossible to put down every single thing each individual and their departments do to achieve this, but here’s a very brief overview…

Personal Injury, Liability and Holiday Claims

Our Personal Injury Department has shown great resilience and adaptability following the Jackson reforms, as have the Liability Team who have dealt with some of Bott & Co’s largest cases.

Our legal experts have risen to every challenge that the last fifteen years has thrown at them. These departments – including cycle accident claims and holiday claims – are not just made up of expert Solicitors, but also Litigation Executives, Fee Earners and Admin Support, who all play their own vital roles in ensuring that our clients receive an outstanding level of care, and the maximum amount of compensation they are entitled to.

Client First Response

A major emphasis on customer care is what differentiates Bott & Co from other law firms; that care begins with the Client First Response Team (CFRT). CFRT work long hours including weekends and bank holidays to ensure that the people who come to us for help are met with kindness, empathy and all the information they need to know that they are putting their claim in safe hands.

At the same time as adapting to increasingly frequent and dramatic changes in the legal industry, the team have to be experts on every single service that Bott & Co offers, from cycle accident claims and employer liability, to flight compensation and holiday illness – which is no easy task.

The Flight Delay Team

When a ban on referral fees was introduced by LASPO in 2013, many law firms were forced to downsize, or even shut down. Instead, Bott & Co chose to diversify, opening up our flight delay department that same year.

In under three years, our Flight Delay Team has fought for the rights of 59,000 consumers, recovering over £13.5million for more than 42,000 of them already.

A dedicated team of just 11 people has won over 7,000 court cases in that time, including the two Supreme Court Victories that unlocked billions of pounds on compensation for delayed passengers; Huzar v Jet2 and Dawson v Thomson Airways.

Our Accounts Department

Accounts process all incoming and outgoing funds, be it client damages, costs or court fees. That’s for RTA, liability, travel sickness and flight delay.

Their hard work has made the very existence of the flight delay team possible; tens of thousands of extra clients means tens of thousands of extra processes for them. They’ve embraced that mentality, the IT improvements and changes in the way they have to work with no additional staff being added to them, and frequently work beyond traditional working hours to meet these demands.

Our in-house IT Team

Our talented in-house IT Team have made it possible for Bott & Co to adopt a highly automated, light touch approach that allows us to deal with significant case volumes without compromising client service. The team has been pivotal in our success and profitability: our automated and 100% electronic claims service has vastly improved the speed, ease and efficiency of the service that we are now able to offer clients.

We’re extremely proud of the whole department for their work in creating our flight claims checker, which hasn’t only been essential for the success for the flight delay team but has provided free access to justice for more than 70,000 people.

Operations

Operations or ‘Ops’ are the people who deal with day-to-day office maintenance and running of the office and the business, from reception staff to the Post Room Team. These people are a massive part of internal communications at Bott & Co, ensuring the smooth running of the business at all times.

The bulk processing has impacted on the Post Room Team in particular with the additional post, but there has also been a dramatic reorganisation of the office which has meant all members of Ops coming in very early in the morning and at weekends to get the office how we want it with no disruption during the working week.

Communications and Marketing

When Bott & Co launched fifteen years ago, the personal injury landscape was so different that most law firms, including Bott & Co, didn’t have a website to advertise their services. But when LASPO changed how law firms acquired claims, Bott & Co had to invest in its website and its brand to attract clients.

Communications and Marketing work hard to ensure that the law firm is able to self-generate claims for the business, and to build and protect the Bott & Co brand. The team have also worked closely with the Flight Delay Team to raise awareness of flight compensation in the public eye, making people aware of the consumer rights they didn’t necessarily know they had.

In 2015 Bott & Co was accredited with the Gold standard for Investors in People

At Bott & Co we’re passionate about opening a door to the legal industry for promising young people, which is why we launched a recruitment process for twelve legal apprenticeships that will continue throughout the year. We also set up the Bott Academy, where staff can enrol in courses to improve their career prospects, with all fees paid by Bott & Co.

“More than a quarter of Bott & Co staff have benefited from the Bott Academy, with courses ranging from legal qualifications, to accounting and marketing”

To find out about the numerous awards Bott & Co has won over the years, take a look at our Awards and Accreditations.

To learn more about the people who make Bott & Co great, meet Our People.

The post Bott & Co celebrates its 15th Birthday appeared first on Bott & Co.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

The most rewarding part of my job is helping out those around me. My role within the office includes helping my colleagues with creating files and speaking with insurers. Also being part of the Ops team means I help out others in the group whenever they need an extra pair of hands.

What is your biggest motivation?

My biggest motivation is my competitiveness. I am a very competitive person which sometimes has its downfalls but it does push me to be the best I can be.

Do you have any hobbies and if so what are these?

I play football for Stockport County Ladies and have been playing football since I was 14. The first team I ever played for was Manchester City even though I am a Red (Manchester United)!

My love and passion for football took me to America where I went to University on a ‘soccer’ scholarship. While over there I enjoyed watching all the typical American sports like baseball, wrestling, and especially American football. I am now a huge Green Bay Packers fan and I enjoy watching any NFL games when they are on at a normal hour!

What were your highlights whilst living in America?

My biggest highlight was meeting my husband whilst I was at university in America just before I was due to graduate. 2 years later in May 2015 we got married in the UK.

We have since been living apart but visit each other as often as we can. I last saw him at Christmas when I spent almost three weeks there and I am already planning my next visit in May so we can spend our first wedding anniversary together.

Another big highlight while I was in America was meeting a few famous faces. I used to plan live events for my university which included singers, comedians and musicians and with this I attended a conference/showcase of all upcoming artists. While I was there I met a few TV stars like Maci from Teen Mom, Nev from Catfish and even Frankie Muniz from Malcolm in the Middle.

What do you like doing in your spare time?

I have a strong passion for creative writing which is the reason I created my own blog, The English American. I blog about all sorts of things including fashion, football, baking, and the gym to name a few.

I have also just started coaching the Under 11s girls’ team at Stockport County after completing my FA Level 1 coaching course back in July 2015.

What qualifications do you have?

Other than the boring school/university qualifications, I also have a qualification in cocktail making after doing a bartending course a few years back. This was one of the best weeks ever!

I mentioned that I have my FA Level 1 coaching course in football and I am eager to complete Level 2 this year.

Where is your favourite place?

I love America because there are so many places to visit and exciting things to see. In my 4 years over there I only managed to see 14 of the 50 states and most of these I only drove through to get somewhere else.

My favourite place that I have been to in America has to be Colorado, the Rocky Mountain state. I only spent 4 days there but they were some of the best days ever. One day I spent 7 hours hiking to the top of a snowy mountain and the next day I was sunbathing by the great sand dunes, all in the same state!

I also love the beautiful south coast of England, specifically Poole & Bournemouth. I was born in Poole, and lived down there until I was ten years old. I still make frequent trips down there because my dad and the majority of my family still live there. The weather is also way better and it’s where I got married.

The post 5 minutes with… Danielle Schroeder appeared first on Bott & Co.

Claire is currently working towards becoming a lawyer through the Bott Academy, studying CILEx whilst working.

We catch up with Claire to find out about her studies, ambitions and what she likes to do in her spare time.

What are the challenges you face working in the Flight Delay Team at Bott & Co?

I would answer this question with one word – Ryanair! But a common challenge is that the airlines are constantly changing how they respond to claims. Sometimes they go through stages of responding quicker, making them much easier to deal with; whereas other times, they drag their feet and we are the ones having to chase them. In these cases, you are never quite sure where you are with each airline and the best thing to do is to try to inform our clients so they understand.

Challenges aren’t necessarily a bad thing though; I quite enjoy the excitement!

You are studying through the Bott Academy, how are you finding this?

Studying through the Academy is a lot different to the academic work I have previously done, but I am definitely enjoying it. The unit I am currently studying for – Civil Litigation – is one which I can relate to each day, especially now I am starting to work more closely on the litigation aspects. I have found that the Bott Academy provides the support and flexibility I need to balance my work and studies so I can strive to get the most out of and do my best in both.

Why did you choose to study CILEx, what are your goals?

Before I even started working at Bott & Co, I had heard of CILEx and knew it was something I wanted to be doing. After leaving university, because I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to do, I found I was drawn to the area of law. I couldn’t initially put my finger on exactly what it was about it that I was so drawn to, but the fact that the law is constantly evolving and impacting lives daily was definitely a contributing factor. My goal is to become a successful lawyer – and hopefully, if I can, with Bott & Co!

How do you manage your time studying whilst working in a full time role?

I have to admit, at first I was apprehensive about how I would be able to balance working and studying, but I manage to do it by spending an hour before work and an hour over my lunch every day doing my CILEx. When it gets closer to my exams or if I begin to panic, I study after work as well.

Studying and working can make it a long working day but it’ll be worth it if it pays off.

We hear you are a keen Formula 1 fan, tell us about this hobby and how it came about?

I was always a bit of a tomboy so from a young age I have been a huge Formula 1 fan. When I was younger, I was more interested in having a remote control car than a Barbie doll! I would say it started because my dad watched the F1 whenever it was on TV so I found myself watching it as well. We even had a vintage Scalextric that my twin sister and I loved playing with.

Last year we were lucky enough to visit the Silverstone racing track to support Lewis Hamilton and watch the British Grand Prix in one of the grandstands; it was definitely one of the best experiences I have had. Next time, I would like to watch one of the foreign Grands Prix such as the Chinese or Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

You are a keen traveller, where is next on your list to visit?

For late summer 2017 myself and my sister are planning a trip to Melbourne, Australia as it is one of those places that we have always wanted to visit. On the way we are going to be stopping over a few nights in Abu Dhabi, unfortunately this doesn’t correspond with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix!

After a week in Melbourne the plan is to fly over to New Zealand especially for the Lord of the Rings set tour package, as we are both huge Tolkien fans. Then we will fly onto Port Douglas in Queensland for a week before heading back home. We are going to make it a trip of a lifetime!

If you were prime minister for a day, what law would you pass and why?

My family and I have started to buy extra food when we can to donate to the food banks after becoming more aware of them from the news, so I would introduce a law that would try and help prevent the spiralling issue. I would also introduce a law that would put a cap on footballer’s wages – the amount they earn is ridiculous!

You mentioned you previously went to university, how would you describe the experience?

One of the most eye-opening experiences I have had and one that I don’t regret doing. I met friends for life that I still talk to and see regularly. I also got the chance to live away from home (Hull) and fend for myself, which I actually really enjoyed.

Coming back home from university was very strange as I was so used to doing everything for myself. I definitely do a lot more at home than I ever did before going to university!

You are interested in motor sports, but what sports do you like to do yourself?

I used to play a lot of sport during school and sixth form and continued to play hockey for the University of Hull. I did a lot of running and athletics for my school and county but I’d say it is a lot harder to find the time now I work full time and study as well. I try and do some sort of exercise whenever I can as it takes my mind off other things. My favourite sport is skiing; I have been skiing abroad a few times and absolutely loved it.

If you had to visit one place in the world, where would it be and why?

I would pick Egypt without a doubt. I am very interested in the ancient Egyptian history and have been from an early age. I love how exotic and different the culture is from anything I have been exposed to. I visited Morocco last summer so I suppose that was a small taster of what the culture is like, but I can imagine that Egypt is probably more intense. Also, you can’t forget the food – North African food is definitely my favourite type of cuisine!

The post 5 minutes with Claire Shallcross appeared first on Bott & Co.

We launched the Bott academy in February 2011 and exactly five years on, the programme has supported over 70 staff members, helping them to develop themselves and further their professional career.

We have teamed up with leading distance learning provider CILEx Law School (CLS) to offer :

• Distance learning
• Apprenticeships
• Graduate schemes
• CILEx qualification
• Continuous professional development programmes
• Non-legal and support qualifications
• Skills training

More than a quarter of Bott & Co staff have benefitted from the scheme so far and there are currently over 40 members of staff in the Bott Academy.

One member of the scheme is Claire Shallcross from the Flight Delay Compensation team:

“Bott Academy provides the support and flexibility I need to balance my work and studies so that I can strive to get the most out of and do my best in both. My aim is to become a successful lawyer and I feel that Bott Academy will help me achieve my goal.”

Bott Academy provides the support and flexibility I need to balance my work and studies

We continue to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to supporting staff in their learning and professional development and are encouraging more people take on courses through the academy.

Adele Farnaby, a Bott & Co Litigation Executive speaks about her experience studying with CILEx through the Bott Academy:

“I had almost completed my CILEx journey before joining Bott & Co, however I was in a small minority of lawyers at my previous firm who had decided to pursue the Legal Executive route to obtain a formal qualification. The majority were qualified solicitors and funding for CILEx or further education was difficult to obtain. It was refreshing to learn when joining Bott & Co that so many people were studying CILEx or had qualified via the Bott Academy.”

We are always on the lookout for new talent and we are dedicated to getting those on board who are willing to learn and work hard in order to climb the career ladder.

With one week to go until National Apprenticeship Week, we have been attending local recruitment fairs to showcase the range of opportunities we have available, including high quality apprenticeships which stand to benefit young people by helping them to develop the skills required for a successful career in the legal industry.

Melissa Woodward joined Bott & Co as a legal apprentice. “Going for an apprenticeship over university was a better option for me. It doesn’t cost me anything and I’m still getting the same qualifications whilst getting experience of the actual job and industry. Eventually I’d like to become a Chartered Legal Executive which hopefully CILEx and Bott & Co will take me to.”

The post Bott Academy Now 40 Strong appeared first on Bott & Co.

Tony has years of experience in the legal industry, dealing with many complicated and catastrophic injuries including the highest value claim in the firm, which settled at over £1million.

Outside of work Tony enjoys cycling. He is particularly proud of raising over £10,000.00 for Cancer Research whilst cycling from Lands’ End to John O’Groats.

We catch up with Tony amongst his busy schedule to find out a little more about him and his passion for cycling.

What was your dream job growing up?

I wanted to be a soldier or in the police force (I can hear the department now saying that does not come as a surprise!)

Where did your initial interest in the legal industry come from?

I studied Business and Finance and came across Business Law as a subject; from then on I had a real interest in Law.

What motivates you in your job role?

The diversity of the role and working with people. I suppose it’s knowing that what you do makes a real difference to people’s lives.

How do you relax outside of work?

I spend time with my family. We travel around the country with our caravan, we love visiting different places.

What is your greatest achievement outside of work?

It has got to be juggling being a parent and having a demanding job. Those that know me from when I joined Bott & Co will confirm that I had no intention of having a large family!

We hear you are a keen cyclist, tell us how this hobby came about?

Friends of mine regularly went out on a Sunday morning with their mountain bikes and one day I decided to join them; it went from there really.

What inspired you to sign up for the Lands’ End to John O’Groats bike ride?

The main reason was to raise money for Cancer research.

What was the bike ride itself like?

Hard, hard, hard and difficult too! It was a great experience but it was very difficult to be away from my family for ten days.

Do you have any other hobbies outside of work or any that you would like to take up?

Sounds quite strange I know, but I was a very good shot when I was younger. I was an army cadet for many years and had a number of guns of my own (I know, very controversial). I would love to take up the sport again, I just need to find some time.

If you were prime minister for the day what law would you pass and why?

I would increase spending on the NHS, so every individual would have the care they need as and when needed.

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When not at work, Laurence spends his time in a variety of different ways. He is accomplished in three musical instruments: guitar, bass and piano and can occasionally be found honing his proficiency with each of these.
We take 5 minutes to chat to Laurence and get to know more about him.

Why did you choose the legal profession?

Like most people, I had thought long and hard about what kind of career would suit me in the long-term and I felt extremely unfulfilled and dissatisfied with the job I had in retail management.

I have always had a keen interest in the law and the role it plays in society as a whole, having bought various books on the subject despite not having a legal academic background. I have always believed that the best way to learn is to go out and find information for yourself rather than relying solely on schooling.

Not long after graduating from university, I began to realise that I craved a career that would provide not only some intellectual challenge but also diversity in the work I do and that offered the potential for growth. The legal profession seemed to tick all of those boxes and then some!

You are working in a new area of law; tell us a little bit about holiday illness compensation.

As package holidays have become more commonplace, the law has had to adapt to meet the changes and apply to a wide range of situations to ensure that customers of tour operators are protected.

If you book a package holiday through a UK tour operator, most of the major parts of your trip will be covered by ‘The Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992’.

These regulations are the basis on which we pursue our client’s claims for compensation; they state that the tour operator is responsible for all the separate parts of your holiday. This means that your transport, accommodation and food whilst on holiday are all covered by British legislation.

We have used these regulations to make successful claims for clients who have had suffered from food poisoning and even bedbugs whilst on holiday.

What parts of your job do you find most challenging?

I think the art of ‘plate spinning’ is certainly something that I believe will prove to be a continuous challenge throughout my legal career. Keeping the multitude of simpler tasks at bay whilst dealing with the things that require the most attention is certainly the most challenging aspect of my job.

What is the most enjoyable part of your job?

Being able to satisfy our clients by leading them through the process involved in pursuing a claim. It’s also very rewarding to be able to achieve a substantial award for a client who has had a particularly rotten time on holiday!

We understand you are very into your music, tell us a bit about how this started?

I began to play the guitar at the age of 14 due to my love of bands such as The Smiths, The Beatles, Oasis and many more. I loved the discipline that came with the craft of playing the guitar and this extended to bass guitar and then the piano too. Ultimately this led to my decision to study music at university, as it was my real passion at the time and a subject that I excelled in. However, I never really saw music as being a way of earning a living.

What do you feel most proud of?

I’ve never been a quitter and I think that’s something that has very much held me in good stead in my life. I believe that it’s a slippery slope if you adopt a quitting mentality.

What would you be if you weren’t a Legal Assistant?

I would most probably go down the route of becoming a fully-fledged music teacher. I taught guitar in private tuition lessons for years whilst I was studying at university and even before that.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time?

Ideally, with the funded education that I am receiving through the Bott Academy, I will have qualified with a level 6 diploma in law and practice. This will enable me to qualify as a lawyer in addition to the experience that I will have gained alongside the academic study.

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go and why?

I recently heard of an island off the coast of Japan called ‘Aogashima’ which is home to only about 170 people. There is nothing around for miles but apparently the night sky offers a perfect view of the Milky Way. I think being able to witness our own galaxy with zero light pollution would be an unforgettable experience and one that you would be hard-pushed to match!

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