The ‘ever increasing depth of expertise’ at Hudgell Solicitors has been reflected in the promotion of solicitors Elizabeth Maliakal and Hayley Collinson to lead its Hull-based clinical negligence team.
Mrs Maliakal takes on the position of head of the department, having played a prominent role since joining the firm in 2020, following the acquisition of her previous team at Heptonstalls in Goole.
An Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) accredited senior litigator and Clinical Negligence accredited lawyer, she is an expert in complex and high-value cases relating to life-changing injuries and loss of life.
Over the past 12 months, she has worked on major investigations into potential harmful surgeries on hundreds of children at Great Ormond Street and Addenbrooke’s hospitals, on which she has been one of the firm’s spokespeople in the national media.
She serves on the Society of Clinical Negligence Lawyers (SCIL) executive team, and she has also led the department’s training and business development programme. For the past four years she has led a team which has organised the firm’s annual Clinical Negligence Conference, attracting leading speakers from medical and legal fields.
Elizabeth provides legal support to charities Birth Trauma Association and Peeps HIE and has campaigned with Spinal Injuries Association.
She volunteers for the patient safety charity Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA_ on their pro bono legal helpline, is a Trustee for Hull Women’s Aid and a Governor at a Hull city centre school.
Training contract to Deputy role
Mrs Collinson is promoted to Deputy Head from her role as a Senior Associate Solicitor and brings more than 15 years of specialisation in medical negligence to the position.
Having joined Hudgells in 2009 as a Litigation Assistant, she went on to complete her Training Contract at the firm, qualifying as a Solicitor in 2011.
Over the years she has been promoted to Senior Associate Solicitor and also manager of a team dedicated to overseeing cases which may be subject to further fixed cost reforms.
In her time at Hudgells, Mrs Collinson has developed a reputation for her work in birth injury cases and is dedicated to enhancing support for families affected by baby loss. Her expertise extends to fatal accidents, amputations, surgical errors, misdiagnoses, and stroke claims.
Also, an APIL-accredited Senior Litigator, she is a mentor at the University of Hull, where she provides invaluable insights, advice, and encouragement to aspiring lawyers, is a committee member of the Leeds and District Medico-Legal Society (LDMLS) and also works to support charities including Hey Endo, HER Breast Friends, and Aim Higher, where she serves as a Trustee.
Hudgells through and through
Chris Moore and Vince Shore, National Heads of Clinical Negligence, say the time is right for both Mrs Maliakal and Mrs Collinson to step into senior management roles.
“It’s fantastic to be filling these positions internally. Elizabeth and Hayley are both exceptionally talented and motivated lawyers who are Hudgells through and through,” said Mr Moore.
“Importantly, not only do they both provide expert legal support to our clients and secure them excellent results, but they are also people who 100% embrace our mission and values as a company.
“Both Elizabeth and Hayley go above and beyond to use their skills and knowledge to make a positive impact in the community, offering their time to support local charities whilst also ensuring they support more junior members of our team to develop their skills.
“Elizabeth and Hayley’s appointments are a great demonstration of the ever-increasing depth of expertise across our firm. They have risen through the ranks and I am thrilled for both of them, and confident they will do a fantastic job.”
Hudgells also has dedicated clinical negligence teams in Manchester, and a recently opened office in Newcastle, accounting for a third of employees across the business.