How Thompsons Solicitors provide services to union members
WHAT WE DO Thompsons Solicitors is the UK's most experienced personal injury and employment rights law firm; our commitment to social justice is at the heart of our practice. The firm was established in 1921 by the civil rights lawyer Harry Thompson. We have stayed true to his vision of using the law to protect and advance the rights of working people, and we are proud to be part of the trade union movement. We represent individuals and unions from 19 offices across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, with an associated firm in Scotland. Every year, we secure more than £150 million in compensation for people who have been injured or mistreated. Our specialist teams of lawyers ensure that, as part of their union membership, members can access the maximum damages whilst holding those responsible to account.
We stand by our solemn pledge never to act for insurance companies or employers.
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Mesh claim client, Jennifer, talking to Sabeena Pirooz from Thompsons’ Medical Negligence team
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Helen, a client of the Asbestos team at Thompsons Solicitors
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WHAT WE DO FOR MEMBERS Thompsons Solicitors is dedicated to serving union members by securing the best possible outcomes to their legal issues. We work closely with unions to provide the best legal services to members. Unlike other law firms that deduct legal fees from compensation, members and their families receive 100% compensation when Thompsons Solicitors win their personal injury claims. We also provide the lowest rates for cases involving medical negligence, which can be taken on a no-win, no-fee basis, with preferential terms for union members and their families where legal aid funding is not available. Our comprehensive legal services also extend to personal legal matters for members, such as wills and conveyancing.
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EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS We are renowned for our expertise in employment law. We strategically handle top-tier cases that have shaped the legal landscape in the UK. Our efforts in pursuing pivotal test cases have safeguarded the rights of millions of workers. We continue to support trade union members in employment law matters. Accessed through the union, our services become part of the union’s existing support system for workers in employment disputes. We represent members in tribunals, unfair dismissal claims, discrimination at work claims, wages claims, equal pay claims, trade union activities or cases related to the transfer of undertaking and collective redundancies (TUPE). Members and their families can also take advantage of the expertise of our dedicated Settlement Agreement Unit, which ensures those who have been asked to sign a settlement agreement get the best outcome possible.
Bonita, Medical Negligence Client
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TRADE UNION LAW GROUP Thompsons’ Trade Union Law Group is a unique, specialist service for UK trade unions. The group comprises expert solicitors working at national and regional levels, handling diverse areas of trade union law, including industrial action, balloting, recognition, elections, governance, and rule book issues. They advise on institutional trade union law, certification officer cases, TULRCA compliance, collective labour law, and more. Additionally, they serve as a specialist resource on collective employment law, including TUPE transfers and consultations.
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Former retained firefighter, Anthony, client of the Asbestos team at Thompsons Solicitors
ASBESTOS-RELATED CLAIMS We are the pioneers in seeking justice for workers negligently exposed to asbestos by employers. We’ve fought for the rights of those exposed to asbestos for over half a century and taken cases through the courts to change the law in favour of individuals. Our specialist team of lawyers help members and their families seek out insurers following historical exposure and hold employers to account whilst obtaining funding of new treatments for asbestos-related cancers, including mesothelioma. These claims ensure the financial security of those affected and their families through maximum compensation recovery.
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MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE Thompsons Solicitors has been instrumental in shaping advances in medical negligence law. The firm currently represents hundreds of women who suffered injury following the actions of the rogue surgeon Ian Paterson, who was jailed in 2017 on 17 counts of wounding with intent. Many of these patients had paid for private treatment at Spire Healthcare. Thompsons Solicitors is also representing hundreds of women who received mesh implants.
Other medical negligence claims cover misdiagnosis and injuries sustained in a healthcare setting.
Thompsons always adopts an ethical approach in claims against the NHS, recognising the many constraints put on those who work in the NHS by the Government.
Bonita and her family. Bonita is a client of the Medical Negligence team at Thompsons Solicitors
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Craig, a client of the Personal Injury team at Thompsons Solicitors
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PERSONAL INJURY Personal injury can occur anywhere - at work, on the roads, or in other public settings, domestically and abroad. At Thompsons Solicitors, we handle cases for union members and their families ranging from minor injuries to life-altering ones, such as limb loss and spinal or brain injury. We support claims for road collisions involving various vehicles, burn injuries and on behalf of injured military personnel.
Regardless of injury severity or where an injury occurred, Thompsons Solicitors is ready to help members and their families pursue a personal injury claim.
INJURIES AT WORK Thompsons has been at the forefront of significant legal improvements in workplace health and safety for over 100 years. However, despite these improvements, the HSE still reports that approximately 140,000 workers in the construction industry alone suffer from work-related ill health or injury every year. Across all industries and workplaces, we see thousands of injuries to workers due to safety breaches including inadequate training and faulty machinery. We fight on behalf of union members for change and fair compensation. Our experience includes crush injuries, falls from height, burns, electrical injuries, injuries caused by faulty equipment, work-related stress, strain, assaults at work, slips and trips at work, and many more avoidable injuries.
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PUBLIC INQUIRIES Our extensive experience in representing trade unions and the TUC in public inquiries is a testament to our commitment to protecting and advancing the rights of working people. We have successfully supported our clients through numerous high-profile inquiries, including the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, the Undercover Policing Inquiry and the Manchester Arena Inquiry. Each inquiry underscores our unwavering resolve to uncover the truth and ensure accountability. Thompsons are currently playing a pivotal role in the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, representing the TUC, ensuring that the voices and experiences of workers, especially those who faced greater risks during the pandemic, are heard and considered by the Inquiry.
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PROFESSIONAL REGULATION AND CRIME
We specialise in defending professionals, including teachers, physiotherapists, pharmacists, midwives, other healthcare workers, social workers, and public servants who are referred to their respective regulators and the Disclosure and Barring Service. Our team of criminal lawyers are renowned experts in work-related crime. We are recognised for our expertise in cases that range from allegations of misconduct in public office to gross negligence manslaughter.
We provide a 24-hour service, 365 days a year, offering police station representation for trade union members.
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FREE LEGAL ADVICE As a benefit of their union membership, we provide a free telephone advice service for members to access on any issue outside of those outlined in this booklet. GENERAL PRACTICE Additionally, we provide a comprehensive legal service for conveyancing, equity release, remortgaging, wills and probate, lasting powers of attorney and trusts, all at preferential rates for union members.
This is delivered by dedicated teams at BBH Legal Services Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Thompsons Solicitors.
We use more than 100 years of experience to get our clients the justice they deserve.
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Lee, client of the Personal Injury team at Thompsons Solicitors
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WE’RE HERE
STANDING UP for you
For general enquiries and more information: 0800 0 224 224 www.thompsonstradeunion.law
@ThompsonsLaw
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