Guy Forster, Partner, Irwin Mitchell:
A day in the life
What is your daily routine? How has this changed as a result of lockdown?
I tend to be up very early in the morning; not necessarily out of choice but usually one of my two youngest daughters decides that it’s time to start the day. Prior to the pandemic I would have been up and out of the door by 6:30am to get a head start on the commute to Cambridge. One of the blessings of the last twelve months has been that I now get to start the day with the girls; I get to walk my 7 year old to and from school and spend time with all three as soon as I’ve finished work. We have just welcomed our new puppy, Lilah, into the family over the Easter break which adds an extra dimension to family life!
I find I work most effectively in the mornings so I tend to get the bulk of my client work done during the first half of the day. The virtual world of working has meant that the teams have been collaborating more closely than ever before on a national scale. It’s also given the Cambridge teams a fantastic platform to showcase to the rest of the firm the brilliant work we do and our fabulous region.
I found it very difficult in the early days of lockdown to take enough breaks from my desk. Like many, the working day was getting stretched longer and longer so I now make sure I finish at a reasonable time and take time away from my screen. I start to get cranky if I haven’t been out for a run; running has long been a key part of my physical and mental wellbeing. It helps me to let off steam, gain perspective and think through challenges at home and at work.
How do you see your routine/work changing in life after lockdown?
IM has long been a business that has embraced flexible working and promoted work life balance; nevertheless the way in which we’ve adapted so successfully to remote working in the last year has really opened my eyes to the possibilities. The use of tools such as MS Teams have been incredibly valuable but I have really missed face to face contact with colleagues in particular, especially socialising and collaborating. I am looking forward to a new way of working which blends the best of both worlds; for me, it will come down to how best to meet client’s needs, the most effective way to work with colleagues and how this fits in with personal commitments.
Do you have a typical client/case?
I specialise in clinical negligence claims, acting for patients and their families. I have always undertaken a varied caseload. I enjoy the variety; I think it makes me a better all-round lawyer and better equipped to supervise and support the rest of the team.
The vast majority of the cases involve life-changing injuries: children who have cerebral palsy as a result of complications at or after birth, adults who have suffered avoidable stroke, spinal injury such as cauda equina syndrome and avoidable amputations for example due to mismanaged sepsis. I also act in fatal cases and provide representation at coroners’ inquests alongside specialist barristers, often with the aim of getting answers and bringing about changes to improve patient safety.
We have a really strong team-working ethic and many cases will have two solicitors working across them alongside other litigation support. It helps to keep the cases moving efficiently, plus it helps to develop expertise in the teams and foster a great team spirit. There can be many highs and lows in the world of litigation and we really rely on the support of one other.
What are your proudest professional achievements?
We are so lucky to be able to make huge differences to people’s lives, whether that be securing an admission of liability and apology, an interim payment to facilitate a move to adapted accommodation or a final settlement that covers a lifetime of professional care.
One of my proudest professional achievements is without doubt having a hand in the development of the Cambridge office generally and of the medical negligence team in particular. From small beginnings in late 2014 we have grown rapidly through a combination of organic growth as well as some key lateral hires. It has been brilliant to see colleagues developing their skills and experience and we have had countless promotions across the board as a result. The future is looking really bright.
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