In the latest episode of “Beyond The Gavel”, Ben Townsend, Head of Personal Injury Leeds at Stewarts, joined internationally renowned surgeon and medico-legal expert Rodney Peyton to share practical insights that ensure success long before a case reaches the courtroom.
Ben and Rodney begin by discussing the importance of relationships with the defense. Ben emphasises that effective relationship management is at the heart of a personal injury lawyer’s responsibility. Additionally, the rapport built with the defense team is often key to securing the best possible outcomes for all parties involved. He adds that many firms underestimate the significance of this dynamic.
Ben shares practical advice on how to foster these relationships, emphasising that understanding the defence team’s perspective and motivations is essential. This approach is particularly valuable when engaging in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), a topic that is explored further in the episode, as it helps to create a constructive environment for negotiation and resolution.
Other key topics explored by Ben and Rodney in the podcast include:
- How to brief and place trust in your experts
- Preparing for judges who may have limited experience in personal injury cases
- Using joint statements as a tool to clarify rather than complicate, the issues
- The role of ADR, mediation and third-party facilitation
- Managing client expectations from the outset
- Demonstrating credible readiness to proceed to trial and how this can enhance outcomes
Ben has acted in many brain and spinal cord injury claims, including accidents abroad. He has achieved multimillion pound settlements resulting from a range of accidents, including road traffic accidents and accidents at work. He is also a founding assessor to the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers’ brain injury and spinal cord injury panels.
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