Katie Brook

Experience

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  Tesco

  Jan 2000 - Jan 2006

  Customer Services Assistant

  Various customer services roles; demonstrating versatility, willingness to adapt and in-depth knowledge of the food retail sector. Culminated in final role as receptionist in one of the largest stores in the UK.

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  Venters Solicitors

  Sept 2006 - Sept 2007

  Criminal Department Co-ordinator

  • Facilitated representation and clerks at courts and police stations, interpreters, experts, prison visits, video links and conferences. • Assisted partners & solicitors with casework.Attended trials as outdoor clerk at trials and conferences. • Handled new client enquiries, completed legal aid applications and drafted result letters and statements.

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  Optima Legal

  Sept 2007 - Oct 2008

  Litigation Executive

  Consumer and commercial small, fast and multi-track debt recovery claims brought on behalf of professional clients against both businesses and consumers. Promoted from the LRD (legal recoveries disputes) team to the RDR (repeat dispute resolution) team. • Conducted advocacy at small claims trials and application hearings.• Negotiated mutually beneficial compromises with debtors.• Secured judgments through enforcement proceedings.• Trained four new starters to handle small claims matters and assisted with technical legal queries from other departments. Show less

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  Medical Protection Society

  Oct 2008 - Nov 2010

  Paralegal

  In-house role for a medical defence organisation (MDO) assisting the clinical negligence and regulatory lawyers on a 50:50 basis.• Drafted minutes of internal committee meetings.• Assisted in the composition of responses to the Jackson review on costs.• Designed and maintained the costs pages of the Intranet system.• Chaired paralegal meetings and acted in mentoring capacity to other paralegals. Provided training to new paralegals.• Attended networking and training events.• Hosted departmental drinks.Clinical Negligence• Medical and dental negligence claims. • England and Wales pre-litigation and litigated claims. • Claims management in other jurisdictions including Israel, South Africa, Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland. • Assisted claims managers and solicitors-on-the-record with all aspects of handling claims. Deputised for lawyers when they were on leave. • Adhered to internal policies and service level agreements. • Prepared reports to MPS’ Committees and claims managers.• Designed and implemented a process for resolving applications for pre-action disclosure.Healthcare Regulatory• Assisted regulatory solicitors with all aspects of inquests and regulatory matters before the General Dental Council and General Medical Council including the misprescription of drugs, inappropriate treatment, late diagnosis, mental health issues and misconduct. • Brought enforcement action to recover costs awarded in the High Court against a vexatious litigant-in-person. Show less

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  DAC Beachcroft LLP

  Nov 2010 - Aug 2013

  Assistant Solicitor/Paralegal

  Employer's Liability/Public Liability/Industrial Disease. Initially handled a caseload of approx. 350+ pre-litigation NIHL and HAVS claims, outsourced by two major EL insurer clients. Gradually introduced litigated caseload. Following qualification, my pre-litigation caseload was gradually withdrawn and, thereafter, I handled approx. 60 litigated NIHL, WRULD, and HAVS claims. In addition, I assisted the Team Partner and Associates with approx. 10+ litigated large loss claims.Part of a team which achieved recognition for the "lowest average case spend in NIHL claims for 2013 across Panel" and "highest repudiation rate in team" for that client. Personally, I had one of the highest repudiation rates. • Project work resolving claimant's Part 8 claims for costs in pre-litigation matters. Had a Bill of Costs reduced by more than half against a solicitors’ firm well-known within the ID sector, which was referenced as a precedent by defendant solicitors and insurers.• Management information capture for client reports.• Provided training to new starters and junior colleagues.• Networked and engaged with clients in corporate and social opportunities.• Member of the Leeds office’s Million Makers 2013 team, fundraising for the Prince’s Trust. Team won the regional heat and came third nationally.• Member of DAC Beachcroft’s touch rugby team in a competition between companies within Leeds to raise money for charity. Show less

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  Clyde & Co LLP

  Aug 2013 - Dec 2014

  Associate Solicitor

  Employer’s Liability/Public Liability/Industrial Disease claims for two major insurer clients including carpal tunnel syndrome, occupational dermatitis, occupational asthma and osteoarthritis. Also assisted the Legal Director with the handling of large loss asbestos-related claims for insurer and corporate clients.Six-week secondment working in-house for a major legacy insurer client. Assisted with claims management and provided legal advice and technical advice.Provided causation and technical training to colleagues. Bill reviewing responsibilities. Management information capture for client reports. Business development and marketing• Composed a NIHL handing guide for a prospective insurer client. • Client relationship responsibilities. • Entertained clients at events including Newmarket Races. • Attended networking events. Active member of Manchester Junior Chambers of Industry and Manchester Young Solicitors’ Association.• Member of the Clyde & Co women’s netball team, which competed in the Manchester Young Professional’s Netball League. Show less

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  BC Legal

  Jan 2015 - Nov 2018

  Solicitor

  Employer’s Liability and Industrial Disease including silicosis, trigger finger, whole body vibration, asbestos-related conditions, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, occupational asthma, occupational cancer, short-tail and cumulative back injuries and work-related upper limb disorders (WRULD). Claims management for a well-known mutual from first notification through to litigation and post-litigation for claims in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Included carrying out investigations and site inspections, reviewing policy coverage, instructing claims inspectors and preparing formal responses.Conduct of litigated claims in England and Wales for several large insurers, mutuals and corporate clients. Low value but often technically complex claims through to large loss claims. Drafted own pleadings and witness statements and conducted advocacy in application hearings and CCMCs.One of the highest rates of discontinuance and lowest case spends across all offices. Compliance with service level agreements (SLAs) and civil procedure rules. Participated in project work and consolidated claims. Audited my own and other people’s files to ensure compliance with SLA’s.Supervision• Provided guidance and support to colleagues. • Provided technical and systems training to new starters. • Provided supervision to paralegals, a solicitor and a trainee solicitor, including checking quality of work and undertaking 1-2-1 appraisals. Business development and marketing• Client relationship responsibilities. • Presented update training sessions to clients. • Drafted legal updates to clients.• Provided non-chargeable legal advice and assistance to clients.• Entertained clients at Ascot Races and during dinners and drinks.• Actively attended networking events held by IRLA and barristers’ chambers. Show less

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  Government Legal Department

  Dec 2018 - Aug 2019

  Contractor - Personal Injury Lawyer

  Ministry of Defence private law team, representing the MOD in military claims and inquests. Caseload included clinical negligence claims; group EL actions and EL/PL claims; inquests; and, quantum and legal advice on novel pre-litigation matters.

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  British Army

  Sept 2019 - now

  Working in the Headquarters of 6th (UK) Division, I provided legal advice on advisory and operational law matters, delivered legal briefs to personnel and participated in multinational training exercises. Six-week operational deployment during which I co-facilitated a pre-deployment training programme and delivered training to Host Nation personnel on International Humanitarian Law and Gender-based Sexual Violence.Seconded to the Army Special Operations Brigade Headquarters for the last 9 months of my posting where I assisted the Principal Legal Adviser and covered the role for six weeks while it was gapped, delivering operational and advisory legal advice. Show less

  • Defence Intelligence Legal Advisor

    Sept 2022 - now

  • Divisional HQ Legal Advisor

    Jul 2020 - Sept 2022

  • Operational deployment - Media and Policy Advisor

    Apr 2020 - Jun 2020

  • Combat arms training attachment

    Feb 2020 - Mar 2020

  • Legal Officer

    Sept 2019 - Feb 2020