Our ‘Meet the Team’ articles aim to let you learn more about our staff, who are the foundations of Oliver & Co and our excellent client feedback and reviews.
Kerry Goulden is Oliver & Co through and through, having started as a Legal Secretary, gone on to do her training contract with us and is now an Associate Director.
Kerry is part of the Clinical Negligence Team, working to get compensation for those who have suffered due to the negligence of medical professionals.
Medical Negligence claims are extremely personal and so clients need to have a good relationship with their solicitor. If you are considering making a medical negligence claim, why not get to know Kerry better.
Why did you want to become a solicitor?
I have always had a keen interest in law, although I originally thought that I would pursue a career in criminal law. However, once I had begun training in clinical negligence, I realised that this was the area of law for me.
Which areas of law did you train in?
Clinical Negligence, Personal Injury and Conveyancing.
Why did you want to specialise in clinical negligence law?
Anyone can be a victim of clinical negligence as we all put our faith in the medical profession when we are ill or injured. Negligence by a medical professional can have devastating consequences for a Client and their families and I passionately believe that they deserve to be compensated for this. Clinical Negligence claims are not about blame or punishing the medical profession, but ensuring that victims of negligence obtain the compensation they deserve and ensuring that any future care needs resulting from the negligence are met.
How long have you been part of the Oliver & Co team?
Nearly 15 years, having started as a secretary in the Personal Injury department and then working my way up to Associate Director in the Clinical Negligence department
What have been some highlights of your time at Oliver & Co?
Settling a claim on behalf of a family who had sadly lost their baby when he was just a few weeks old due to the Defendants’ negligence. The case settled only one week before trial (and one week before my wedding!) and it was an incredibly emotional moment for the family. Another highlight was recovering £2 million for a Client who suffered an avoidable subarachnoid haemorrhage 2 days after giving birth to her second daughter. Sadly, due to her resulting permanent disabilities, she had subsequently lost custody of her daughters. Following settlement, she was able to purchase a suitable property which allowed her children to begin to have overnight stays with her again.
On a more personal level, I have trained and qualified as a solicitor whilst at Oliver & Co, got married and become a Mum, so my life has changed considerably since I first started!
What sets Oliver & Co apart?
Oliver & Co is like an extended family to me and I am very proud to be a part of it. We pride ourselves on being knowledgeable and approachable, and we ensure that we give back to the community through our charity work. In terms of our clinical negligence department, our head of department is a dual qualified solicitor and doctor which gives us such great medical insight.
Oliver & Co prides themselves on great customer service. Can you describe a time you received amazing customer service?
A recent example was taking my young toddler on holiday, I received great customer service from a flight attendant who immediately put us at ease as soon as we boarded the plane by reassuring us not to worry if my son became upset, and he consistently came to check that we had everything we needed for my son throughout the flight. This flight attendant made the process of flying with a toddler much less stressful!
If you hadn’t become a solicitor, what would you have done?
Likely a Maths teacher or an Accountant.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
Holidays and spending time with family and friends.
How can we help?
Do you need legal advice? Click here to see a list of our services or contact us today on 01244 312306 for free initial advice.
