For 38-year-old Matthew, South Wales has always been home - he was born in Merthyr Tydfil and moved to Cardiff, where he now lives with his young family. They keep him busy and on his toes but any spare time goes towards running half marathons, with an ambition to run a full marathon soon.

 

What is your specialism and why?

I’ve been working in the medical negligence team at Thompsons for a little over a year running my own caseload and supervising cases that are being run by the Wales and South West team. I can definitely say that no two days are the same.

The complexities in medical negligence are what drew me to this area of practice. Being able to give people who have suffered a serious injury answers to their questions about treatment and put in place support packages to maximise their quality of life, drives me on. It is extremely rewarding.

 

Matthew Jones, from our Cardiff office
Matthew Jones, from our Cardiff office

Why did you join Thompsons?

I was initially attracted to Thompsons’ reputation in clinical negligence and that, combined with its unstinting commitment to seeking justice through its legal work and public campaigns, really resonated with me. The ethos of standing up for those who have been injured or mistreated through no fault of their own, but not for employers or insurance companies, is something I value.

What types of cases are you currently working on?

My caseload ranges from families who have lost loved ones and believe their death could have been avoided, to children who have suffered brain injuries during childbirth or shortly after. Some clients have needed more than one amputation due to the way in which their conditions were treated. All of them are serious injuries, all too often they are lifechanging and in many cases they can’t return to work and require around the clock care and home adaptations.

I’m also currently working with a number of women who received rectal mesh implants from Mr Anthony Dixon, and who have since gone on to suffer from often irreversible injuries, which has severely impacted the quality of their life.

What do you think is different about Thompsons in comparison to other law firms?

Thompsons has been involved in key medical negligence cases and has campaigned for change, justice and fairness for the injured since it was formed nearly 100 years ago.

Many other law firms consider their involvement in a case to end once it has been concluded or may shy away from getting involved in what might be a larger safety issue. At Thompsons, as well as getting the best possible outcome for each individual client, there is also a motivation to affect change and prevent similar situations arising in the future – something which our clients often tell us is of great importance to them.

I’m particularly proud of the ongoing Patients Before Profits campaign, which has seen us support patients in the pursuit of justice against former breast surgeon, Ian Paterson and victims of mesh implant surgery, as well as helping to further expose the loopholes in private healthcare that allows rogue surgeons to operate unchecked.