Latest news with #HughJames
BBC News
01-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Military aircrew pursuing MoD after cancer diagnoses reaches 180
At least 180 current and former armed forces aircrew with cancer they claim was caused by exposure to toxic fumes in helicopters are pursuing the Ministry of Defence for flight sergeant Zach Stubbings, who died aged 47 in January, is one of at least six people who have received an out-of-court settlement from the MoD although the MoD has not admitted liability.A group that represents veterans has urged the MoD to take swift action to protect those still serving and also raise awareness among former servicemen and MoD said it believed engine exhaust emissions were of no risk to health but it was conducting monitoring to demonstrate this. The MoD confirmed in February it was trying to determine the number of people who have served as aircrew who have been diagnosed with cancer and was testing the exhaust emissions of its rotary wing law firm has said it had received inquiries from 180 aircrew and James solicitors told the BBC it was pursuing claims relating to four military aircraft - the Sea King, the Westland Wessex, the Puma and the CH-47 Chinook. The Sea King was used in British military operations between 1969 and 2018 and has in the past been flown by both King Charles and the Prince of Westland Wessex was retired in 2003 while the Puma and the CH-47 Chinook are both still in contracted by some of the crew who flew the helicopters include lung cancer, throat cancer, testicular cancer and some rare forms of blood cancer. Flight sergeant Zach, who trained the Prince of Wales on RAF Sea King helicopters at RAF Valley in north Wales, was 33 when he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, an incurable form of blood cancer that mainly affects those over the age of 65."He started to think, 'hang on a minute, I'm a 33-year-old man who's had this diagnosis of a blood cancer that isn't common in men in their thirties... I'm going to look into it'," recalled his widow Anna-Louise. She is the founder of an organ donation charity which she set up nine years ago after her husband Stuart and seven-year-old son Fraser were killed by a careless met Zach when he contacted her charity Believe after receiving a stem cell transplant before marrying in 2020. "He was appreciating every day after his struggles with this illness and I was just appreciating being part of a team again, having somebody that just completely had my back," said Anna-Louise. Zach knew his time was limited and was determined to understand the cause of his cancer and spread awareness. He later discovered others who had worked on military aircraft had also received a cancer diagnosis."Zach was never bitter, he wasn't vengeful at all, he was the most kind man and he adored his years of service," said Anna-Louise. Zach's case was settled without the MoD admitting liability. "That settlement for Zach allowed him the opportunity to have some kind of recompense but more importantly, to be able to make some memories," said Anna-Louise. Now she is focused on continuing Zach's work to encourage the MoD to launch a cancer screening programme and raise awareness of the issue to aircrew and veterans. "How many more people are not aware?" she said. "How many people don't know because they have not been screened? How many people don't know what's around the corner?". Zach's solicitor Louisa Donaghy has been working through the inquiries from veterans and aircrew with cancer and has so far submitted 50 claims."I do feel that is just the tip of the iceberg," said Louisa, a senior associate in Hugh James' military department in Cardiff."There will be people out there that don't know they've got cancer and also that will be diagnosed in the future." Ms Donaghy said for each of the six claims she had settled without any admission of liability by the MoD, she had to establish that the MoD had a duty of care to its employees and that the duty had been Donaghy added: "The people that I'm representing through no fault of their own have been exposed unnecessarily for long periods of time - and for thousands of flying hours - to these toxic fumes and these could have been prevented had the MoD given additional PPE such as filtration masks, which would have narrowed and lowered the levels of exposure." One charity for veterans has called for the MoD to be more proactive raising awareness."I don't think the MoD are going far enough," said Graham Jones of Woody's Lodge."We need to get that message out to the veterans' community and get people through a screening process so we can get an early indication of cancer and then we might be able to get a better survival rate within those veterans that are Jones said many veterans where he lives in north Wales were unaware of the issue."We all knew when we served in the armed forces there were going to be certain risks, but they were from conflict," he said. "You don't expect it from the equipment that you're using." Zach's local Welsh Parliament member wants PPE introduced for those still serving on Puma and Chinook helicopters and has called for a cancer screening programme for personnel and veterans."It's really important to remember that there's human beings at the end of this, there's families at the end of this who are very anxious... and my constituent has died," said Cardiff North MS Julie Morgan."It's a matter of huge concern. The MoD should be as transparent as it possibly can be and I urge the MoD to carry on their investigations as swiftly as they can because it's owed to people." The MoD said it believed engine exhaust emissions were of no risk to health but it was conducting monitoring to enable it to demonstrate May, the Independent Medical Expert Group (IMEG), which advises the MoD, reviewed evidence about a possible link between exhaust emissions from Sea King helicopters and rare cancers, specifically multiple myeloma and leiomyosarcoma, and found insufficient evidence to establish a clear causal relationship."We take the health of our personnel extremely seriously and regularly review our processes to ensure that we're doing our utmost to keep our people safe," it said in a statement. It added: "Any death is a tragedy and our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Zach Stubbings."
Business News Wales
19-06-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Ogi Partners with Hugh James to Improve Network Resilience Across its UK Operations
Leading UK law firm Hugh James has signed a multi-year deal with Wales-based telecoms provider Ogi, securing a high-capacity, resilient connectivity solution for its estate of UK offices, including its Cardiff HQ. Ogi said the investment reflected a broader shift in the legal sector. With legal teams increasingly reliant on real-time collaboration, AI-driven solutions, and ironclad cybersecurity, cutting-edge digital infrastructure is no longer a luxury but a necessity, the firm said. Ogi's bespoke connectivity packages are built to handle growing digital demands, giving businesses like Hugh James the speed, resilience, and scalability it needs to stay ahead. 'With an ever-growing demand for data-driven legal services and hybrid working environments, secure, ultra-reliable connectivity is no longer a luxury – it's a necessity,' said Hugh James's Chief Technology Officer, Rupert Poole. 'As a firm working across multiple locations, we need fast, resilient, and secure connectivity to deliver the best service to our clients. Ogi's bespoke solution gives us exactly that – the scalability to grow and the security to protect what matters most.' Ogi's Chief Executive Officer, Ben Allwright, said: 'Hugh James is a forward-thinking firm that understands the power of robust digital connectivity. We're delighted to deliver a tailored connectivity solution that not only supports their daily operations but also positions them for future growth.' As law firms handle heavier digital workloads, rising cybersecurity threats, and complex compliance challenges, cutting-edge connectivity is a business-critical asset. Ogi said that in an ever-competitive landscape this investment strengthens Hugh James's ability to handle data-intensive workloads, cloud-based legal systems, and hybrid working, making operations remains seamless and secure across multiple jurisdictions. Wales-based Ogi is committed to powering Wales's business landscape with next-generation digital solutions, making sure firms like Hugh James can operate securely, efficiently, and without limits in an increasingly digital-first world.
Business News Wales
05-06-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Hugh James Planning Team Marks 'Transformational' Year of Growth
Top 100 UK Law Firm Hugh James is marking a 'significant milestone' in the evolution of its planning practice. Since the appointment of Alex Madden as Partner and head of planning and environmental in July 2024, the planning team has grown in both size and scope. The firm says it now has new clients, complex projects, and key hires under its belt. 'It's been an action-packed 12 months,' Alex said. 'We've supported the firm's commercial property team on standout deals like Rockwool's new manufacturing base at Peddimore and Pobl's land acquisition at Cardiff's Plas Dŵr. We've also facilitated critical conversations around housing delivery in Wales, including a roundtable with Lee Waters MS focused on unlocking social housing.' The team now includes Senior Associate, Hannah Mannion, who specialises in energy and renewables, and soon to be assistant solicitor Ben Bowen who will qualify in September 2025. The team's growth over the past year has significantly boosted their capacity to support the firm's national housebuilder client base across both contentious and non-contentious work, it said. The introduction of mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) for certain developments, updates to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) – including the new 'grey belt' classification – and proposed legislative reforms via the Planning and Infrastructure Bill all signal an increasing demand for commercial planning advice, said the firm. Further changes are in the pipeline, with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) publishing a working paper proposing reforms to site thresholds in the planning system to better support housing delivery across different types of sites and launching a consultation on proposed reforms to planning committees. Defra is also consulting on BNG implementation for NSIPs and minor, medium and brownfield developments. Alex believes these developments only underscore the importance of having a strong, agile legal team in place. 'Our expansion means we're not just meeting our clients' needs – we're anticipating them,' he said. 'We're now able to offer a cradle-to-grave service that ensures continuity, clarity and strategic input at every stage of a project. That's a win-win for clients new and old.' The team is advising on significant residential schemes in the South West. These include the landmark Selwood Garden Community comprising 1,700 homes, a major mixed-use development of around 400 units at Nailsea within the Green Belt, and a residential-led scheme at Trull delivering 125 new homes. Recent client wins include Wain Estates, Wain Homes, and Land Value Alliances. This strategic growth reflects Hugh James' wider vision for its planning and environmental team, and delivers on the ambitions set out when Alex was first appointed, the firm said. 'We knew that planning and environmental law was becoming a bigger priority for our clients,' said Alex. 'That's why we invested in building a market-leading team, and now we're delivering on that promise.'
Business News Wales
04-06-2025
- General
- Business News Wales
Line-Up Unveiled for Global Empowerment and Inclusion Summit
The lineup of speakers has been announced for a summit set to be held in Geneva later this month. The Global Empowerment and Inclusion Summit, due to be held on June 26 at the United Nations Palais de Nations, is being curated by Bernie Davies, founder of Mastering Diversity CIC. It aims to bring together sport, diversity and innovation in pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The event will be supported by Mastering Diversity CIC's patrons Edward Watts MBE and Janey Howell, High Sheriff of South Glamorgan 2024-2025. The summit will open with remarks from Dr Donald Rukare, President of Commonwealth Sport and an international sports law expert and human rights advocate, and Paralympian Steve Brown. Helen Phillips MBE, Regional VP Commonwealth Games and President Commonwealth Games Wales, will also be at the event. Featured speakers and panellists include: Lady Anne Welsh, CEO of Painless Universal Duchess Nivin El Gamal of Lamberton, Founder of Duchess Prestige Mfikela Jean Samuel, COO TechCeFaCos Group, Tedx Speaker, Adviser Dr Alison Edgar MBE, Entrepreneur Educator & Board Member Scarlett Allen-Horton, Apprentice Finalist & Sir Alan Sugar's Business Partner Legal leaders from Hugh James, Thompsons Solicitors, Kenworthys Chambers, Browne Jacobson, and Legal News Wales Organisations such as Ogi, Latch Childrens' Charity, GAVO, C-Lash DEI and entrepreneurship voices including Akmal Hanuk, Cornelia Choe, Joy Macko, Jan Iverson and Melitta Campbell Cultural influencers and technologists from the USA, UK, and Europe The Mastering Diversity Youth Advisory Board will lead their own panel on Empowering Youth Through Creative Technologies. They will be supported by Kerrie Gemmill, CEO of Scouts Cymru. In the lead-up to the Geneva summit, Mastering Diversity CIC will host The Road to the UN – In Pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals on June 17 at Hugh James in Cardiff.
Business News Wales
09-05-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Women Mastering Change Marks Milestone Gathering at Parliament
The 3rd Annual Women Mastering Change – Master Change Your Way closed session has taken place in the House of Lords in London. Hosted by Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE DL, Patron of Mastering Diversity CIC, and curated by Bernie Davies, Founder of Bernie Davies Global Ltd and Mastering Diversity CIC, the event brought together guests and speakers dedicated to empowering women navigating change, as well as the men who champion their journeys. Business leaders from organisations across Wales including NatWest, Hugh James, FinTech Wales, Deloitte, Browne Jacobson, Women in Change, Education Wales, Commonwealth Games Team Wales, Welsh Ambulance Services and many more joined to demonstrate their ongoing support for the movement and highlighting the importance of regional leadership in driving national change. Key speakers included Josianne Nduwiman, a representative for the First Lady of Burundi Angeline Ndayishimiye, Julia Reynolds (Partner at Leigh Day), Andrew Martin (Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre & Mastering Diversity Board Member), Blessing Mutamba (NatWest), Gwen Morgan-Evans (Hugh James), and Kobena Amissah from the Mastering Diversity Youth Board. Each speaker brought perspectives on resilience, leadership, and allyship. A highlight of the event was the launch of a short film version of the 'Mastering Diversity' documentary, co-written and co-produced by Georgios Dimitropoulos. The full feature documentary is set to premiere on July 10th, 2025 at the NatWest South Wales Hub. Bernie Davies said: 'It was an honour to welcome such remarkable changemakers to our 3rd annual Women Mastering Change closed session. With the esteemed Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson as our host, the event became a powerful celebration of resilience, empowerment, and purposeful leadership. Together, we affirmed our shared commitment to inclusive progress and creating space for every voice to be heard. This spirit of collaboration and transformation will carry us forward to the Global Empowerment and Inclusion Summit at the United Nations in Geneva this June, where we'll continue amplifying voices and driving meaningful change on a global stage.' The event is one of the many events Mastering Diversity CIC is hosting throughout 2025 to tackle and discuss fundamental culture challenges required for fostering an inclusive Wales where diversity is not just celebrated but actively encouraged. Founder Bernie Davies and her Youth Advisory Panel are heading to the Palais des Nations, United Nations Headquarters in Geneva on the 26th June 2025 for the Global Empowerment and Inclusion Summit 2025 which will be bringing together global thought leaders, youth advocates, policymakers, and changemakers to spotlight Cultural Exchange, Youth Empowerment, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) in sports and technology.
