Hilary Meredith Explained

Hilary Meredith is an English solicitor, professor and lobbyist known for her work and advocacy for UK armed forces service personnel and their families.^{[1] [2]} In 1987, Meredith came to notice for bringing the first ever case against the Ministry of Defence, where she represented the widow of a soldier who had been killed on manoeuvres in Canada.^[3]

She started Hilary Meredith Solicitors, a legal firm in 2003, specializing in campaigning for the armed forces.^[4] Meredith has been known for a series of cases concerning the MoD’s duty of care. She has been involved in Parliamentary Defence Select Sub-Committee Inquiries providing evidence regarding military training exercises.^{[5] [6]} From 2016, she was appointed senior lecturer of Law and Veterans Affairs at Chester University, serving on the board of the University’s Steering Committee for the Westminster Centre for Veterans Wellbeing and Care.^[7] In 2017, she also became a Visiting Professor at the University of Chester.^{[8] [9]}

Notable cases

Meredith's work has included:

• Green v MoD - against the Ministry of Defence following the Repeal of S10 Crown Proceedings (Armed Forces) Act 1947.^{[10] [11]}
• Sharp v Ministry of Defence - [2007] EWCA Civ 1223.
• Markey v MoD - military boxing match resulting in brain injury.
• Maloney Dickinson v MoD – husband drowned whilst abseiling.
• Susan Johnson v MoD - husband killed when flare exploded in his mouth.
• Shaun Fowler v MoD – severe head injury sustained whilst taking part in riot training in Spandau.
• Judicial Review of the Legal Aid Board Multi Party Committee 1997.
• John Oral v MoD – Gulf War 1, hit by landmine.

Notes and References

1. News: Hilary goes it alone. Feddy. Kevin. 2004-08-11. Manchester Evening News. 2018-02-02.
2. News: Hilary Meredith Solicitors - The Lawyer Legal News and Jobs Advancing the business of law. 2009-03-02. The Lawyer. 2018-02-02. en-GB.
3. News: Hilary Meredith receives Freedom of the City of London - Hilary Meredith Solicitors. 2017-06-12. Hilary Meredith Solicitors. 2018-02-02. en-US. 2022-07-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20220703234951/https://hmsolicitors.co.uk/hilary-meredith-receives-freedom-of-the-city-of-london/. dead.
4. News: New name is on the house for Hilary Meredith. 2010-07-08. Manchester Evening News. 2018-02-02. en-US.
5. Web site: Beyond endurance? Military exercises and the duty of care - News from Parliament. UK Parliament. en. 2018-02-02.
6. News: What happened on the Brecon Beacons?. BBC News. 2018-02-02.
7. News: Hilary Meredith appointed to uni veterans' centre TheBusinessDesk.com. 2017-07-20. North West. 2018-02-02. en-GB.
8. News: Hilary Meredith appointed as visiting lecturer. Begum. Shelina. 2016-05-23. Manchester Evening News. 2018-02-02.
9. News: Forces representative attacks MoD despite Iraq apology. 2017-08-18. Law Gazette. 2018-02-02.
10. News: Prosecute MoD over training deaths, say MPs. Farmer. Ben. 2016-04-24. The Telegraph. 2018-02-02. en-GB. 0307-1235.
11. Web site: Ministry of Defence should lose crown immunity, say MPs. Townsend. Mark. 2016-04-23. The Guardian. 2018-02-02.