Occupational Disease Conference - London

On the 10th May 2011 Berrymans Lace Mawer Solicitors held a 1 day Occupational Disease Conference at the Grange City Hotel in London. The Conference was attended by 160 of BLM clients including insurance companies, claims inspectors and other BLM solicitors who deal with disease claims.

The objective of the Conference was to provide delegates with an update on the key legal and medical developments from the last year and to anticipate the challenges ahead. Presenters were drawn from head of disease claims teams at various BLM offices and specialists experts in occupational health and medicine.

The morning session consisted of key presentations on topics such as Asbestos - the legal position following the supreme Court judgement on Willmore -v- Knowsley MBL and asbestos diseases - the current medical view and a mock trial with eminent QCs acting as prosecution and defence councils.

The afternoon was devoted to a series of four workshops which focused on liability in RSI, HAVS and COSHH claims. Geoff Smith was a co-presenter in the COSHH claims workshop with Claire Lawler, Associate BLM Manchester. Each workshop was of 25 minutes duration and was presented 3 times during the afternoon.

Feedback from the Conference delegates was that the content and delivery of the COSHH workshop was well received in view of its difficult content.

The Conference is to be repeated on 22nd September 2011 at the Lowry Hotel, Manchester and Geoff Smith will again be involved.