PEOPIL New Lawyers Group

PEOPIL’s New Lawyers Group has four members on its Committee:

• Rona Hayworth – Chair
• Nathaniel Martindale – Vice-Chair
• James Riley – Secretary
• Ana Pilar Villar Fernández – Marketing and Sponsoring.

According to their mission statement, the goal of the Board’s efforts is to provide PEOPIL’s newest members with tools to navigate the early years of a career as personal injury lawyers. The Board is currently developing a mentoring scheme within the organization so that the newest members can make the most of their first years in the profession.

The NLG was established in order that younger lawyers could become more engaged in the activities of PEOPIL. Any lawyers or law students who are practicing law less than 10 years can join the NLG and can remain member until 13 years PQE.

Members meet foreign colleagues and learn from them through networking and the exchange of information. Members also refer cases to each other from various European jurisdictions.

Rona is a partner based in Digby Brown’s Foreign and Travel Department in Edinburgh, Scotland, who deals with a wide variety of accident abroad claims involving Scottish people in foreign countries as well as foreign nationals injured in Scotland. She has experience of dealing with all types of accidents, including Road traffic accidents abroad, workplace accidents abroad, general holiday accidents, including package holiday claims, aviation accidents, accidents on sea-going vessels and offshore accidents. Rona is accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a specialist in Personal Injury Law and is an APIL Accredited Senior Litigator.

Nathaniel is an Associate Solicitor at Leighday, UK, with over 10-years’ experience the legal industry and over 7-years’ experience specifically in the field of international disputes including personal injury, property damage, subrogated recoveries and policy advice. His main interest and specialism is in private international law disputes as well as travel and tourism.

James is Head of the Cross Border Personal Injury Team at Thompsons Solicitors.
He acts exclusively for UK citizens who have suffered life-changing injuries due to serious accidents whilst either on holiday or working abroad. He also acts for foreign citizens who’ve been involved in accidents in the UK. James has acted for seriously injured Claimants in a wide variety of cases, including catastrophic road traffic accidents, accidents at work, medical negligence, sexual assault, rape and fatal accidents.

Ana Pilar is a Spanish lawyer and a member of the team at Astrom Legal, a boutique law firm specialised in personal injury litigation, based in Málaga, Spain.

Her practice focuses on representing victims of accidents, with particular experience in road traffic accidents, medical negligence and aviation incidents, frequently involving complex cross-border and jurisdictional matters. Ana Pilar regularly assists clients in civil, criminal and administrative proceedings, always committed to providing clear guidance and close support throughout the legal process.

She combines a strong legal expertise with a dynamic, approachable and client-focused manner.