FREEMANS - Key Persons
Helen Thompson qualified as a solicitor in 1988 and joined Freemans in 1990 and has since specialised in personal injury and clinical negligence. Helen has been representing claims for clients for nearly thirty years.
Helen is a member of the Law Society of England and Wales and the Newcastle upon Tyne Law Society.
She is also a member of the Law Society Specialist Panel of Clinical Negligence Solicitors, Association of Personal Injury Lawyers and North East Medical Legal Society. Helen is vetted and verified as being an expert in her field.
Over her time practicing law Helen has gained a wealth of experience in all manner of clinical negligence cases with a particular expertise in birth and brain injury cases having successfully dealt with a number of multi million pound claims.
Through her work on a number of particularly complex and valuable cases Helen has demonstrated an expertise in putting together successful teams of medical experts. She has a real empathy for her clients and the support that they require.
Additionally Helen has a deep understanding of all types of claims including:
Orthopaedic
Gynaecological
Paediatric
Ophthalmological including infant total sight loss
Misdiagnosis
Pharmacy errors
Cancer cases
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Solicitor
- Member of the Law Society of England
Keith Freeman qualified as a solicitor in 1982 and in 1988 set up in practice as Freemans Solicitors in Newcastle.
Keith established the firm's specialist Clinical Negligence Department over 20 years ago and has seen it grow into an acknowledged regional specialist with 5 fee earners now under the direct supervision of Helen Thompson.
Keith now concentrates on commercial property work and supervises the domestic conveyancing team. He also has extensive and long standing experience in liquor licensing law and acts for clients with premises throughout the country. He is also the lead Solicitor in our growing Professional Negligence Department.
His philosophy and that of the firm has always been that the "client comes first". He has endeavoured to make dealing with the firm as friendly as possible and is a stickler for ensuring that staff members communicate with clients in language they can understand - not "legal speak" Although always willing to help clients old and new he insists that the firm only carries out work that it is familiar with and will be happy to direct clients to other local firms should the need arise. He feels this is particularly relevant as so much of our work comes from recommendations.
Keith is a member of the Law Society of England and Wales and the Newcastle upon Tyne Law Society. He is married with two daughters and enjoys keeping fit, playing golf and watching football. However his greatest passion is walking in the Lake District and escapes there whenever the time permits.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Member of the Law Society of England & Wales
Lee Watkins graduated from the Newcastle University in 2004 and in 2005 completed the Legal Practice Course at the University of Law in York, the UK's longest-established specialist provider of legal education.
Following completion of his post-graduate training Lee worked as a football coach in the United States of America prior to commencing his training contract at McKeag & Co in Newcastle upon Tyne / Gosforth and qualifying as a solicitor in 2009.
Being from the area, Lee was keen to forge a career as a solicitor in Newcastle upon Tyne and joined Freemans in 2010 becoming a Partner of the firm in January 2016.
Lee has specialised exclusively in clinical negligence since joining Freemans in 2010 and handles cases involving all aspects of clinical negligence law. Lee has particular extensive experience in fatality cases including inquests arising out of clinical negligence; misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of cancer; orthopaedic injury and surgical injury. Lee also has experience of birth injury cases for mother and child, including catastrophic injury and death.
Lee is a member of the Law Society of England & Wales and the Newcastle upon Tyne Law Society.
Outside of work Lee is married and has a young daughter. Lee has a keen interest in music and sport, playing local football and golf, and is a regular participant in the Great North Run and Blaydon Race.