Deborah Smith
Partner
Deborah Smith is a partner in Pattinson & Brewer’s Personal Injury department. She specialises in Accident and Occupational Disease claims and is dedicated to acting exclusively for claimants.
With a trade union background as a former Convenor and Branch Secretary, Deborah is committed to representing people who suffer injury or have contracted a disease as a result of their work.
Deborah represents Pattinson & Brewer’s Unite the Union and GMB union clients together with many private clients. She handles all types of workplace accidents from minor injuries to fatal cases together with occupational disease claims, which include asbestos related disease claims, (see cases below) industrial deafness and hand/arm vibration injury cases.
Case Examples
M (widow and Administratrix of the estate of M deceased) v V
A client’s widows recently wrote to say, "I can’t begin to say how very grateful I am to you in working so hard for me. Your kindness and help through this very hard time has been an immense help to me".
The Claimant, a Filter Assembler, was exposed to asbestos dust from the asbestos paper which was sliced in the open-plan building exposing the Claimant to asbestos dust. He sadly developed mesothelioma. Claim settled in the sum of £110,000.
M (widow and Administratrix of the estate of M deceased) v K
The claimant repaired and maintained equipment. He worked alongside laggers who renewed the asbestos lagging onto pipes. He sadly developed mesothelioma. Claim settled in the sum of £77,675.
Deborah gives regular presentations on Health and Safety at Work to union branch meetings, and runs an advisory service for union representatives and their members. Here’s what some of the Union Representatives have to say about her:
"She has helped hundreds of members in my branch and has enabled many, many members to get substantial damages from third parties"
"She gives a first class service and is always helpful and very thorough"
"She came to one of our Branch meetings and gave an excellent presentation to the branch"
"An excellent and first class service to our membership. You should be proud to have her working for you"
Deborah studied Labour Studies at Ruskin College in Oxford, and went on to study law at Sheffield University. She has been a strong supporter of Ruskin ever since and Pattinson & Brewer are proud to sponsor an overseas student under the Chevening Scholarship programme. Deborah worked as an Employment Law Adviser in Chesterfield Law Centre, whilst studying towards a law degree, followed by the Legal Practice Course. Deborah joined Pattinson & Brewer in 1998 and, after completing her training contract, qualified as a solicitor in 2000.
Deborah is a trade union member, a member of APIL, the Labour Party and the Haldane Society of Socialist lawyers and serves as a member on the Executive Committee.
