2020 was a difficult and challenging year with Covid-19 for many people and businesses and we are now facing what looks like another imminent lockdown but on a positive note, we do have two vaccines and hopefully more in the pipeline which will enable us to return to some sort of normality soon.
It is frightening how an unknown virus, in an unknown city in China, jumping the barrier species, has upended our lives not only in the UK but the world.
2021, though, is an important year for S J Edney Solicitors. On 1st July, we will be celebrating our 25th anniversary as a specialist Personal Injury/Clinical Negligence firm working in Swindon, initially at Alexander House in Fleming Way, more recently at Park House in Church Place.
Back in 1996, when Seamus Edney set up the practice, John Major was still Prime Minister, Euro 1996 had just finished (England lost in the semi-final in a penalty shootout with Germany) and of course, who can forget the year Dolly the sheep was born!
During the 1990s, niche Claimant law firms were a rarity, but Seamus had the foresight to realise that this was the future, namely specialising in one small area of the law so a lawyer could offer a much better service to their clients. At this time, most Claimant lawyers were trying to advise clients on multiple areas of the law but lacked particular expertise in any single practice area, which he felt put clients at a disadvantage especially as Defendant firms had learnt this lesson many years earlier.
Since July 1996, we have had the good fortune to act for over 2100 clients most of whom live in Wiltshire/Gloucestershire but occasionally further afield and we continue to be instructed regularly on new matters.
We are a small firm (out of choice) and are pleased that many of our existing and past clients recommend us to their friends and family if they are involved in an accident or have a bad experience with the NHS. With a limited marketing budget, we rely on client recommendations which is a good incentive for us to maintain our high standards.
Seamus says:-
“I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved at S J Edney Solicitors over the last 25 years. I believe our success is down to the personal service we provide to our clients, easy accessibility by phone, e-mail or in person, the same lawyer dealing with their case throughout and, of course, our case success rate.
Also, a big thank you to our staff (the majority of whom have worked at the firm for many years) and our past employees.
I still feel passionate about helping people who have suffered avoidable injuries in the workplace, in a road traffic accident or as a patient in either a hospital or a GP Surgery. It is important that these people have access to a local firm who can offer specialist advice on their legal remedies.
Even after 25 years, my enthusiasm for helping accident victims remains unabated and I look forward to continuing to help them in the future”.