October’s team of the month is our incredible and wild Clinical Negligence Team. They are located on the bottom floor of our main Princes House office, and if they aren’t being crazy and rambunctious you will definitely have noticed them in their group costumes!
Clinical Negligence is managed by Carol Cook and is made up of 9 additional staff members, including: Alex Lee, Kathryn Stitt, Sara Montgomery, Lauren Heppell, Jade Glover, Amelia Benton, Chantelle Williams, Joseph Hilton, and Harry Arnison.
Our fourth team of the month are most definitely our loudest team, whether it be nights out, their amazing group costumes, or just in general being loud and proud our clinical negligence team is most definitely the life and soul of any party.
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How do you start your working day?
Alex and Chantelle were the first to shout that they both start their morning with ‘COFFEE!’ – Alex further explained that there were two types of coffee the morning strength vs the day strength coffee, one was significantly stronger than the other, and is definitely needed to wake you up!
Jade, Carol and Lauren (all parents) said that they start theirs also with a brew but as Jade said, ‘trying to avoid the children!’ Not like I can blame them when they have the school rush to compete with as well!
Lauren starts all her mornings with ‘porridge and blueberries’ that Sara claimed always smells amazing!
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What’s your biggest work pet peeve?
Chantelle said Radiology Discs and Harry tapping his feet, which sparked the rest of the team to follow with; ‘Harry singing’ ‘Harry humming’ ‘Harry tapping his pen’ – I felt like he was outnumbered on this, but he can’t help having music in his bones. He is a musician after all!
The other huge dilemma mentioned by Carol was the ‘Heating Wars’ which seemed to be an ongoing debate! Lauren suggested she liked it ‘cold’ with Sara mentioning that she always has the window open. Alex claimed that the perfect temp was ’35 degrees’ and set it accordingly every day. And everyone else said they either were covered in blankets or having to take cardigans off. I wouldn’t like to have been there in summer!
The finally sticky point was Kathryn also referred to by the group as ‘half brew Sue’ who either only makes her own drink or puts half the amount in for everyone, Kathryn did attempt to fight back on this but was ultimately overruled…
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Which member of the team would you call in an emergency? (Who ya gonna call?)
Chantelle would call Alex ‘as she’s exceptionally reliable’. Kathryn would call Lauren, and Sara would call Kathryn as ‘they wouldn’t judge me’. Everyone else voted for Carol as she is the almighty leader. I think it was more of a ‘I don’t dare say anyone else’.
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Which member of the team has the messiest desk?
Everyone voted Harry unanimously as his desk is ‘just chaos’ – I had to agree with this with a canister he had on his desk with soup from ‘at least a week ago’ according to him, and an array of other Tupperware and pencils and papers scattered all over the desk. Chaos was a nice way of putting it!
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Which member of the team comes in the smartest dressed?
Joseph suggested himself, which sparked laughs from the rest of the team who all waved that off and said no. Joseph laughed and said he had caused ‘drama’ as his ‘checks are too big to be smart’ which again made everyone laugh.
Carol volunteered Harry as he is always in a suit and tie, the rest of the team were all very smartly dressed when I came down, so I can’t say they didn’t all look great!
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Which member of the team is the joker?
Joseph was voted unanimously which was met with a not too enthusiastic ‘wooohooo’ – but it makes me wonder what pranks that he gets up to in the office!
Amelia was also suggested, and Chantelle said that ‘she doesn’t realise she’s doing it, but she’s so funny’
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Which member of the team will avoid meetings at any costs?
Harry was suggested by Carol, but I am suggesting Carol herself, who has repeatedly managed to wiggle her way out of meetings or last-minute call me and say she couldn’t make it.
I see your game Carol! I won’t let you miss the next meeting.
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Which member of the team has the most snacks?
Lauren was suggested by both Jade and Sara, but Lauren claimed that this didn’t count as they were ‘all healthy’ so they aren’t snack. Joseph said that Kathryn was the ‘Secret Snacker’ which everyone agreed with.
She apparently has a collection of Daim bars and packets of crisps (I am sorry to tell everyone this way Kathryn). Kathryn didn’t hide her snacking but did say she usually does this ‘when everyone else leaves at 4pm’ – the only evidence she leaves behind is the empties in her bin.
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Which member of the team moans the most?
Joseph was claimed to be the biggest moaner, but it is usually about defendants, then everyone else seemed to pipe up and also admitted that they did the same. ‘We are all quite whingey down here’
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Which member of the team is the most accident prone?
With zero hesitation Lauren was suggested as she ‘spills tea and inhales muller corner nearly choking’ so everyone please watch out for Lauren as she may be in danger if she eats a yoghurt unsupervised. She also admitted that she daily ‘bangs into her bed frame’.
Alex held her hands up and said that she was also very accident prone, as in her short time here she has already gone through ‘3 keyboards’ anymore Alex and we may have to put a tab against your name!
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Which member of the team brings in the best lunch?
Sara and Harry’s apparently always smell nice. But as Harry leaves his Tupperware on his desk for weeks on end after eating it, I will personally take him out of the running. Sorry Harry, dirty Tupperware is nil points from me!
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Who are your personal heroes?
Joseph said his personal hero was ‘Baroness Hale’ – ‘I even have a t-shirt with her on, and she’s the background of my computer’ – this then sparked a rather lengthy conversation about why she was so incredible, but I will save that for Joseph to go into more detail with…
The mums of the group picked the things which kept them sane by distracting their children:
Jade – ‘David Attenborough – it’s all my son watches!’
Lauren – ‘Mr. Tumble – keeps the kids quiet and gives me five minutes of peace’
Carol – ‘Fireman Sam – I can breathe for a couple of minutes!’
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Do you have any hidden talents?
Chantelle said that she can fold her tongue in half, and then demonstrated to the group – so I can confirm she can in fact do it.
Harry is the musician, and he sings and plays guitar. He also has an EP out (as far as I am aware) so I’ll give him a little plug and let you all know that you should check out his music!
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Who would play you in a film of your life?
Sharon Stone – Carol ‘I used to look like her when I was younger’
Idris Elba – Harry
Matt Lucas or Louis Spence – Joseph
Emma Stone – Jade ‘because she’s pretty and also ginger’
Baby Spice – Chantelle
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What’s the most exciting part of your job?
Carol said hers was the stats that they get in, she also said that it was gaining wins for the clients and settling a good sum of money so that they can change their clients lives for the better. The whole team agreed and said that it was all about changing their clients lives.
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Do you have a claim to fame, if so what?
Joseph said that he had a shot in a bar with Prince Harry a long time ago, which as an avid prince Harry fan, made me exceptionally jealous! Next time take me with you Joseph!
Chantelle said that her friend’s sister is Mel C, so for any Spice Girls fans you may have to bother Chantelle for an autograph! Joseph did say that at one point he thought his auntie was Mel C, but as he isn’t related to Chantelle’s friend his bubble was burst.
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What’s your idea of a perfect day?
Joseph said his was a techno club in Berlin
Jade said the beach and Amelia agreed, only if the sun was shining.
Lauren said hers would be with a takeaway and Carol said she would love to be locked in a Gin Distillery, which I must say if we combine the two ideas would be a perfect day!
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What three words would your colleagues use to describe you?
The main suggestion I got was about Alex and she was just described as exceptionally clumsy. ‘Clumsy x3’ – sorry Alex but 3 keyboards = 3 clumsy.
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What is your signature dance move at company parties?
Staying Alive – Carol, who gave a little demonstration to the group. I have managed to see this in action in Christmas parties gone by, so I am excited to see it being brought back for Christmas 2021 – if not you will have to do it everyday on the run up to Christmas Carol (it’s only fair!).
Gun Fingers – Amelia, who also gave a demonstration, a couple of 80’s classics at the next party and I am sure you will also get to see this pulled off!
Kathryn said that she usually was too drunk, so her dance is known as the ‘fall asleep’ – Alex however said that it was the ‘steal my chicken nugs’ as that seemed to happen the last time we all went out. To quote friends – Alex ‘doesn’t share food!’.
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What would you say to anyone wanting to apply to Oakwood Solicitors?
‘The best firm I’ve worked for!’
‘Nice family firm’
‘close to a park so good for lunch time walks’
‘we feed you well!’
Thank you to our fourth team of the month! I hope you enjoyed your treats and you will now pass the crown on to the next team…, stay tuned for our next team of the month!
