Litigation partner acted for care providers in fees dispute
Who? Mei-Ling Huang, 42, litigation partner at Bristol firm Quality Solicitors Burroughs Day.
Why is she in the news? Acted for a group of care providers in a judicial review against Devon County Council for freezing, without consultation, care home fees for two years in a row. Mr Justice Singh, sitting in the high court at the Birmingham District Registry, ruled that the council had acted unlawfully in not consulting properly with the care providers.
The council has now announced an average 6.6% rise in fees to the independent care sector from April 2013.
Route to the case: ‘The care providers came to us because we have a team that specialises in social care law.’
Thoughts on the case: ‘Our clients brought the case because they felt something had to be done to maintain the quality of care as their staff, fuel and food costs get ever higher. Central government needs to do much more to look after the country’s elderly. The situation is rapidly approaching crisis point and local authorities are reminded that they, too, can be held accountable for unlawful practices. ‘
Why become a lawyer? ‘To do something challenging. I’m American and used to work with the indigent in Boston, before training as a lawyer and moving to England.’
Career high: ‘The look on a person’s face when he or she has been cleared of a complaint brought out of spite.’
Career low: ‘The long hours and stress of working in a big [US] east coast practice, although at least it toughens you up for whatever the future might hold.’
