Tom Lax

Senior Associate in the Spinal Injury Team

tomlax@bbkllp.co.uk

Read more about Tom

Tom is a Senior Associate Solicitor in the Spinal Injury team at Bolt Burdon Kemp and is an APIL Senior Litigator. He joined the firm in 2016.

Tom is an expert in clinical negligence cases involving spinal injuries against NHS Trusts, GPs and private doctors. He has had success in a number of different types of claim, amongst others – negligent preparation for surgery, delay in diagnosis of cauda equina syndrome and failure to treat discitis.

He also has significant experience acting for clients in personal injury claims such as RTA’s.

Tom is passionate about the impact a successful claim can have for people whose lives have been upended by significant injuries and has been instrumental in setting up comprehensive rehab packages for his clients in the past.

The Legal 500 2023, say ‘Tom Lax is an excellent associate who is thorough, thoughtful and absolutely on top of his cases. He builds really solid relationships with his clients and will leave no stone unturned order to get the best possible outcome for them.’

The wider issues impacting the lives of spinal cord injured (SCI) people Tom has met through his career have resonated with him and he has built relationships with a number of charities supporting people with an SCI;

He has organised webinars in conjunction with the Spinal Injuries Association and is a supporter of the Stoke Mandeville Maulers.
He takes a special interest in Cauda Equina syndrome. He is committed to making life better for survivors and improve awareness in the healthcare sector and population at large making earlier treatment (and fewer future sufferers) a reality. He is a supporter of the Cauda Equina Champions Charity.
He developed an interest in cases involving ostomates (people who have colostomies or ileostomies). He was inspired to get involved with the Colostomy Association He also runs a book group for brain injured people on behalf of The Silverlining Charity. He has found being a focal point for attendees to come together and read (especially where some attendees had not read a book since their injury) very rewarding.

So many of the challenges of profoundly injured can be overcome with perseverance and Tom enjoys the privilege of being a small part of such incredible achievements – from supporting clients to access mental health services, to successfully settling multi-million pound claim

Media Contributions

Mental health support for people with a stoma – Same Difference
There is help for students who feel isolated – Education Publishing
Hospital wait liability – New Law Journal
Supreme Court finds hospital negligent over misleading waiting time – Law Society Gazette
Legal rulings not needed to remove life-support, London court says – Reuters
Surgeon accused of negligence still with NHS – The Times