Executive committee members
President
Firm:
FIELDFISHER
Further details for
Guy Forster
are displayed below.
Guy Forster is president of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL). He is a medical negligence specialist solicitor and partner at Fieldfisher in London. He has more than 20 years’ experience and specialises in catastrophic and fatal medical injury cases involving adults and children, including maternity/birth injuries and baby loss, brain and spinal injury and amputations. He also represents families at inquests.
He is a fierce advocate for the rights of patients who have been harmed by the NHS. In 2022 he was the only solicitor in the UK to give evidence to the House of Commons inquiry into NHS litigation. He also provided evidence to Baroness Amos’ review of maternity and neonatal care on APIL’s behalf. He has been an APIL executive committee member for five years, including vice president since 2024. He became president in May 2026.
He is a member of the Law Society’s clinical negligence panel, on the specialist panel for Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA) and is a trustee of the national charity Baby Lifeline, which supports frontline NHS staff to deliver safer care. Guy regularly gives lectures to and engages with health professionals, policy makers, campaigners and other lawyers on patient safety issues. He is ranked as a leading lawyer by Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners.
The elected president is required to:
- preside over EC meetings of the association
- preside at APIL annual conferences
- preside at annual meetings with SIG/regional group co-ordinators and secretaries
(in the event of the president being unable to attend any of the above meetings, the vice-president shall preside)
- act as a leading spokesperson in the media
- host an annual dinner
- attend meetings with MP’s, government officials and other key contacts
- write a president’s page for the APIL newsletter - 6 issues per year
- attend officers sub-committee meetings (4 times per year)
- in the event of an equality of votes at EC meetings, AGM, conferences and EC meetings with co-ordinators and secretaries, the president shall have the casting vote
- act as ambassador for APIL with other organisations, where appropriate, in liaison with the Chief Executive.
Shareholdings/directorships/partners or otherwise engaged in the management or control of claims management services, medical agencies and other organisations related to providing a service to the injured person, or in the field of personal injury.
Partner at Fieldfisher
Consultancies related to providing a service to the injured person, or in the field of personal injury.
None
Political organisations/societies/pressure groups/charities/trade unions.
Trustee and director of Baby Lifeline - charity
How to become an EC member
APIL elections take place on an annually basis and members who are elected to APIL’s Executive Committee volunteer to work as Directors of the Board.
The board and an experienced staff team work on a range of issues affecting our sector. Board members attend four meetings a year with the option of face to face or virtual attendance. The meetings usually last around 5 hours and cover a range of issues including legal reform, finance, and campaigns. It is an opportunity to be at the forefront of what is happening in the personal injury sector.
Election process:
APIL members may stand for election for the following:
- Executive Committee (officers and additional officers)
- Special Interest Group Co-ordinators
- Regional Group Co-ordinators
Annual elections commence in early January for Officer and Additional Officer seats, notification of the election and the nomination process will be sent to members by e-mail.
An APIL member becomes a candidate as soon as they have completed the nomination pack and the nomination is supported by the proposer and seconder. The proposer and seconder will need to confirm their details online for the nomination to be valid. Candidates will be asked to complete four set questions in support of their candidature (APIL's chief executive shall have the power to edit or refuse to accept unlawful or factually incorrect details).
Each APIL member (fully paid up and eligible to vote) may nominate – one candidate and/or second one candidate, in each election. APIL’s secretary will not nominate or second candidates, but will remain eligible to vote.
The details of all candidates will be circulated together, by the APIL office, to either the full membership (for EC elections) or to the relevant membership sections (for SIG and Regional Group elections).
No additional written material, or electronic communications may be circulated and/or distributed by, and/or in support of, a candidate in any election.
Canvassing of any nature is not permitted. If additional material is found to be in circulation or, direct or indirect canvassing identified, APIL's Executive Committee reserves the right to withdraw the candidate from the elections.
* Members who are eligible to vote:
Legal Practitioner Members, Honorary Life Members or Academic Associates as defined in APIL's Articles of Association, article 30.1.1 and clause 4.5 of the APIL Membership Policy
View Articles of Association and APIL Membership Policy
The EC, my experience
My route on to the executive committee
Standing for the EC
My experience of sitting on the EC
Junior Member Seat