Senior Solicitor, Bolt Burdon Kemp
Marie-Joelle is a Senior Solicitor in the Military Claims Department. She joined Bolt Burdon Kemp as a paralegal in August 2018, and went on to train and qualify at the firm in August 2021.
Marie-Joelle specialises in pursuing both Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence claims on behalf of former and serving personnel, including those serving in the British Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy. She has a proven track record of success in managing complex and high-profile military claims.
She is experienced in acting on complex and high value cases for a range of clients including training accidents, noise induced hearing loss, catastrophic injuries, including spinal and brain injuries. She is also well versed in claims relating to climatic injuries, such as Non-Freezing Cold Injuries, as well as representing clients in bullying and harassment claims within the military.
Marie-Joelle regularly advocates and appears in the High Court, King’s Bench Division to represent her clients in costs and case management conferences. Marie-Joelle is committed to securing lifelong financial support and rehabilitation for clients who have sustained an injury. She is passionate about protecting the rights of men and women in the military, and is committed to campaigning for change in response to the systemic abuse reported within the armed services. She understands the issues which affect service personnel and whose careers have been ended by life-changing injuries.
She is committed to working closely with her clients, building a good rapport, advising and supporting them throughout the litigation process. She fights hard to obtain early admissions of liability to secure her clients access to interim damages to help fund immediate needs, where possible. She is skilled in conducting settlement meetings and mediations, to effectively narrow complex legal issues and achieve advantageous settlements for her clients.
Marie-Joelle has featured on the firm’s Free Speech podcast, where she discusses her work in the Military Claims team and how she supports service personnel and their families. Outside of work, she has also taken part in a variety of humanitarian projects, travelling to India and Honduras to support communities in need.
Notable Cases
- Achieved a £750,000 settlement for a Royal Marine recruit who sustained a brain injury.
- Secured a £750,000 settlement for a solider who suffered permanent Noise Induced Hearing Loss in his left ear.
- Secured a six-figure settlement for a solider who sustained a Non-Freezing Cold Injury whilst on an exercise.
Professional Memberships
- Joint Coordinator – Association of Personal Injury Lawyers’ (APIL) Military Specialist Interest Group
- The Law Society of England & Wales
- London Young Lawyers Group (LYLG)
- Forces Law