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Emma Manifold
Where/when studied: Manchester Metropolitan University (degree & LPC)
Professional expertise before joining the firm: Criminal Defence & Civil Litigation including Medical negligence and Personal injury
When you joined the firm: August 2014
Department responsibilities (within the firm): Partner in Civil Litigation Department
Committees or organisations: Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (known as ACTAPS)
Areas of special legal expertise: All general civil litigation matters including:-
- Inheritance disputes and contentious probate matters including will validity claims, removal of executors and financial provision claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975
- Boundary and property disputes
- Debt recovery
- TOLATA – dispute over property within unmarried relationships
- Breach of contract
- Consumer disputes
- Enforcement action following a judgement
Medical Negligence for claimants including dental negligence and inquests arising out of clinical negligence
Personal injury claims for claimants including Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority applications
Notable Cases:
Contested Probate:
V (2023) – Acted for the Executor of an estate when faced with a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975 seeking the entirety of the estate. A favourable agreement was reached without court intervention which included all claims and the provision of the opponent's costs.
C (2023) – Acted for the Executor of an estate who was in dispute with other executors who were preventing the administration proceeding. We successfully made an application to replace them as executors and the administration was able to proceed.
C (2019) – Acted for the beneficiary of a will who was faced with a claim against the estate under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975 on the basis that the current provision for another beneficiary was insufficient. The parties attended mediation which was successful and a settlement was reached.
P (2019) – Acted for a client who was a beneficiary under her mother’s will. The Executor had mis-interpreted terms of the will. We brought proceedings to remove the Executor and asked the Court to rule on the true construction of the will, The Court agreed with our interpretation and costs were ordered against the Executor.
G (2020) - Acted for a client whose long term partner died without leaving a will. My client did not inherit at all under the intestacy rules so we brought a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975 and a claim for constructive trust against the deceased’s property. The claim settled before litigation which gave my client a significant financial payment.
B (2021) – Acting for the Trustees of a trust set up for the deceased’s children who are faced with defending a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975 on the basis that the current provision in the Trust is insufficient. We are assisting the Trustees with the claim and the administration of the Trust.
T (2022) – Acted for a number of beneficiaries in respect of father’s estate and successfully defended a claim for proprietary estoppel. Our clients are seeking a fair division of the family estate as set out under the intestacy rules. Claim was dismissed and costs recovered.
M (October 2017) - Acted for a client whose long term partner died without leaving a will. My client did not inherit at all under the intestacy rules so we brought a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975. The claim settled before trial on terms which gave my client a financial payment.
C (November 2017) - Acting for the main beneficiaries of a will which was challenged on grounds of lack of testamentary capacity. My clients have successfully proved that the will was valid.
H (September 2017) Acting for a client who has been deleted from a will after she was promised shares in a successful business which she had committed her working life. My client brings a promissory estoppel claim to enforce this promise.
T (December 2017) – Acted for a client whose father died without leaving a will. I successfully proved that the other beneficiaries were not honest as to the true extent of the estate. The claim settled on terms which gave my client a significant financial payment.
Litigation:
L (2023) – We acted for the Defendants in a neighbour dispute who faced allegations of interfering with a right of way along with other alleged breach of covenants. After lengthy litigation and a three-day trial to defend the claim, the claim was dismissed and my clients were awarded full costs.
TOLATA:
S (2023) – Represented a client and finally reaching agreement as to the division of a property with ex-partner after previous unsuccessful attempts with other firms. Matter was agreed without the need for court proceedings and agreement reached in my client’s favour.
S (June 2015) - Successfully bought a claim against a customer who refused to pay an outstanding invoice to the value of £11,850 owed to our client’s company. Proceedings were issued but the customer eventually accepted the total sum owing. Agreement was finally reached that the customer was to pay the full amount plus costs and interest.
Clinical negligence:
C (2019) - Claim against GP for his failure to make the necessary referral when our client attended the surgery concerned about a lump in her breast. Our client was later diagnosed with breast cancer after seeking a second opinion. The claim had initially been rejected by another firm of solicitors. We successfully recovered damages of £15,000 for the client.
B (2020) - Successfully recovered damages in excess of £3000 after the wrong medication was dispensed to our client by the chemist causing severe dizziness, heart palpitations, fatigue and mental health difficulties arose again.
K (2020) - We brought a claim against the chemist for our client after the incorrect medication was dispensed for his Parkinson’s disease. We secured an early admission of liability and settlement was reached.
G (2020) - Acted on behalf of the Executors of an estate who brought a claim against a care home for their failure to maintain the deceased’s epilepsy medication whilst under their care and resulted in an increase of seizures. We secured an early admission of liability without the need for litigation and damages were paid to the estate.
S (2021) - A claim for medical negligence acting on behalf of the family of a man discharged home from hospital prior to the results of his blood tests being checked. The deceased suffered a cardiac arrest at home the following day and died. Damages in excess of £20,000 were awarded to the family.
O (2021) - We brought a claim for medical negligence against a hospital trust after they failed to properly examination and care for our client when she attended A & E complaining of extreme pain all across her abdomen and was bleeding. Our client was confirmed to be pregnant and sent home without any follow-up. Our client later collapsed and was immediately admitted to hospital when it was confirmed she had suffered an ectopic pregnancy and required surgery resulting in the loss of her fallopian tube. Liability was denied but settlement was later reached and damages of £20,000 were recovered.
M (2021) - Our client gave birth to a still born baby at 40 weeks. It was later accepted that the hospital had missed opportunities during the pregnancy to identify difficulties with the growth of the baby and intervention may have resulted in a different outcome. We secured a very early admission of liability and an award of £35,000 was made to our client which included losses for layette.
D, M, L & P (July 2021- January 2022) - Successfully represented 3 clients who were subject to negligence by one consultant when all clients had a hysterectomy at different hospitals in the Manchester area. Despite initial denial of liability, settlement was achieved, and damages ranged from £11,500 to £15,000.
B (June 2018) - Bought a claim for clinical negligence on behalf of the deceased’s family against the Trust after nursing staff failed to properly carry out the pigtail removal procedure which subsequent caused the deceased’s health to deterioration and his subsequent death. Our client was awarded £10,000 damages.
G (January 2019) - Successfully bought a claim for medical negligence against the Trust on behalf of the deceased’s family. The deceased required oxygen at all times. During his admission at hospital the nursing staff failed to ensure that he had ambulatory oxygen provided. The deceased was allowed to go to the toilet alone without an oxygen supply and was then found dead after suffering a cardiac arrest. The Trust admitted liability and damages were awarded at £23,000.
C (June 2019) - Brought a claim for medical negligence against the GP in relation to the failure to make the necessary referral when our client attended the surgery with a lump in her breast. Some time later, a second opinion was sought and she was subsequently diagnosed with breast cancer and required urgent surgery. The claim had been previously rejected by another firm of solicitors. Following a letter before action, the Trust made an offer to settle and our client received damages of £17,500.
S (July 2019) - Brought a claim against the hospital after they carried out an operation to remove a tumour on the client’s liver. Following surgery he was reviewed and found to have a 12 inch piece of plastic tubing at the site of the operation. Liability was immediately admitted and we secured damages of £6,000.
Dental Negligence:
V (December 2018) bought a claim against a dentist who failed to provide adequate treatment which had resulted in our client requiring restoration of a number of teeth. The potential clam came to light after the dentist had retired and the client was examined by a new practitioner. The claim was successfully settled before trial and damages awarded of £22,500.
S (February 2020) a claim for dental negligence where the dentist failed to provide adequate treatment and advice in respect of gross decay. The client had suffered pain and discomfort and had a number of the teeth requiring significant restoration work. The claim was settled and damages awarded.
Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority:
M (November 2018) acted for the family of a victim of serious violent assault from which he never recovered and later died. We secured a financial bereavement award payment for each child of the deceased.
B (April 2020) secured a significant payment for the victim of a sexual assault when a minor.
Criminal Defence:
(June 2015) - Two defendants charged with fraud and theft from a vulnerable person in excess of £9,000. Following a guilty plea, on a basis, both defendants received 12 month suspended sentences with supervision.
(July 2015) - Driving with excess alcohol. Breath reading of 88mg. More than twice over the legal limit of 35. Successfully persuaded Magistrates to impose minimum disqualification within their guidelines.
(July 2015) – Man of good character charged with offence of unlawful sexual activity. Successfully challenged the medical evidence relied upon which resulted in the prosecution offering no evidence on basis of insufficient evidence. Case dismissed.
Personal Injury:
D (June 2015) – Represented client who worked as a waitress in busy well-known restaurant. During her shift she was taking dirty pots into the kitchen and she slipped on water that had been leaking from the dishwasher. The client sustained injury to her lower back and attended A&E. Liability was admitted and the client received £4,500 compensation.
H (November 2015) - Represented client following an accident at work. Client was working on site when a colleague threw a scaffolding tube down to the ground which subsequently hit our client on his left middle finger causing a fracture. Client received damages of £6,300.
H (December 2015) – Represented client after he was struck by a vehicle whilst cycling to work. Our client sustained injuries to his back and shoulder. Liability was immediately admitted and client received £3,300 in compensation.
J (January 2016) - Represented client following a tripping accident at work. Client was called to work in the early hours to repair machine. Whilst completing the repair works, his thumb got caught in the saw drill machine. As the result the client sustained a fractured thumb. The client was awarded £7,000 damages.
P (February 2016) - Our client was a passenger in a vehicle which was struck from behind whilst stationary at traffic lights in a road traffic accident. Our client sustained whiplash and muscle spasms in her shoulder and required physiotherapy. Liability was eventually agreed and client was awarded £5,400 compensation.
Claims against the Police:
M (June 2021) - The client was wrongly arrested by a police officer after being sprayed in the face with pepper spray and taken to the floor. It was admitted that the police officer was wrong in his actions. Our client sustained physical and psychological injury and was awarded damages of over £11,000.
B (July 2021) - Represented client after his conviction was set aside for driving under the influence of drugs and claim was settled. (confidentiality clause of settlement accepted).
Name: Emma Manifold
Position: Partner (Civil Litigation Department)
Where: Educated Tottington High School, Holy Cross College, Manchester Metropolitan University
First Job: Sales Assistant at Boots
Hobbies: Going to the theatre and travelling
Favourite Food: Italian
Favourite Film: Bridget Jones’ Diary – all of them
Favourite artist: Michael Buble
Ultimate Holiday destination: Australia & NZ
Favourite sport: Tennis
Favourite book: Anything by Sophie Kinsella
Likes: Musicals, spending time with family and friends and shopping
Dislikes: No manners / rudeness
Personal ambition: To see as many European Cities as possible. I am trying to work my way through the alphabet.