Alma Law

23/06/2026

LGBT Veterans – Please Read and Share

The Ministry of Defence’s LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme remains open to eligible veterans who were affected by the ban on LGBT personnel serving in HM Armed Forces between 1967 and 2000.

Recent reports suggest that many former service personnel may still be unaware of the scheme or have not yet come forward. The scheme is currently due to close on 12 December 2026.

Eligible veterans may be entitled to financial recognition and other restorative measures depending upon their individual circumstances.

Importantly, you do not need a solicitor or claims management company to make an application under this scheme. The application process is designed so that individuals can apply directly should they wish to do so.

Some veterans may prefer to seek professional assistance, and they are entitled to do so. However, anyone considering that option should ensure they understand any fees that may be charged and whether such assistance represents value for money in their particular case.

Further information, eligibility criteria and application details can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/lgbt-veterans-support-and-next-steps

If you served during this period, or know someone who did, please consider sharing this post. It may help ensure that eligible veterans are aware of the support available before the scheme closes.

Information on restorative measures, support and services for those impacted by the pre-2000 law or ban on LGBT personnel in the Armed Forces.

21/06/2026

Across generations, and continents, some things never change.

Duty. Sacrifice. Love. Family.

On Father’s Day, we remember all those fathers who served their country whilst carrying the most important title of all: Dad

Happy Father’s Day 🇬🇧

19/06/2026

One of the unexpected benefits of moving Alma Law to Royal William Yard has been the opportunity to meet so many interesting people.

Yesterday, Alex and I joined fellow business owners and entrepreneurs on a boat trip around Plymouth Sound, kindly organised by Urban Splash.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening, with good company, great conversation and a reminder of just how fortunate we are to live and work in this remarkable city.

Thank you to everyone who attended, and especially to Urban Splash for bringing people together. We look forward to seeing many of you again soon.

16/06/2026

Congratulations to Alex, who has successfully completed his probationary period at Alma Law.

Alex joined Alma earlier this month and has already become a valued team player. He has also received an unconditional offer to study Law at the University of Surrey — a tremendous achievement, and one of which he should be rightly proud.

As someone who left school at 16 and joined the Army, I often think about how different the route into a profession looks today. Young people are being asked to make major financial commitments before they have even started their careers, while the cost of higher education continues to rise. Alex’s success is a reminder of both what is possible and the questions we should be asking about how we support the next generation.

Our greatest asset is not found in buildings or institutions, but in the talent of our people. Today’s students will become tomorrow’s doctors, teachers, engineers, lawyers, entrepreneurs, military and business leaders. They will defend the nation and help shape our economy, our institutions and our country.

So I sometimes wonder whether we have struck the right balance between personal responsibility and national investment when it comes to developing that talent.

I do not pretend to have all the answers, but I do think it is a conversation we must have.

For now, though, I simply want to recognise individual achievement. Well done, Alex. I am delighted to have you with me for a little longer, and I wish you every success in the next stage of your journey.

GE
16.06.26

05/06/2026

A Life of Courage, Service and Inspiration.

Everyone at Alma Law was deeply saddened to learn of the deaths of Lieutenant Lily-Mae Fisher, Lieutenant Commander Chris Gayson and Petty Officer Owen Green in the tragic Merlin helicopter crash in Devon this week.

Lieutenant Fisher was an extraordinary individual. Britain’s only female Royal Navy Commando, a trainee Merlin pilot, an accomplished athlete and an inspiration to many, she represented the very best qualities of service, determination and leadership.

Her achievements were remarkable, but perhaps even more remarkable was the example she set. Through her actions, she demonstrated what can be achieved through dedication, resilience and a willingness to challenge perceived limits.

The loss of three service personnel in a training accident is a stark reminder that military service carries risks, even far from the battlefield. Behind every uniform is a family, a circle of friends and colleagues, and a future full of promise.

Today, our thoughts are with the families, friends and fellow service personnel of Lieutenant Fisher, Lieutenant Commander Gayson and Petty Officer Green as they come to terms with this devastating loss.

Rest easy. Duty done.

30/05/2026

Public testimonials like this one mean the world to me.

Thank you Nicole. I have been touched by your kind words.

28/05/2026

A former commanding officer from my regiment recently wrote to me following a Falklands reunion.

He spoke about how, after more than 40 years apart, the old camaraderie returned instantly — as though no time had passed at all.

That struck a chord with me.

People sometimes ask why I continue to do this work despite the pressures, the litigation, the procedural battles, and at times the frustration of fighting large institutions on behalf of individual veterans.

The answer is actually very simple:

🎱 Many veterans do not complain.
🎱 Many minimise their injuries.
🎱 Many simply “get on with it”.

But that does not mean they should be ignored.

For me, representing veterans was never about compensation. It is about ensuring that men and women who served their country are listened to properly, advised honestly, and treated fairly and with dignity.

In many ways, it feels less like a career and more like a continuation of the values instilled in us during military service: loyalty, responsibility, and looking after our own.

The Falklands generation — and all those who served beside them — deserve nothing less.

Grant Evatt
Alma Law

(Pic. It’s still reddars in Plymouth)

26/05/2026

Reserve Service and Military NIHL Claims: A Significant Gap in the Matrix

One of the recurring misconceptions in military hearing loss litigation concerns Reserve service after Regular service.

Many veterans understandably assume that all military service is simply added together for the purposes of the MOD hearing loss matrix.

Unfortunately, it is not that straightforward.

Under the current matrix framework, the relevant “last day of service” is tied to Regular service rather than subsequent Reserve service. That can make a very substantial difference to the deduction applied to a claim.

In most cases, a veteran with many additional years of Reserve service will still be treated by reference to the date they left Regular service, which could be decades earlier.

It is, in my view, a genuine lacuna within the agreement and one which affects a significant number of former Regular servicemen who later continued serving in the Reserves.

I believe it ought to be corrected.

GE
Alma Law 26.05.26

21/05/2026

Another day, and another social media advert suggesting veterans are simply “owed” compensation for military hearing loss.

No. That is not how personal injury litigation works.

Military hearing loss claims are not PPI claims or Dieselgate-style consumer actions. The burden remains firmly on the claimant to prove:

• breach of duty;
• actual injury;
• and loss caused by service.

That requires proper analysis of service records, audiograms, noise exposure, causation, civilian employment history and expert medical evidence.

Following the recent High Court judgment in Abbott v MOD, the evidential importance of contemporaneous in-service hearing tests has become even clearer. In many cases, if there is no documented deterioration during service, proving a claim may be extremely difficult.

Veterans deserve honest legal advice, not marketing slogans and “eligibility check” adverts designed simply to generate enquiries.

Be very careful who you decide to instruct for military noise-induced hearing loss claims. Look behind their veneer of respectability and ask whether the outfit concerned genuinely has experience in this highly specialised and complex area of law.

Every case turns on its own facts and evidence. Some claims are well founded. Others face significant evidential difficulties.

That is the reality of litigation.

14/05/2026

Reviews like this mean a great deal to me.

This was a complex, high-value military injury claim involving a Veteran whose life was changed by an avoidable, serious injury. Liability was ultimately admitted and yesterday the claim settled successfully for £590,000 without the need for a trial.

What matters most, however, is not the headline figure. It is knowing that the settlement has provided long-term security and stability for Scott and his family.

Military claims are specialist litigation. They require experience and an understanding of service life and military culture that simply cannot be learned from a textbook nor a fancy marketing campaign.

I am very grateful to Scott for taking the time to leave these words.

UWC 👊🏽

GE - Alma Law