Legal Services

This page of the website is the gateway to information covered by the AOP Legal Services Team.

The main work of the AOP Legal Services Team is defending members against claims for clinical negligence and allegations of professional misconduct, i.e. fitness to practise. In recent years, we have handled around 200 to 300 new cases a year. We settle the vast majority of clinical negligence claims before they get to court. Similarly, we have an outstanding success rate with fitness to practise allegations, with the GOC's Investigation Committee referring very few of the cases we have helped members for investigation by its Fitness to Practise Committee.

A key part of our work is to metaphorically hold members' hands during what is a trying and sometimes a traumatic experience. Our main object is to protect the good name and good standing of individual members.

In addition to this work, we answer many calls and respond to many emails from members on a range of subjects relating to their work as optometrists and dispensing opticians.

The Legal Services Team currently comprises five solicitors, three of whom qualified while working with the AOP. Of the three, Fiona Mitchell was an optometrist before she qualified as a solicitor, and Sama Hossain and Ella Power specialised in the field of clinical negligence at undergraduate and postgraduate level at university and at work before joining the AOP Team.

Gerda Goldinger, who leads the team, specialised in this field in private practice before joining the AOP team. Steven King advises members on contractual and business related legal matters. Funmi Jones joined the team at the end of 2010 to train as a solicitor. She brings to the team four years' experience of working with solicitors in private practice, specialising in personal injury and regulatory work.

Written advice on many of the subjects covered by the Legal Services Team can be accessed through this page of our website.

If you wish to speak to someone in the Legal Team you can telephone the switchboard on 020 7549 2020.

Please click here for details of the AOP Legal Team.