Following our AGM in April 2025, Forces Law are proud to introduce the new Committee.
Honorary President and Training Officer: Ahmed Al-Nahhas
Ahmed is a Partner and Solicitor Advocate. He joined Bolt Burdon Kemp in 2011 and heads their Military Claims team.
Ahmed manages high value personal injury and clinical negligence claims, often involving serious accidents suffered by service personnel during training or through failures to treat and rehabilitate. He ensures that all his clients are seen at an early stage by the right medical experts, so that their injuries can be fully investigated, an assessment made of their future needs and a strategy agreed for the successful progression of their claims.
As an experienced Solicitor-Advocate, Ahmed often appears in the High Court to represent his clients. He has led our work defending the rights of service personnel in the workplace against poor conditions, bullying, discrimination and harassment. He has an in depth understanding of service complaint procedures and will advise clients all the way through to appeal stages and beyond. He is passionate about protecting the rights of women and minorities in the armed forces.
Chair of Forces Law: Ruth Craven
Ruth graduated from the University of Sheffield in 2010 with a degree in Law and Criminology (LLB). After completing her Legal Practice Course in 2012 Ruth joined Wilkin Chapman as a paralegal and trained as a Police Station representative in the Crime Department.
Ruth qualified as a solicitor in 2015 having completed her training contract at a regional firm. Thereafter Ruth practiced at a national firm on the South coast until 2021 where she gained extensive experience in dealing with high value personal injury claims.
Ruth returned to Wilkin Chapman as a Senior Solicitor in 2021, working in the personal injury department. Ruth primarily represents service personnel bringing claims against the Ministry of Defence involving all types of claims, including injuries sustained on exercise and injuries sustained in theatre. Ruth also advises on the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS).
In addition to military claims Ruth has particular experience in asbestos relates disease claims, representing clients (and their families) who have been negligently exposed to asbestos during the course of their employment and have subsequently developed diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, pleural thickening and asbestosis. In addition to bringing legal claims on their behalf, Ruth also advises on their state benefit entitlement, and is experienced in bringing claims through the Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme.
Ruth recognises the difficulties that patients often face following their diagnosis/injury. Her knowledge in this field allows her to sign-post clients and their families to relevant non-legal services where necessary.
Ruth is an accredited Litigator with the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers.
Treasurer: Jane Hodge
Jane joined Glanvilles Anderson Rowntree in 2018 as Head of the Family Department and is a Partner based at their Petworth office.
Jane has nearly 30 years’ experience in a variety of areas of law and specialises in all aspects of family law, including divorce, separation, cohabitation issues, pre and post nuptial agreements, issues regarding children, domestic abuse and protective orders. She has particular expertise in high net worth and complex divorce cases, including those involving family farms, equestrian property, large pensions business and immigration issues. She is a resolution member with specialist accreditation in domestic abuse and complex financial remedies.
Jane can also advise on employment issues and settlement agreements and general litigation and is an accredited civil and workplace mediator who uses her mediation training to help provide a blend of an empathetic and supportive approach with academic expertise to her client’s cases.
As a former Chair of Forces Law, Jane can also offer specialist expertise in Armed Forces Pensions on divorce.
Additionally, following her passion for sport and particularly football, she can advise and assist with regulatory issues for clubs and associations in any sport. As an experienced advocate; she can represent players and clubs in disciplinary hearings.
Jane is also a member of the Hampshire FA Disciplinary Panel and appointed to the Football Association National Serious Cases disciplinary tribunal specialising in anti-discrimination, so understands the disciplinary process from both sides.
As a former Director of a National League South club, Jane has relevant personal experience of the variety of legal issues and challenges that non league football provides.
Honorary Secretary: Clare Dalby
Clare joined Wace Morgan in 2015, working within our Litigation department. She has over 20 years of legal experience and qualified as a Solicitor in 1998.
An accredited Senior Litigator with the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL), Clare has demonstrated considerable competency and specialist knowledge in the area of Personal Injury.
She has experience in dealing with Serious Injury claims arising out of Road Traffic Accidents, Accidents at work, Slips and Trips, Fatal Accidents and Clinical Negligence.
Clare also has strong experience in Military Law Matters, in particular claims against the MOD for personal injuries such as Non-Freezing Cold Injuries and Pelvic Stress claims.
She has also dealt with claims against the MOD for administrative failings resulting in Negligent Treatment as well as Bullying & Harassment claims. In financial matters she can assist with Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) and War Pension claims.
Clare was promoted to the position of Partner in 2022 in recognition of her significant contribution to the development of her department and the firm as a whole.
Marketing and Social Media: Natasha Mason
Natasha is a solicitor in the Military Claims Team at Bolt Burdon Kemp. Natasha is a Royal Navy Veteran who qualified as a solicitor in January 2020.
Natasha joined Bolt Burdon Kemp in July 2024 having worked for a Forces Law member previously for 9 years.
Natasha graduated from Plymouth University in 2016 with a 2:1 Honours degree in Law and graduated from the University of Law in 2017 with a Masters in Professional Legal Practice.
Natasha is a former Chairman of the Forces Law network. She is a full time unpaid carer for her father, and volunteers with the Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity, and Plymouth Armed Forces & Veterans Breakfast Club.
Current Member Firms:
Bolt Burden Kemp – London
Bonallack & Bishop – Salisbury
Ison Harrison – Leeds
Gepp – Colchester
Glanvilles Anderson Rowntree – Hampshire
McCartan Turkington Breen – Belfast
Wace Morgan – Shrewsbury
Wilkin Chapman Rollits – Lincoln
Wolferstans – South West
