Senior Solicitor Simon Staton is retiring after a fantastic 18 years at Winns.

The solicitor has been part of our Personal Injury team for nearly two decades, serving with distinction throughout that time.

One of the few at Winn Group, and indeed in the North East, to hold Personal Injury accreditation through the Law Society – a quality standard for practitioners representing claimants in personal injury matters – Simon has dedicated a significant chunk of his career to helping Winns expand, doing so with outstanding practice.

Always willing to go above and beyond for his clients, Simon remains a great example to aspiring solicitors.

He said: “It has been a privilege to work with so many very able colleagues over the years, and to see younger staff develop their careers and either move up the ranks or seize opportunities elsewhere.

“The highlights of my professional career at Winns, in terms of value, have been a head injury claim settled for £3.1 million with provisional damages in 2016, and an accident at work claim settled for £1.1 million in March 2026.

“Many other cases have concluded for less but have brought their own challenges and satisfaction.

“There have been some challenging times over the years, but my dominant feeling on leaving Winns is one of leaving with many good friends and fond memories.”

Saving the more amusing stories for our intranet version of this, David Dewar, Associate Director and Head of the Department, said: “I have had the pleasure of knowing Simon as both a colleague and a friend for many years.

“I first met Simon when he was at Treanors Solicitors in Sunderland; he was taking the lead in the ‘HAVS or White Finger’ test case litigation against British Coal. Much to the annoyance of the ‘Big Boys’ trade union lawyers, Simon beat them to secure the Legal Aid funding for the test litigation, which was a testament to Simon's skill and attention to detail.

“We later worked together at Browell Smith & Co, where Simon was at one time my supervisor. He was always approachable and great to work with. While our careers eventually took different paths, it was a pleasure to cross paths again when I joined Winn Solicitors.

“Over the last few years, I have had the privilege of working closely with Simon, overseeing the Serious and Technical Claims Team. Simon still holds the accolade for recovering the highest award of damages in a single case at Winns.

“True to form, he has not taken his foot off the gas as retirement has approached. With just a week to go before retirement, Simon stood at an impressive 161% of his annual fee target.  Furthermore, he’s secured a number of substantial settlements for his clients, including one case that resulted in damages of just over £1 million.

“So far in 2026, Simon has recovered just £32k shy of £2.5 million in damages for his clients. It is a remarkable achievement and a fitting way to conclude an outstanding career.

“Simon has enjoyed an exceptional career, consistently achieving outstanding results for his clients, and has made a lasting impact on colleagues fortunate enough to work alongside him.

“Good luck, Simon. Your contribution to the profession and to Winn Solicitors has been immense. You will be missed, and we wish you a long, happy and well-deserved retirement.”