Venus Legal appointed Stacy Pimlott as joint coordinator of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers’ Military Special Interest Group this week, marking the first time the panel has been led entirely by women. The Northwest litigation firm simultaneously announced it would begin representing current and former Armed Forces members in cases involving sexual abuse, hearing loss and cold-weather injuries.
The timing wasn’t coincidental.
Pimlott shares the APIL role with Marie-Joelle Théanne of Bolt Burdon Kemp, a firm already established in military litigation. For Venus Legal, the expansion represents a deliberate move into what founder Lorna McGlone described as “an extremely sensitive area of law, involving individuals who have experienced trauma during their service.”
The firm, founded during the pandemic in 2020, has spent five years building a reputation in complex group litigation. Pimlott herself worked on the Pan NOx Emissions Litigation—the largest class action ever brought in the UK—where Venus Legal represents tens of thousands of claimants across multiple group actions. Military claims demand different expertise.
“We are proud to stand alongside those who show immense courage in coming forward,” McGlone said. “Our responsibility is to provide clear, expert advice while protecting our clients’ wellbeing and dignity at every stage of the process.”
The firm will handle cases involving military noise-induced hearing loss, non-freezing cold injuries, and sexual abuse or assault suffered during service. All three categories involve claimants who may have waited years—sometimes decades—to pursue legal action. The cases require what McGlone called a “survivor focused and discreet approach.”
To support the new practice area, Venus Legal developed an online platform specifically for military clients. The technology provides case updates, accessible information and what McGlone described as a streamlined claims process.
“Through targeted investment in technology and advanced AI capabilities, we have also developed a dedicated online platform to support military clients,” she explained. “The platform provides accessible information, real-time case updates and a streamlined process for managing claims – reducing paperwork and removing unnecessary delay in what can already be a highly stressful experience. What once took months can now be handled far more efficiently, allowing clients to focus on their wellbeing while remained informed and supported throughout their case.”
The digital infrastructure sits alongside human support structures. Venus Legal recently retained a mindset specialist and performance coach to support its legal team—a recognition that handling trauma cases takes a toll on practitioners as well as clients.
“Given the nature of the work we do, wellbeing isn’t just an add-on for us, it’s part of our DNA,” McGlone said. “That’s why we’ve also recently retained a mindset specialist and performance coach to support our team, providing a safe space to offload when needed. Supporting our people properly allows them to support our clients with the care and strength these cases demand.”
Pimlott brings her group litigation experience to the APIL role, where she’ll work to strengthen expertise across the sector. The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers operates as a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to securing justice for injured people and improving safety and accountability.
“It’s a privilege to take on this role at a time when military claims demand both specialist knowledge and a deep understanding of the personal impact on those affected,” Pimlott said. “Our military clients deserve clear routes to justice and proper accountability for the harm they’ve suffered.”
The appointment carries symbolic weight beyond the gender milestone. Military claims represent a specialised corner of personal injury law, requiring practitioners to navigate not just complex legal frameworks but also the unique power dynamics and institutional barriers faced by service members seeking redress.
Pimlott acknowledged the challenge. “Having worked on some of the most complex group litigation in the UK, I’ve seen first-hand the importance of robust process, collaboration and clear advocacy,” she said. “I’m committed to working collaboratively within APIL to strengthen expertise in this area. People deserve access to justice that recognises not only the legal issues, but the lasting effect these injuries and experiences have on their lives.”
Venus Legal operates from the Northwest and represents clients nationwide. The firm specialises in large-scale group litigation, industrial disease, personal injury and clinical negligence—areas where individual claimants often face well-resourced defendants and lengthy legal battles.
McGlone founded the business during lockdown, describing it as “a considerable challenge.” The firm has since grown to what it calls “a team of best-in-class individuals” with ambitions to become what internal documents describe as “a significant force, innovator and disruptor in the consumer legal market.”
The military claims expansion strengthens that positioning. While firms like Bolt Burdon Kemp have established practices in this area, the field remains relatively specialised compared to broader personal injury work. Veterans’ organisations have long argued that service members face particular obstacles when seeking legal redress for injuries or abuse suffered in uniform.
Whether Venus Legal’s technology-forward approach will resonate with military claimants remains to be seen. The firm’s platform aims to reduce delays and paperwork—pain points McGlone identified as “already highly stressful” elements of the claims process. But trauma cases often require face-to-face interaction and relationship-building that no digital interface can replicate.
The firm appears conscious of that balance. Its emphasis on wellbeing support for staff, combined with what it describes as a “survivor focused” approach, suggests an understanding that technology alone won’t address the human dimensions of military abuse and injury claims.
For Pimlott, the APIL appointment offers a platform to shape how the legal profession approaches military cases more broadly. Her joint leadership with Théanne creates an opportunity to raise standards and share expertise across firms handling these sensitive matters.
The question now is whether the expansion attracts military claimants who might otherwise have hesitated to come forward—and whether a firm founded just five years ago can navigate the institutional complexities that make military litigation particularly challenging.
