A little Halloween magic and plenty to celebrate at Optimal 🎃

There’s a little Halloween magic in the air at Optimal this week!

Chris has been consulting his crystal ball, the Halloween decorations are making an appearance, and anyone visiting our office today might even be treated to a taste of our mysterious magic soup!

But while we enjoy a little Halloween fun, there’s one thing we’d really like everyone to know.

Don’t be afraid to speak to us.

We understand that reaching out to a solicitor isn’t always easy. Whether you’ve suffered an injury, are facing a difficult family situation, or simply aren’t sure where you stand, taking that first step can feel daunting.

That’s why we’re here to listen, understand your circumstances and help you explore your options. No pressure, no complicated legal jargon — just genuine support, clear advice and people who care.

After all, you shouldn’t need a crystal ball to know where to turn when life takes an unexpected turn. Be extra careful out there with the shorter days and grisly weather – and if you ever need a light in the dark after suffering a personal injury, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Legal briefing 

Lead AI judge says AI will ‘support but not replace’ judicial decision-making

In a new position statement on AI within the judicial process, Sir Colin Birss confirms a “cautious but positive” approach. Core principles state that AI must never determine a case’s outcome or displace human reasoning, evidence evaluation, or judicial discretion. Strict safeguards are in place, including mandatory human oversight: every AI output must be reviewed, verified, and approved by a judicial office holder, who remains fully accountable. The judiciary is currently piloting approved AI tools for administrative tasks like summarisation and document analysis. Read more here.

Fire & Rescue Service shows how learning from workplace injuries can reduce accidents over time

West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service recorded 128 workplace accidents between April 2025 and March 2026, resulting in over £160,000 in costs and 588 lost workdays. Although this represents a slight 6% increase from the previous year, it remains a significant long-term reduction compared to the 300 accidents recorded in 2005/06. The incidents, which included injuries from uneven moorland terrain and falling equipment, have prompted successful safety adaptations like introducing dedicated wildfire boots and redesigning fire engine storage. Read more here.

The Optimal pulse

• We celebrated Kasia’s (Katarzyna Gryszun’s) 10th anniversary in the office with rainbow cake, presents, and a few stories from over the years – from parties to charity hikes and everything in between. Read on to find out more about the invaluable presence Kasia brings to the team, and check out the celebrations in action here.

• Our team took on the Fitness 5K Challenge, aiming to walk at least 5,000 steps every day and share their progress! In true Optimal style, colleagues from different teams came together to support each other towards their goals, while also sparking a bit of healthy competition. But who won? We let Jakub decide with his trusty Nerf gun… Watch the video here to see how it unfolded!

• Our Head of Personal Injury, Mark Thomason, attended a charity golf day at Hawkstone Park this month, raising funds for EPIC (Early Palliative Intervention Care), part of South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Beyond supporting a wonderful cause, the day was an opportunity to connect with fellow professionals, exchange ideas and discuss some of the challenges facing the personal injury sector. Before heading onto the course, Mark shared his thoughts on the day ahead and the importance of these conversations. Watch Mark’s video and find out more about the charity event here.

Employee of the month

This month, for the first time at Optimal, our newest recruit has been voted as our Employee of the Month 🫨

Congratulations to Jakub (Kuba) Wlodarczyk, who has absolutely hit the ground running! Here’s what your colleagues have said about you! 

🗣️ “Kuba is doing a great job. He is very proactive, always willing to learn new things, and happy to support others whenever needed. He takes initiative, approaches tasks with a positive attitude, and shows a genuine interest in developing his skills and knowledge. His willingness to learn, contribute, and help the team is greatly appreciated.

🗣️ “I would like to nominate Jakub because, even though he has only recently joined the team, he is already keen to help and take on new challenges. He has a great attitude and is a real pleasure to work with.”

Well done Jakub, and thanks for all you’ve brought so far 🙌

Our other team members have received some great feedback too. Let’s take a look at our nominees for the month…

• Ryszarda Kozikowska Dub – Always helping people when they reach out. 
• Jodie Keyworth –  A really good work attitude and taking on advice really well, even when things are very busy.
• Jacek Zawieracz – Patient, friendly, and always willing to help. His support and excellent communication make a real difference. 
• Weronika Kolodziejczak – Always helpful, supportive, and someone everyone can count on. She is very friendly, professional and supportive when dealing with clients.
• Grzegorz Szalas – Always happy to offer his support and find a solution, never hesitating to lend a helping hand. 
• Jakub Wisniewski – Working with Jakub on any project is a real pleasure – everything is well organised and communication is always excellent.
• Edyta Wilgucka-Skubisz – A great colleague who is always willing to help. She is always happy to explain things clearly with kindness.  
• Craig Fisher – Always helpful and brings positivity to the team.
• Bethany Morris – Very inquisitive and keen to learn.
• Natalia Lewnau – Always very helpful and assists with backlogs.
• Kevin Walker – Always happy to answer any questions and jump on urgent requests while providing guidance for next steps.
• Dagmara Maluszke – Outstanding customer service. She receives great reviews and positive feedback from clients, which reflects the effort she puts in. 

Work anniversaries

We’re celebrating six work anniversaries this month, from a first year with us to a big 1-0 and an incredible 12 years! 🙌

🎉 Ewelina Kaminska – 1 year

🎉 Paula Andrei – 5 years

🎉 Clara Burns – 8 years

🎉 Charlotte Porter – 9 years 

🎉 Katarzyna Gryszun – 10 years

🎉 Chris Germaine – 12 years

We’re incredibly lucky to have you all. Here’s to many more years and memories together 🥂❤️

Blog – How we helped a wheelchair user achieve £12,000 compensation after a hit-and-run accident

Zebra crossings were invented to enhance pedestrian safety, yet motorists still regularly violate this traffic code and put the public at risk. In this personal injury case, our client sustained multiple injuries after she was knocked off her electric wheelchair by a driver who not only failed to stop and give way at a zebra crossing but also fled the scene. Our case handler, Shah Uddin, expertly represented our client throughout this compensation claim by guiding her through the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) process, seamlessly accommodating a language barrier and spotting discrepancies early to build a watertight case and ensure that fair compensation was achieved.

Read the full blog to discover how Shah achieved a successful outcome, securing £12,000 in compensation.

Introducing… Katarzyna Gryszun

Katarzyna graduated from the University of Warsaw in Poland with a master’s degree in law. She gained extensive experience working in the courts in Warsaw dealing with employers’ liability claims and then at a solicitors’ office in Warsaw. 

From there, Katarzyna joined Optimal Solicitors in 2016 working as a paralegal in our Personal Injury team, where she drafts and prepares various legal documents, speaks with clients, attends conference calls, provides clients with updates and advice, and engages with third parties. All of Katarzyna’s work is done with the aim of setting high standards of care for our clients. 

Outside of work, Katarzyna is a passionate volleyball player! She played for every school she attended, including her university, and proudly played in the National Volleyball League alongside working at Optimal.

“I can count on expert assistance and efficient communication at every stage of the process”

From the first call to the last, our approach to client care and the customer journey is a dedicated one – providing support, reassurance, and clarity at every step. Expert legal advice and assistance are crucial too, and come as standard from the experienced team we have here at Optimal. But we also recognise the importance of empathy and the human side to every case and interaction – people need that during what is often a troubling time in their lives. 

Thank you to Grzegorz for his recognition of our approach, and props to Patrycja Delbowska for looking after him so well 🤝

No tricks, just a little reassurance this Halloween 🎃

As the nights grow darker and Halloween approaches, we hope the only scares you encounter are the ones you choose! But when life throws something unexpected your way, you don’t need a crystal ball to know where to turn.

Whether you’ve suffered an injury, are facing a difficult family situation or simply need some legal guidance, our team is here to listen, answer your questions and help you find a way forward.

No tricks, no complicated legal jargon –  just real people, genuine care and support when you need it most.

Call us on 0161 250 7771 or get in touch through our online contact form.

From all of us at Optimal, have a safe and happy Halloween!