Thompsons Solicitors said farewell to two of its partners this week as Vaughan Gething and Mick Antoniw began their new jobs as Welsh Assembly Members.
Vaughan, 37, represented Labour in the Cardiff South and Penarth constituency taking more than 50% of the vote to win the seat and to become the first black assembly member.
Mick, 56, also represented Labour in the Pontypridd constituency where he increased Labour’s vote with a swing of 18.8%.
Both were presidents of the National Union of Students Wales. Vaughan was also president of the Welsh TUC. They trained as solicitors with trade union law firm Thompsons Solicitors.
Vaughan joined Thompsons in 2001 and worked as a successful employment solicitor helping local trade union members fight for their employment rights.
Mick joined Thompsons in 1980 and became a senior partner in 1988. He worked gaining justice for people with industrial diseases including occupational deafness, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and asbestos related diseases such as mesothelioma. He also represented National Union of Miners South Wales members suffering with vibration white finger.
He was involved in catastrophic injury cases as part of Thompsons’ Serious Injuries team dealing with spinal injury, brain injury and fatal accident cases. He campaigned on behalf of Thompsons and its Trade Union and individual clients on Corporate Manslaughter issues, which saw the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act becoming law in 2008.
Mick and Vaughan were congratulated by colleagues and trade union officials during a gathering at Thompsons’ Cardiff office on Friday, May 20th.
Cathryn Davies from Thompsons said: “While we at Thompsons are losing two very talented, hard working and experienced partners we are delighted that the people of Cardiff South and Penarth and Pontypridd are going to be represented by dedicated and loyal assembly members like Vaughan and Mick.
“I have no doubt that they will attack their positions with the same enthusiasm, fairness and passion which we have known them for at Thompsons.”
Vaughan said: “Working at Thompsons was a really motivating experience. Hard work and knowledge of the law were essential to gain justice for the working people that I represented. As well as working with clients from every walk of life, I made many firm friends amongst the staff. I’ll miss many things at Thompsons but I look forward to the challenges of representing my constituents in the Assembly.”
Mick said: “It has been a privilege to work for the UK’s leading trades union firm representing working people. I now intend to use the skills and experience I have for the benefit of the people of the Pontypridd constituency.“
