Celebrating Anne Ball: Winner of a 2025 MPL International Defender Award
We are delighted to announce that our senior partner, Anne Ball, has been honoured with a prestigious 2025 MPL International Defender Award. Nominated by the Medical Defence Union (MDU), the award was presented at the Medical Professional Liability Association’s Thrive25 Conference in Melbourne, Australia, and collected on Anne’s behalf by Dr Caroline Fryar, MDU’s Professional Services Director.
This award recognises Anne’s exceptional contributions to medical professional liability, her steadfast commitment to defending healthcare professionals, and her leadership in clinical negligence litigation. Over her remarkable 40-year career at Hempsons, Anne has helped shape the landscape of healthcare law in the UK.
Anne’s legal career began at Hempsons at just 24 years old as an articled clerk before qualifying as a solicitor in 1987. She quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a partner in the healthcare litigation team in 1991, an equity partner in 1999, and the firm’s senior partner in 2021. Her expertise spans civil, criminal, and regulatory cases, and she has been a trusted advisor to healthcare professionals facing investigations by bodies such as the GMC and GDC.
Throughout her career, Anne has led the MDU team at Hempsons, handling some of the sector’s most complex and high-value cases. She has witnessed and contributed to the firm’s transformation from a single-office partnership to a national leader in healthcare law. Anne’s mentorship and dedication have inspired countless colleagues and will continue to shape the future of our profession.
On her award, Anne says:
“It’s not often I find myself at a loss for words, but this is one of those rare moments! I’m incredibly honoured to have been nominated for this award by the MDU, and deeply grateful for the recognition.”
As Anne prepares for her well-earned retirement later this year, we celebrate her legacy of excellence, integrity, and compassion. Please join us in congratulating Anne on this extraordinary achievement and wishing her every success in her next chapter.