Legal
Law firm mergers: Transforming the legal landscape
Insurer demands for scale and scope plus the emergence of Alternative Business Structures are fuelling the fires of law firm consolidation.
Rehabilitation First Awards 2011: Rehabilitation Initiative of the Year — Claimant Solicitor
For this category, judges were looking for evidence of dedication to maximising injured client recovery, measurable results, how specific obstacles were overcome and evidence of collaborative working with defendant insurers. Irwin Mitchell’s entry stood…
Law report: Judge considers fire claim cause
This law report has been contributed by national law firm Berrymans Lace Mawer.
Law report: Case underlines need for prompt action on indemnity grounds
This law report has been submitted by national law firm Berrymans Lace Mawer.
Law report: Bentley hire recoverable but door open for argument
This law report has been contributed by national law firm Berrymans Lace Mawer.
Top 100 UK insurers supplement - AM Commentary: An uphill struggle
With earnings down, falling reserves and diminishing returns on investments, the tough times continue for UK non-life insurers.
Atmospheric tanks: The big bang theory
The UK has recently seen a number of explosions involving atmospheric tanks, with major incidents at Buncefield and Pembroke. What caused the explosions and how can the risks be reduced?
APIL issues access to justice warning for NI
The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers has warned that victims of injury in Northern Ireland are at risk of being denied full and proper access to justice after a report recommended restrictions should be made to civil legal cases.
McErlean sentencing delayed
Sentencing has been delayed until 30 September for Anthony McErlean, who was due to appear at Canterbury Court today to be sentenced for faking his own death and making a fraudulent claims to Ace Europe.
No panic over end of referral fees
Andrew Morton, head of affinity solutions at Manchester law firm Pannone, said the announcement by the Ministry of Justice banning referral fees in personal injury cases does not mean a complete loss of revenue from legal work for insurers.
Apil warns against adventure play rules
The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers has warned that children will be exposed to greater risk of harm if safety measures for adventure activities are watered down.
RSA to head to High Court to defend disputed subrogation policy
RSA is going to the High Court next year in a bid to defend its policy of adding as much as 25% to bills passed on to rival insurers through subrogation.
Editor's comment: Overcoming the barriers
If there’s one thing we can say for sure this week, it’s that the latest round in the subrogation set-to over disputed motor repair bills will not be the last.
View from the top: Sleepwalking to a fleet nightmare
New business discounts, cross subsidising and top-line chasing remain rife, says Laurent Matras, managing director, Groupama Insurances.
Law report: Health & safety judgments remain good law despite minor issues
This law report has been contributed by national law firm Berrymans Lace Mawer.
Law report: Time-bar ruling overturned as liability was not established
This law report has been contributed by national law firm Berrymans Lace Mawer.
Whiplash - Britain: The European whiplash capital
With its proportion of whiplash claims far outstripping any other European nation, what must the UK do to curb this cause of claims inflation?
PSTF: Eliminate social media confusion before policies tested by regulator
Law firm Taylor Wessing has urged companies to implement formal social media policies, or risk falling foul of the regulator.
News review 14 - 20 September 2011
A review of news stories which broke between 14 and 20 September 2011.
European Commission to propose additional contract law in October
European Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding is today meeting with leaders of European insurance companies to discuss European contract law in the insurance sector.
ABSs could drive down motor claims costs
Alternative Business Structures could be used by the sector to “revolutionise” motor claims processes, yielding savings for insurers, brokers and their customers, according to Tim Roberts, senior partner of Parabis and Eddie Longworth, managing director…
RSA’s Tomlinson to prepare RBSI sale
RBS Insurance has poached RSA’s group legal director Humphrey Tomlinson to be general counsel and company secretary to prepare the business for sale.
RSA promotes Heiss to legal chief
RSA has promoted Charlotte Heiss to the role of head of group legal at its group corporate centre.
RPC raids Cameron's Bristol insurance team
Four of CMS Cameron McKenna's partners from the insurance reinsurance group team in Bristol have resigned for RPC.