Legal
Date due to be set for Autofocus court case
The trial window for the long-awaited legal battle between credit hire organisation Accident Exchange and reporting firm Autofocus is likely to be decided by the High Court next month.
RSA recruits former Benfield legal chief
RSA has today announced the appointment of Derek Walsh as its new general counsel.
Hill Dickinson confirms Halliwells takeover
Hill Dickinson has confirmed that it is to buy Halliwells’ Liverpool and Sheffield operations.
Willis publishes contingent commissions paper
Insurance broker Willis has stepped up its campaign against contingent commissions issuing a white paper highlighting the conflicts of interest created by the payments.
BLG poised for Halliwells' insurance team swoop
Barlow Lyde & Gilbert's partners have backed the proposed deal to acquire Halliwells' insurance team, according to Post's sister title Legal Week.
Total issues Buncefield apology following £3.6m fine
Oil company Total has issued an apology for its part in the Buncefiled explosion after it was fined £3.6m plus costs in a Health and Safety Executive and Environment Agency prosecution.
SRA confirms tough new stance on Assigned Risks Pool
The board of the Solicitors’ Regulation Authority has approved a strategy for the enhanced control of the Assigned Risks Pool that provides indemnity for solicitors’ firms that struggle to obtain insurance in the market.
Quinn loses legal battle
A Court of Appeal judgment will have major implications for insurers seeking access to confidential documents that could enable them to refuse indemnity according to law firm Browne Jacobson.
DWF reports 51% hike in profits
Law firm DWF has posted a 51% increase in net profit and a 17% rise in turnover to £71.5m for its year ending April 2010.
Accident Exchange boss delighted with court judgment
Accident Exchange chief executive Steve Evans has welcomed the Court of Appeal’s decision to strike out Autofocus’ witness immunity claim in its ongoing credit hire rate dispute.
Accident Exchange lands Court of Appeal blow in Autofocus battle
Credit hire organisation Accident Exchange is set to proceed with its action for unlimited damages against Autofocus after the Court of Appeal struck out the reporting firm’s witness immunity claim.
Law report: Adjudicator was wrong to exclude legitimate defence
This law report was contributed by national law firm Berrymans Lace Mawer.
Law report: Claimant partially to blame in contractor mud slip claim
This law report has been contributed by national law firm Berrymans Lace Mawer.
Legal expenses - SME: Risky business
With employment and contractual disputes on the up since the downturn, many businesses are in greater need of legal expenses insurance. Why, then, is demand and take-up by SMEs still low, asks Sam Barrett.
Five in at DWF
Peter Blake, Nick Connolly, James Manning, Dan Verow and Sophie Mourmouris have joined the London-based insurance team of DWF.
EC proposals 'unnecessary'
CMS Cameron McKenna has responded to the European Commission's proposals for insurance guarantee schemes that could lead to the break-up of the the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
DWF grows insurance team
Peter Blake, Nick Connolly, James Manning, Dan Verow and Sophie Mourmouris have all joined the London-baed insurance team of DWF.
Law firm Halliwells granted longer to find buyer
Halliwells has filed a second notice of intention to appoint an administrator in a bid to buy more time to secure a sale of the firm without entering into administration.
Halliwells to seek more time for sale
Halliwells is expected to ask for more time to negotiate its sale after more parties showed an interest in buying all or part of the firm.
Insurance Block Exemption Regulation
The insurance block exemption has in the past helped European insurers to avoid competition issues. However, as Jakki May explains a recent tightening of the rules means insurers must put their practices under scrutiny.
Climate change - Governance: Running hot and cold
Risk managers have been gearing up for the impact of climate change, but one area of uncertainty remains. Lindene Patton takes a look at the political and regulatory factors.
Technology - E-certificates: Certifiable progress
Jakki May explains that changes to the law regarding e-certificates for motor insurance mean that the industry can now make headway in dispensing with old-style postal delivery, potentially saving millions on printing while also reducing fraud.
Halliwells wants takeover
Halliwells has filed for court permission to appoint an administrator as it looks to secure a takeover by Hill Dickinson.
North of the Border: Damages (Scotland) Bill
In February it was announced that the Damages (Scotland) Bill would be introduced to the Scottish parliament. Its intention is to repeal and replace the Damages (Scotland) Act 1976, restating the law in a clearer form and, in particular, introducing a…