Legal
ABI: no bias against NI
There is no fundamental bias against the Northern Irish motor and property markets — and higher costs in the legal system are the reason personal injury claims tend to be steeper.
Tory Lord to consider PI ad ban
The Conservative Lord appointed to lead a review to put the “commonsense back into health and safety” rules has said he will look at banning personal injury firms from advertising their services.
Brokers unite in call for new code of conduct for covenant breaches
A British Insurance Brokers’ Association regional head has called for a new code of conduct to help reduce the legal bill and inconvenience faced by intermediaries defending themselves against former staff who break their restrictive covenants.
Beazley names new head of professionals’ E&O
Specialist insurer Beazley has appointed Jerry Sullivan as its new head of professionals E&O.
QLP launches risk management tool
Insurance broker QLP and law firm Davies Arnold Cooper have joined forces to launch a risk management tool aimed at helping law firms reduce their exposure to professional indemnity insurance price and provision volatility.
Charity trustee warning
While it may appear that working for a charitable cause poses no threat to an individual or their personal wealth, charity trustees do in fact put their own financial security on the line when taking on such positions, RSA has warned.
Beachcroft sees turnover and profits increase
Beachcroft LLP today announced turnover figures for the year 2009/10 of approximately £131m, up from £121m last year, an increase of almost 8%.
FSA damaging UK insurance market by dragging heels over authorisation, claims RPC
The length of time that financial services firms are having to wait to get authorisation from the Financial Services Authority continues to climb according to law firm Reynolds Porter Chamberlain (RPC).
HMRC admits defeat in aggregator VAT battle
HM Revenue & Customs has decided against appealing its long-running aggregator VAT battle to the Supreme Court.
Employment tribunals - cost recovery: Getting your money back
When claimants take their employer to a tribunal and lose, costs are rarely awarded. Andrew McDonald explores why this recovery is becoming increasingly important.
Energy - Deepwater Horizon impact: In deep water?
Stephanie Denton reports on the fallout for the energy market from the recent Deepwater Horizon drilling platform explosion.
North of the Border: opening the floodgates
In the case of Maureen Flood v University Court of the University of Glasgow, Ms Flood, a university lecturer, claimed damages from her employer for depression caused by workplace stress.
Capita swoops for £60m Premier Medical
The Capita Group has acquired Premier Medical Group for a cash consideration of £60m on a cash-free, debt-free basis.
Liberty Mutual and General Re settle dispute
Liberty Mutual has resolved a dispute in which it accused the General Re, the reinsurance unit of Berkshire Hathaway of fraud, according to a court filing.
SFO drops AIG case
The Serious Fraud Office has dropped an investigation into the UK operations of AIG Financial Products.
Law report: Injunction granted pending compliance with an earlier judgment
Mentmore Towers and others v Packman Lucas (Queen's Bench Division — Technology and Construction Court — 16 March 2010)
Legal update - Mandatory mediation: Working together
With Italy making mediation mandatory before a civil or commercial dispute can go to court, Michael Dawson looks at whether the UK will follow suit.
Legal update - referral fees: Simple complexity
Lord Justice Jackson views referral fees as "offensive and wrong in principle" but Helen Withers argues that an outright ban may generate more losers than winners.
Aviva trains sights on specialty lines
Aviva's new chief underwriting officer Axel Schmidt has revealed a wide-ranging plan to broaden its risk appetite by concentrating on areas it is currently under strength in, including local authority insurance.
Apil “bitterly disappointed” at Queen’s Speech damages omission
The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers has expressed its disappointment at the coalition government’s decision to leave the draft Civil Law Reform Bill out of the Queen’s Speech.
Transatlantic demands $350m arbitration from AIG
AIG’s former reinsurance unit, Transatlantic Holdings, filed a demand for arbitration against the company tied to losses of more than $350m from securities lending.
Law firm warns government against hasty reform of financial institutions
Beachcroft has warned the government against trying to rush through financial reform "in pursuit of favourable headlines".
QBE Europe names new legal head
QBE Europe has appointed Esther Felton as head of legal for its European operations as part of an ongoing drive to develop its dedicated in-house legal capabilities.
QBE Europe names new legal head
QBE Europe has appointed Esther Felton as head of legal for its European operations as part of an ongoing drive to develop its dedicated in-house legal capabilities.