Legal
In Series: Liability and Collaboration: Bridging the gap
With panel sizes reducing and the market getting more competitive, how can law firms demonstrate they can work with both the mass market players and niche market specialists?
Lawyers and insurers unite on catastrophic injury claims code
Insurers and law firms have joined forces to produce a guide to help speed up the handling of catastrophic injury claims valued at more than £250,000.
Legal Update: Scottish Court of Appeal re-affirms law on secondary victims
The Scottish Court of Appeal has recently reaffirmed the law on secondary victims by ruling that damages can be claimed only when an illness is the result of the direct perception of a distressing event.
QBE's private prosecution sees fraudster jailed
A fraudster has been given a 12 month custodial sentence as a result of a private prosecution launched by QBE.
Blog: Insurers and the late payment of claims provisions of the Enterprise Bill
The Enterprise Bill 2015 provisions on late payment of claims have caused some disquiet within the insurance industry, although they should merely reinforce good practice.
Trade Voice: Taking cover is a must
Compulsory public liability insurance will improve safety standards while helping protect companies.
Quindell will 'vigorously defend' claimant lawsuit
A claimant group has written to Quindell informing the embattled outsourcing company it intends to sue it for up to £9m before costs.
Virtual Trials: Court on camera
Could civil disputes really be settled online?
Legal Update: Turning the Tables
The Ogden Tables are not the only way to calculate future loss of earnings, says David Williams
QM Costs opens London office amid growth plans
Liverpool-based Legal cost solutions provider QM Costs has secured new premises in London.
Fraud Focus – Fraud: the bigger picture
Despite positive steps within insurance to stamp out fraud, other industries must follow its lead.
Legal market consolidation tipped to continue despite insurers' concerns
Insurers' concerns over declining service levels are unlikely to quell an uptick in mergers and acquisitions activity in the insurance law market, as legal firms battle to obtain market share and establish more sustainable operating margins.
Whiplash fraudsters ordered to pay costs to Axa
A judge in Birmingham has thrown out a personal injury case after it was discovered that four individuals claiming to have suffered whiplash in a road traffic accident had never been in the vehicle in question.
North of the Border: Dealing with dishonesty
A proposed change to the fund to compensate those who have lost money through solicitor dishonesty has implications for the regulation of firms in Scotland.
Clyde & Co enters Scotland with Simpson & Marwick merger
Law firm Clyde & Co is to establish a Scottish presence through a merger with Simpson & Marwick, effective from 1 October.
Regulation of MROs championed on both sides of the legal divide
Claimant and defendant lawyers have backed the Association of British Insurers' call to regulate medical reporting organisations working within Medco following concerns that the scheme is being exploited by some users.
Judge dismisses “bang to rights” claim on fundamental dishonesty grounds
Conwy and Colwyn County Court sunk a personal injury claim deemed exaggerated and fabricated after a judge found a claimant pulling a dishonest "bang to rights" move.
Most solicitors tipped to find rated cover in ‘buoyant’ PI market
Solicitors have seen a benign professional indemnity renewal period after the turbulence of the last few years; however a recent court ruling could increase pressure to introduce an aggregation limit, according to legal specialists.
Legal Update: Medco: teething problems
Five months in, Paul Edwards says concerns about the portal’s operation need to be addressed quickly
Kennedys warns government over Medco ‘gaming’
The Medco portal system of commissioning medical reports needs to be transparent and uncomplicated, and eliminate any incentives that encourage those acting for claimants to ‘game’ the process, international law firm Kennedys has told the government.
Claimant lawyers and CMCs see PI advertising spend reach £76m in 2014
Claimant lawyers' spending on personal injury and clinical negligence advertising increased 182% between 2010 and 2014 reflecting the impact of the 2013 referral fee ban on the market.
Insurers remain at odds with Apil over whiplash figures despite talk of collaboration
Insurers have welcomed calls by the president of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers for greater collaboration, but have roundly rejected his argument that whiplash claims are on a downward trajectory.
Survey ranks insurance as top performing sector in dodging hackers
The insurance industry is outperforming other sectors in the battle to combat data breaches, according to a survey that revealed just 17% of insurance companies have been hacked –although lost data remains an issue.
DAC Beachcroft approved for ABS licence
International law firm DAC Beachcroft has been awarded a licence by the Solicitors Regulation Authority to operate as an alternative business structure.