Legal
North of the Border: Fatal accident claim awards rise
In England, the Fatal Accidents Act 1976 allows the spouse of a deceased to recover a fixed amount, currently £12 980.
Personal injury lawyers disagree with MoJ stance on QOCS
Three quarters of personal injury law firms dispute the Ministry of Justice’s view that qualified one way costs shifting is an alternative to after the event insurance, according to a survey by law firm advisers O’Connors.
Mediation - Time for a Rethink?
How would you rate your last experience of mediation? Did both sides settle the dispute all smiles and within half a day? Or was the reality a little less rosy than that?
CMS report highlights surge in warranty and indemnity M&A activity
Warranty and indemnity insurance is becoming a prominent feature of mergers and acquisitions activity in Europe, according to a study conducted by international law firm CMS Cameron McKenna.
BLM joins forces with Scottish firm
Insurance law firm Berrymans Lace Mawer is joining forces with Scottish firm HBM Sayers in a deal expected to complete on 1 May.
Interview: Bill Paton: The other side of the telescope
When Bill Paton departed Zurich after three decades in general insurance, he took a short hop to law firm DAC Beachcroft to view life from the other side of the table.
Legal Update: Jurisdiction: Noteworthy arguments raised in pre-Rome II German road traffic accident case
Alistair Kinley details an ongoing case with ramifications for claims with foreign elements.
In Series: Data: Weeding out fraud
With organised fraud costing the insurance industry an estimated £392m a year, is increased use of data the key to winning the battle?
More self-insurance schemes likely after FCA add-ons report
The Financial Conduct Authority report released today on general insurance add-ons could see the establishment of alternative forms of self-insurance, according to EY.
Parabis looks to Mills & Reeve for insurance hires
Parabis Law has appointed three insurance law specialists from Mills & Reeve as partners.
Rajah & Tann hire 14 from Hunton & Williams in Bangkok
Singapore-based law firm Rajah & Tann has hired 14 lawyers from US-based law firm Hunton & Williams in Bangkok.
Contract law not main obstacle to single insurance market
Contract law is only one obstacle to cross-border insurance within the EU, among many more important ones, according Insurance Europe.
Insurers doubtful government will approve VAT waiver for flood repairs
Business secretary calls for VAT on flood renovation and repairs to be cut to 5%.
Expertise in Action: Employers’ Liability: Have you heard?
Noise-induced hearing loss claims may be set to fall in number in the future but insurers must face the challenges they bring today.
Legal update: Fraud: Fraudster jailed for nine months after surveillance proves exaggeration
Leanne Revitt examines a case where a claimant grossly exaggerated his injuries.
North of the border: All change for personal injury
The Courts Reform (Scotland) Bill promises to streamline Scotland’s civil courts.
Justice Secretary Grayling under pressure to close referral fee loopholes
Epoq’s Legal Go model singled out by Jack Straw as being against spirit of Laspo.
Solicitors’ Professional Indemnity: Whipping up a storm
With the Jackson reforms and the ‘Plebgate’ debacle presenting solicitors with a host of new challenges, what impact has this all had on the solicitor’s professional indemnity market?
Appeal court's 'landmark decision' alleviates PI market pressure
The Court of Appeal’s decision to rule against the right of claimants to accept a pay-out awarded by the Financial Ombudsman Service before suing for the balance of loss in court will boost the embattled professional indemnity market, according to law…
ABI confident insurers will get behind its personal injury code of conduct
Code aims to combat perception of insurers exploiting PI claims.
Legal Update: Qualified one-way costs shifting and pre-April 2013 questions answered
Kelly Matthews explains qualified one-way costs shifting, which was implemented by the Jackson reforms.
Parabis Law hires Jabbari to boost consumer law offering
David Jabbari, the former Connect2Law chief executive and Pannone Affinity head, has joined Parabis Law as a partner.
Norton Rose Fulbright appoints McDaid as partner in Hong Kong
Law firm Norton Rose Fulbright has announced the appointment of Declan McDaid as a partner in the Hong Kong office. McDaid joined from Hong Kong firm Deacons, where he was a partner in the insurance practice.
International: The key to protecting property
With economies recovering across Europe, the property market is beginning to show signs of movement again. But with the credit crunch still fresh in people’s memories, insurers are seeking to reassure those feeling cautious about property transactions.