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Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP welcomed a 15-partner insurance team from the former Halliwells and also Stephen Gorman, previously head of commercial insurance at Davies Arnold Cooper LLP. Recent work includes a number of multimillion-pound claims for NFU Mutual and Chartis; and advising Babergh MBC in the Court of Appeal. Peter Whitehead and Peter Walmsley ‘both have an exceptionally strong catastrophic injury reputation’; and Damian Ward has a strong fraud practice.

Beachcroft acts for a broad range of UK and international insurers, household name corporates, and public bodies. Practice head Iain Moore has particular experience in the industrial goods and services sectors; and Corrinne Sinker acts for clients in the financial services sector. The team also has growing expertise in fraud cases.

Berrymans Lace Mawer LLP is a ‘technical powerhouse’ in this practice area. Jonathan Clay ‘leads his team with enthusiasm and integrity’; and Brian Goodwin is ‘extremely knowledgeable in dealing with asbestos cases’. Occupational disease expert Chris Fletcher (who joined from Halliwells in 2010) is also highly recommended. Clients include Aviva, MIB, Balfour Beatty plc, and Sainsburys plc.

DWF LLP provides a ‘first-class service’, and is on the panel of some of the UK’s major insurers and claims organisations. Recent work for the team includes acting for a large pharmaceutical company in relation to an outbreak of toxic gas. Carl Graham ‘knows when to settle but is willing to fight’; and Dave Young has ‘a flair for detailed investigations into the issue of negligence’.

Forbes is ‘absolutely fantastic – nothing is too much trouble’. It acts for local authorities, major insurers including Chartis, and Co-operative Group Ltd, and a number of Lloyd’s syndicates and adjusters. Martin Crabtree also acts for Premiership and Football League Clubs. Its serious and complex claims unit, led by Paul Geldard, is well known for its work in construction litigation. The fraud team has been busy investigating a major fraud ring.

Jason Bleasdale at Hill Dickinson LLP is a disease specialist; and David Dunne specialises in asbestos work. The firm also has an exclusive partnership with the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, providing information on fraud issues. Denny Payton joined the firm from Corclaim (part of Harvey Ingram LLP) to head its uninsured loss recovery group. Clients include Iceland and Bourne Leisure.

Keoghs LLP has a large team focusing exclusively on servicing the insurance sector, and has a strong track record in tackling fraud claims. It continued to expand with the addition of Carrie Hoey from Halliwells, who joined the disease team. Andrew Underwood is ‘one of the best strategic and tactical operators’; and Mark Whalley is also recommended.

Weightmans LLP is rated ‘very highly indeed’ for high-value and complex catastrophic injury work, where it acts for a wide range of public bodies. David Holt is ‘top of his game’; and Victoria Coleman is a strong choice ‘for the most difficult of cases’. Kieran Jones heads the disease unit; and Roddy Macleod is recommended for stress-related claims.

Greenwoods Solicitors is new to the ranking, and acts for some major insurers; it is ‘a very good team, with a good depth of experience’. Practice head Mike Suddards ‘gets results’, and is ‘somebody to go to with confidence on those difficult cases’.

The team at Kennedys ‘leaves no stone unturned’. In line with the firm’s sector-focused approach, the team ‘immerses itself’ in its clients’ business, ‘so it is fully conversant with all complex matters it will come into contact with’. The department is led by Richard McKeown, and Christopher Oldfield is highly recommended.

Davies Arnold Cooper LLP lost commercial insurance head Stephen Gorman to Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP, but retains a strong team with broad experience.

Horwich Farrelly works with some major insurance companies, such as Aviva, Admiral and Brit.

Plexus Law covers the full range of personal injury work, and also acts for the police in civil claims.

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