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Beachcroft is ‘recognised throughout the insurance industry as a market leader’, and is ‘innovative, efficient, technically sound, and totally committed to providing first-class service at a fair price’. Rhod Richards’ team has a stellar reputation for defending against all manner of personal injury claims, and recently added QBE to an impressive client list that includes insurance giants such as AXA and Zurich. Lorraine Carolan heads the firm’s national claims validation team.

Berrymans Lace Mawer LLP’s ‘strength and depth of expertise is excellent and its client support is superb’. Chris Wiggin’s team, which acts for clients such as Allianz and ACE, was reappointed to advise Aviva on fraud ring claims, and was appointed by MPA Insurance for all civil work. Sarah Hill is ‘quick to understand client needs and create legal solutions’.

Buller Jeffries’ ‘complete and comprehensive understanding of complex litigation’ sees it regularly take the lead role in prominent cases such as the ‘EL Trigger’ litigation. Denise Brosnan provides ‘first-class service’; Derek Adamson ‘brings a very steady hand to the tiller’; and Rob Edwards is a ‘strong litigator with a realistic and effective approach’. Roger Coates is also recommended.

Plexus Law gained a presence in the region through its merger with Everatt & Company, and is noted as ‘beating much of the competition in terms of expertise, advice and value for money’. The group won clients such as BAA and Broker Direct, and handled a successful defence in Webster v Ridgeway Foundation School. Jason Burt ‘is always prepared to go the extra mile’, and Nick Yates is also recommended.

Browne Jacobson LLP’s team is rated for its catastrophic injury expertise. Simon Robinson and associate Paul Cox settled a severe head injury case for £1m, saving up to £3.5m against the potential value, while Cox recovered £825,000 in a case concerning the anti-deprivation principle. Clients include the Motor Insurers Bureau and Chaucer Insurance.

Keoghs LLP’s Lis Shrimpton and Ken Young are ‘meticulous in preparing their cases and known for their acute tactical awareness’, while Julian Dexter, who joined from Beachcroft, is ‘tough when required, and very pragmatic’. Young recently saved £5m for RBS Insurance in a chronic pain case.

Julia Holden’s nine-partner team at Shakespeares regularly handles claims worth over £1m, and acts for a number of the largest insurers. Steven Warburton provides ‘personal attention, added value, and understanding’.

Weightmans LLP’s Andy Griffiths and Penelope Marshall are ‘very knowledgeable and extremely helpful and supportive’, while David Tuck is ‘good at getting the job done as quickly and efficiently as possible’. The team’s clients include a number of local authorities, insurers and schools.

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