Niche insurance work drives growth for law firm defendant team

Motor accidents abroad are helping to drive more growth in a niche defendant team based at Manchester-based law firm Horwich Cohen Coghlan (HCC) Solicitors.

Disputes between the insurers of UK motorists, EU and non-EU motorists and insurers are on the rise. Specialist legal advice is growing in demand, say lawyers at the firm.

The development of the ‘foreign desk’ at HCC has seen increasing numbers of foreign and UK-based insurers and intermediaries appoint the firm to advise on complex cross-border claims.

The defendant department has also been appointed by public transport operators, including Metroline, the London-based bus company, to proactively defend claims involving accidents involving their drivers and passengers.

HCC, which employs more than 200 people in Manchester, is best known for its volume road traffic accident (RTA) claimant work as well as helping seriously injured and traumatised clients get recompense for long-term rehabilitation and treatment.

The defendant department and the claimant department are both highlighted in the 2018 edition of Legal 500.

David Horwich, director of HCC Solicitors, said: “Our file handlers in the defendant team are specialists in this field which is why we can provide a valuable service to insurance clients who face these types of claims.

“Our claimant team, which is the bulk of our business, is also performing well in this changing personal injury marketplace.

“We are proud to be getting positive outcomes for clients who find themselves involved in motor accidents, or in need of rehabilitation and care following a serious or traumatic injury.

“During the past 12 months our personal approach to client care has seen us grow to employ more than 200 staff and take on around 700 to 800 new claims per month, and we have more than 7,500 live ongoing fast track personal injury files across the department.”

Mark Woodall, partner at HCC Solicitors, said the firm is keeping a close eye on Brexit negotiations and its impact on insurance policies for drivers: “Brexit media headlines have focused on the position of the Prime Minister, but if you work in the motor insurance industry there’s another fascinating debate taking place as part of the negotiation.

“Amendments to the European Motor Insurance Directive are being discussed which will affect all drivers and insurers of vehicles across Europe.

“The debate boils down to what the UK’s position will be surrounding new laws about compensation, systematic insurance checks for drivers and the use of vehicles on private land.

“We are keeping tabs on this as insurance companies need to know where they stand in relations to defending claims.”