New law firm plans to launch in Huddersfield

Huddersfield-based legal marketing collective, First4Lawyers, has unveiled plans to launch its own law firm in the town.

It will support injured people who face being unrepresented in claims arising from road traffic accidents (RTAs) after new whiplash reforms are introduced in May.

The start-up business, First4InjuryClaims, will deal solely with RTA claims and will operate separately from First4Lawyers with its own management and operations team.

The business is currently recruiting for up to 12 staff and plans to open in early summer, subject to Solicitors Regulation Authority approval.

New reforms mean people with whiplash-type injuries lasting for up to two years and worth less than £5,000 will not be able to recover the cost of using a lawyer from the negligent driver’s insurer.

Instead, they will need to use a new online litigant in person portal to manage the claim themselves.

For the past year, First4Lawyers has retained PI operations specialist Tony Walker to advise on its post-reform business strategy.

Walker has previously worked for Walker Morris, Minster Law and Pure Legal in management roles over a legal career spanning 26 years.

He is joined this week by Lee Hamilton who previously worked at National Accident Law.

Qamar Anwar, First4Lawyers’ managing director, said: “The new whiplash reforms will make it increasingly difficult for consumers to get legal help if they’ve been involved in a road traffic accident. The creation of First4InjuryClaims will make it easier.

“I am particularly pleased that in a challenging business climate, we are able to bring some new jobs to Huddersfield.

“Even though we are Huddersfield-based, First4InjuryClaims will assist consumers from across the county and we expect to be able to grow the business over time.”

First4InjuryClaims will be advertising over the next couple of months for a number of legal, claims support and administrative roles.