RPC and Mayer Brown among winners as QBE reduces UK claims legal panel
A host of law firms have been appointed to QBE's UK claims legal panel, after the Australian insurer completed its first review of the roster in three years.
April 24, 2014 at 04:48 AM
2 minute read
A host of law firms have been appointed to QBE's UK claims legal panel, after the Australian insurer completed its first review of the roster in three years.
RPC, Plexus Law, Mayer Brown and Berrymans Lace Mawer are all understood to have been appointed to the panel, which services a large number of disputes and litigation work for the insurer.
The review, which concluded in recent weeks, was conducted by QBE's European claims director Dominic Clayden (picutred), who joined the insurer from Aviva last August.
The last overhaul in 2011, conducted by then director of claims for European operations Andrew McBride, saw the insurer trim its roster from 24 to 18 firms, with DAC Beachcroft, DWF and Mills & Reeve all successful in their pitches.
QBE did not confirm how many law firms had been appointed this time round, though a spokesperson acknowledged there had been cuts to the overall line-up.
"We can confirm that we have recently completed an extensive review of our UK claims legal panel with a focus on service delivery and value for money," said a QBE spokesperson.
"As a result, we have extended our relationship with some suppliers and reduced it with others. Overall we will be using a smaller number of suppliers in the future."
Separately, the company is concluding a review of its corporate advisers, led by head of legal Esther Felton. The corporate panel's total legal spend – understood to be around £2m a year – is considerably less than that of the claims side.
The corporate panel line up currently includes Slaughter and May, Clyde & Co and Linklaters.
A report published by Legal Week's research arm, Legal Week Intelligence, last November found that nearly one-in-four insurers (22%) had decreased their legal spending over the past year.
Last April, a survey by Gracechurch Consulting found one-third of insurers in London planned to review their legal panel over the next 12 months.
Clyde & Co topped the poll as the law firm that offers the best global coverage for insurers intent on expanding in emerging markets, and was ranked among the firms most likely to be shortlisted for a panel spot, alongside Kennedys, RPC and DAC Beachcroft.
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