Credit: Bloomberg media source

DAC Beachcroft and Clyde & Co are among a roster of five to win places on a newly-consolidated legal panel offering by Zurich Insurance.

The Swiss-based insurance group has established a new panel which will focus on large and complex claims across the Middle East, Africa and Europe. In a statement, Zurich said the new panel will "ensure greater transparency and consistency of claims legal services across the EMEA region".

BLM, Clyde & Co, DAC Beachcroft, DWF and Kennedys Law have all been appointed to the inaugural roster, which took effect from June 1.

DAC Beachcroft is a long-standing adviser to the company and claimed a spot on its U.K. legal panel, which was refreshed last year.

Zurich group chief claims officer Ian Thompson said in a company statement: "Engaging the most appropriate law firm and securing the right legal partner is essential on larger and more complex claims, where there's a need to balance the technical outcome with the economics while delivering on our claims commitment to our customers.

"The new panel arrangements will provide Zurich and our customers with a consolidated level of legal insight that we have not had in the past, allowing us to observe trends more closely and to make more informed decisions. It will also provide our international customers with a more joined-up experience on those claims involving multiple countries."

The new panel bucks the recent trend in the in-house market which has seen numerous businesses pause review processes because of the coronavirus.

EDF Energy opted to extend its current panel arrangements because of the inability to hold face-to-face review meetings. Meanwhile, the U.K.'s Financial Conduct Authority and telecoms giant BT have delayed the conclusion of their review processes.

Read More

EDF Energy Extends Panel as Coronavirus Halts Review Process

Slaughters, Baker McKenzie Among Firms on Shell's New-Look Panel Have a few minutes to spare? Take the Legal Week job satisfaction survey and tell us your thoughts on working life at your firm. Click here to take the questionnaire and enter the prize draw. All submissions are strictly anonymous.