Greenwoods top ranked in The Legal 500 2011

    For the fifth consecutive year, Greenwoods is top ranked as 1 of only 5 firms for defendant personal injury work in London. The firm continues to receive plaudits for its renowned health & safety work and for its continued strength in property and construction matters. Of the London defendant personal injury team, “One of ‘the best in class for personal injury, Greenwoods Solicitors is a ‘top-class firm’, in which clients have ‘total confidence’.  It advises... read more »

    Chambers 2012 – Greenwoods scores top marks for service and quality up and down the country

    Greenwoods continues to impress clients with service and quality delivered nationally out of all six offices (London (2), Bristol, Manchester, Milton Keynes and Southampton.  For Personal Injury London ranked in Band 1 with Manchester, Milton Keynes and Southampton in Band 2 and Bristol in Band 3.   For Health & Safety (London and UK-wide) Greenwoods achieved an overall ranking of Band 3.  The majority of its lawyers across all offices ranked in either Band 1 or 2.   The... read more »

    Andy Connor has joined national insurance practice Greenwoods as an Associate Partner

    Andy joined Greenwoods in October 2011 after fifteen years with his previous firm where, after working on complex EL and PL claims, he took on the role of developing and subsequently managing a large team of lawyers handling subrogated claims. Andy specialises in high value subrogated losses arising from a wide variety of perils. Within Greenwoods, Andy leads the subrogated recoveries teams based in the Bristol office. Andy also has significant experience in setting up self insured... read more »

    Greenwoods Riot Information Sheet – Riot (Damages) Act 1886

    Update 12 August 2011 The Government has announced changes in legislation concerning the Riot (Damages) Act 1886 and we include links below to the relevant legislation that has come into force today.  In particular this relates to the change in the notice period to 42 days and a change to the claim report form, a link to a pdf version is also included.   Please note that we anticipate further updates during next week concerning the process of which we will keep you informed... read more »

    William McIlroy Swindon Ltd v Quinn Insurance Ltd

    Greenwoods’ Partner Sarah Cochran represented the successful  appellant in William McIlroy Swindon Ltd v Quinn Insurance Ltd which is an important case because of the distinction drawn by the Court of Appeal between a clause in a policy of public liability insurance and a similar clause in a motor policy. The appellants, who were the claimants in claims brought against the respondent insurer under the Third Parties (Rights against Insurers) Act 1930, appealed against a finding... read more »

    Greenwoods achieves BSI accreditation for ISO 27001

    The ISO 27001 Information Management standard sets out how the firm protects the confidentiality, integrity and availability of the information which it holds and its information assets.   This accreditation is not only important for internal management purposes but is of great value to our clients who are increasingly concerned with the information security of their own data and how it is... read more »

    Greenwoods’ Intelligence Services

    With co-operation from the major mobile telephone network providers Greenwoods is exploring more sophisticated ways of proving that allegedly fraudulent claimants were not at a specified accident location at a specific time and date. The use of cell site data is used frequently in criminal prosecutions but the same cannot be said for the civil arena. Greenwoods’ Intelligence Services have sought agreements from a number of network providers to access this data routinely where... read more »

    The Bribery Act 2010 – The Unattractive Advantage

    After months of delay caused by repeated consultation, the Bribery Act 2010 (“the Act”) will finally come into force on 1 July 2011.  The Government wants the Bribery Act 2010 (“the Act”) and the implementation of it to be based upon common sense, rather than indulge businesses in an extra layer of tick box procedures. Certainly, the Government does not want the Act to stifle UK PLC and the signs of hope for growth. The Justice Secretary, Ken Clarke, encourages us that... read more »

    The Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Bill

    The Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Bill was introduced in the House of Lords on 16 May 2011.  The Bill gives effect (with minor modifications) to the recommendations set out in the Law Commission and the Scottish Law Commission’s 2009 joint report “Consumer Insurance Law:  Pre-Contract Disclosure and Misrepresentation”  (see Property, Construction & Insurance Review Edition 44).  Although the first reading of the Bill took place on 16 May 2011,... read more »

    Candid views aired at Greenwoods’ Panel Debate on the imminent changes to the ARP

    Greenwoods hosted a debate: “The Demise of the ARP – the Elephant in the Room” on Thursday 19 May 2011. The debate, chaired by Michael Pooles QC, saw Elliott Vigar, Head of Regulation at the Law Society and Matthew Young, Policy Adviser at the ABI, discuss the pending changes to the ARP and the effect this will have upon solicitors firms and those who insure them.  The event presented the Qualifying Insurers and leading professional indemnity brokers with a chance to... read more »

    Greenwoods enhances its anti-fraud capabilities with membership of the Telecommunications UK Fraud Forum

    Greenwoods is delighted to announce that the firm has been accepted as a member of the Telecommunications UK Fraud Forum (TUFF). Our application was sponsored by CPP one of the largest mobile phone and credit card insurers in the UK and we would therefore like to extend our thanks and appreciation to them for their support.  We see our membership of TUFF as a further demonstration of Greenwoods’ determination  to combat insurance fraud, not only from within the insurance... read more »

    Two great events in four days – the Royal Wedding and the opening of Greenwoods’ Southampton office

    Greenwoods, the dispute resolution law firm specialising exclusively in the insurance sector, is pleased to announce the opening of its Southampton office. With offices already in London, Bristol, Manchester and Milton Keynes, Greenwoods’ arrival in the South strengthens the firm’s national coverage and underlines its continued commitment to the insurance sector. Acting for insurers, reinsurers, brokers, self-insured companies and public sector organisations, we understand... read more »

    Scottish Court’s decision on pleural plaques

    This decision leaves the difference in law between Scotland (and now NI) and England and Wales in a very unsatisfactory position. Greenwoods Partner Philip Tracey says: “However with the Scottish Court leaving open an avenue for appeal to the Supreme Court the scene is now set for constitutional battle not only between the Judiciary and Parliament but also between the English(UK) and Scottish Parliaments. It just an engagement one must always be mindful of the unintended... read more »

    Witness immunity – the hired gun

    There can be no doubt that the recent decision of Jones v Kaney is a significant one.   On 30 March 2011 the Supreme Court held, by a majority of 5 to 2, there is no justification for continuing to hold expert witnesses immune from suit in relation to the evidence they give in court or for the views they express in anticipation of court proceedings. The immunity such experts had enjoyed in respect of any claim for breach of duty by those instructing them has now been... read more »

    In the light of the case of Gray v Toner

    A potentially helpful and important decision on the interest payable on costs comes out of the judgment handed down in Liverpool County Court on 11 November 2010 in the case of Gray v Toner. This was an appeal against the District Judge’s order allowing the claimant interest on both the costs of the issues of liability and of quantum. However, as the claim had been conducted under a CFA, as at the date of the ruling, the claimant had not paid any costs to her solicitor. The... read more »

    Goverment Announcement On Litigation Funding

    The Government has this afternoon made the following announcement: 1. In response to Lord Justice Jackson’s proposals, legislation will be introduced to end the recoverability from defendants of success fees and ATE premiums under CFAs. 2. Claimants are to benefit from a ten percent increase in general damages. 3. Claimants wishing to enter into a CFA will pay any success fee to their lawyers, out of their damages but subject to a cap. 4. There is to be a... read more »

    Clarke Willmott Insurance Team to Join Greenwoods

    The Southampton based insurance team of Clarke Willmott is to join Greenwoods from 1 May 2011.  Led by Partner Rod Evans, the team will form the basis of a new Greenwoods Southampton office which will enhance its national offering to the insurance industry. Stephen Rosser, CEO of Clarke Willmott, commented “following a strategic review of the services we offer, we have decided that we should concentrate and invest in our core strengths as we continue to look for ways of... read more »

    Chambers UK Guide – Greenwoods top ranked in Chambers 2011 Guide

    For the fourth consecutive year, Greenwoods is top ranked as 1 of only 4 firms for defendant personal injury work in London. The firm continues to receive plaudits for its renowned health & safety work. Of the London defendant personal injury team, “Greenwoods is a market-leading firm offering clients a high-quality service on personal injury matters including EL/PL, RTAs and industrial disease.” According to clients, "They have a sensible and down-to-earth approach,... read more »

    Greenwoods top ranked in The Legal 500 2010

    Greenwoods upholds its top rank listing for defendant personal injury work in London and receives plaudits for its work in Health & Safety and Insurance and Reinsurance Litigation. On personal injury defendant, the guide comments, “Greenwoods Solicitors enjoys a ‘first-class’ reputation in the field. It owes much to head of the catastrophic injury department, Malcolm Henke, who is universally respected for his assured handling of PI defence work. ‘Robust in approach’,... read more »