Weightmans and Clyde & Co latest defendant solicitors to join the IFB as new affiliate model gathers pace

Defendant solicitors Weightmans and Clyde & Co are the latest affiliates to sign up to become members of the Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB).

12 new members have now joined the IFB’s affiliate model, which it launched in April. The model has opened up membership to the insurance industry supply chain including defendant solicitors, investigators, loss adjustors and third-party administrators. Affiliate members have access to fraud intelligence alerts issued by the IFB and will contribute to the 160+ cross-industry investigations currently managed by the body.

Ben Fletcher, director of the IFB, said, that launching the affiliate model was a significant step forward for the insurance industry in establishing a “truly holistic” counter-fraud strategy.

“Sign-up to the model has been even stronger than anticipated which demonstrates the supply chain’s appetite to support the insurance industry in fighting fraud,” he said.

“Affiliates hold access to rich data sources and command vital experience in the counter-fraud arena, which can only enhance our industry’s effectiveness in protecting honest policyholders by stamping down on fraud.”

Andrew Cooper, a partner at Weightmans, said that fighting fraud isn’t just about identifying fraudulent claims, but preventing them from happening in the first place.

“We are delighted therefore to join the IFB to continue this fight, sharing data collected through our nationwide platform with other members to combat fraud with even greater intelligence gathering capabilities and closing the net further on those individuals and organisations who seek to profit from pursuing such claims,” he said.

Ben Parkin, fraud legal director at Clyde & Co, said: “Clyde & Co has long been passionate about combating fraudulent behaviour. By joining the IFB’s affiliate model we are proud to be contributing to the industry wide effort to disrupt the constantly evolving behaviours of insurance fraudsters.”

The two firms have joined BLM, The Cotswold Group, CoventBridge Group, DAC Beachcroft, DWF, Hill Dickinson, Horwich Farrelly, Kennedys Law, Keoghs and Robertson & Co in the IFB’s affiliate membership.

Mark Dugdale