DAC Beachcroft has partnered with legal technology company Ampbah to pilot a new cloud-based platform that streamlines how solicitors handling high-volume insurance claims instruct, communicate and share documents with barristers.
The new platform links a law firm’s case management system to a pre-approved panel of barristers who are profiled based on the type and complexity of the instruction and invited to tender for work accordingly. It also enables information and documentation exchange.
The team behind Ampbah includes Andy Markou, chief executive officer of business software developer Dynamis; Adrian Barnard, a telecoms and media business developer; Paul Hurst, a former barristers’ senior clerk; and Paul Mitchell QC of 4 New Square.
Following two years of development work and market research, the platform is undergoing beta-testing with DAC Beachcroft, with a full roll-out planned for the second half of 2019.
“As their preferred legal partner, we’ve been working with Ampbah to test and develop the platform in a secure sandbox environment. We’re now ready to pilot it in a ‘live claims’ setting which is really exciting,” said Peter Allchorne, insurance partner at DAC Beachcroft and head of the firm’s claims research and development hub, Innovations Lab.
“The platform has huge potential, and we’re already working with Ampbah to look at alternative uses for the platform to drive value and efficiency, and to reduce the amount of time spent in other parts of the claims supply chain.”
Mitchell highlighted the platform’s automation of traditional processes as a key benefit. He said: “As a powerful supply-chain management tool, the platform addresses the unique logistical problems arising for insurers in massive scale vendor procurement.”
“In its current configuration, the platform enables solicitors to find the right barrister in a fraction of the time currently required,” added Hurst. “Sitting on top of solicitors’ proprietary case-management systems, it also enables instructions and briefs to counsel to be prepared at speeds which are impossible to achieve using traditional systems.”
“From the barrister’s perspective, Ampbah increases the opportunities to obtain work by giving counsel a new degree of control over the relationship with the solicitor. The platform seamlessly integrates into the current clerking system used by barristers, adding value and saving time for solicitors and counsel alike.”
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