McLarens has expanded its major loss practice, First4InjuryClaims appoints head of legal practice and QuestGates strengthens unit dedicated to handling public transport claims—read about all the latest appointments in the insurance claims sector
McLarens has expanded its major loss practice with the appointment of Simon Shaw and Martin Allan to two new senior management positions.
As the heads of major loss practice for London and the Southeast and Scotland respectively, Shaw and Allan will take responsibility for coordinating commercial property and business interruption-related major and complex loss activity in their region, leading on their own portfolio of losses, managing ring-fenced teams, controlling quality assurance, and supporting further strategic growth.
The appointments will strengthen McLarens’s complex and major loss capability at a regional level, with the major loss leadership expanding from three to five to reflect growth and increasing market demand. The newly created senior roles coincide with the internal appointments of Karl Evans, Ian Marenghi and Tim McGee to the team.
Shaw is an experienced major loss specialist with more than 30 years of industry experience, having held senior management roles with insurers, brokers and loss adjusters.
Working across a range of different sectors including power, manufacturing, hotel and leisure, and commercial property, Shaw brings considerable multi-sector experience around complex and major losses. His expertise also includes responding to high profile terrorism incidents.
Previously head of operations for the North at McLarens in the UK and Ireland, Allan has more than 35 years of experience, working across commercial property claims of all classes, both domestic and international.
His expertise includes acting on multi-million-pound fire and flood losses, in addition to handling CAT duties across the globe.
Neil Baldwin, executive director at McLarens, said: “We’ve made a strategic decision to expand our major loss proposition over the past two years and we’re seeing continued growth and market demand as a direct result. Our adjusters are of the highest quality and our strong leadership team continues to drive our performance further forward, with the customer at the heart of all that we do.”
“Simon and Martin are both excellent technical adjusters, with significant experience of managing and growing teams across the world, and they will complement our existing major loss practice very well.”
First4InjuryClaims, the new alternative business structure (ABS) law firm from First4Lawyers, has appointed Andrew Wild as head of legal practice.
Wild joins from WNS Legal Assistance, an ABS law firm owned by WNS Assistance, where he has spent the last six years. Prior to this, he worked for BLM and Leech & Co.
Wild, who has more than 13 years of experience, is an experienced COLP and COFA and will also undertake these roles at the firm. He will report to the board of the First4Lawyers Group.
First4InjuryClaims is currently on a recruitment drive, having recruited seven fee earners and claims handlers to date, including Lee Hamilton who joined in February from National Accident Law, with plans to recruit further ahead of opening.
The firm has submitted its ABS application and is currently awaiting Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) approval.
Qamar Anwar, managing director at First4Lawyers, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming Andrew to the team. Andy’s experience in leading and developing successful claimant personal injury businesses will be key as we look to drive this new venture forward. In Andy we have someone with the skills and knowledge that will be essential in achieving our ambitions for First4InjuryClaims.”
“First4InjuryClaims is set-up and ready to help customers as soon as we receive SRA approval.”
Commenting on his appointment, Andrew added: “I have always admired First4Lawyers as a well-run and ethical business, they are a leader in their field. Consequently, I am excited by the opportunity ahead to work with their talented and ambitious board in creating this new firm and building a reputation to match that of First4Lawyers.”
QuestGates has appointed Andrew Mayne, a highly regarded transport and railway claims specialist, to a role within its growing specialist services division unit dedicated to handling public transport claims.
Mayne is a lawyer and claims specialist with more than 40 years of experience and has acted for a large number of train operating companies both in the handling of claims and in matters proceeding to litigation.
His experience stretches from working as an in-house claims manager through to leading a specialist litigation team in private legal practice. He was previously at DWF where he was rail team leader in its insurance team.
Glen Donaldson, director of the specialist services division at QuestGates, said: “Andrew is a well respected professional within the transport claims sector with experience of handling the entire span of claims ranging from slip and trips and subrogated recoveries through to major injury and fatal accidents.”
“Since we brought Andy Anderson on board last year to lead and develop this dedicated unit for us, it’s gone from strength to strength with an increasing client base and a full UK and Ireland service offering.”
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