Pete Allchorne takes helm as FOIL president

The Forum of Insurance Lawyers (FOIL) has elected Pete Allchorne, a partner at DAC Beachcroft, as its president. He is taking over from Nicola Critchley, partner at DWF Law.

Peter previously chaired FOIL’s Motor SFT and has worked with insurance clients for more than 20 years. His strategic focus is on civil justice reform, the legal and regulatory issues impacting the future of road transport and the impacts of digitisation of the sector.

Howard Dean, partner at Keoghs, will take up the position of vice-president of FOIL. He will be supporting Peter on all the organisation’s activities.

Peter said, commenting on his appointment: “I am delighted to be appointed as president of FOIL, and am looking forward to taking the lead in supporting our members and their clients in such challenging times for the sector.”

In 2023, a series of legal, socio-political, and financial challenges impacted insurance lawyers, as pointed out by Peter. As president, he intends to collaborate with other industry stakeholders and organisations. This will ensure that FOIL remains a leading voice on issues affecting insurance lawyers. The goal is to prepare them for the challenges ahead.

Commenting on Peter’s appointment, FOIL CEO Laurence Besemer said: “Pete is an experienced insurance lawyer who has been a member of the FOIL Executive Committee for a long time. He is the ideal candidate to lead the organisation into 2024.”

Laurence went on to explain that in the midst of ongoing changes, FOIL remains a prominent voice for the defendant insurance legal community. Members collaborate and work with other organisations, shaping agendas through participation in government consultations and advocating for reforms. Their focus is on addressing the most pressing issues faced by insurers and lawyers. He concludes that he, Peter, and the executive committee are committed to sustaining this advocacy into the next year.

Image: FOIL

Emma Cockings Emma is a content editor for Claims Media. Emma is a experienced writer with a background in client-centric personal injury for a major firm. She has attended and reported on multiple brokerage events throughout her career.