Liverpool Law Aug 2017

Local News
2017 Personal Injury Conference Report
Liverpool Law Society held its
annual personal injury
conference on 5th July.
The conference was sponsored by
Wesleyan. In recent years
Wesleyan has developed a
successful business model
providing tailored financial advice
and products to select professional
groups, notably GPs, hospital
doctors, dentists, teachers and
lawyers and for the organisations
in which they are employed.
Hosting a wide of speakers, the
conference was held just days after
the Queens Speech had confirmed
the government’s intention to
proceed with substantial reforms
to the personal injury claims
process.
Lobbyist and parliamentary
candidate, Matthew Maxwell-
Scott set out the detail of the
planned reforms and his
engagement with the Ministry of
Justice. The reforms will have far
reaching implications for the legal
profession – particularly in the
north-west.
Also relevant to the
announcement was the
appearance of new market
entrant, Nuvalaw. Director Willie
Pienaar outlined his company’s
plans for futureproofing personal
injury claims resolution in a
digitised world with an inter-party
negotiation and adjudication
platform that brings together tools,
processes and services to reduce
the time and cost to settle claims.
This system has already proven
successful in South Africa on over
40,000 claims and presents a new
opportunity to personal injury
lawyers particularly in the light of
the planned reforms.
L to R: Lesley Graves, David Pilling, Matthew
Maxwell-Scott, Paul Ryman-Tubb, Kirsty McKno,
Willie Pienaar and Richard Cropper.
Lesley Graves of Citadel Law delivered a thought
provoking presentation setting out the financial
imperatives for firms specialising in personal injury who
wish to survive the changes ahead. Delegates –
particularly those with a head for figures - enjoyed the
presentation by Richard Cropper of PFP on the
implications of the new discount rate and the likely
road ahead after completion of the Ministry of Justice
consultation.
In the afternoon, Paul Ryman-Tubb, Chief Technical
Officer at MIB provided a detailed insight into the
history and operation of the Motor Insurers’ Bureau
going back to its creation in 1946 through responses to
European Directives and more recently to the
controversial ramifications of the Vnuk case.
David Pilling ably filled what is traditionally known as
the “graveyard slot” at the end of the afternoon.
Delegates interests were kept alive by the talk of money!
As he has done so on many occasions previously, David
provided a very helpful commentary on where the
world of personal injury is going in relation to costs.
With the forthcoming significant changes ahead of us,
personal injury practitioners who attended this
conference were given the opportunity to get the inside
track on what the changes mean and to learn about the
digitised solutions and opportunities that are emerging
already. Next year’s conference will be exciting as these
things start to drop into place. Don’t miss it!
Kirsty McKno
Conference Chair
Liverpool Mombasa Access to Justice Charity update
I am writing to advise members of the formal closure of the Mombasa Access to Justice
Project. This was an initiative which began following a visit to Kenya by members of our
General Committee when Anne Heseltine was President. This had the potential be a
significant venture as we developed a relationship with Mombasa Law Society as we sought
to provide legal representation for those without the means to pay for it. There was a
particular emphasis on the criminal justice system where many young defendants simply
became lost in the system.
The project began to unravel due to lack of support and co-operation from Mombasa Law
Society. Without their support the project was simply not viable.
Members of Liverpool Law Society showed great support and from various activities, raised
just over £9000. The money raised was passed over to CLEAR, a project run by the Lawyers
Christian Fellowship which pursued similar aims.
Everybody involved would like to pass on thanks to all members of the Society for their
support.
Steve Cornforth
Trustee
www.liverpoollawsociety.org.uk
13