People

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Laurence is the CEO of FOIL a position he has held since 2009.

Working alongside the President and the Executive Committee, he is responsible for long term strategy and the infra structure of the organisation.

Laurence comments:

"With nearly 40 years' insurance claims experience, in the UK and overseas, I understand the industry and the pressures that claims managers and handlers face. I am a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute, Managing Director of C-Mas (Claims Management Advisory Services), non-executive Director of SX3 and of TopQuotes Insurance Brokers. I am a life-long Manchester United fan and am working hard to get my three young daughters versed in the benefits of being a red.”

Pete has over 20 years’ experience advising a broad range of insurance clients in respect of motor, employers’ liability and public liability claims, with a particular interest in the transport and logistics sector. He is responsible for managing the relationship with one of firm’s key insurance clients, and also works closely with the firm’s Gibraltar regulated clients.

Working with the firm’s Strategic Litigation Unit, Pete is a regular commentator and panellist on issues impacting the motor insurance market, including civil justice reform, the development of automated vehicle technologies and their impact on motor insurers. Pete leads the firm’s specialist interest group looking at the legal and insurance implications for connected and automated vehicles, and the wider Internet of Things, working closely with other members of the firm’s Legalign Global alliance.

Within the firm’s Claims Solutions Group, Pete is head of ‘Innovations Lab’, the research and development hub responsible for developing new innovative claims solutions to benefit our clients, where he works closely with the firm’s technology law team. He is also a member of the firm’s Business Improvement & Change function, which scrutinises and prioritises strategic projects and investment in digital solutions.

Pete has previously chaired FOIL’s Motor Sector Focus Team, during which time he was co-opted as a member of the Expert Audit and Peer Review sub-committee of MedCo.

Nicola is a Partner and sits on the board at DWF. She has extensive litigation experience and heads up the costs team. The department deals with the full spectrum of costs litigation and has saved clients more than £3billion.

Nicola deals with high value costs litigation matters, costs budgeting appeals, fraud, technical challenges, QOCS, fixed costs issues and test litigation.

She chaired a Working Group which supported reform in the holiday sickness claims and is currently involved with the whiplash reforms on the whiplash sub-committee of the CPRC.

She also sits on the CJC and is a member of the FOIL Costs Special Interest Group and treasurer of the National Committee.

I have striven throughout my career to act in the best interests of my clients but also believe that I have a duty to work with colleagues and competitors to achieve a common goal for my specialised area, hence my role within FOIL. I am known for getting the job done and for going the extra mile. I strongly believe in showing professional courtesy to all including litigation opponents. I am a strong communicator and mentor.

I have also worked extensively with insurer clients to help develop counter-fraud strategies and continue to strive to maintain thought leadership in this area.

I have offered and provided consultancy services to insurers and law firms in a number of areas including insurance fraud, litigation, training, auditing and regulation.

I am presently working with the DWF Cat PI team on larger value claims and also advise on Section 57 fundamentally dishonest claims.

Bridget is an EL/PL defence specialist of more than 25 years’ experience supporting clients on complex claims ranging from occupational disease to life changing brain and spinal injuries.
She leads the firm’s Birmingham casualty team which provides advice from policy coverage to claims handling for a broad client base; local authorities, health, corporates and insurers, which lends itself to developing best practice.

Co-Chair of the firm’s D&I Committee and recent appointment as Executive Sponsor for Race, Bridget sees her role as creating access to opportunities for those who are marginalised in society.

Jeffrey entered legal practice in 1992 and was admitted as a Solicitor in England and Wales in 1994. He was an equity partner in what was BLM, acting for insurers, professionals, public bodies and healthcare providers. His litigation practice included occupational disease, abuse and education-related claims.

After leaving commercial practice, Jeffrey started teaching law and legal practice in higher education, obtaining a teaching qualification and subsequently completing a doctorate concerning the regulation of medical decision-making in a reproductive healthcare context. In addition to his responsibilities as Technical Director, Jeffrey is also a Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of Chichester.

Jeffrey is based in the South of England and is a keen water sports enthusiast.

A qualified solicitor with over 30 years’ experience working in London and the North West, Shirley has experience of handling a wide range of disputes, from Public Liability to Clinical Negligence, Commercial Litigation and Costs.

Through Shirley Denyer LLP, Shirley has been involved in FOIL since 2007, as a non-practising solicitor. She was appointed to the newly created position of Technical Director in 2016, taking on a role in developing FOIL’s strategy and focus. She has responsibility for all of FOIL’s technical publications and the work of the eighteen Sector Focus Teams. Working with the SFTs and the National Committee she also handles FOIL’s consultation responses.

Shirley is based in Manchester. Outside work, despite the weather, she gets outdoors as much as possible, playing tennis and cycling.

Paul has a long history and experience of being formerly a solicitor having worked for more than 20 years in the field of civil litigation and specifically personal injury and clinical negligence. For 17 years he was head of department and subsequently Partner at a Legal 500 Law firm based in South East London. With a proven track record of success in handling PI and Clinical Negligence Claims including high-profile, high value and complex cases.

After leaving the Legal sector Paul has worked with the Quest Partnership as a claims manager and is involved with assisting a number of the UKs leading defendant insurers. He has had a wide range of technical experience in the field of personal injury including Employers liability, public liability, road traffic, criminal injuries compensation, clinical negligence as well as catastrophic injury and fatal accidents.

Kate has represented defenders in personal injury claims for over 15 years. Her expertise includes health & safety prosecutions, public inquiries and administrative matters. Her caseload is predominantly complex and high value claims where she uses her specialist expertise to provide strategic and case by case advice to a variety of clients. She regularly acts on behalf of corporate clients, insurers and public authorities. She also provides advice and representation to Charities and Third Sector organisations in relation to their management of risk and liability and in the context of litigation and claims.

After studying at Queen’s University, Belfast, Tara was admitted to the roll of solicitors in 2009 and was appointed Legal Director at Clyde & Co in September 2022.

Tara leads counter-fraud for Clyde & Co in NI with an expertise in first and third party fraud. She has extensive experience of fraud rings, staged accidents, phantom passengers and exaggerated personal injury claims. Tara also advises on large loss, GDPR and DPA legislation as well as the tort of deceit.

Tara has a keen interest in County Court procedural rules and costs in the NI jurisdiction.

As a Partner in Forbes Solicitors’ Large Loss Insurance team, David deals with all types of high-value Civil disputes, specialising in complex construction and sports claims.
He has particular expertise and experience in all aspects of Personal Injury law, including Catastrophic Injury and Multi-Party Construction claims. David has a vast array of experience in Public Liability and Employer's Liability (accidents at work), and regularly advises Local Authorities in more unusual or specialist cases, such as those involving fraud, complex indemnity issues, and quasi-criminal actions.

David also has a keen interest in defending sports and leisure claims, particularly those arising out of activities that he is personally involved in, such as martial arts, contact sports, and fitness activities. He provides training within his own firm and is a regular speaker at industry events.

Stuart specialises in defending major loss and catastrophic bodily injury claims, with expertise across motor, EL and PL claims. Stuart works with a team of dedicated lawyers to deliver optimum outcomes, compromising claims promptly and economically where appropriate whilst having the ability to maintain a firm line where necessary. He has extensive experience of taking a lead role in strategic decisions and conducting JSMs and other forms of settlement negotiations. As well as handling a full portfolio of large loss injury claims, Stuart is also responsible for the management and development of Clyde & Co’s key client relationships. Stuart is one of Clyde & Co’s Lead Catastrophic Injury Lawyers, responsible with his other key stakeholder partners for the development of Clyde & Co’s national catastrophic team, and is a lead member of national Subject Matter Groups. Stuart also sits on Clyde & Co’s Tech and Innovation Executive. He is the Immediate Past President of FOIL and is an editor of Binghams and Berrymans.