Motor insurance giant Admiral is approaching its former counsel to sit on its first ever panel of barristers’ chambers.
The panel will result in Admiral instructing more barristers directly on major insurance claim disputes. The insurer has gone straight to chambers on a number of disputes in the past, but has never ramped its relationships up to a formal panel structure.
An Admiral spokesperson said: “Admiral frequently uses lawyers and barristers to assist it in the settlement of its large and complex injury claims. Admiral has recently made enquiries with a number of different barristers’ chambers to discuss formalising these arrangements.
“The nature of those arrangements are commercially sensitive but in essence would be mutually beneficial.”
The spokesperson added Admiral would not operate an exclusive relationship with chambers on its panel.
Sources close to the insurer said Admiral could restrict solicitors on its core legal panel to instructing panel-approved barristers.
A source said: “Solicitors could be a bit put out by it. We’ve had situations like this in the past where we’ve been appointed to a chambers panel and then solicitors we don’t have a relationship with have to start instructing us. It can cause a few issues at first but it all smooths out once you start working together.”
It is understood that 39 Essex Chambers, 2 Temple Gardens and 4 Pump Court are among those pitching for a slot on the panel.
Admiral is also advised by a number of law firms including Blake Morgan, Cordner Lewis, Clifford Chance, Geldards, Lyons Davidson, and Norton Rose Fulbright.
In 2013 Admiral set up two alternative business structures (ABS). The first was with claims specialist Lyons Davidson to create Admiral Law, which provides Admiral customers with legal advice.
The second joint venture was set up with Cardiff-based compensation firm Cordner Lewis. The deal created BDE Law Limited, which offers legal advice to other brands within the Admiral group such as Bell, Diamonds and elephant.co.uk.
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