BLM, the UK and Ireland’s leading risk and insurance law firm, has this week welcomed two new experts to the firm. The appointments of new partner Antony French and consultant, Ian Sinho who previously held the position of technical claims director within AXA, has significantly strengthened the firm’s catastrophic injury offering.
Antony joins the firm from Greenwoods Solicitors. For over 15 years he has advised clients on a wide spectrum of insurance related claims including motor coverage issues, fraud, complex orthopaedic and chronic pain injuries. He has a particular focus on advising on high value catastrophic injury matters including spinal cord, brain injury and amputation. Antony has been a member of the Forum of Insurance Lawyers’ catastrophic injury sector focus group for the past three years looking at initiatives and issues affecting the market.
Ian Sinho brings over 35 years’ experience in insurance claims handling, investigation and management. He has a particular expertise in advising on technical policy, strategy and governance, combined with the management of high value and complex claims, with a focus on liability and motor. Ian has worked closely with underwriters, actuaries and reinsurers to monitor claims performance, trends and emerging issues affecting the market. He joins BLM as a consultant to provide technical support to the catastrophic injury group and related areas such as casualty and motor. Before joining AXA, Ian held senior technical manager positions within RBS Insurance, Churchill Insurance Group and CU (CGU), as well as a period as claims manager within a Lloyd’s Syndicate.
Commenting on the new appointments, Andrew Hibbert, head of BLM’s catastrophic injury group, said: “Catastrophic injury claims require a high degree of specialist knowledge, expertise and experience. It is essential that BLM offers customers the necessary expertise and insight that both Antony and Ian can bring to the firm. Antony’s expertise and links to key associations such as FOIL and Ian’s experience in working directly for our customers, helps to differentiate us as the market leader.”
BLM’s catastrophic injury group manages cases with a total reserve approaching £2 billion, some of which involve the most sensitive claims in customers’ portfolios. Lawyers in the group are instructed by leading global, UK and specialist insurers, corporations, health and public sector bodies, and they work closely with the Civil Justice Council, FOIL, the Association of British Insurers and other industry and government bodies to exchange ideas and participate in key industry discussions and consultations.
BLM has invested heavily in both organic growth and lateral hires over the past 12 months across the UK and Ireland. The firm promoted six associates to partner this year and has had a number of significant appointments, including partner Fintan Canavan who joined the abuse claims group and partner Graeme Moore who joined the professional indemnity in Belfast, as well as the appointment of consultant and former Law Commissioner, David Hertzell in January 2015.
