About BLMClear concise advice

Berrymans Lace Mawer is a trading name of Berrymans Lace Mawer LLP, a limited liability partnership registered in England under number OC340981, which isauthorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and accredited to quality standards ISO 9001 and Lexcel. The registered office is at King’s

House, 42 King Street West, Manchester M3 2NU where a list of members is available for inspection.

In Ireland, Berrymans Lace Mawer is a law firm regulated by the Law Society of Ireland. It is affiliated to Berrymans Lace Mawer LLP and the partners of Berrymans Lace Mawer are all partners of Berrymans Lace Mawer LLP.

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Client praise: "excellence in overall claims strategy,technical capability, innovation, market awareness

and market influence."

Berrymans Lace Mawer LLP "stands out for itsdepth of experience, consistency in talent, ability,

and quality of service."

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About the firmDelivering clear concise advice

Berrymans Lace Mawer LLP (BLM) is a leading disputeresolution law firm specialising in the liability and insurancesectors. We advise clients on a broad spectrum of legal issuesacross a range of industries including construction andproperty, healthcare, leisure, education and public sector,retail, transport and logistics, manufacturing and the LondonMarket. We also have extensive experience of advising clientsin relation to corporate liabilities such as regulatory issues,employment, environment, reputation management,intellectual property and commercial litigation (see ‘Expertise’page 2).

The firm’s commitment and determination has led to itsdescription in independent legal directories and client surveysas a firm that has its finger on the ‘pulse of the market’.

BLM offers a truly national presence and unified partnershipin Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Dublin, Leeds, Liverpool,London, Manchester and Southampton. With over 1,300people, we are able to offer genuine strength in depthcombined with a real focus on client service.

In addition to receiving an excellent legal service, ofincreasing importance to our clients is that we keep theminformed of policy, regulatory and legislative consultationsand assist them in participating in the debate on reformproposals. We take an early and proactive approach whichmeans we can work closely with clients so they understand thelikely outcomes and impacts on their businesses and can planaccordingly.

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Our visionOur vision is to be recognised as the most progressive legalfirm that:

n leads the field in all aspects of our practicen understands what drives our clients’ businessn delivers practical legal advice that makes our

clients more competitive.

We valuen People working in partnership.n Practical experience.n Entrepreneurial solutions.n Acting with integrity.n Communicating effectively.n Developing the law.

ExpertiseOver a century of quality, diligence and technical excellencehas ensured that our firm can continue to build a strongreputation with clients and establish a flourishing dispute-resolution practice – one of the largest in the UK and amongthe top two working in insurance law according to PostMagazine’s Defendant Law Firm rankings.

We provide a range of services in addition to insurance whichare grouped into a portfolio for each of the following marketsectors:

n Construction & property.n Corporate risks.n Healthcare.n Insurance & indemnity.n Leisure.n Public sector.n Retail.n Technology, media & telecomsn Transport.

What we do by sector

Construction & propertyOur specialist teams deal with a range of issues from the initialcontracts covering construction or refurbishment, to theoccupation of a built structure. Construction remains adangerous business, and our group calls on expertisefrom colleagues to handle health and safety, personalinjury, recovery and policy interpretation issues.

As the pressure grows to build more houses – manyon brownfield sites – environmental considerationsare increasingly important. The property insuranceand recovery team works with property and all-risksinsurers on issues of policy interpretation andrecovery.

Claims vary from multi-million-pound cases to muchsmaller disputes, and the team delivers cost-effectiveresults by choosing the best dispute-resolutiontechnique whether it be adjudication, arbitration,negotiation or litigation.

Corporate risksBusinesses face a wide range of risks that threaten people,property, operations and commercial activities. The threat offinancial instability is the tip of the iceberg. Other risks includethose posed by accidents, claims or damage to brand andreputation. BLM legal risk solutions offers cost-effective liabilityrisk management services to the private and public sector.

Our team has the expertise, experience and a proven trackrecord of delivering bespoke solutions to companies seekingto reduce their legal and financial risks.

We work with organisations to control and reduce liabilityexposures typically found in contract risks, product liabilitiesand recall, employment risks, safety, health and environmental

scrutiny and our flagship claims defensibility.

We understand markets and sectors and theregulatory forces at work in our clients’ businessareas. We work with our customers to put them in thebest position possible to manage regulation and alsowhere necessary to make representations to industrybodies, regulators and government policymakers.

Every organisation is looking to substantially reducethe costs associated with risk – and that’s where wecan help. Mitigating risk is our specialism.

HealthcareChambers & Partners describes our department asbeing appreciated by clients for its thorough and

diligent approach to cases, demonstrating its ‘willingness toget to grips with issues’ and its provision of ‘clear and helpfuladvice’.

Our breadth of experience is reflected by the diverse rangeof clients which includes clinical negligence indemnifiers,Royal Colleges, complementary medicine practitioners,private hospitals and clinics and their insurers.

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The team defends healthcare professionals facing clinicalnegligence claims across all practice areas. On thedisciplinary side we represent healthcare professionals beforePrimary Care Trusts and the Family Health Service AppealAuthority, General Medical Council, General DentalCouncil, Health Professions Council, General OpticalCouncil, psychotherapy and counselling regulatorsand complementary healthcare regulators.

Insurance & indemnityWe have a well-established reputation within theinsurance sector. Our insurance specialists areregularly called upon to advise clients in relation topolicy drafting, scope of coverage and indemnityissues, including issues of non-disclosure,misrepresentation and fraud. Our professionalindemnity team is described in Chambers & Partnersas having ‘a strong reputation in the professionalindemnity arena’. Expertise covers the widest possibleselection of professions, going beyond the traditionalcore of solicitors and accountants to include barristers,surveyors, engineering professionals, insurance brokers andestate agents.

What makes us unique is the breadth of expertise: wecombine a genuinely national and international capability withbreadth and depth of experience.

Clients include all the major insurers, Lloyd’s syndicates,brokers, loss adjusters and other insurance intermediaries. Weare increasingly working with large self-insured enterprises

(FTSE 100 companies and government departments). Theycome to us for a market-leading service that has expertise,innovation and awareness of commercial realities as itscornerstones.

LeisureWhilst increasing its dominance of the UK economy,this service sector has also attracted increased levelsof litigation. Claims can be broadly categorised intoindustrial injuries, food safety issues, public liability,robberies and accidents involving leisure equipment.

We work for many organisations in both the publicand private sectors including children’s theme parks,international hotel chains, local authority leisurecentres, national catering suppliers, public housesand restaurant chains.

Public sectorThe public sector attracts its fair share of claims from

those seeking redress from providers of education, socialservices, social housing, policing and a host of other services.

Perhaps too much has to be taken from operational budgetsto meet the increasing cost of settling claims. Given the broadrange of potential claims, the public sector will have to factorin settlements as a significant expenditure item in all futurebudget planning.

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Whilst claims can never be completelyeliminated, they can be significantlyreduced by adopting best practice andusing experienced lawyers to provide alegal perspective on risk management.

Our dedicated group is experienced inhandling claims brought against variousdepartments of local government. Weprovide a national and local servicebacked by the collective experience ofworking with clients in the public sectoracross the country.

RetailThe team has a wealth of experiencedealing with claims brought againstbusinesses operating in this sector. Therequirements of the insured and theirinsurers go far beyond litigation andprocedural matters, so as well as legalexpertise, our specialists also provideadvice on health and safety issues, riskmanagement, human resources andtraining.

We develop a dynamic workingrelationship with our clients (and theirinsurers) to ensure the smooth running ofclaims and the best commercial

outcome. We work for a broad range ofretail organisations covering fast-foodoutlets, major national high street chainsand supermarkets.

Technology, media & telecomsCommunication and the movement ofelectronic information is becoming morewidespread and faster through email,mobile technology and the internet. Thelaw is moving at an equally rapid pace.

As access to information and the storageand use of information expands, thedangers of falling foul of the DataProtection Act increase. Our specialistscan advise not only on the strictrequirements of the law but also on bestpractice in the storage and use of data. In addition to data protection, the teamspecialises in the related areas of privacy,defamation, intellectual property andfreedom of information.

TransportThe UK’s transportation network is vastand diverse. It covers public transport inthe form of the overland andunderground railways, airlines, busesand coaches, as well as private

transportation of people and goods onland, sea and air.

Strong links have been forged with bothpublic and private transport operatorsresulting in extensive experience inhandling their claims. Therefore ournational presence means that we areideally placed to offer legal solutions fortransportation-related issues.

Our experienced and motivated teamoffers a service that can equally andeasily deal with individual claims, classactions or catastrophic accidents.

More information

We serve each of the sectors byoffering a diverse range of expertise inthe areas below.

For further information please visit: www.blm-law.com or contact: linda.coppell@blm-law.comor call Linda on: 0151 471 5477

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Areas of expertise

Abuse claims

Adjudication

Arbitration

ASBOs/ASBIs

Catastrophic injury

Claimant services

Claims management

Clinical negligence

Commercial contracts

Commercial litigation

Construction

Coroners’ inquests

Costs

Criminal healthcare defence

Data protection

Debt recovery

Defamation

Education

Electoral law

Employers’ liability

Employment law

Environment

Fraud

Freedom of information

Healthcare disputes

Housing litigation

Insurance & re-insurance

Intellectual property

Judicial review

Legal risk services

Leisure

Local authorities

London Market

Mediation

Motor

Occupational disease

Police/emergency services

Policy development

Privacy

Product liability

Product management

Professional discipline

Professional negligence

Property insurance and recovery

Public inquiries

Public law

Public liability

Retail

RTA prosecutions

Safety, Health & Environment

Stress, bullying and harassment

Transport

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Our history

The origins of the firm date back tothe 18th century, when Joshua Lacegave his name to an alreadyestablished law firm in Liverpool. In1901, Frederic Berryman began thepractice of Berrymans in the City ofLondon and, in 1946, Arthur Mawerfounded AW Mawer & Co inManchester.

From the very beginning thefounding firms were steeped ininsurance law practices.

This remains true today. BLM is oneof the largest insurance law firms inthe country with 95% of turnoverfrom dispute resolution and litigationrelating to insurance matters.

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BirminghamChristopher Wiggin, senior partnerchris.wiggin@blm-law.com63 Temple RowBirminghamB2 5LST 0121 643 8777F 0121 643 4909

DublinJoe Wakeford, contact partnerjoe.wakeford@blm-law.comMerrion Hall, Strand RoadSandymountDublin 4, IrelandT +353 (0)1 261 2150F +353 (0)1 261 2151

LondonGary Allison, senior partnergary.allison@blm-law.comSalisbury HouseLondon WallLondon EC2M 5QNT 020 7638 2811F 020 7920 0361

BristolMatthew Harrington, senior partnermatthew.harrington@blm-law.comBroad Quay HousePrince StreetBristol BS1 4DJT 0117 975 8649F 0117 905 8810

LeedsChristopher Coughlin, senior partnerchris.coughlin@blm-law.comPark Row House19–20 Park RowLeeds LS1 5JFT 0113 236 2002F 0113 244 2002

ManchesterJonathan Clay, senior partnerjonathan.clay@blm-law.comKing’s House42 King Street WestManchester M3 2NUT 0161 236 2002 F 0161 832 7956

CardiffMatthew Harrington, senior partnermatthew.harrington@blm-law.com23 Neptune CourtVanguard WayCardiff CF24 5PJT 02920 447 667F 02920 489 041

LiverpoolDavid Evans, senior partnerdavid.evans@blm-law.comCastle Chambers43 Castle StreetLiverpool L2 9SUT 0151 236 2002F 0151 236 2585

SouthamptonAndrew Hibbert, senior partnerandrew.hibbert@blm-law.com2 Charlotte PlaceSouthampton SO14 0TBT 023 8023 6464F 023 8023 6117

Contact details for an in-depth discussion on any of our servicesMike Brown - national senior partner, mike.brown@blm-law.com or 0151 471 5446

BLM accreditations

Offices

Birmingham

Bristol

Cardiff

Dublin

Leeds

Liverpool

London

Manchester

Southampton

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