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14 May 2009 / John Mcquater
Issue: 7369 / Categories: Opinion , Legal services , Costs , Personal injury
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A baptism of fire

Costs & serving the needs of injured people will dominate John McQuater’s term of office

Taking on the role of president of the Association of Personal lnjury Lawyers (APIL) is both an honour and a rather daunting prospect— particularly in the current climate. In fact, what a welcome I had when last week, Lord Justice Jackson published his preliminary report on the review of civil litigation costs. Needless to say, the paper will take some serious time and thought to digest—not least because it is in two volumes which exceed more than 600 pages, not including the appendices.

Something as important as justice, like other vital aspects of our society such as healthcare and education, does come at a cost and, over recent years, much has been said about the funding of personal injury claims, not least the use of conditional fee agreements.

It is worth remembering that until a decade ago many personal injury claims were funded by legal aid. In

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Carey Olsen—Patrick Ormond

Carey Olsen—Patrick Ormond

Partner joinscorporate and finance practice in British Virgin Islands

Dawson Cornwell—Naomi Angell

Dawson Cornwell—Naomi Angell

Firm strengthens children department with adoption and surrogacy expert

Penningtons Manches Cooper—Graham Green

Penningtons Manches Cooper—Graham Green

Media and technology expert joins employment team as partner in Cambridge

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