NLJ PROFILE: James Heath, Keoghs & Forum of Insurance Lawyers

What was your route into the profession?

I left Huddersfield University post LPC without a training contract, and worked at the Yorkshire office of a large national firm as a legal clerk. After six months I secured a training contract with Keoghs, joining the firm as a trainee solicitor in May 1995, and I have been with Keoghs ever since—progressing from trainee, to assistant, associate and partner by 2001. I’ve now been with Keoghs over 23 years, and could never see myself working anywhere else.

What has been your biggest career challenge so far?

Managing the inevitable pressures of delivering in a demanding role, with an effective home life. We moved from the North West to the Midlands in 2003 so that I could head the counter-fraud team at our Coventry office. Over time my role has gradually refocused back to our head office in Bolton, yet our family base remains in the Midlands and so I spend the majority of the week on the road—either at the head office, one of our regional offices, or engaged in client/market issues. With my wife and two rapidly growing and maturing girls based in the Midlands, it is a challenge to deliver all that the business, clients and my broader role requires whilst keeping on top of being a good and (hopefully) inspiring parent. With my eldest daughter now expressing a desire to follow a career in the law, I hope that I’m managing that challenge—though it’s probably more to do with her love of Suits and Harvey Specter.

Which person within the legal profession inspires you most?

There is no one person. I have the benefit of undertaking a diverse role, working with a lot of inspiring people—both within Keoghs and across the industry—and look to draw inspiration from a range of people, circumstances and challenges.

If you weren’t a lawyer, what would you choose as an alternate career?

Having spent the last 20 plus years working in the counter fraud arena, I cannot really see much beyond that, and would probably be involved elsewhere in the detection and prevention of fraud—whether from a technology or investigative angle. Alternatively, having been Keoghs’ Compliance Officers for Legal Practice for a number of years, I would probably have some sort of role in risk management. Or a golf pro, but on my handicap I’d be broke.

Who is your favourite fictional lawyer?

I would say Harvey Specter, but having the same fictional legal favourite as my 14-year-old daughter feels a bit weird. Would it be wrong to say Saul Goodman?!

What change would you make to the profession?

I don’t think there is any one change that I would look to make.

The part of the profession that I work in (Insurance/personal injury) is already constantly changing and evolving, meaning that legal suppliers have to continually review our service propositions and delivery—whether in terms of use of technology, revising operating models, resourcing, training and education of staff, quality and value delivery or risk management. It is a dynamic part of the profession to work in, and unless you are change-orientated then you won’t succeed.

Obviously now that I have been elected as FOIL president, I will be focusing upon ensuring that FOIL delivers the needs of its members over the next 12 months, which in itself will see significant change with the Civil Liability Bill now awaiting Royal Assent and then quickly moving into the first review of the discount rate, and development of the regulations to support whiplash reform, and the associated new portal process. Similarly, with further reform in Scotland and the Channel Islands upon the discount rate, the ongoing LASPO review and the Law Commission consultation in relation to autonomous vehicles, it is going to be a diverse and dynamic year ahead.

How do you relax?

By not taking life or myself too seriously. And playing distinctly average golf.