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05 February 2021
Categories: Legal News , Personal injury , Profession
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RTA firm to launch following whiplash reforms

Legal marketing collective First4Lawyers has announced the launch of its own law firm, assisting injured people involved in road traffic accident (RTA) claims
Following the upcoming introduction of the whiplash reforms in May, people who have sustained whiplash-type injuries (lasting for up to two years and worth less that £5,000) will not be able to recover the cost of appointing a lawyer from the negligent driver’s insurer, leaving many unrepresented in claims.

The dedicated new law firm, First4InjuryClaims, will solely deal with RTA cases, handling the up to 10,000 RTA-related enquiries First4Lawyers receives annually. Subject to approval from the Solicitors Regulation Authority, the firm should be ready to commence operations in early summer, with an initial 12 staff members based in the company’s head office in Huddersfield.

Qamar Anwar, First4Lawyers’ managing director, said: ‘Some of our member firms have told us they are leaving RTA altogether, while others may offer a limited service, assisting claimants through the portal for a small fixed fee, but without offering advice and guidance. A number have still to decide. But one thing we know for sure is that post-reform RTA work will offer limited revenue opportunities and very small margins.’

‘We have never wanted to set up a law firm, but First4InjuryClaims has been born out of necessity. It ensures we are in the best possible position to utilise the First4Lawyers brand for the benefit of our panel firms, who remain at the heart of our business strategy.’

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Penningtons Manches Cooper—Robert Dransfield

Penningtons Manches Cooper—Robert Dransfield

London medical negligence practice strengthened by senior partner hire

DAC Beachcroft—seven appointments

DAC Beachcroft—seven appointments

Firm boosts professional risk practice with team hire in Manchester, led by partner Ben Parks

Doyle Clayton—Benedicte Perowne

Doyle Clayton—Benedicte Perowne

Workplace law firm appoints new head of regulatory team

NEWS
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The long-running Mazur saga edged towards its finale as the Court of Appeal heard arguments on whether non-solicitors can ‘conduct litigation’. Writing in NLJ this week, Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School reports from a packed courtroom where 16 wigs watched Nick Bacon KC argue that Mr Justice Sheldon had failed to distinguish between ‘tasks and responsibilities’

The Court of Appeal has slammed the brakes on claimants trying to swap defendants after limitation has expired. In Adcamp LLP v Office Properties and BDB Pitmans v Lee [2026] EWCA Civ 50, it overturned High Court rulings that had allowed substitutions under s 35(6)(b) of the Limitation Act 1980, reports Sarah Crowther of DAC Beachcroft in this week's NLJ

Cheating in driving tests is surging—and courts are responding firmly. Writing in NLJ this week, Neil Parpworth of De Montfort Law School charts a rise in impersonation and tech-assisted fraud, with 2,844 attempts recorded in a year
As AI-generated ‘deepfake’ images proliferate, the law may already have the tools to respond. In NLJ this week, Jon Belcher of Excello Law argues that such images amount to personal data processing under UK GDPR
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