Wakefield-headquartered Minster Law is set to add around 6,500 cases per year to the personal injury (PI) solicitor’s case volume by sealing a consolidation deal with law firm Irwin Mitchell.
For an undisclosed sum, Minster Law is acquiring Irwin Mitchell’s back book (WIP) of fast-track road traffic accident (RTA), employer liability (EL), and public liability (PL) injury claims. Under the transaction, Minster Law will take ownership of any future fast-track injury customers from Irwin Mitchell’s direct channel.
“With Irwin Mitchell choosing to step away from fast-track personal injury work, we are the partner of choice to manage their outstanding WIP and step in to serve new fast-track PI customers from the autumn,” said Minster Law chief executive Shirley Woolham.
“The EL and PL portfolios are a significant addition to Minster Law’s existing capabilities in these claims, and will accelerate business growth in this market.”
Currently, Minster Law settles around 4,000 cases each month.
Joining Minster Law’s board and executive management team as chief legal officer is Irwin Mitchell partner and volume PI department head Matt Currie. More than 80 Irwin Mitchell colleagues will also move under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment).
Lifting the lid on the development, Irwin Mitchell chief operating officer Craig Marshall stated: “In response to the Civil Liability Act law reforms being implemented in May this year, we’ve made a decision to move away from taking on lower value, fast-track personal injury work which represents a small part of our business.
“As a full service legal and financial services firm, we will continue to focus on helping clients who have complex personal and business issues including those suffering serious injuries, workplace illness and injury, and medical negligence, as well as growing our business and private client teams.”
“This agreement,” he added, “protects both our clients and colleagues in the fast-track PI area of our business. Minster Law’s focus on customer outcomes and giving new opportunities to our people made them the natural choice for our business. We wish our departing colleagues well in their future careers with Minster Law.”
Currie, who sees the shift as an “exciting new challenge,” will also be joined by Irwin Mitchell partners Sally Risbrook, Andrew Russell, and Robert Watson.
