Apil makes first European foray

That will be one of the messages at the first ever Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (Apil) European Conference.

Personal injury specialists from France, Germany, Holland and Spain are expected at the two-day gathering in Windsor, Surrey, which starts on 8 March.

Speakers include Apil president Michael Napier and Daniel Brennan QC, president of the Personal Injuries Bar Association.

Napier will be opening the conference and he will be stressing the importance of Europe for the personal injury practitioner.

He will point to the influence of Brussels on safety and the representation of victims of holiday accidents, which both feature heavily in the work of the modern day practice.

The conference will also see the unveiling of a research project which has been commissioned by Apil to examine personal injury practice and procedure in Europe.

Apil executive director Denise Kitchener hailed the European conference as an example of the group's expanding influence.

She commented: "Our membership continues to grow and we think that the fact that lawyers have flown in from all over Europe for this conference shows that Apil's objectives and influence is taking on an international role."