Insurance giant QBE prepares for first-ever European legal panel
Australian insurer QBE is to launch a non-claims UK panel review and establish its first European panel.
Esther Felton
It comes almost a year after the insurer unveiled a reduced insurance claims panel, cutting the number of firms it uses from 24 to 18.
Head of legal Esther Felton said it had been two years since the insurer set up its first official non-claims panel and the time had come to look again.
She commented: “We set up the corporate and commercial legal panel two years ago and reaped rewards from it – there were tangible benefits. But things change – for example firms merge, firms expand. Our needs change too. It’s a good time to review.”
Clyde & Co, Linklaters and Slaughter & May currently sit on the six-strong panel with Mayer Brown, Norton Rose, and Pinsent Masons.
Felton said: “It’s not about beating people on price, it’s about getting value.”
She added that the insurer needs training tailored to its specific needs in addition to research facilities and ‘know-how’ portals, as well as advisory facilities. “That’s the support we need,” she added.
