Keogh Ritson wins defendant litigation team for CGU panel

The senior partner of Coventry-based firm Newsome Vaughan is taking the firm's entire defendant litigation team with him to Keogh Ritson.

The move means that five-partner Newsome Vaughan will no longer have a seat on insurance giant CGU's panel.

Senior partner Peter Jones will join the new Coventry office of North West-based Keoghs in early April. He will be joined by legal executives Paul Mabey, Lloyd Hemming and three support staff.

Rupert Griffiths, head of property at Newsomes, who will become senior partner, says: "We acted for Commercial Union three years ago when they reduced its panel. We decided the business could be moved over with Peter."

He adds: "I think the conclusion within the firm was that the plaintiff side can develop without there being any conflict on either side."

Don Clark, managing partner at Keoghs, says Jones will be joined by John Whittle, the firm's partner in litigation.

Clark says he will recruit a number of other solicitors from the area. However, he says the Midlands presents a number of marketing opportunities that Keoghs wishes to pursue.

CGU is reviewing its panel of over 100 firms. The insurance giant has already sent out letters asking for financial and operational information of those firms involved (The Lawyer, 8 March).

Newsome Vaughan specialises in civil litigation, specifically personal injury.