New APIL president calls for small claims reform

The new president of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL), Allan Gore QC, is calling for a more efficient small claims system.

Gore replaces Irwin Mitchell partner Colin Ettinger as APIL’s president at the beginning of May and is to make his inaugural speech this Thursday (28 April).

In his speech, Gore will say that better collaboration between insurers and lawyers will benefit both claimants and defendants, adding: "Insurers and their lawyers have got to stop thinking that every claim is a try-on. The overwhelming majority are not, which is why compensation is paid in such a high proportion of cases."

But Gore will also say that avoiding negligence in the first place is the best way of benefitting both parties.

A tenant at 12 King’s Bench Walk, Gore was appointed silk in 2003. As well as personal injury work, he also specialises in clinical and professional negligence cases.