Trio unite to offer insurance litigation

JACKSONS, Cartwrights and Hextall Erskine are forming a consortium to pool their insurance litigation services.

Bill Goyder, managing partner of Stockton-on-Tees-based Jacksons, says the consortium is considering adding further members and an announcement will be made in "a short time-span".

He comments: "It is best described as a strategic alliance. I am not aware of any other consortia of this nature."

The collaboration centres on the Axxia IT system - a millennium-compliant case management system that will be operational from May.

The system will initially allow the firms to share their knowledge and expertise.

Goyder says: "This will reshape the way in which insurance litigation services are delivered. The standardised platform will add significant value. And, from a timing perspective, we have been able to formulate and develop this concept in parallel with the civil justice reforms."

Christopher Eskell, managing partner at Bristol firm Cartwrights, says the product's development has been client-led. "All three firms undertook market research which identified that clients wanted their firm to share more information for their benefit - but based on their own regional strengths."

Hextall Erskine, the third member, is based in the City.