Smaller firms 'can make personal injury work'

Smaller firms are saying they 'can make personal injury work', challenging the idea that the post-Jackson landscape only has room for big players, the head of business development at a marketing collective has said.

First4Lawyers, which is based in Huddersfield and currently has around 40 member firms, has decided to open its panel for the first time to cater for increased demand.

"We've been inundated with smaller firms over the last three to four months, saying: 'We can make this work'," Chris Rodgers said.

"It comes back to the theory that a big ship takes a long time to turn around. Small firms can get on top of the efficiencies they need and streamline themselves quicker. They are saying they are in a good place."

Rodgers said existing members ranged in size from those with turnovers of £1.5m to those with turnovers of over £100m.

"Our decision to open up the panel will benefit those smaller firms that have managed to effectively navigate the legislation changes post-LASPO but want to improve their access to potential clients.

"These firms have proven adaptable and able to provide a service that clients still want, despite the reforms. We see no reason why they should be muscled out of the market because they lack the marketing power of larger practices."

Rodgers said there was "no shortage of claims". He said First4Lawyers was not a claims management company but a "pure marketing collective".

He went on: "Firms come to us with a pot of money. We go out with that and use it to generate claims. There is no guarantee they will get any, but everyone shares in the success."

He added that, unlike other joint marketing schemes, claims were vetted in-house and up to 80 per cent rejected.

First4Lawyers advertises on Sky TV, using former tennis star and TV presenter Andrew Castle.