Leading legal expenses and assistance provider ARAG has joined with Guardian Legal Services and Affiniti Finance to provide an After-the-Event legal expenses insurance and disbursement funding solution to solicitor firms that handle only a modest number of clinical negligence and other personal injury claims.
The scheme offers a complete package, combining ATE cover (including cover for adverse costs and own disbursements) with competitive disbursement funding.
The unique package is only available to the clients of SRA regulated firms in England and Wales.
“There are numerous smaller firms which handle personal injury cases”, says Head of PI & Clinical Negligence at Affiniti, Grant Cumbley. “which, until now, have found it difficult to fund disbursements and insure their clients’ cases, especially with a reliable, UK-based insurance provider”
“The new small firms solution that we have developed with ARAG and Affiniti responds to a clear market need that isn’t really being satisfied at the moment.” adds Guardian Director Paul Nicholas-Gilbert. “By partnering with Guardian, all of a firm’s clients can benefit from our single, specialist solution and avoid the need to apply on a case-by-case basis”
The policy includes Part 36 cover and the single-stage premiums are deferred and only payable on a successful conclusion of the case.
“Guardian and Affiniti share ARAG’s deep commitment to enabling access to justice.” says ATE Sales Manager at ARAG, Mike Knight. “A claimant’s decision to use a smaller firm shouldn’t prevent their case from being insured or preclude them from funding solutions.”
