Laurence Pipkin, Managing Director at Temple Legal Protection
20 January was the 25th anniversary of Temple Legal Protection, one of the founders and leading lights in the legal expenses insurance sector. 2024 will see the company reflect on its involvement in many significant legal and insurance developments and hosting a celebratory year of events and activities.
Temple opened for business in 1999. In the early years it insured some momentous cases including ‘Callery v Gray’ in 2002; a landmark judgment that helped establish the ATE industry. Since then, Temple innovations have included delegated authority insurance schemes, ‘staged’ as well as ‘deferred and contingent’ premiums, ‘LASPO friendly’ ATE cover in 2013 and CCA backed disbursement funding in 2017.
For commercial disputes, media law has been a speciality – Temple supported the journalist who uncovered the MPs expenses scandal in 2009. In 2011 they backed the first of many (and many still ongoing) phone hacking privacy proceedings as well as the Martin Lewis v Facebook case in 2019. And not forgetting the first employment disputes insurance cover sold by employment lawyers.
Commenting on 25 years of insurance innovation, Temple MD Laurence Pipkin said “Since 1999 we have built our reputation for doing things a little differently from our competitors. This is because we value the long game in our business partnerships – not just a short-term win. 2024 will be a time to reflect on those values that were so important to our founder Chris Wait, who passed away late in 2022, as well as looking forward to the next 25 years with great enthusiasm.”
A 90-second video can be seen at this link – https://www.temple-legal.co.uk/25th-anniversary/ – it gives a snapshot of some significant moments that will no doubt jog the memory of those solicitors and brokers who have been in the industry since that time.
