The Forum of Insurance Lawyers (FOIL), has announced the election of Pete Allchorne, Partner at international law firm DAC Beachcroft, as President, taking over the position from Nicola Critchley, Partner at DWF Law.
Prior to this, Allchorne chaired FOIL’s motor sector focus team, and has worked with insurance clients for more than two decades.
Howard Dean, Partner at Keoghs, will take up the position of Vice-President of FOIL, supporting Allchorne on all of the organisation’s activities.
The organisation stated: “The insurance industry has a challenging year ahead, with geopolitical, financial and environmental instability characterising the nature, volume and frequency of claims. The continuation of the Ukraine invasion and now a new crisis in the Middle East, the cost-of-living crisis and Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) considerations, are just some of the issues insurers and their lawyers are grappling with today.
“With stubbornly high inflation and the anticipation of a general election during 2024, Pete’s appointment comes at a time when FOIL needs to offer thought leadership more than ever, helping insurers and insurance lawyers adapt to a fast changing environment, providing a sounding board to its members and campaigning for change.”
FOIL brings together the combined experience of its 8000 members to guide its thinking and create legal proposals which will help support the insurance industry through uncertain times.
Members collaborate with each other, and with other organisations, across a number of different jurisdictions, enabling information and knowledge on matters impacting the industry to be exchanged both within and across a number of territories.
Allchorne brings to his new role his strategic focus on civil justice reform in England & Wales, the legal and regulatory issues impacting the future of road transport and the impacts of digitisation of the sector.
“I am delighted to be appointed as president of FOIL, and am looking forward to taking the lead in supporting our members and their clients in such challenging times for the sector.
“Insurance lawyers have been witness to and significantly impacted by a series of legal, socio-political and financial challenges in 2023 – and there’s more to come in 2024,” he commented.
Adding: “As president, working collaboratively with other industry stakeholders and organisations, I intend to ensure FOIL continues to provide a leading voice on issues that are affecting insurance lawyers, so they are prepared for the challenges they face in the year ahead.”
FOIL CEO Laurence Besemer praised Allchorne’s knowledge and experiences and highlighted he is the ideal candidate to lead the organisation into 2024.
Besemer stated: “With all the change that is happening right now, FOIL continues to be a leading voice representing the defendant insurance legal community. FOIL’s members work collaboratively with one another to drive change, as well as with other representative organisations, and set the agenda through participation in government consultations and lobbying for reforms.
“This is all grounded in reality of the most pressing issues insurers and their lawyers are facing. Pete, myself and the rest of the Executive Committee, will ensure this is continued into the next year.”
