Catastrophic Injury Lawyer

at  Keoghs

DESCRIPTION

This role offers an excellent opportunity to work with recognised market leaders in catastrophic injury work within our Complex Injury Claims Team dealing with non-delegated high value multi track and catastrophic injury claims including assisting on multi-million pound brain injury, spinal injury, amputation and fatal claims. You will also be responsible for the day to day running of a number of large loss files as you build your own profile with clients.
Experience of indemnity, liability and complex medical issues is preferred and excellent attention to detail essential. The role also includes the need to engage with sophisticated senior claims handlers in long-standing insurance clients. In this role you may also be required to assist your Lead Lawyer in activities which enhance and develop Keoghs profile. This role is based in our Southampton office.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & EXPERTISE

• Qualified solicitor, CILEX or proven relevant legal experience is essential
• Understanding of case law and litigation practice and process, and Court Practice Rules
• Strong knowledge of relevant insurance principles
• Ability to plan and prioritise workloads
• Excellent analytical skills and attention to detail
• Ability to weigh facts, apply the law and make decisions
• Ability to anticipate problems and identify solutions
• Driven to achieve to take development opportunities when they arise with a positive attitude
• Calm under pressure with the ability to re-prioritise and delegate effectively when required
• Confidence to take initiative to innovate and adapt to changing situations
• Confidence to seek advice and guidance when dealing with new tasks
• Excellent listening and verbal communication skills
• Excellent written communication skills and the ability to compose professional written communications
• Ability to follow instruction with attention to detail
• Ability to recognise when sensitivity and tact are required
• Effectively work within a team
• Proficient IT skills (Word, Excel and Office)
• Good standard of education – 5 GCSE’s grade C/5 or equivalent including maths and English

You will work as part of a team progressing each file from receipt of papers from the insurer client to resolution of the claim dealing with all aspects of liability and quantum as well as indemnity issues as they arise. The role will include:

• Working with the Lead Cat Lawyer to manage a caseload of complex injury claims consisting of claims typically valued up to £10m but including claims valued significantly higher involving injuries of the utmost severity.
• You will also be responsible for the day to day running of large loss files, of a value commensurate with your experience but typically up to £500k, to enable you to build your own profile with clients.
• Communicating with sophisticated insurer clients, advising them on all aspects of claims and keeping them updated as the matter progresses. As you progress in the role, you will draft concise, technical advice on all aspects of cat injury claims.
• Developing relationships with Keoghs’ clients in order to win their confidence in your detailed knowledge of their cases and your knowledge of the issues which impact catastrophic claims.
• Adopting a forensic and detailed approach to liability investigations to preserve levers in relation to interim payments, care claims, statutory funding issues, CCG input and identifying potential opportunities for set off against PPOs for care.
• Using your appreciation of issues which impact CAT injury claims and your forensic eye for detail you will draw on expert evidence, medical records and other sources of evidence to ensure experts consider all relevant details.
• Thinking strategically around issues such as GCS, RA/PTA, ambulatory issues, level of SCI and questioning anomalies and translating issues identified in records or medical evidence into a meaningful difference on catastrophic injury files, drafting strategic advice on these issues.
• Using Ogden Tables to split multipliers, determine life expectancy, interpolate etc and building complex illustrative spreadsheets to assess quantum based on the evidence with only limited input from the lead.
• Building rapport with solicitors for other parties in order to engage meaningfully with them to discuss substantive issues around the case.
• Attending site visits, MDT meetings, client meetings, mediation and JSMs.
• Engaging with counsel and experts in conference and on the telephone.
• Delivery of agreed performance targets and quality standards. The Catastrophic Injury Lawyer is expected to record a minimum of 7 chargeable hours per day.
• Delegation to more junior members of the team and be fully engaged in their development in terms of technical ability and achievement of objectives.
• Maintaining case managements systems with up to date management information for clients.
• To ensure compliance with the SRA standards & regulations