DAC Beachcroft has raided DWF’s Newcastle insurance practice for the second time in two months after picking up a four-lawyer professional indemnity (PI) team.
The team includes DWF’s Newcastle office head Helen Ager. Ager is a former president of Newcastle Law Society and was managing partner legacy North East firm Crutes before it was acquired by DWF in 2011.
The four-lawyer team includes partner Tom Whitfield and the lawyers will also be joined by additional professional support staff.
DAC regional senior partner David Weatherburn said: “This latest set of hires comes after a year that saw revenues in our Newcastle office grow by 18 per cent and as we secure an additional 4,000sq ft of space to be fitted out by the end of August.”
Managing partner David Pollitt said the acquisition underlined the firm’s “commitment to prolonged and strategic investment in the north east”.
Last month DAC picked up a six-partner insurance team in Newcastle from DWF. The casualty claims team consisted of 11 fee-earners and is led by DWF’s Newcastle occupational health and casualty team Rod Searl. He was joined by partners David Drewe, Andrea Ward, Sue Howes, Shaun O’Neill and Nicola Hyam. Associate director Mark Douglas was made up to partner as part of the deal.
The group acts for general insurers with specific public sector and major corporate expertise in personal injury, abuse and fraud.
