INDEMNITY UPDATE: Aon builds in-house legal team

Insurance brokers Aon have recruited Rowe & Maw litigation partner Andrew Carruthers to head its in-house claims handling service -- Aon Claims Solutions.

The in-house team will service Aon's two to 10 partner insurance scheme and will consist of 30 solicitors on secondment from three sources: Aon's seven partnering law firms (see [2000] Gazette 6 July, 5), Aon's own claims handling staff and representatives from QBE International Insurance -- which is underwriting the scheme.

Mr Carruthers, who stood down as managing partner at Rowe & Maw last year, will remain as a partner at the firm working three days a week at Aon.Brokers Alexander Forbes have partnered with City law firm Kennedys to launch its own professional indemnity claims service -- AF Solicitors Claims Service.

Claims will be referred to Kennedys for immediate solicitor advice before being passed to one of a nationwide panel of firms for handling.

All parties will be able to monitor the progress of the claim through a secure password-protected Internet site.The Sole Practitioners Group recommended broker Nelson Hurst Professional Indemnity, part of Alexander Forbes, has chosen approved insurer Hiscox to underwrite its specifically-tailored scheme.St Paul (the Law Society's joint venture partner offering commercial insurance to the profession) is to provide free partnership protection cover to all two to 10 partner firms taking up its insurance package.

The free protection will offer firms up to 50,000 to cover costs associated with recruiting replacements for solicitors who are temporarily or permanently disabled as a result of injury or illness.Lloyd's brokers FirstCity this week announced that it had received almost 500 responses from law firms for its on-line insurance service.

(Contact sarah.mcqueen@fcib.co.uk).QPI has launched an on-line application system for firms wishing to apply for insurance.

The site also contains information, advice and a risk profile assessment request facility (application forms are available at www.qpi.uk.com).

Sue Allen