The new president of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers has hit out at insurance solicitors who, he says, fight the conditional fees ‘costs war’ from the ‘comfort zone of risk-free retainers’.

John McQuater, a partner at Doncaster law firm Atherton Godfrey, told APIL’s annual conference that personal injury solicitors had needed to develop new skills when legal aid was withdrawn for personal injury cases 10 years ago. Through ‘acceptance of risk,’ he said, APIL members have made the conditional fees system work and have ‘kept open access to justice for those that matter here – injured people’.

McQuater outlined a 10-step plan for his year in office. Steps include treating with ‘zero ­tolerance’ accusations that injured people are somehow wrong to seek legal redress. He also aims to stamp out third party capture; pursue the government for its response, two years on, to the damages review; and secure better access to legal aid for bereaved families through the Coroners and Justice Bill.