PI marketing network expands

The growing phenomenon of personal injury marketing networks looks to be gathering even more pace after it emerged that the 11-strong Kent Accident Link (KAL) is expanding across the south of England, with the aim of bumping up its membership to more then 100.

KAL, set up by Medway firm Stephens & Son last year to help Kent firms bypass claims management companies, is establishing groupings of firms - to comprise of around ten members of varying sizes - from the west country through to Essex after it was approached by solicitors throughout the south of England.

The network is likely to include a larger set-up in London and will also examine the possibility of branching out to cover other services such as mediation and cross-referral of work across different practice areas.

The expansion of KAL follows the growth of national consortium Injury Lawyers 4U, which revealed that it has been approached by more than 600 firms since it was set up (see [2003] Gazette, 12 June, 5).

Stephens & Son partner Jacqueline Shicluna said it had decided to develop by way of groupings of firms to keep the focus on local clients and to avoid the 'cumbersome infrastructure' of a national network.

'Once all these groups are up and running, the network will have considerable weight with a membership of something in excess of 100 firms, all of whom are very enthusiastic and committed to the concept,' she said.

'We hope that this will be a significant development in terms of providing access to clients to local specialist firms and also by giving the firms greater muscle when it comes to marketing and negotiating.'

She added: 'The members have already identified that the benefits do not stop with personal injury marketing, and we are quite excited by the suggestions and possibilities.'For more information, contact Ms Shicluna, tel: 01634 811 444.

Paula Rohan