A solicitor setting up his own serious injury practice believes he can carve out a niche up against the major players in the sector.
Experienced lawyer Richard Edwards acknowledged that the personal injury market had consolidated in recent years to leave a few larger players but said his position as a boutique firm gives him a competitive advantage.
‘Firms are growing bigger all the time. This brings with it increased overheads and associated pressures. Inevitably, this filters through to pricing models,’ said Edwards. ‘I can offer a level of service that at least matches what the big firms offer, on improved terms. I can also guarantee that my clients get a personal, bespoke service with continuity of representation.’
The solicitor-advocate set up Richard Edwards & Co in his home city of Liverpool after a 20-year career of dealing with serious injury and complex claims in the UK and United States.
Edwards completed his training in Liverpool before going on to join Potter Rees Dolan in Manchester, where he became a partner. He remained at the firm following its acquisition by Hugh James but has now decided to come home.
‘Liverpool has a thriving legal scene and is the perfect location for me to launch a specialist practice. The fact that it’s my home city is certainly a welcome bonus.’
Edwards explained that he had a personal reason for wanting to represent people with complex and particular needs through his own firm.
He said: ‘I have a child with complex additional needs and have learned from that the challenges that those with significant impairments face day to day, including navigating specialist services. As I specialise in acting for those with life changing injuries, who invariably need to access similar services, and face similar obstacles, my view was that I could best represent such people in my own way, in my own firm, adopting funding models designed to ensure that clients kept all of their compensation, without deduction.’
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