Browne Jacobson LLP

What key achievement did your entry highlight?

Our entry showed, through independent scientific analysis, that we can reduce the reading age required to understand our clients' insurance policies by more than 10 years; reducing the educational requirement from that of a postgraduate student to that of a year seven pupil (average figures). This increases the number of adults in the UK that are able to meaningfully understand their policy by more than 40 million (an improvement of more than 75% of the population). This is significant for insurers, given that literacy levels in the UK are in decline.

Can you share data or testimonials to back up your bid to win?

"The Lloyd's Markets Association has been greatly impressed with Browne Jacobson's work [on] readability… We are looking to incorporate some of the findings… into how we draft…wordings going forwards, with the aim of improving clarity for the benefit of Lloyd's customers." Alison Colver, head of wordings, LMA.

"Browne Jacobson has deep specialist knowledge and relentless focus on providing proactive and practical solutions. Their ground-breaking research… offers a unique perspective and truly valuable insights into the construction of clear and understandable… wordings." Lesley Hurst, legal counsel, Hiscox.

What sets your firm apart from the other shortlisted contenders?

Our drafting services are unique in that they provide specialist legal advice alongside linguistic analysis from leading psycholinguistic researchers. The linguistic analysis we provide in conjunction with our legal expertise includes the use of cutting-edge software and the use of eye-tracking technology, together with decades of academic experience. As a result, and for the first time, we are able to offer clients a truly scientific approach to policy drafting, which has already been proven to have made significant improvements to the readability of policy wordings for a number of our existing clients.

Browne Jacobson LLP

How will you celebrate if you are the victor?

After celebrating with our partners at the University of Nottingham, together with clients and stakeholders, we look forward to working with the University to develop the research further. We aim to be able to provide even more scientific and academic insight for clients as we work tirelessly to create the 'perfect' policy wording. In fairness, we plan to do all of this whether we win or not.

GOLD: DWF Law LLP

What key achievement did your entry highlight?

In 2018, DWF's market leading Analytics/Profiling/Intelligence and Legal teams worked with clients to uniquely analyse the risk of pop-up solicitors and umbrella firms that have emerged as a direct consequence of the proposed civil liability reforms. Through the collation and analysis of large amounts of data/intelligence, DWF mapped out behaviours of new entrants to the market and focused on the rise of firms whose business drivers are to cost layer in claims. If left unchecked, this would cost Insurers millions of pounds in leakage. DWF's initiative has saved clients over £14m in 2018 alone.

DWF Law LLP

Can you share data or testimonials to back up your bid to win?

"Cost layering was identified by the insurance Strategic Threat Assessment as a tier one threat in October 2016 and continues to remain a number one threat. DWF identified the issues around commercially driven rehabilitation/phantom rehabilitation both to the IFB and its members through recent IFB intelligence forums, which is to be commended." Stephen Dalton, IFB

"DWF are industry experts in challenging rogue rehabilitation/behaviours. They identify fraud trends/develop robust strategies. DWF share this invaluable strategic advice with insurer clients at all levels and delivers excellent training to ensure that staff have the knowledge to challenge these fraudulent claims. We have achieved excellent results by following the DWF strategies." Mark Denton, RSAM

What sets your firm apart from the other shortlisted contenders?

DWF achieved savings through the pop-up/umbrella firm initiative of £14m in 2018. DWF has seriously disrupted adverse claimant solicitors' behaviours across cost layering. DWF's initiative has reduced waste in the claims process/maximising insurers operational efficiencies. DWF has been recognised for innovation around legal services through leveraging data to optimise claims performance. We were recognised as one of the top 10 legal firms by the Financial Times Innovation Awards for the work in this area in 2018.

How will you celebrate if you are the victor?

DWF will celebrate with all of our clients by having a fantastic night at the Insurance Times Awards and will party until the early hours. Furthermore we will take the victory and let DWF's legal global business know as well as all of our clients about the award which we will be enormously proud of.