Lewis backs legal costs crackdown

Stephen Lewis has hailed the government’s plans to implement the bulk of the Jackson review as a once in a decade opportunity to revamp civil litigation costs.

Speaking in the wake of this afternoon’s statement by secretary of state for justice Kenneth Clarke on the next steps for implementing the Jackson review, the Zurich Insurance UK CEO said: “The “no-win, no-fee” culture has become the blight of the modern insurance industry. It has fuelled the rise in the cost of insurance - particularly car insurance - for all our customers for the past decade. Zurich in the UK has been championing its demise for some time.

“The justice secretary’s commitment to reforming the "no-win, no-fee" culture through the abolition of success fees and overhauling the civil justice system, is the first move in a once-in-ten-year opportunity to bring about step-change in the civil costs' regime.

“We firmly believe the implementation of Lord Justice Jackson’s proposals will deliver a fair result for all parties - especially claimants, who deserve access to advice, justice and speedy compensation – all of which is currently hampered by the very system designed to protect them.

“We hope the plans are implemented as soon as practicable. Implementing the reforms, as a complete package, will result in a more effective and efficient claims process which should drive down costs for our customers.

“We also call on the Scottish Government to speedily conclude its review of claims litigation in Scotland which will start in April – so all our UK customers can benefit from a new streamlined claims culture.”