Kathryn Mortimer, head of legal services for the DAS UK Group, has been named managing director of its new law firm, DAS Law.

DAS Law was created after the legal expenses insurer was that enabled it to buy Bristol law firm CW Law.

Ms Mortimer had 16 years in private practice before a spell as head of legal services at leading outsourcer Capita, joining DAS in 2006 with a view to creating the law firm.

Paul Asplin, CEO of DAS UK Group and chairman of DAS Law, said: “With the acquisition of CW Law Solicitors, we wanted somebody with the expert knowledge and right management skills to take over the helm of our new business, DAS Law.

“Kathryn has all the right attributes and, over the years that she has already spent with DAS, she has proved herself to have excellent leadership skills. She will continue as a member of the DAS UK Group senior management team and will remain head of legal services. Owning a law firm has been a long-held ambition of the group and I wish Kathryn every success, as she starts to re-shape the business.”

Ms Mortimer said: “This is an exciting time for me personally and everyone involved. Our first step has been the combining of the Group’s existing 120 legally qualified staff and the 60 employees of CW Law to create DAS Law.

“Future plans for the law firm include expanding on its existing expertise in personal injury and employment disputes to encompass more areas of law.”

At the time of winning the ABS licence, Ms Mortimer said that as well as enabling the company to enhance the services it offers through legal expenses insurance, being an ABS will allow DAS to build a consumer-facing brand. The aim is to become one of the major consumer brands, along with the likes of Co-operative Legal Services, QualitySolicitors and Slater & Gordon, with further acquisitions likely.

Tags: ABS, Alternative business structures