Claims Futures Conference 2026

Registration and refreshments

Chair’s Opening Remarks

Neil Rose, Editor, Legal Futures

High-volume consumer claims – the SRA’s plan of action

High-volume consumer claims are high on the regulator’s agenda. The SRA has initiated a wide range of activity to deal with current problems – including dozens of investigations of law firms – and then change the operating environment for solicitors and others, working with government, the FCA and others.

In this session, a senior SRA representative will outline the work being done and how it affects practitioners on the ground, and also take questions from the floor.

Speaker:
Solicitors Regulation Authority

The claims market review – what is the FCA doing?

Law firms do not just have to worry about the SRA. It is working closely with the FCA, the Advertising Standards Authority and the Information Commissioner’s Office in tackling issues with the claims market, and now the FCA has launched its own review of the claims market. We will hear from the regulator about what this might mean for practitioners.

Speaker:
Alison Walters, Director, Consumer Finance, Financial Conduct Authority

Networking Break

Beyond headcount: Smarter delivery models for volume claims

Efficiency does not mean working faster; profit comes from design, not effort. In this session, we will explore the process of mapping the claim lifecycle, eliminating duplication and unnecessary lawyer involvement, and turning legal work into repeatable workflows. We will then consider the role of outsourcing – both which parts of the lifecycle are genuinely outsourceable and the risks, including ensuring proper supervision.

Speakers:
Shirley Woolham, CEO, Minster Law
Andy Lang, UK Partner, Alpha BPO

Lead generation, financial incentives and price – is the claims market competitive?

If every motor finance law firm is taking the maximum 30% of damages, and every PI firm taking maximum 25% of damages, where is the competition in the market? Is it all about who has the best referral arrangements? Do clients know what they are signing up to? Our panel will discuss whether clients are getting a raw deal as a result and how the customer experience could be improved.

Speakers:
James Maxey, CEO, Express Solicitors
Matthew Maxwell Scott, CEO, Consumer Legal Association
Mark Carlisle, Checkymylegalfees.com
Further speaker to be confirmed

Networking Lunch

STREAM 1: PERSONAL INJURY

Chair:
Matthew Maxwell Scott, Executive Director, Association of Consumer Support Organisations

Profitable by design: Smarter case selection in a fixed-costs world

Most inefficiency starts at the front door and many firms still don’t have a clear definition of a profitable case. This session will consider how to decide – quickly and consistently – what to take on and what to walk away from.

What goes into designing a triage framework to identify good cases and the risk factors. What role should data have? It can help predict the likelihood of success, expected lifecycle cost and settlement value range but ultimately how should the decision be made? And what are the signs that defendants look for in questionable cases?

Speakers:
Simon Bradshaw, Head of Personal Injury Claims, Verisk
Rhys Davies, Managing Director, Aequitas Legal
Further speaker to be confirmed

Navigating the Damages Claim Portal

The Damages Claims Portal continues to cause significant problems for practitioners. But help is at hand. This session will identify the major tripwires and common errors, and chart the way towards a smooth user experience.

Speaker:
Alexander Davenport, Irwin Mitchell

STREAM 2: FINANCIAL MIS-SELLING CLAIMS

Chair:
Neil Rose, Editor, Legal Futures

The FCA redress scheme – where are we now?

At the time of writing, four legal challenges to the FCA motor finance scheme threaten to upset the regulator’s plan to compensate consumers. We will take stock of where the scheme is and the issues that it is raising for law firms and CMCs, along with the pressure from other regulators, as well as those claims not caught by the scheme.

Speakers:
Nikki Stopford, Co-founder, Consumer Voice
Kavon Hussain, Principal, Consumer Rights Solicitors
Further speakers to be confirmed

It’s not just motor finance – Other active mis-selling litigation

Earlier this year, the Supreme Court allowed an appeal on undisclosed commissions in business energy contracts, a reminder that the mis-selling market remains very active outside of motor finance. This session will highlight where the current focus of activity is.

Speakers:
Craig Leigh, Barrister & Managing Director, 8PP Barristers & Associates
Further speaker to be confirmed

Networking Break

Private equity, consolidation and exit – the future of the claims market

Private equity investment and consolidation are reshaping the claims market at pace, creating new opportunities – but also new pressures – for claimant firms and their owners. This session will explore who is buying, what they are looking for and how valuations are being determined in a market defined by regulatory change, fixed costs and shifting claim types.

We will also examine the realities of scaling with investment, the challenges of integration and culture, and what a successful exit actually looks like in today’s environment.

Speakers:
David Johnstone, Managing Director, Recovery First
Alex McRae, Investing, Queen’s Park Equity
Further speaker to be confirmed

Ends