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Lester Doake
McKinty and Wright Solicitors · United Kingdom
McKinty and Wright Solicitors
Insurance Litigation · United Kingdom
McKinty and Wright’s reputation as a quality legal service provider is widely recognised in the insurance profession and its team are known as defence litigation experts. The firm’s professional negligence specialists are led by senior partner, Lester Doake. With over 30 years’ experience, those in the sector describe Mr Doake as "very experienced and knowledgeable" with clients praising him for "taking a holistic and long term view."
Listed in Chambers as one of the leading teams in Northern Ireland, with over 3,000 defence litigation instructions received in the past five years, the firm’s team are defendant litigation specialists. Along with the Law Society Master Policy Insurers, it acts for five of the top 10 insurers in the UK.
Receiving instructions from their defence organisations or insurers, McKinty and Wright provides legal services in respect of professional negligence claims to legal, medical, property and finance professionals. In recent years, the firm’s specialists have also been handling complex professional negligence actions involving financial institutions arising out of the property crash in Northern Ireland.
“What sets us apart is our commitment to delivering the best legal service experience,” said Mr Doake. “Our specialists understand the context in which we provide defence services to professionals and their insurers - our priority is to ensure each client is fully advised, supported and defended in proceedings arising out of a demanding and stressful job.”
Taking a cost effective approach to claims when appropriate, McKinty and Wright help its clients utilise pre-proceedings mechanisms for dispute resolution, whilst having the knowledge and experience, including counter-fraud capabilities, to fully defend, both procedurally and substantively, claims which should and can be fought.
"Through the range of professional indemnity work carried out by the firm, we understand that a claim can not only affect a professional’s reputation but can also have a profound impact on their ability to do their job,” continued Mr Doake. “Our specialists understand that professionals are facing increasing external pressures, with escalating instances of litigation and new statutory responsibilities and potential liabilities. We have the expertise to support and guide professionals through the legal process and the professional and personal pressures that come with it.”
McKinty and Wright take an industry recognised approach to risk management, headed by Sean McGahan, partner, who is the current chairperson of the NI Regional Group of the Institute of Risk Management and the firm’s in-house expert on the subject.
Mr Doake concluded. “We are members of the Insurance Fraud Investigation Group (IFIG), membership of which is only obtained with the approval of two leading insurers, giving us unrivalled access to counter-fraud intelligence. This intelligence is utilised on behalf of our clients, along with the access to latest case law updates and market developments McKinty and Wright has as a member of the Forum of Insurance Lawyers (FOIL).”
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