Claim success story: how DCL and DWF saved over £151,000 for policyholders. 23rd July 2026 When one of its policyholders is involved in an incident, they need to know Direct Commercial Ltd has got their back. That means settling genuine claims quickly and fairly, while also challenging fraudulent, exaggerated and opportunistic claims that could unfairly impact them. Working alongside its legal partners at DWF, Direct Commercial Ltd has helped protect its policyholders and save more than £151,000 across six recent cases alone. Here's how. Telematics evidence in action. Savings: £3,971.95 The claimant alleged a collision involving one of its insured commercial vehicles. There was just one problem: the vehicle wasn't there. Using telematics data, DWF's specialist team proved that its policyholder's vehicle was nowhere near the location described in the claim. Faced with the evidence, the claimant discontinued proceedings, resulting in a complete defence of the claim. Claims farming concerns. Savings: £5,930.58 This claim raised concerns around potential claims farming, involving multiple hire companies and claimant representatives. Despite conflicting accounts of the incident, its insured driver stood by his version of events and remained committed to defending the claim. At trial, the court dismissed the claimant's case entirely and ordered witness expenses to be paid. The outcome also prevented further associated claims from succeeding. Challenging an inflated claim. Savings: £25,502.94 Not every claim is fraudulent from the outset, but some become exaggerated along the way. In this case, the claimant pursued extensive injury and credit hire claims that weren't supported by the evidence. Through detailed investigation and expert challenge, the court substantially reduced both the injury award and the hire claim. The result was a significant reduction in damages and associated costs. Inflated damage and hire costs. Savings: £49,770.78 This was one of the most significant wins in the report. The claim involved concerns over inflated vehicle damage and credit hire costs. Working together, DCL and DWF gathered independent engineering evidence and challenged inconsistencies throughout the claim. As pressure mounted and key evidence failed to materialise, the claimant withdrew the entire claim. A robust approach, combined with a refusal to accept figures at face value, delivered savings of almost £50,000. Dashcam footage is a game-changer. Savings: £61,204.03 Dashcam footage proved to be the game changer in this case. The claimant alleged significant injuries following what evidence showed was a low-speed impact. The footage not only challenged the circumstances of the incident but also raised serious questions around the credibility of the injuries being claimed. The claim was successfully repudiated, preventing more than £61,000 from being paid out. Medical evidence under scrutiny. Savings: £4,684.00 When medical evidence doesn't withstand scrutiny, claims can quickly unravel. This case involved injuries that were considered implausible when compared against the available evidence. DWF challenged the claimant's medical evidence directly, leading to significant weaknesses being exposed before the hearing. The claimant subsequently discontinued the claim, bringing the matter to an end. The bigger picture. These six cases alone delivered combined savings of £151,064.28. More importantly, they demonstrate the value of challenging claims that don't stand up to scrutiny. Through its telematics (Camatics) and dashcam (Connect) products, expert investigation and a willingness to defend cases when the evidence supports it, DCL and DWF continue to work side-by-side to combat fraud, exaggeration and opportunistic claims. Because when the facts don't fit the story, Direct Commercial Ltd is not afraid to ask questions. And when necessary, Direct Commercial Ltd'll fight the claim all the way. Find out more about how Direct Commercial Ltd has protected policyholders, reduced claims costs and continue to fight fraud...

Napthens welcomes two new litigation partners. Insight by: Nicola Mason | 29 June 2026 Napthens has strengthened its litigation capability across the north west with the appointment of two new partners in Manchester and Liverpool, supporting the firm's continued regional and departmental growth. In Liverpool, Colin Vickers joins as a litigation partner, bringing more than 20 years' experience in the legal industry, including 18 years as a qualified solicitor. He specialises in business disputes and commercial litigation, advising corporate clients and owner-managed businesses on complex and high-value matters, including shareholder and partnership disputes and contentious claims. Prior to joining Napthens, Colin spent 12 years with DWF in Liverpool before moving to Mann Roberts Solicitors as legal director and head of the Liverpool office, where he led a team handling complex shareholder and partnership disputes, as well as high-value contractual claims. In Manchester, Sven Clarke joins as a litigation partner, further strengthening the firm's presence in the city. Sven arrives from Myerson Solicitors, where he spent more than six years, most recently as a partner in the dispute resolution team. Prior to this, he spent over 12 years at Laytons LLP, progressing from solicitor to partner. Sven advises national and international clients across a broad range of sectors on complex, high-value disputes, including commercial disputes, professional negligence claims, debt recovery, board and shareholder disputes, and both contentious and non-contentious insolvency matters. David Bailey, partner and head of litigation at Napthens, said: "Sven's appointment is an important step in the continued growth of its litigation team in Manchester. He brings a strong reputation for client service, along with a collaborative approach that aligns closely with its culture. "Colin also brings extensive experience and a proven track record of supporting clients through challenging disputes. His appointment further strengthens our Liverpool team and reflects our continued investment in senior talent across the region." Kieran Donovan, head of the Liverpool office at Napthens, added: "This is an important appointment for our Liverpool team. Colin's experience and reputation in the local market will be a real asset as we continue to grow our presence in the city and support clients across the region." Both partners will work closely with Napthens' wider litigation team, supporting clients on complex disputes while contributing to the continued development of the firm's services across the north west. Nicola Mason | Head of People and Operations Nicola Mason is head of people and operations within the people team, based in the firm's Preston office.

Harrison Drury bolsters intellectual property offering. Independent Northern law firm Harrison Drury has appointed Asima Rana as partner in its Manchester commercial team as it continues to expand its specialist intellectual property expertise. Asima joins from DWF, where she was a director, and has previously held senior positions at Addleshaw Goddard and TLT. She brings extensive experience advising businesses on contentious intellectual property matters, brand protection strategies and complex commercial disputes. In her new role, she will lead the development of Harrison Drury's intellectual property offering, supporting clients nationwide on issues ranging from brand enforcement to commercially sensitive disputes. Asima's sector expertise includes retail, fashion, consumer goods, food and drink, where she has acted for a range of high-profile brands on strategic enforcement programmes and reputational matters. She said: "Harrison Drury is a firm with big ambitions and a genuinely collaborative culture. "The opportunity to grow the firm's intellectual property offering is a natural fit with my experience and I'm delighted to be joining at such an important phase of its journey. "My practice focuses on advising clients on complex intellectual property disputes and brand protection, where I work closely with clients to deliver practical, commercially focussed advice, and build strong, long-term relationships. "I'm looking forward to working with colleagues across the firm to strengthen our service across the region and support clients in managing disputes and protecting their intellectual property rights." Asima's appointment reflects growing demand for specialist intellectual property advice as businesses navigate increasingly complex challenges around innovation, product development and brand protection. Harrison Drury is currently marking its 125th anniversary, with a programme of celebrations taking place throughout the year. Rory O'Hare, partner and head of Harrison Drury's commercial team, added: "There is always strong demand from businesses looking for support to both protect and commercialise their intellectual property. "Asima's arrival improves our capability to protect our clients' interests and complements our existing commercial expertise. "She is one of the most respected intellectual property lawyers on the market and shares our commitment to building lasting relationships with clients to help them navigate complex disputes and manage commercial risk. "Her track record speaks for itself, and we are delighted to welcome her to the team." Want your business, product or service to be seen regionally and nationally? Bdaily helps you get your story in front of the right audience, every day. Find out how Bdaily can help Join more than 55,000 subscribers by signing up to our daily bulletin each morning here.