APIL accreditation for Lawford Kidd
22 Sep 06
Solicitors claim Scotland first for full-firm personal injury accreditation
Edinburgh-based Lawford Kidd has become the first firm of solicitors in Scotland to be accredited to APIL, the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers.
APIL is the recognised umbrella body for claimant personal injury lawyers. Its accreditation scheme was devised to raise the standard of representation by lawyers in personal injury cases. Established in 1990, it now has over 5,000 memebrs.
Lawford Kidd specialises in personal injury-related claims and it is regularly instructed by trade unions to bring claims on behalf of their members. The firm claims particular expertise in industrial disease cases such as those arising from asbestos and “vibration white finger” syndrome.
In one of its high-profile cases, IT consultant Colin Ashmore was awarded £219,200 damages against Rock Steady Security after being assaulted by a steward outside an Edinburgh night spot.
Senior partner David Sandison said: “Although there are now 29 individual solicitors based in Scotland who are accredited by APIL, we have become the first firm of solicitors to receive corporate accreditation. This has been awarded only after satisfying APIL, over a considerable period of time, that we have achieved the required standard of competence in personal injury work.
“This is a significant milestone for Lawford Kidd but I like to think it also highlights the fact that work in personal injury law requires skills unique to this sector.”