A fisherman suffered catastrophic injuries when he became entangled in heavy fishing line. Airlifted to safety, Phillip had to undergo a traumatic amputation of his right leg. A specialist barrister advised that he did not have a personal injury case but Nicholas Bevan did not accept that advice.

"Some solicitors would not have pursued the case as vigorously as we did. We got the evidence together quickly. And we go that extra mile."

Nicholas' dedicated legal work pursued the case to a successful outcome and secured a compensation package that would mean his client got the best possible care.

"Another of my clients was an innocent victim who had accepted a lift home from a friend."

His friend crashed the car and Steven suffered a serious injury. His friend had been uninsured. Fault was disputed as they said Steven ought to have known that his friend was uninsured and that the car had been taken without the owners consent. Nicholas successfully fought their argument and secured compensation for Steven.

Nicholas has over 20 years experience as a personal injury lawyer working for both claimants and insurance companies, seeing both sides of a case. Nicholas now carries out the role of professional counsellor, a lawyers' lawyer. He advises both our personal injury team and insurance department on legal issues making sure all our lawyers stay ahead of the game on all up and coming legislation.

Nicholas has a national reputation as an established leader in his field of practice. Extensively published and a regular lecturer for other professionals Nicholas works with legal experts such as APIL and the Law Society not just to clarify the law but to help shape it.

A father under the complete control of two young daughters Nicholas' free time is rare. However when family and time permit Nick can be found orienteering and enjoying the great outdoors as well as discovering ancient history and a love for art and music.

External Publications and Presentations

BPILS Division I on damages

In February 2008 Nicholas Bevan was invited by Ian Goldrein QC to rewrite the introductory Division I on Damages of his seminal five volume loose-leaf practitioners' handbook: Butterworths Personal Injury Litigation Service (BPILS). The task, now underway.

Future Loss in Practice

Nicholas Bevan recognised and publicised the importance of reforming the way that compensation is delivered in catastrophic injury and high value future loss claims, when most commentators thought that the proposals were destined to become something of a 'dead letter' like its predecessor: the structured settlement. His concern was that many seriously and permanently disabled claimants' lump sum awards would not last their life time.
Nicholas later proposed and negotiated a publishing contract and was the principle author and general editor of the only detailed text book on the subject. Future Loss in Practice: Periodical Payments and Lump Sums has been reviewed by the Hon. Mr. Justice Langstaff, Chairman of the Master of the Rolls Working Party Report on Structured Settlements in 2002. What follows is an excerpt from his forward:

"...if this book informs, and clarifies, what a practitioner needs to know to advise properly as to periodical payments for future losses it will have performed a signal service. It should do so: its authors are to be congratulated in taking a subject which can so easily seem inaccessible, and in clear, discursive, informed and easily readable narrative discuss the principal areas where problems can be anticipated, provide the information needed to give adequate advice, and help a lawyer understand the advice which may be given by a financial advisor so that, in turn, he may help his client do so.

They have not shied away from controversy. They express a view as to 'indexation', the cases on which (Thompstone, Corbett, and others in a growing list) are to be reviewed by the Court of Appeal in November.......... if what is published is relevant, up to date and useful. This book is, and it deserves to enhance further the authors' reputations as practitioners of scholarship and distinction..."

The Thompstone Court of Appeal ruling in January 2008 has vindicated the premise upon which Nicholas' book was founded and the periodical payments mechanism is now employed extensively in high value injury claims. Nicholas Bevan's book is highly commended by Colin Ettinger, former APIL President, in his book review published in the New Law Journal in May 2008.

To highlight these issues further, Nicholas Bevan organised and presented at a day long conference: Future Loss in Practice on 20 April 2008. This was attended by a capacity audience of claimant solicitors, senior insurance managers, actuaries, barristers and practicing solicitors at the London Stock Exchange Building. Guest speakers included the two leading silks in the Thompstone appeal, then on its way to the House of Lords, the Government Actuary, The senior Government Statistician and Professor Lewis of Cardiff University. The feedback was excellent.

BPILS Division VII: Practitioner's precedent letters forms and checklists

In 1999 he compiled an extensive practitioner's library of precedents published by Butterworths, which he continues to maintain. The latest updated edition will be available in three different media from September 2008;

New Law Journal articles

Nicholas is a regular contributor to this country's leading legal journal.

• 11 August 2006 Second chances Nicholas Bevan
• 15 September 2006 Tipping the balance Nicholas Bevan
• 27 October 2006 Taking precautions Nicholas Bevan
• 26 January 2007 Future comfort Nicholas Bevan
• 23 March 2007 Second thoughts Nicholas Bevan
• 6 April 2007 Offers to settle Nicholas Bevan
• 20 April 2007 Getting personal Nicholas Bevan
• 25 May 2007 Future Provision Nicholas Bevan
• 21 February 2008 Future Proof Nicholas Bevan
• 15 August 2008 Auguring the Future Nicholas Bevan
• Forthcoming 2008 Reforming the MIB Nicholas Bevan

BPILS Quarterly bulletin

Nicholas Bevan's internal legal update newsletter is republished by the largest legal publisher in the UK as the BPILS Quarterly Bulletin. Nicholas has been the general editor of this bulletin since 2004;

BPILS Division VIII

In 2004 Nicholas Bevan assisted Allan Gore QC when updating the Pleadings Division VII within BPILS.

Speechwriting

Nicholas Bevan has assisted the partners on many occasions with research and high profile speechwriting. For example he wrote, Back to the Future, for Lea Brocklebank's inaugural speech as President of the Federation of Insurance Lawyers in November 2006.

He researched and compiled our current lecture series: 'Costs: is the satellite bigger than the planet?' with extensive notes and slides.

Responses to Consultation Papers

• Drafted the personal injury department's consultation response to the Ministry of Justice consultation on pleural plaques in September 2008;
• Initiated, drafted and delivered a cross-departmental response to the DCA Consultation Paper on Case Track Limits and Claims Process Review. Drafted and Submitted a 10,000 word response paper, in July 2007.
• Proposed, drafted and submitted a 6,500 word joint departmental response to the DCA Consultation Paper on Damages, in July 2007;
• Drafted a response to an informal consultation on Admissions, in 2006.

External training

Nicholas has been appointed by the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) as one of its official lecturers for the 2008/2009 season. In October he presented a full day's training on the MIB to APIL members in London and Manchester in October 2008, find out more about the conference.

The feedback for both lectures was excellent. 'Best course attended for a long time!'

In September Nicholas lectured with Dominic Regan on the Ministry of Justice's proposals for Civil Process Review at the International Underwriting Association in central London.
In March 2008 Nicholas presented an update on developments in tort law damages to the Bristol Law Society.
In February 2008 Nicholas presented two lectures to the Liverpool Law Society: one on RTA Damages, the other on the forthcoming reforms to the Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB).
In December 2007 Nicholas Bevan participated in one of the first ever live online tutorials (a Webinar) on Developments in Damages, broadcast from Lexis Nexis studios in London, find out more.

In December 2007 Nicholas addressed the International Underwriting Association in London on the cost implications to the insurance industry of the Thompstone Court of Appeal ruling on indexation of periodical payments. Nicholas is booked to return to the IUA in September 2008, to present on the civil process reforms and costs reviews.

Nicholas Bevan presented at the Practice Management Conference in London in April 2007 on The Client Facing Role of the PSL.