Northeast insurance firm Crutes has shaken up its management with the appointment of a new senior partner and the creation of a new partnership board.
Tim Wallis, formerly joint managing partner with Stephen Crute, has been named as senior partner Ian Robertson’s successor. Crute will take over as sole managing partner. Robertson will stay at the firm as a part-time consultant, although he plans to retire in the spring.
The new management board also includes partners Helen Ager, John Parker and David Drewe.
Crutes, which has offices in Carlisle, Middlesbrough, Newcastle and Sunderland, specialises in defendant personal injury work on behalf of insurance companies, NHS trusts and local authorities.
Wallis, who articled at the firm in 1976 and became a partner in 1981, was appointed as joint managing partner with Crute in 1996.
Robertson said: “It makes sense to hand over to Tim now as part of the restructuring plans that the firm is implementing.”
The shake-up is the culmination of a review that began 18 months ago, soon after the firm was engaged in unsuccessful merger talks with fellow northeast firm Jacksons. Observers said the review was the result of pressure from the Crutes’ insurer client base, which have been slashing panels in a bid to reduce costs.
Phil Corbett, head of business development at Jacksons, said: “The big insurance clients are not going to tolerate the traditionally run law firm. They are demanding a managed environment and a sense of consistency.”
Crutes has also invested £1m in a new IT system to integrate the firm’s four offices on a single system.
A version of this story first appeared on legalweek.net on 21 September.
