Forum of Insurance Lawyers (FOIL) elects new president

Anthony Baker, partner at Plexus Law, has been elected as the new President of the Forum of Insurance Lawyers (FOIL). He will be responsible for driving the organisation on key issues for the insurance industry in 2020, including whiplash reform, diversity and inclusion, and technological evolution.

Baker replaces James Heath, Partner at Keoghs, who during 2019 steered FOIL on issues including the Civil Liability Bill, whiplash reform and LASPO Part 2. At the same time, Jennette Newman, partner at Clyde & Co, has been elected as FOIL’s new vice president of the organisation. Newman served as president of London FOIL in 2019.

Commenting on his appointment, Anthony Baker said that 2020 is set to be a very significant year for FOIL, its members and the insurance community generally, particularly as new challenges relating to technology and climate change come to the fore.

“Because of this, it’s my privilege to have been selected to head up the organisation’s activities at such a critical time, not just for the UK insurance industry, but the UK as a whole,” he said.

“One of our chief aims over the next year is to continue to demonstrate the breadth of FOIL’s reach and ability. We have long been known for setting the agenda on personal injury but, over the past few years, we have opened up to a much wider set of areas – we now actively engage on everything from climate change, to diversity and technology, D&O liability and fraud. And, through the work done by our subsidiaries such as London FOIL, FOIL Ireland and Tomorrow’s FOIL, we’re able to understand an increasingly wide variety of markets and demographics. This means we can grapple with almost any issue that’s critical for the UK insurance industry.”

FOIL chief executive Laurence Besemer added: “Anthony’s experience makes him very well-placed to lead FOIL throughout 2020. He will no doubt be instrumental in helping the organisation navigate the difficult hurdles ahead for the UK insurance industry.

“Retention and recruitment within the insurance industry remains a prevailing issue for the sector. FOIL has an important role to play here and will use its position to encourage talented individuals to see insurance as a viable and interesting career option.”