About Recovery First

Recovery First was founded in 2011 by David Johnstone and Sally Dunscombe, based on their firsthand experience of running off books of claimant personal injury work.

Initially Recovery First focused on the personal injury market but has evolved to assist in many other areas of law.

We offer a positive solution for those who are exiting the legal market due to insolvency, and via our sister company, R&R Solutions, for those exiting due to retirement, restructuring or voluntary exit.

Our unique scheme can assist with whole firm closure, or just specific departments.

The unique scheme offered by Recovery First is suitable for both professional advisors and law firms. Our team can manage the transfer of files from start to finish; placing case files with an approved law firm so as to protect the integrity of the client’s case, while at the same time maximising the value of the work in progress.

Recovery First’s services are suitable for all types of legal work, using a simple, ongoing process with no up-front costs – to find out more click here .

If you would like to find out more about Recovery First’s process, feel free to get in touch today via email (david.johnstone@recoveryfirst.co.uk), telephone (07887796989), or fill in the form on our “Contact Us” page, and we will contact you to discuss the process.

We operate from locations in the North West, Scotland and the South East, enabling us to assist companies throughout England and Wales.

Transcript

Running a law firm is challenging, and sometimes, changing legal market conditions, retirement or restructuring, mean it’s time for firms to exit certain practice areas or close entirely.

Recovery First is a specialised service provider that helps law firms in England and Wales exit a legal market, or even close or restructure, in a managed, compliant and profitable way.

We support a wide range of firms, from small practices to larger firms, that wish to withdraw from one or more areas of law, such as personal injury.

We can also help firms restructure, retire, or close down.

Recovery First also work with insolvency practitioners, accountants, corporate recovery specialists, M&A specialists and corporate finance specialists.

Recovery First provides a safe, discreet, and efficient way to exit, while preserving the full value of your work in progress.

Using our model, cases are seamlessly transferred to specialist solicitors within our trusted panel of law firms, and our proven process enables rapid case transfers with minimal disruption.

We provide transparent reporting, monthly accounting, and management of disbursements and funders.

The process is confidential, with no upfront costs, and is suitable for both small portfolios and large volumes of cases.

Recovery First. Helping law firms achieve the best possible outcome when restructuring or exiting the market.

Grant Saw Solicitors LLP

“With our Claimant Personal Injury partner retiring in 2014 we decided the time was right to step back from Claimant Personal Injury work. We reviewed the market options, were disappointed at the discounts being applied by potential buyers of the WIP and were subsequently referred to the methodology introduced by Recovery First offering the full realisation of WIP overtime. We are now pleased that we went with Recovery First, despite the concept being relatively new at the time, as it has effectively delivered what it said on the tin. Over the project period we have seen a steady flow of receipts being accounted for to us as per service level agreements, allowing us to recover the full value we had built up in the files."

- Mike Clary, Partner

Copley Clark

“Having taken a strategic decision mid-2014 to be completely out of the Claimant Personal Injury sector by the end of March 2015 we were Recovery Firsts’ first client to step back on a phased basis. PI-Solutions were happy to customise their offering specifically for us and I am happy to say it has worked a treat. We were able to focus our own resource on matters where we had a possibility of concluding within our own timetable and utilised Recovery First's panel firms to continue to work on other matters. Not only have their services allowed us to retain the value we had built in the files, the nature of the services ensured we were able to offer our clients the option of moving to firms with the skill sets required to best service our clients’ specific needs. For firms considering a departure from Claimant Personal Injury work we would have no hesitation recommending Recovery First."

- Malcolm Lawrence, Partner

FRP Advisory

“Having worked successfully with Recovery First for a number of years, we would have no hesitation in recommending their services when it comes to realising value from a book of claimant personal injury work. For one particular FRP Advisory project the realisations are approaching 100% of what was thought to exist at the outset, in a situation where we would have struggled to achieve 20% by way of a discounted sale. On that particular project a number of cases are still running and there is every possibility the full WIP value will be recovered."

- David Thornhill, Partner”

Farley Dwek

" We had an extremely positive experience working with Recovery First after making the strategic decision to move away from an area of law and retune our business model. The process was very straightforward, and we were really pleased with the overall outcome. We would highly recommend the Recovery First model as a practical solution to any law firm wishing to exit a specific sector.”

Jonathan Dwek, Director

Leonard Curtis

"I have worked with Recovery First on a number of projects, very successfully, over the years. Their process ensures that the clients’ cases are placed with firms with the specific expertise required to handle them effectively.

On a recent project, this was particularly relevant for some very high value military claims being brought against the Ministry of Defence – this is a unique area of law requiring detailed knowledge and experience.

The result being that matters have been successfully settling with the added benefit that the value recovered was not subject to a discount, but the full allocation of recovered profit costs.”

Andrew Gregory, Director

Leonard Curtis

“We have worked alongside Recovery First on a number of successful projects over a number of years and have been really pleased with the outcomes achieved. The monitoring of all matters by Recovery First and the associated accounting and reporting are of an exceptional standard, resulting in very smooth administration with maximum recoveries being created for the creditors. We plan on working with Recovery First for future projects and would have no hesitation in recommending their model to others”

- Andrew Poxon, Administrator

Rushton Hinchy Solicitors

Due to the changes in the claimant personal injury market, as well as our age and stage in life, we decided that a managed closure of our firm was the best option for us. We wanted to obtain the best value for our work in progress, so we contacted Recovery First who allowed us to transfer cases in various tranches whilst we stopped taking on new cases.

A phased closure allowed us to maximise our WIP recovery, whilst managing our costs base in line with a diminishing case load.

The process was smooth and straightforward. We would recommend the Recovery First model to any law firm wishing to exit a market.

Mooney Everett

“When I decided the time had come to step down from law firm ownership and go through a managed closure, the help that I was given from Recovery First was invaluable.

I needed to obtain the best value for our work in progress, whilst ensuring that our clients were looked after by solicitors who were experts in their type of cases.

By using Recovery First, I was able to transfer cases in various tranches while dealing with the formalities of closure with the SRA.

The process was smooth and straight forward and I would recommend the Recovery First to anyone wishing to restructure their firm or go through an orderly close down.

A phased closure allowed us to maximise our WIP recovery, whilst managing our costs base in line with a diminishing case load.

The process was smooth and straightforward. We would recommend the Recovery First model to any law firm wishing to exit a market."

It's never too late to speak to Recovery First. Contact us now in the strictest confidence

Sally Dunscombe:

sally.dunscombe@recoveryfirst.co.uk

David Johnstone:

david.johnstone@recoveryfirst.co.uk

Telephone

01357 440140

Manchester Address

106 Kennedy Building

Murray Street

Manchester

M4 6HS

Registered Address:

North Torfoot

Drumclog

Strathaven

ML10 6QG