Ian Adams - Director of Sales

Ian Adams joined First4Lawyers as director of sales in September after six years working in business development for National Accident Helpline and, before that, Premier Medical and Minster Law. Here the dad-of-two, from Leeds, explains why it’s a good time of year to join the business and how he’s happy to hit the ground running.  

I’ve worked in the industry since I was 18 and I always feel incredibly fortunate that something that began as a part-time job has become such a fulfilling career.

I started out working part-time in a call centre at 16, answering breakdown calls for what was then Green Flag, before moving into assessing motor claims when the business was acquired by Direct Line two years later. I spent five years there before becoming a fee earner at Minster Law where my career really started to progress.

I enjoyed the responsibility of having my own caseload but, as time went on, I realised I liked the commercial side much more. Eventually, I stopped fee earning to take up a place on the firm’s management training programme and ended up looking after their supply chain. I consider myself to be a people person and found that building and nurturing relationships with the likes of barristers’ chambers and costs lawyers, was something I really enjoyed.

I then worked as business development manager for Premier Medical and director of partnerships for National Accident Helpline before making the move to join First4Lawyers in September. Because we moved in the same circles, I knew a lot of the leadership team, so those relationships were already there. I also know a lot of the law firms and other links in the chain, such as medical agencies and insurers, so that has made for an easy transition.

My role is to oversee all things sales-related, with a particular focus on personal injury and clinical negligence, whilst making sure that our existing panel firms are also well looked after. Some of those firms have been with First4Lawyers from the start and we really value their support.

I will be working alongside Nick Delaney, our chief commercial officer, and our dedicated business development managers to make sure everyone has what they need. With my mix of experience in defendant, claimant, medico-legal and claims management work, I feel that I can make a real and positive difference.

For me, there is no better way of building relationships than through face-to-face meetings and there is no better time of year to do that than in the run-up to Christmas with the circuit of industry events and get-togethers. I love getting out and about and have already clocked up a fair few miles visiting clients all over the country to properly introduce myself and find out how we can better help them.

The personal injury market in particular has faced a lot of challenges in recent years, not least the reducing numbers of claims. I believe we have a very strong place in the market, however. As long as there are consumers, there will be claims and, as the Official Injury Claim portal has taught us, there will be a need for professional legal assistance to navigate what can be a complex area for many.

Outside of work, I live in Leeds with my wife and two sons aged nine and six. I enjoy playing and coaching football and watching Leeds United when I can. I’m a keen golfer and also enjoy running and walking. I have done events in the past, including the London Marathon and the Yorkshire Three Peaks, but as anyone with young children will know, it’s now a full-time job just keeping up with them and driving them around to their clubs and hobbies.