Whilst studying Accounting & Finance at Lancaster, Daniel Morris (Pendle,1991) took two modules of law, recommended in order to exempt him from having to sit some of the examinations required to qualify as an accountant. Those modules changed everything.

‘Law came alive for me. Suddenly there were people from history whose legal battles defined common law which is still being followed today. I found it fascinating.’

So fascinating that, armed with his 2:1, Daniel decided to pursue a legal career and applied to the College of Law to study the Common Professional Examination (CPE). He was accepted and moved to London, gaining a distinction in the CPE and a merit in the Law Society Finals.

‘I thought that was it – I would then become a lawyer. Little did I realise getting a training contract would prove to be so difficult.’

It didn’t help of course that there was a recession on but, after a lengthy stint as a paralegal with city giant Dibb Lupton Broomhead (now DLA Piper), Daniel eventually secured a training contract with Booth & Blackwell Solicitors in the West End.

It was there he met Simon Pinner, his litigation training partner with whom he would end up starting two businesses.

Shortly after qualifying as a solicitor in 1997 in the Personal Injury department, a marketing letter arrived which presented an opportunity to develop the department. Daniel and Simon did this together, growing it from three people to 80 in the space of two years. ‘It was a rollercoaster ride,' he recalls.

Daniel took charge of work flow and systems, using his A-Level in Computer Science to write case management procedures enabling work to be processed efficiently by paralegals. As the business continued to grow, Daniel became a partner and then soon afterwards, an equity Partner. Eventually though, it became apparent that the large department didn’t sit well with the other partners and, against Daniel and Simon’s wishes, the partnership decided to sell the business, which didn't feel right and was very hard to swallow. Consequently Daniel and Simon chose to leave and try something new.

‘I remember that first day when I was free from the pressure of running a large department. I felt the world was at my feet. It was exciting.’

Although Daniel had left everything behind, he had gained two partners in life – one in business and another, Mina, in marriage. Mina had been a paralegal in the department and, after Daniel left, Mina supported him financially and emotionally with his new ventures.

After trying a few ideas, Daniel and Simon set up Box Legal Limited in 2004, a broker providing 'After the Event' Insurance to solicitors.

‘As we had run a large PI department, we spoke the language of the very solicitors we were selling to. We designed products which we knew solicitors wanted as we had needed the same thing ourselves.’

The business took off and Daniel and Simon spent months on the road visiting firms and signing them up.

Seventeen years later, Box Legal Limited remains one of the foremost 'After the Event' insurance brokers in the UK, providing around 8% of ATE policies sold.

Daniel is still very happily married to Mina. They have three children.