Bermuda-based Stirling Cooke Brown Holdings Ltd is continuing its struggle to improve the company's tarnished image and shake off the effects of costly law suits by appointing an acclaimed senior American lawyer as senior vice president and general counsel.

Stirling Cooke, a brokerage company, has taken on James Lawless, a 45-year-old attorney who specialises in litigation. The company last week had a multi-million dollar lawsuit filed against it by Odyssey Re for fraud and racketeering thrown out by a US Federal Judge.

The case made headlines around the world and helped push up stock prices in the company.

The company's most recent reports showed for the nine months ended 9/99, sales fell 7 percent to $58.5 million and net income before accounting change fell 81 percent to $2.3 million.

The company appointed a new chief executive officer and president, Stephen Crane in November last year and he pledged to renew the company's integrity and improve its profitability.

One way Mr. Crane said he would do this was by hiring staff with impeccable credentials.

Mr. Lawless is the first high-profile hiring since he made this statement at the beginning of the year.

Mr. Lawless is a member of the Bar in the States of New York, Delaware, and Pennsylvania and is also admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court and various other federal courts.

Most recently, Mr. Lawless has been associated with the firm of LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene, & MacRae, a New York law firm with a major insurance and reinsurance law practice.

President and chief executive officer, Stephen Crane, said: "Jim Lawless brings superb experience to the management and oversight of our legal activities, both internal and external.

"His appointment reflects our commitment to continue to strengthen the Company's management ranks with professionals of impeccable credentials and integrity.'' Stirling Cooke is a Bermuda holding company with offices in Hamilton.

Through its subsidiaries, the company provides risk management services and products predominantly to US based small-and mid-sized businesses, including those seeking cost-effective alternatives to traditional commercial insurance for certain of their risk exposures.

Stirling Cooke also arranges reinsurance for its products as well as for those offered by independent insurance carriers and reinsurance companies active in the workers' compensation, occupational accident and health, and casualty insurance markets.

On Friday the company's share prices were up 5.3 percent to close at $3.10.

The shares' 52 week high is $14.50 and low $1.00.