Professional indemnity

As the mainstay of our practice for over 50 years we are experts in defending professional indemnity claims against professionals and institutions as well as advising upon regulatory investigations.

Professional indemnity

We have experience in the following sectors:

Accountants and actuaries
Barristers
Brokers
Construction and engineering professionals
Educational institutions
Emerging professions
Financial institutions and independent financial advisers
Solicitors
Surveyors and property professionals
Miscellaneous professions

Each case demands both early assessment and agreement on approach, time spent and cost. We work in partnership with our clients to ensure objectives are met and practical solutions found, while continually seeking to optimise the claim outcome, add value and operate cost-effectively.

Frequent communication with the client and early assessments of cost and indemnity reserves is crucial to help them: manage and predict financial exposure across their portfolios of claims and advise reinsurers accordingly; assist in pricing work and in dealing with specific risk renewals; and decide on a resolution strategy throughout the life of a claim.

Our Professional indemnity Experience

Power Plants, Philippines

Acting in the successful defence of an $80 million claim arising out of the construction of power plants in the Philippines. At the time this was the largest claim to be determined by the Technology and Construction Court.

Gerrards Cross railway tunnel, UK

Acting for a consultant and their PI insurers in the defence of a £150 million claim brought following the collapse of the Gerrards Cross railway tunnel.

Cambridgeshire Guided Busway, UK

Acting for the design joint venture in relation to the world’s largest guided busway in Cambridgeshire.

Accountants negligence claim, UK

Defending an accountant regarding allegations by a sport star of a failure to implement an image-rights structure for tax purposes.

Auditors negligence, UK

Acting for an auditor (and its insurers) in the defence of a claim for negligence and the alleged failure to identify fraud by the finance director of a charitable organisation.

Solicitors negligence, Ireland

Defending numerous claims against solicitors under a large scheme written in the Irish market.

Educational Negligence, UK

Advising educational institutions (including higher education) and their insurers on claims by current and former students arising out of alleged failures to provide adequate standards of service.

Defamation proceedings against an insured solicitor

Defending an insured solicitor in a large law firm in respect of defamation proceedings brought against him by another law firm in his capacity as a director of a management company. We obtained a very favourable settlement on nuisance value without an admission of liability.

Keydata litigation

Acting as adviser to the Lead Case Defendants in the Keydata litigation instigated by the FSCS. Defending claims for 50+ advisers in excess of £25m.

Solicitors negligence, Ireland

Acting for a top ten firm of solicitors and their professional indemnity insurers in the defence of a claim of negligence and breach of contract, with our insured having been joined as a third party by a financial institution. Damages of around €30 million were sought. Our handling of the matter, which included complex e-discovery and forensic issues, led to a complete vindication of our insured in the Court’s published judgement. Costs were sought and the vast majority recovered on a basis well in excess of party / party costs.

'The Cheesegrater' Leadenhall Building, UK

Acting for the structural engineer and their PI insurers in relation to claims arising out of the design and construction of the Leadenhall building (“the Cheesegrater”) in London. The total project cost was over £280 million.

Defective foundations in a warehouse, Ireland

Acting for a structural engineer and its professional indemnity insurers in action for negligence and breach of contract concerning defective foundations in a warehouse. Settlement achieved at mediation at €1.8 million inclusive of costs for complex professional indemnity claim against structural engineer.