Focus On…Professional Liability
To say the last year has been eventful would be something of an understatement. The recent Covid-19 pandemic has given rise to a very large number of legal issues, many of which impact those dealing with Professional Liability cases. However, there have been a large number of other cases proceeding through the (online) courts which are not coronavirus specific.
Hardwicke’s Professional Liability team has been very active in the last few months, not only dealing with client matters but also providing training and other resources to assist all our contacts during this very difficult time. Our specific Covid-19 Hub is particularly useful in this regard.
The team is also starting to work on a second edition of the highly successful Risk & Negligence in Property Transactions, edited by leading professional negligence practitioner, John de Waal QC, and to which a large number of the Hardwicke team contribute.
We hope you find this Focus On…Professional Liability useful.
Recent articles
Throughout recent months, the Hardwicke Professional Liability team has continued to produce articles aimed at assisting those operating in this area. In case you missed any of these, just click on the links below:
- John de Waal QC and Thomas Bell looked at frustration and force majeure in the light of Covid-19.
- Jack Dillon and James Shaw picked up on the early lessons to be learnt in handling litigation remotely.
- Thomas Bell and Martyn Griffiths then looked at the topical issue of claims on insurance policies and against insurance brokers as a result of Covid-19.
- John de Waal KC reviewed what happens when experts get it wrong.
- He also looked at remote mediations and making them work.
You may also want to have a look at the articles we produced in relation to Commercial Dispute Resolution, Construction, Insolvency, Private Client and Property. Those specific to the pandemic are listed in the Covid-19 Hub.
Events
Hardwicke’s busy events programme moved online at the end of March and we started running a new form of event called the #HardwickeBrew: informal, interactive discussions managed by members of Hardwicke. These included:
- Surveyors’ negligence
- Relief from sanctions in a pandemic
- A two part series relating to online arbitrations
- Online mediation: practicalities and tips.
If you missed these, then some of the articles above and the following #HardwickeBrew Takeaway Cups may be of interest:
- Online arbitration: the practicalities of putting on and running an online arbitration
- Online mediation: practicalities and tips
We have a full programme of events planned for September 2020 onwards and we hope to see many of you online at these. One of the positive outcomes of the recent situation is the development of online events which enable many of you, who would not otherwise have been able to attend, to take part. The first event to take place will be:
- 6th October 2020 – When insolvency strikes. Jonathan Titmuss, Sarah Clarke and Ryan Hocking will be looking at the insolvency issues arising in professional negligence claims.
You may also be interested in the talks we have planned in relation to:
- CAR insurance. All these seminars run for 45 minutes at midday.
- 16th September 2020: The meaning of damage and inherent vice – what is the difference?
- 4th November 2020: Claims – making and defending them.
- 13th January 2021: WELCAR: an update.
- 17th February 2021: Public liability insurance – what does it cover?
- 17th March 2021: LEG clauses – the latest thinking.
- 14th April 2021: Coinsurance, the effect of Haberdashers and the rights of contractors – are you insured?
- Professional indemnity insurance (dates to be advised). These will cover:
- Liability of construction professionals and professional liability insurance.
- Issues to watch – notification, aggregation and exceptions to cover.
- Handling claims – What to do where there is (or may be) professional liability insurance.
You can sign up to any of these by either following the requisite link or emailing events@gatehouselaw.co.uk
News from the Hardwicke Professional Liability Team
Amidst work commitments, various other things have been happening for the Hardwicke Professional Liability team:
- Rupert Higgins and Jamal Demachkie were appointed Deputy District Judges. Rupert also became a First Tier Tribunal Judge.
- The team was joined by Emily Husain, Mark O’Grady and Joshua Griffin.
- Brie Stevens-Hoare KC has been shortlisted for Barrister/Advocate of the Year at the Women in Law Awards 2020.
Areas of Practice
The team covers all aspects of Professional Liability including:
- Clinical Negligence
- Financial professionals, insolvency professionals, directors and officers
- Legal professionals
- Property & construction professionals
You can find out more about each area by going to the Professional Liability page on our website. In addition to these areas, the team also handle other forms of ADR including mediation, expert determinaton and early neutral evaluation. There are more details on their individual profiles and on the ADR Hub.
If you would like to discuss a possible instruction, please contact the Practice Management Team.
There is also a dedicated suite of useful information and documentation on our Covid-19 Hub.
Disclaimer
This content is provided free of charge for information purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied on as such. No responsibility for the accuracy and/or correctness of the information and commentary set out in the article, or for any consequences of relying on it, is assumed or accepted by any member of Chambers or by Chambers as a whole.
