Solicitors
A large volume of the most important case law affecting claims against professions generally involves litigation against the legal profession and solicitors in particular. Claims relating to residential and commercial conveyancing and failed litigation have historically made up a substantial proportion of solicitors’ claims. That position is unlikely to change although new areas for criticism of lawyers will inevitably continue to arise: for example in relation to the introduction of Home Information Packs for residential property sales in June 2007 (if introduced) and failures to advise of alternative methods of litigation funding. The doubling of the Law Society’s required minimum level of solicitors’ professional indemnity insurance to £2m is just one example of the trend towards higher value claims suffered by the legal profession.
We have advised insurers and insureds over a number of years and since the demise of the Solicitors Indemnity Fund in 2000 we have been appointed as panel solicitors on several current schemes. Significant cases include a challenge to successor practice rules in relation to a £multi-million claim against a dissolved practice following successful minority shareholder litigation and a £multi-million web of cases involving allegations of unauthorised use of client monies.
Recent instructions also include representing legal advisers joined to the £multi-million Orion film finance litigation and acting for alleged partners in a group of firms in the defence of claims by the Law Society to recover up to £13m of client funds stolen by the firms’ principal.
No limit to costs payable by professional indemnity insurers - Insurance update - 8 February 2007
Are innocent insureds still safe? - Insurance update - 11 December 2006
The Football League Limited -v- edge ellison - 28 June 2006
