Fenchurch Law is ‘as good as it gets’ – a boutique policyholder insurance firm, it prioritises collaborative work with insurers – supported by a number of the team members who have experience working insurer-side, including Michael Robin who joined the team in December 2022 from DWF. David Pryce leads the team – a ‘razor sharp’ legal mind and ‘leader in the market’, he is the founder and managing partner of the firm, with notable expertise in construction cases, including those with an international element. Rob Goodship  is ‘one to watch’, with particular expertise advising on the Building Safety Act 2022; ‘brilliant litigator’ Joanna Grant has significant strengthin  Covid-19 claims, with expertise on high-profile business interruption claims.  Amy Lacey is experienced in alternative forms of dispute resolution; Jonathan Corman is ‘at the foremost of his field’, leading the firm’s financial and professional risks practice.

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP‘s insurance and professional risks team ‘works incredibly hard, is extremely knowledgeable and has the bravery to make the tough calls‘. An associate partner for the UK Association of Insurance and Risk Managers, the team works on a wide range of complex issues impacting policyholders, including energy claims, cyber insurance and warranty and indemnity insurance. The last of these is a particular area of expertise for the ‘fantastic‘ Sarah McNally. The team continues to be involved in advising high-profile clients on business interruption issues arising from the COVID-19 crisis, following its success in the 2020 FCA test case concerning such claims. Paul Lewis heads the team, head of the firm’s global contentious insurance and reinsurance practice. Praised for its ‘ability to give sound legal advice at each stage’ of a dispute, the team has expertise in alternative dispute resolution, with Alexander Oddy leading the firm’s practice in this area, as well as advising on policyholder claims in the energy and natural resources sector both in the UK and internationally.  Greig Anderson is particularly experienced working for financial institutions; Fiona Treanor combines energy claim experience with technical reinsurance work.

‘An absolute go-to for policyholder disputes‘, Reed Smith LLP‘s insurance recovery group is under the ‘great leadership’ of Peter Hardy, who is experienced in a range of insurance coverage claims including Bermuda Form disputes and D&O liability as well as political risk work. The team’s global reach means that it carries out extensive international work, with notable collaboration with US colleagues. It also has expertise in professional indemnity; marine, energy and property insurance; and reinsurance. ‘Exceptional litigator‘ Margaret Campbell acts for a range of high profile clients in complex disputes from energy risks to marine cargo insurance. Counsel Laura-May Scott, is ‘extremely able’ and provides an ‘excellent all-round service‘ – alongside experience with complex claims, she advises on risk management and regulatory scrutiny. Mark Pring is also recommended.

Joanna Page leads the litigation and investigations team at Allen & Overy LLP, an experienced team which represents companies in disputes against the Lloyd’s market, Bermuda market and international insurers. The firm’s wider financial sector expertise contributes to the team’s strong expertise in this market: acting in insurance disputes involving complex financial instruments and capital markets structures. It also has notable experience in the use of arbitration, with team members’ ‘excellent technical and commercial knowledge’ contributing to this form of dispute resolution. Russell Butland has particular experience regarding business interruption claims, as well as political risk policies.

The insurance team at Clifford Chance LLP sits within the wider litigation and dispute resolution offering, and is headed by Philip Hill, an expert in complex claims for high profile clients, including issues arising from the Ukraine crisis, and Covid-19 losses. The team has experience acting for banks, major corporates, private equity firms, aircraft leasing companies, with a number of particularly complex aviation claims led by Julian Acratopulo. It has additional expertise regarding the oil, gas, energy and construction sectors, drawing on the strength of Christopher Ingham. Dorian Drew specialises in investigations and regulatory enforcement action; Kate Scott has notable experience acting for financial sector clients. The team has significant experience acting for major sporting clients regarding Covid-19 business interruption.

The ‘outstanding, unflappable‘ Garbhan Shanks leads the team at Fladgate LLP, ‘known for the clarity of his advice and robustness of approach’. The team has experience advising on Covid-19 related claims for a range of industries, from retail and leisure to care homes and construction, an area in which senior associate Naomi Hall has particular strength. Additionally, it has expertise in coverage disputes including employers’ liability, political risk, corporate crime and cyber insurance. ‘Accomplished’ senior associate Harriet Chopra has notable expertise in the pharma industry, advising US policyholders on a issues including Bermuda Form arbitrations. The firm’s construction-related policyholder offering is headed by David Weare.

HFW‘s insurance and reinsurance group combines breadth of sector knowledge, from aviation and shipping to commodities and energy, with international reach – offices across the globe, including notable presence in Latin America, supported by Spanish-speaking London partners Jonathan Bruce and Christopher Cardona. It is experienced in complex international disputes including those involving onshore and offshore property, energy, mining and marine issues. Additionally, it has notable experience regarding renewable energy insurance. The team is co-headed by Christopher Foster, head of insurance for the firm; Jonathan Bruce, a specialist ion energy, property and marine insurance; and Nigel Wick, who has particular experience regarding market losses arising from Covid-19.

The insurance recovery and counselling team at K&L Gates LLP is led by Sarah Turpin, who navigates ‘the greatest issues with a steady hand’. It has experience assisting policyholders not only in dispute resolution but also with non-contentious advice including policy wording. The firm’s international reach supports its cross-border work in this area, including expertise regarding Bermuda Form claims, an area in which Ian Meredith specialises. The team also has experience in D&O liability, professional liability, cyber risk and property and business interruption – including claims arising from the Covid-19 lockdown. Matthew Smith has particular expertise regarding the construction industry.

Mishcon de Reya LLP’s ‘market-leading’ insurance disputes team ‘combines broad commercial awareness with targeted knowledge’, from expertise in Bermuda Form disputes to recent experience participating in the FCA Business Interruption test case and involvement in one of three ongoing test cases regarding Covid-19 aggregation issues. The growing team is led by ‘stand out partner’ Sonia Campbell, a specialist in life science work with and high-profile directors and officers coverage issues, and Richard Leedham – ‘one of the very best around’ – who has extensive experience acting for corporate policyholders across a range of industries. Ralph Fearnhead and senior associate Sophie Fairclough are also recommended.

Richard Wise leads the insurance disputes team at Addleshaw Goddard, recommended for his ‘superb grasp of technical issues, coupled with a plain-speaking style’. The team is particularly experienced in international insurance disputes, Wise and associate Laura Payne specialise in the Bermuda Form, with warranty and indemnity coverage an additional area of expertise; ‘first class‘ Natasha Winter has notable experience regarding claims supported by urgent injunctive relief.

The ‘excellent‘ team at Burges Salmon LLP combines experience in a range of coverage disputes with firmwide strength in the construction, transport, energy and financial services sectors. Matthew Walker leads the team from Bristol ‘with his great experience and commercial sensibility’, and is particularly experienced regarding construction insurance claims.  The team has notable experience in the financial services industry, working with the UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

The insurance litigation team at Edwin Coe LLP is led by the ‘absolutely first class‘ Roger Franklin, a specialist in cases involving allegations of fraud and under-insurance in business interruption claims. The team has developed a strong expertise in Covid-19 business interruption claims, including advising policyholder groups in regards to the FCA test case, and carrying out further test cases themselves. Alongside this expertise in BI claims, the team is also has notable experience dealing with complex quantum issues. ‘Excellent strategist’ Nicola Maher is recommended for her ‘tenacious’ approach, specialising in substantial property damage and resolving disputes through mediation; Michael Whitton is ‘hugely experienced’.

Aaron Le Marquer leads the policyholder disputes team at Stewarts Law LLP, joining from Fenchurch Law in September 2022, with a focus on high value, complex disputes arising out of geopolitical issues. It has extensive experience regarding Covid-19 business interruption claims, and sits within the frims’ larger team with access to tax, insolvency and sanctions specialists. ‘Aaron Le Marquer is genuinely outstanding’, with notable expertise in cross-border claims. ‘Excellent’ associate James Breese also moved alongside Le Marquer in 2022, a specialist in financial lines of insurance.

Stuart Hill and Dan Brooks lead the ‘standout’ team at Wynterhill LLP, ‘an ambitious young team with real experience in coverage matters‘. A number of team members have previously worked insurer-side, allowing for insight into a range of coverage issues. The team is particularly experienced in advising on professional indemnity matters in construction contexts.

James Morris leads the team at specialist policyholder insurance practice Indemnity Legal, a team which is praised as  ‘fantastic’ and ‘very knowledgeable and pragmatic‘. It focuses on complex, high value and high stakes work, and has notable experience dealing with Covid-19 business interuption claims. John Curran is ‘an excellent technical lawyer’, and is qualified in both England & Wales and Hong Kong.

Michelmores LLP‘s insurance and reinsurance litigation team draws on the firm’s wider commercial and corporate experience to provide support to clients across a range of policy types and sectors, including professional indemnity, D&O and public liability coverage, along with marine insurance. The ‘approachable, knowledgeable’ Jonathan Kitchin leads the team across Exeter and London.

The insurance for policyholders team at Wordley Partnership is co-led by Paul Wordley; Graham Denny; Alison Proctor; Costas Frangeskides; and Simon Schindler. Wordley has notable experience in international arbitration, Proctor advises on regulatory issues across a range of jurisdictions. The team is experienced in a range of complex and cross-border Covid-19 business interruption claims, and also has expertise in the aviation, energy, financial services, construction and sports sectors.