United Kingdom > London > Insurance > Insurance and reinsurance litigation
Index of tables
Insurance and reinsurance litigation
Leading individuals
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- Timothy Akeroyd Elborne Mitchell
- William Allison Davies Arnold Cooper LLP
- Jane Andrewartha Clyde & Co LLP
- Nick Atkins Hogan Lovells International LLP
- Andrew Bandurka Holman Fenwick Willan LLP
- Jason Bright Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP
- Nigel Brook Clyde & Co LLP
- Tim Brown Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP
- Stephen Carter Carter Perry Bailey LLP
- David Chadwick Mayer Brown International LLP
- Dorothy Cory-Wright Sidley Austin LLP
- Trevor Davies Kennedys
- Anthony Dempster Herbert Smith LLP
- Susan Dingwall Norton Rose LLP
- Roger Doulton Clyde & Co LLP
- John Groome Fishburns LLP
- Jan Heuvels Ince & Co
- Richard Houseago Greenwoods Solicitors
- Chris Jefferis Ince & Co
- David Kendall Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge UK LLP
- Simon Kilgour Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP
- Richard Leedham Addleshaw Goddard LLP
- Anthony Lennox Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP
- Stephen Lewis Clyde & Co LLP
- Francis Mackie Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge UK LLP
- Adrian Mecz Chadbourne & Parke (London) LLP
- Michael Mendelowitz Norton Rose LLP
- Efstathios Michael Slaughter and May
- Clive O’Connell Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP
- Liam O’Connell CMS Cameron McKenna LLP
- Joanna Page Allen & Overy LLP
- Bill Perry Carter Perry Bailey LLP
- Raj Parker Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP
- Jolyon Patten Sedgwick Detert Moran & Arnold LLP
- Michael Payton Clyde & Co LLP
- John F Powell Hogan Lovells International LLP
- David Reston Herbert Smith LLP
- Peter Rogan Ince & Co
- Jonathan Sacher Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP
- Edward Smerdon Sedgwick Detert Moran & Arnold LLP
- Richard Smith Allen & Overy LLP
- Roderick Smith Clyde & Co LLP
- Joanne Staphnill Robin Simon LLP
- Stephen Surgeoner Clifford Chance
- Peter Taylor Hogan Lovells International LLP
- Stephen Tester CMS Cameron McKenna LLP
- Chris Warren-Smith Fulbright & Jaworski International LLP
- David Webster Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP
- Chris Wilkes Beachcroft
- David Wilkinson Kennedys
- Nick Williams Kennedys
- Paul Wordley Holman Fenwick Willan LLP
Despite several departures, including that of former practice head Jason Bright, Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP’s well-established reputation continues to attract new clients, which credit its ‘commercial rather than purely legal approach’, and service that is ‘second to none’, whether on mainstream or the most complex cases. The practice was reinforced by the arrival of several former Halliwells lawyers, including Helen Bourne and Damian McPhun. Kiran Soar is ‘commercial, and works well as part of a team’; David Abbott is ‘outstanding’ and Clive O’Connell is ‘one of the best reinsurance lawyers in London’. Victoria Sherratt is ‘a safe pair of hands’, and Maurice Kenton is ‘a very committed litigator’. Highlights included successfully representing at first instance CX Re in IRB Brazil Resseguros SA v CX Reinsurance Company Ltd.
Clyde & Co LLP has ‘strength in depth, including quality individuals at associate level’, and ‘a significant number of major players’. The practice’s insurance expertise includes areas such as aviation, marine, energy, P&C and political risk. It advised Houston Casualty Company (HCC) on a £250m international arbitration relating to property and business interruption claims following Hurricane Ivan. Michael Payton ‘demonstrates almost unrivalled industry knowledge, and universally recognised expertise’, and Nigel Brook is also highlighted for his comprehensive understanding of the field. James Burns, Nigel Chapman, Manoj Vaghela, and ‘rising star’ Jon Turnbull are also recommended.
‘One of the best in the field’, Ince & Co’s expertise in insurance extends beyond the firm’s traditional strengths in the marine and energy sectors to encompass aviation, political risk and reinsurance, among other areas. It is advising in a number of multimillion-pound reinsurance cases. Practice head Chris Jefferis is ‘commercial and user friendly, and a strong academic lawyer’. Joe O’Keeffe is ‘very knowledgeable on all marine matters, with a good understanding of how the market works’, and Rebecca Axe and Steven Fox are ‘bright, intelligent and creative’.
‘One of the market leaders’, Kennedys’ ‘very customer-oriented’ group is extending its reach in the insurance space, with teams in Sheffield, Lisbon and Miami. The team acted in various multimillion-pound direct and reinsurance coverage cases. Christina Macgregor and Chris Langford are complimented as ‘the best lawyers encountered at property major loss level’, and Trevor Davies has ‘huge experience in the field’. Nick Williams is a ‘brilliant tactician’; Matt Andrews is ‘shrewd and clever’; and Carole Vernon is ‘bright, enthusiastic and hardworking’.
Stephen Netherway heads CMS Cameron McKenna LLP’s insurance and reinsurance group, which is ‘a high-quality operation with considerable strength in depth’, underpinned by ‘the added bonus of the CMS network in continental Europe’. Recognised for its broker defence and reinsurance work, the firm successfully defended a multimillion-pound claim against Miles Smith and its insurers. It is also acting for Swiss Re and other reinsurers on the $2bn-plus losses arising from the 2007 Sempra wildfire. Liam O’Connell is ‘a great tactician, very commercial and client friendly’; Edward Foss is ‘able to influence the outcome of litigation’; and Andrew Symons is ‘a pragmatic adviser’. Clients are also impressed by ‘first-rate’ associates Anna Crew and Simon Garret.
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP’s insurance and reinsurance litigation group is ‘easy to work with’, and has ‘strong market knowledge’. Recent highlights include acting for Travelers in a defence and $20m counterclaim against Beazley. A key strength is the team’s contentious regulatory practice, and it recently represented Zurich in multi-jurisdictional regulatory investigations, and in the FSA’s subsequent UK enforcement action. Gillian Eastwood and associate Paul Wortley are ‘bright, hardworking and down to earth’, and practice head Raj Parker is also recommended.
Herbert Smith LLP’s litigation expertise makes it a strong option for insurance disputes, and although ‘not the cheapest, when specialist expertise is required it’s worth the money’. Its clients include insurers and reinsurers (such as RSA and Travelers), brokers (including Willis and Marsh), and corporate insureds (such as BP, RBS and Lloyds Banking Group). It is acting for Financial Guaranty Insurance Company in Commercial Court litigation concerning alleged fraudulent misstatements. Anthony Dempster is ‘outstanding’ for property claims, and Paul Lewis ‘commands respect’ for his industry knowledge. Practice head David Reston is also highly recommended.
With Hogan Lovells International LLP’s burgeoning Madrid office strengthening its Latin American insurance practice, the London team is acting for several South American insurers in coverage disputes. It is also acting for Sompo Japan Insurance on policyholder challenges to a non-life Part VII transfer. Nick Atkins and Stuart Hill are the key figures, with Peter Taylor now a consultant after retiring from the partnership in December 2010.
Holman Fenwick Willan LLP’s team, headed by Paul Wordley, is acting for reinsurers in multimillion-dollar claims arising from property damage and business interruption losses, and has seen a growth in natural resource related claims. The practice represents insurers, reinsurers, insureds, and brokers. The recent recruitment of Jonathan Bruce from Elborne Mitchell has deepened the group’s resources.
Mayer Brown International LLP is well regarded for its strengths in the political risk, D&O and financial institution insurance sectors, and valued for its international presence. It successfully represented two insurers in multimillion-dollar political risk LCIA arbitrations; advised clients on coverage issues regarding claims arising from the Icelandic banking collapse; and acted in a billion-dollar reinsurance arbitration. Clients include Chartis, AXA, ACE and QBE. Jim Oulton has ‘a brilliant legal mind but is also aware of the commercial ramifications’; group head David Chadwick is ‘able to handle high-value complex disputes’; Ingrid Hobbs is ‘commercial and very effective’; and Lindsay McQuillian is ‘leading the way in sanction work’.
Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP is highly regarded in the financial institution insurance sector, where the firm is ‘a cut above the rest’, fielding lawyers with ‘a great deal of expertise’. The firm has ‘a broad range of expertise, and quality personnel from associate through to partner’, and was strengthened by Jason Bright’s arrival from Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP. Simon Greenley is a ‘very experienced FI man who is well respected in the market’, and ‘raises arguments other lawyers have missed’. Rupert Boswall, Simon Goldring and Alan Stone are also recommended.
Beachcroft recruited Mark Sutton from Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP in 2010, deepening the ‘sound breadth of knowledge’ across the group. The ‘tactically astute’ Julian Miller ‘has a certain steel about him – the sort of guy that you want in the trenches with you’. He is advising RSA (among other insurers) in the Innovator litigation. Practice head Chris Wilkes advised Catlin and Equity in a dispute arising from World Trade Center losses.
Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP’s team is praised for its ‘high quality of work and strength in depth’, and is able to handle ‘complex, high-value disputes where attention to detail is important’. Jonathan Sacher is part of a team acting for Cavell and Randall & Quilter defending allegations of fraud. Anthony Lennox, who ‘has a willingness to fight every single point’, advised a name insurer in various reinsurance claims totalling over $300m.
Latin American disputes and Bermudian arbitrations remain significant sources of work for Chadbourne & Parke (London) LLP. Adrian Mecz, Michelle George and Christopher Cardona are key figures. Heidi Lawson, who is dual qualified in New York and England, joined the office in 2010. Clients include Munich Re, Brit Insurance, Novae, Canopius, and Whittington.
Clifford Chance’s insurance and reinsurance dispute resolution practice is led jointly by London-based Philip Hill and Stephen Surgeoner, along with Moscow-based Nicholas Munday. Hill ‘deserves a special mention’ – he is ‘very intelligent, and copes easily with highly complex issues’; and Surgeoner is ‘without question one of the leading insurance and reinsurance partners in London’. The firm represents both insurers and insureds, and has particular strengths in political risk and trade credit insurance.
Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge UK LLP’s core areas include the energy and offshore market, and Bermuda Form and reinsurance matters. Clients include Munich Re, Swiss Re, Coface and XL Bermuda. Practice head David Kendall, Francis Mackie and Mark Everiss are recommended. Everiss has ‘encyclopaedic knowledge of reinsurance’, and is ‘unflappable and reassuring, finding practical solutions in moments of difficulty’.
Norton Rose LLP is renowned for its very strong financial lines practice. The team provides ‘excellent’ service, and demonstrates ‘strong business acumen and industry knowledge’, as well as ‘value for money’. Susan Dingwall provides ‘efficient, pragmatic advice’, and is appreciated for her ‘no-nonsense and direct approach’. Clients include ACE, Chartis, Marsh and QBE.
Slaughter and May ‘gets to the root of issues at an early stage, and provides excellent strategic advice’ to insureds, brokers and insurers. Richard Clark and Efstathios Michael ‘belong in the top band of commercial insurance lawyers’. Michael successfully represented Equitas in High Court proceedings to pursue multiple reinsurance claims against its reinsurer, R&Q Reinsurance. Marsh & McLennan is a key client.
Addleshaw Goddard LLP advised Japanese reinsurer Aioi Nissay Dowa, a new client, on potential claims relating to World Trade Center liabilities exceeding $300m. Clients commend the ‘excellent service and commercial approach’, and practice head Richard Leedham is ‘very knowledgeable and user friendly’. The firm recruited Jamie Harrison from Winston & Strawn London, while Simon Twigden and Michael Green left to found niche litigation practice Enyo Law LLP.
‘A boutique law firm, with lower fees and fewer frills than the usual big players’, Carter Perry Bailey LLP provides ‘excellent and timely advice’. Its partners are ‘outstanding’, with Bill Perry particularly recommended for reinsurance disputes; Bernadette Bailey for ‘all liabilities and insurance related matters’; Stephen Carter for run-off litigation; and William Sturge for coverage issues. The team is handling work arising from the AGF v Lexington case.
Clausen Miller, L.L.P.’s ‘relatively small but highly professional’ team ‘punches well above its weight’. John Startin is ‘experienced, and has a great eye for detail’; Jane Beacham is ‘outstanding, and very focused on clients ’ needs, often going beyond the expected’; and Jonathan Hall is also recommended. Startin recently represented SCOR, Swiss Re and Liberty and their cedant in a multimillion-dollar coverage dispute with the original insured.
Davies Arnold Cooper LLP’s ‘very experienced and very able’ lawyers provide ‘good value for money’. Kenneth McKenzie, Danny Gowan, Philip Murrin, and the ‘pragmatic and commercial’ Michael Dobias are recommended, as is William Allison, who has been assisting Equitas in various multimillion-pound reinsurance recoveries against Mexican reinsurer Aseguradora Interacciones.
Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP’s of counsel Nicholas Rochez is leading a team advising RSA on liability and exposure relating to D&O cover for Northern Rock. Peter Sharp is advising several London market reinsurers (including Beazley Underwriting, Swiss Re and XL) in a major dispute with reinsurers in the GCC. Nick Greenwood ‘brings great clarity to matters, giving good, clear advice with realism and commercialism’.
Eversheds LLP represents insureds, brokers, insurers and reinsurers, and is acting in multimillion-pound reinsurance litigation for high-profile clients. New clients include Markel, Hiscox, Quinn, Barbican and HSB, and it has a growing policyholder practice. The team recruited Jeremy Irving from DLA Piper UK LLP. Matthew Allen and practice head Simon Brooks are also recommended.
Fishburns LLP has ‘a good depth of skilled lawyers’, who are ‘talented, dedicated and very pleasant to deal with’. The firm has handled multimillion-pound coverage disputes for market-leading insurers, and its client roster includes Mitsui Sumitomo, Canopius, Zurich and Trafigura. Ian Welland is ‘dependable and easy to work with’; John Groome is an ‘excellent negotiator with natural authority’; Peter Sewell has ‘a statesman-like wealth of knowledge and diplomatic approach’; Jonathan Moss shows ‘incisive understanding and attention to detail’; and Robert Lloyd is also recommended.
Lawrence Graham LLP’s team has ‘significant experience’, which was strengthened by the addition of Antony Woodhouse from Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge UK LLP. Woodhouse has ‘in-depth Bermuda Form knowledge’, and ‘beneath his easy-going and self-deprecating manner, he is incredibly sharp and insightful’. David Breslin is an ‘excellent strategist’, Nick Bradley is ‘one of the best’, and Simon King is recommended as one to watch. Clients include Allianz, Canada Life and QBE.
Edward Smerdon heads Sedgwick Detert Moran & Arnold LLP’s insurance disputes team, which advised several insurers regarding their exposure to substantial mis-selling claims. D&O liability, financial institutions, energy, and product liability and recall are all significant strengths for the team, which counts XL, ACE, Chubb, Torus and Chaucer among its clients.
Steptoe & Johnson has developed a solid reputation in the space, and earns ‘high marks for the quality of its advice’. It acted for several insurers and reinsurers in pharmaceutical liability insurance claims, and also represented Generali in the Commercial Court in Orient-Express Hotels Ltd v Assicurazioni Generali SpA. Angus Rodger, who ‘can be relied upon for particularly incisive advice’, is recommended along with associates Michael Wharfe and Tim Searle.
Bird & Bird’s team acts for insurers and policyholders, and has particular expertise in line with the firm’s strengths in aviation, aerospace, defence, energy and utilities. Peter Knight advised in a multimillion-dollar arbitration involving claims under a policy placed with South American insurers and reinsured in London. It also acted for RWE npower and its captive regarding an estimated £22m claim for indemnity from reinsurers.
DLA Piper UK LLP is ‘building an impressive global insurance practice’. The team continues to act for 38 international insurers, led by Munich Re and Swiss Re, regarding BHP Billiton’s $2bn property and BI claims. Charles Gordon, David Murphy and John Curran are recommended.
Elborne Mitchell advises on general coverage, and on liability claims and disputes arising from all risks (including political and war). The ‘impressive’ Rosalind Jones advises on insurance and reinsurance.
Mills & Reeve LLP’s team continues to handle property and general liability claims. It has grown its reinsurance practice, and acted for Minster Insurance in a claim against a Canadian reinsurer. Other clients include Axis Re, Capita and Whittington. Michael Mitchell and Victoria Jordan are ‘both very experienced in this field’, and Peter Driscoll is also recommended.
Pinsent Masons LLP ‘holds its own in a very competitive market’, and provides ‘an excellent, personal level of service’, ‘strong partner support’, ‘tailored advice’, and ‘value for money’. It represented a leading general insurer in a multimillion-dollar reinsurance dispute. Colin Read is ‘very knowledgeable in reinsurance’; Fiona Heyes is ‘able to problem solve the most complicated of matters’; and Alexis Roberts is also recommended. The team was strengthened by the arrival of Richard Slaven, formerly of Halliwells.
Robin Simon LLP, a boutique set up specifically to cater to the insurance industry, continues to enhance its reputation. Michael Robin and senior solicitor Joanne Staphnill are recommended.
Sidley Austin LLP bolstered its team by recruiting Martin Membery, formerly head of insurance at Pinsent Masons LLP. Dorothy Cory-Wright has been advising a Bermudian reinsurer, Pulsar Re, on the provisional liquidation of Lehman Re. Other clients include Lonmar Global Risks and Magnetar Capital.
Simmons & Simmons advises on insurance matters including coverage policies, D&O, product liability, financial institutions, professional liability and reinsurance. The team continues to advise on coverage issues arising from the Madoff Ponzi fraud. James Pollock, Christopher Braithwaite, William Rodger and Caroline Hunter-Yeats are recommended.
Marine insurance specialist Stephenson Harwood has a ‘very strong team that is extremely responsive and very commercial’. Its expertise includes disputes in hull, trade, commodity and energy insurance. It advised Torus on a $1bn coverage policy, and often represents RSA in coverage disputes. Simon Moore is ‘very focused, punches above his weight and is straight talking’, and practice head Alex Davis is ‘the go-to man on marine matters’.
Taylor Wessing LLP was instructed by Swiss Re to act for its reinsureds in certain marine claims. Recent arrival Susannah Wakefield is recommended, and has particular experience in Bermuda Form policies. Anthony Menzies’ work is ‘of a particularly high standard’.
Weightmans LLP’s two-partner team specialises in reinsurance claims and general coverage disputes, and has progressed well since its formation in 2008. Colin Peck is a ‘confident and knowledgeable reinsurance lawyer’.
Property recovery is a ‘particular strength’ of Berrymans Lace Mawer LLP, which provides a ‘very efficient service with a very capable team of partners and solicitors’. Warren King and Catherine Hawkins are ‘both excellent lawyers who provide a detailed technical opinion’, and ‘effective litigators’. Hawkins’ practice includes fire and explosion losses, and related coverage issues and litigation defence.
Fulbright & Jaworski International LLP’s Chris Warren-Smith is recommended for his ‘client-handling skills’, and Melanie Ryan for her ‘sheer commitment and approach’. The firm was retained to advise the London insurance market on its Madoff exposures worldwide, with losses exceeding $1bn. The team is on ACE’s panel, and also represents Novae Syndicates and Brit Insurance.
Greenwoods Solicitors’ defendant insurance practice is particularly strong for property and construction matters, and is underpinned by the firm’s expertise in personal injury, professional indemnity, and health and safety matters. Clients include Aviva, Direct Line and Provident. Richard Houseago, Mark Aitken, John O’Shea and Sarah Cochran are recommended.
Hill Dickinson LLP has notable expertise in financial risk insurance. Clients include Talbot Underwriting, Liberty and Chubb. Rhys Clift heads the team, and is recommended along with Paul Taylor and consultant David Godfrey.
Latham & Watkins LLP’s insurance group has experience litigating and negotiating with Lloyd’s, the London market and other international insurers. The team represented a large US-based reinsurer in two arbitrations against London companies and Lloyd’s syndicates regarding recovery of reinsurance proceeds. John Hull, global co-chair of the litigation department, and of counsel Jumana Rahman are recommended.
Plexus Law is well respected for property damage claims, including catastrophic loss, with Julia Wilkinson and her team noted for their ‘expert knowledge and personal service’. Subrogated recovery claims represent a large source of work, and the group successfully defended an insured of RSA against a £3m claim. Tim Roberts is recommended.
Victoria Brackett heads Thomas Eggar LLP’s four-partner insurance practice, which represents clients such as Abbey Legal Protection and Cavell.