Mills & Reeve LLP's Norwich office houses significant expertise in professional negligence matters, for which the firm has a national practice across its office network. Handling professional indemnity, insurance and financial disputes, the firm focuses on complex and high-value matters, as well as coverage advice on policy issues. Stephen King and Neil Davies are the lead partners. King handles matters involving solicitors and clinicians. Davies has a particular focus on matters for surveyors, financial and pension professionals, and brokers. Principal associate Clare Howard, senior associate Matthew Wilson and associate Sophie Briggs are also recommended.
Professional negligence in East Anglia
Mills & Reeve LLP
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Testimonials
‘This is a team that you can have absolute confidence and trust in. The team has a wide range of skills and experience – allowing them to put together a robust and creative team that can face an issue with intelligence and flexibility on approach.’
‘Clare Howard is simply outstanding. She takes a thorough and detailed approach to claims. She grasps paper heavy claims quickly – sorting through the distracting elements and quickly identifying and addressing the heart of the claim and the real issues.’
‘A very experienced professional negligence team which absolutely deserves its first-tier ranking.’
‘Matthew Wilson is an excellent lawyer, measured and reassuring for clients on the receiving end of a negligence claim. You want him in your corner.’
Key clients
Countrywide plc and group of companies
Canopius Managing Agents Limited
CNA Hardy
Travelers
Pen Underwriting
Aviva Life & Pensions UK Limited
Protek Group Limited
W/R/B Underwriting
Everest Re
Knight Frank
Birketts LLP
Birketts LLP mainly handles claims against a variety of professionals such as solicitors and accountants, though it also has experience on the defence side. It has niche expertise in cases involving negligent probate advice. Max Roessler in Norwich leads a six-partner group across the firm's four offices. In Norwich, Bernadette Baker handles negligence claims concerning wills, estates and trusts, and associate Adam Blenkinsop, who joined from Hatch Brenner LLP, handles a broad range of claimant matters. Laurence Weeks in Cambridge is a member of the Professional Negligence Lawyers’ Association.
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Buckles Solicitors LLP
'Down to earth, hardworking and contactable' is how one client describes the litigators at Buckles Solicitors LLP in Peterborough who handle professional negligence disputes. The firm acts predominantly for claimants, though it handles some defence work for insured professionals. It handles a broad range of claims but is particularly experienced in matters of solicitors' and accountants’ negligence connected with estate planning and associated tax issues. Head of litigation James Maxey, a solicitor advocate and CEDR-accredited mediator, is the key partner. Senior associate Nick Porter has more than 15 years’ experience in commercial litigation and professional negligence work.
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Testimonials
‘We appreciate the seamless transaction between teams dealing with an issue that covers a multitude of specialisms.‘
‘Down to earth, hardworking and contactable.‘
Work highlights
- Acting for a company director in proceedings arising from the mis-selling of financial products; claimed value in excess of £2m.
- Acting for a company and its directors in proceedings against their former accountants for negligent tax advice.
- Acting for a beneficiary in a claim against solicitors for a negligently drafted Will which means they do not receive anything under their mother’s will.
Clapham & Collinge Solicitors
Clapham & Collinge Solicitors handles a range of claimant work involving solicitors and other professionals, though it also has the capacity to defend claims. Lead partner Philip Lumb has 17 years' experience in litigation, with professional negligence a prime focus for his practice. His team is based in Norwich but also provides services through the firm's offices in North Walsham and Sheringham. The firm recruited a solicitor and a legal executive to handle its growing workload.
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Work highlights
- Representing a client in relation to his claim for professional negligence in relation to his divorce proceedings.
- Acting for a couple in a potential claim for professional negligence due to failure to provide a right of way to their property when dealing with the conveyance of their previously owned neighbouring property.
- Successfully defended a claim at trial, where the claim was dismissed with no order as to costs.
Hatch Brenner LLP
Hatch Brenner LLP joins the ranking this year due to its growing workload of claims against solicitors, accountants, surveyors or architects. Partner Mark Fitch has 25 years' litigation experience and has a long track record in claimant professional negligence work, including numerous successes in mediation.
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Work highlights
- Successfully handled a claim against conveyancing solicitors who had erroneously reported that a property had title absolute when in fact it only had possessory title.