7 King’s Bench Walk ‘contains the finest insurance barristers at the English Bar‘, with the set’s expertise including disputes over avoidance of cover, points of construction, and a wide range of coverage issues. The set recently maintained its track record in appearing in Supreme Court cases, including The FCA Business Interruption Test Case litigation (of considerable importance to insureds and insurers impacted by COVID-19 lockdown business interruption losses), in which the Supreme Court dismissed the insurers’ appeals and allowed the FCA’s appeals (albeit on qualified terms); and made significant new law on concurrent causation. Recently appointed silk Josephine Higgs KC represented the second interveners, the Hospitality Insurance Group Action; Gavin Kealey KC, and Andrew Wales KC and senior junior Sushma Ananda and rising star Henry Moore acted for Amlin; and Jonathan Gaisman KC and Adam Fenton KC represented Hiscox.
Insurance and reinsurance in
London Bar7 King's Bench Walk
Testimonials
Set
‘An excellent set, where the barristers have incisive intelligence, skill and extensive experience in exclusively commercial practice areas.‘
‘We treat 7KBW as our go-to set for coverage matters. It is unrivalled.‘
‘Contains the finest insurance barristers at the English bar. The strength, depth and experience of 7KBW is second to none.‘
‘7KBW is one of the pre-eminent chambers (if not the pre-eminent chambers) for insurance law, with considerable strength in depth in terms of leading and junior counsel.‘
‘7KBW has a barrister for almost every requirement. A very talented group of practitioners.‘
Clerking
‘The clerks are second to none and really understand the insurance sector that we operate in.‘
Brick Court Chambers
‘A leading set for insurance and reinsurance‘, Brick Court Chambers
‘ members are consistently instructed in major cases, their recent experience greatly involving COVID-19-related matters. Significant examples include Simon Salzedo KC‘s representation of an insurer that joined in the late 2020 FCA Test Case, which concerned business interruption (BI) insurance in context of lockdowns. In other areas, Mark Howard KC advised insurance group QBE on potential litigation regarding coverage of Canary Islands’ businesses concerning a 2020 sandstorm. Within the senior junior pool, Richard Eschwege KC‘s recent caseload includes acting in COVID-19-related coverage disputes under catastrophe reinsurance policies, as well as reinsurance matters under the Bermuda Form policy; and at rising star level, junior Tom Wood acted, along with 2021-appointed silk Tony Singla KC, for several art galleries and museums, which are claiming for pandemic-related business interruptions.
Testimonials
Set
‘Good strength in depth.‘
‘Brick Court has always been (and remains) a leading set for insurance and reinsurance.‘
‘Brick Court has an A-list of intellects who are good to work with.‘
‘Brick Court remains the best commercial set in my view, and attracts (academically) the best pupils.‘
‘Brick Court has a blue-chip reputation.‘
Clerking
‘The clerks are always available and easy to deal with.‘
Gatehouse Chambers
Gatehouse Chambers is ‘a very strong set, particularly at the junior end‘, with insurance work a major area of practice for the chambers, and being in alignment with its expertise in construction, property damage, commercial dispute resolution and professional liability, along with personal injury and clinical negligence. Paul Reed KC is a renowned expert in construction insurance matters; and with pub-related work a longstanding specialism of the set, senior junior David Pliener KC is acting for pub company Stonegate in the largest case to consider further lockdown business interruption insurance issues, following the recent FCA Test Case in the Supreme Court.
Testimonials
Set
‘Gatehouse has a market-leading team for construction-related insurance disputes.‘
‘Very good set – always someone available to assist and they run very useful training sessions.‘
‘A very strong set, particularly at the junior end – and it has some excellent senior juniors.‘
‘Strength in depth in the construction insurance field.‘
‘Gatehouse is a good set and has a strong insurance practice. I’ve never had an issue with availability of barristers and find that their training programmes have been consistently good over the Covid period.‘
Clerking
‘Always friendly, professional, and responsive.‘
2 Temple Gardens
With ‘a real history of serving the insurance and reinsurance market‘, 2 Temple Gardens‘ recent track record includes a significant volume of COVID-19-related work, including business interruption event cancellation insurance, travel, life insurance, private health, and supply chain interruption matters. Members of the insurance group leading such advice include Charles Dougherty KC and Neil Moody KC, along with senior juniors Daniel Crowley and Timothy Killen, who have been instructed by major insurers to advise on key points of principle following the 2021 Supreme Court FCA Business Interruption Test Case decision. The set has also experienced an increase in insurance-related international arbitration work, as well as instructions for complex cross-border disputes.
Testimonials
Set
‘2 Temple Gardens has a real history of serving the insurance and reinsurance market, and as a result has a level of industry knowledge that stands it apart from many others.‘
‘Great strength and depth across all insurance work.‘
‘I have always liked 2 Temple Gardens because of the depth of its experience in this specialist and niche area.‘
‘2TG is a first-class set with excellent practitioners at all levels of seniority.‘
‘2TG is a strong and impressive set, offering broad coverage across insurance law.‘
Clerking
‘Very smooth service.‘
4 New Square
A a leading player in insurance and reinsurance work 4 New Square is a ‘go-to chambers for its excellence of barristers and depth of skilled counsel‘. In a case brought under the Financial Markets Test Case Scheme by the FCA to establish the response of non-damage business interruption insurance extensions to the COVID-19 pandemic, David Turner KC led 2021-appointed silk Clare Dixon KC, and senior juniors Shail Patel and Anthony Jones, in the set’s representation of Royal & Sun Alliance. Elsewhere in chambers, Alison Padfield KC‘s advice is sought in relation to the insurance or reinsurance aspects of high-profile incidents, recent examples including the Grenfell Tower disaster, as well as the insurance issues surrounding COVID-19. Additional growth at the top end saw Helen Evans KC take silk in the 2022 round.
Testimonials
Set
‘Good strength in depth, particularly for insurance disputes.‘
‘4 New Square is our go-to chambers for its excellence of barristers and depth of skilled counsel in many of the fields we work in.‘
‘Leaders in reinsurance disputes, and they are particularly in demand when the issues involves multi-jurisdictional disputes.‘
‘As a set, 4 New Square focuses primarily on serving insurers, which can provide policyholders with a helpful perspective when we instruct them to act against insurers.‘
‘Great set with some wonderful silks and juniors.‘
Clerking
‘Very helpful clerks.‘
Crown Office Chambers
Crown Office Chambers is ‘a go-to set for insurance coverage issues‘. Its workload covers a vast range of contentious claims and coverage issues in the London market; and the set is particularly well known for its expertise in construction and energy, property damage, professional liability, product and employers/public liability insurance. Members are additionally instructed in diverse matters such as kidnap and ransom and force majeure issues, while being increasingly active in D&O, warranties, indemnities and cyber disputes. Andrew Rigney KC has particular expertise in coverage and Design Exclusion and London Engineering Group market clauses; and his recent experience includes leading senior junior Caroline McColgan in the representation of Zurich in the FCA’s Supreme Court test case, which was brought on behalf of small businesses seeking cover for COVID-19 lockdown-related business interruption losses, and is widely perceived to be the most significant insurance case of recent times.
Testimonials
Set
‘Crown Office Chambers is always my first choice. Very accomplished barristers who are a pleasure to deal with.‘
‘One of our go-to sets for insurance. Offers a high calibre of silks with some good juniors coming through too.‘
‘A go-to set for insurance coverage issues.‘
‘Excellent strength and depth.‘
‘My go-to set. Many members are great and I work with them regularly.’
Clerking
‘Very efficient, polite and pleasant.‘
Fountain Court Chambers
Fountain Court Chambers is ‘a fantastic set for insurance coverage disputes at all levels‘. The set acts in relation to various classes of insurance, including property and business interruption, directors’ and officers’ liability, and product and employer’s liability. Other key areas include political risk, trade credit, professional indemnity, contractors all risk, and warranty and indemnity insurance. David Railton KC routinely acts in some of the market’s largest incidents and losses; and further to her involvement in the COVID-19 lockdown business interruption-related FCA Test Case, Leigh-Ann Mulcahy KC is currently acting in Various Eateries Trading v Allianz, a pandemic-related claim for indemnity under a business interruption policy for losses resulting from the hospitality industry’s closure.
Testimonials
Set
‘Chambers is very strong and with real depth and quality. ‘
‘Fountain Court stands heads and shoulders above its competitors in terms of the quality of its barristers.‘
‘Fantastic set for insurance coverage disputes at all levels, and works well as a team. Very collaborative on business development and training opportunities, including internationally via its Singapore outpost.‘
‘Outstanding set for insurance work.‘
‘A very good set, with good silks and good juniors.‘
Clerking
‘The clerks are efficient and effective.‘
3 Verulam Buildings
With longstanding credentials in insurance and reinsurance disputes, 3 Verulam Buildings‘ is ‘a strong set of Chambers with lots of high-quality barristers‘. Recent work includes major COVID 19-related business interruption claims, including Tom Weitzman KC‘s representation of insured restauranteurs in arbitration proceedings, in which they sought to recover from their property insurer, ChinaTaiping, business losses resulting from the restrictions imposed on them in response to COVID-19; and Adam Kramer KC is a go-to policyholder silk for business interruption claims against insurers, reinsurers and brokers, since his representation (while still a senior junior) of the FCA in the high-profile test case it brought on behalf of business interruption insurance policyholders. The set is additionally highly regarded for its expertise in insurance regulation, with members frequently acting for policyholders, firms and the regulators.
Testimonials
Set
‘Very good insurance practitioners at this set.‘
‘A strong insurance set, with a growing insurance practice and an increasing number of members with insurance expertise. Particular areas of strength include (but are not limited to) most categories of non-marine insurance, broker’s negligence and the financial regulation of insurance.‘
‘We thoroughly enjoy working with 3VB and have found it to be a great set to work with – responsive and helpful.‘
‘3VB has impressive expertise, and I have never had a problem with access to Counsel on short notice.‘
‘3VB is a strong set of Chambers with lots of high-quality barristers.‘
Clerking
‘Clerks that are very user-friendly and willing to go the extra mile to ensure clients get a good service.‘
4 Pump Court
4 Pump Court has ‘good depth and strength in a wide range of insurance areas‘. The set routinely acts for insured parties, insurers, reinsurers and insurance brokers in disputes in London’s Commercial Court, as well as international arbitrations (including Bermuda Form arbitrations) across the world. Following Rachel Ansell KC‘s appearance in the FCA business interruption test case, she continues to act in matters involving COVID-19 cover, including defending a Lloyd’s Syndicate Managing Agency against a high-profile £60m claim in the Commercial Court, which was brought by Parkdean Resorts for cover allegedly provided by a business interruption policy. At the senior-junior end, Simon Goldstone is noted for his specialism in high-value construction all risks insurance disputes; and Alice Carse is a May 2022 arrival from Devereux.
Testimonials
Set
‘Chambers has a good, strong team for insurance work.‘
‘A real leading Chambers, especially in insurance and reinsurance.‘
‘4PC has good depth and strength in a wide range of insurance areas.‘
Clerking
‘Excellent – helpful, accommodating and good communicators.‘
‘The clerks are generally very helpful, particularly Stewart Gibbs. Stewart is very personable, and reaches out to understand us as the instructing solicitors and how best they can help us, both on a particular matter and more generally in the future.‘
‘Always a pleasure.‘
Essex Court Chambers
Fielding an ‘impressive range of individuals‘, Essex Court Chambers has a significant market presence in insurance and reinsurance disputes, with members regularly acting in claims before courts and arbitration panels in London, Paris, Vienna, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong, Singapore, the US and Canada among others. John Lockey KC routinely acts for insurers, reinsurers, policyholders and brokers in a broad range of insurance and reinsurance disputes and related litigation; and his recent experience includes representing Arch Insurance in the FCA’s lockdown-related business interruption test case alongside Jeremy Brier KC (prior to his appointment in the 2022 Silk round).
Testimonials
Set
‘Impressive range of individuals.‘
‘Excellent set.‘
Clerking
‘Very good.‘
‘The clerks are excellent.‘
‘All the clerks do a good job.‘
‘Excellent indeed.‘
Work highlights
Quadrant Chambers
With an insurance and reinsurance practice that covers both marine insurance and non-marine insurance cases, Quadrant Chambers‘ ‘strength in depth of experience is formidable‘. In recent highlights, Guy Blackwood KC and senior junior Benjamin Coffer successfully acted for the underwriters in Piraeus Bank v. Antares Underwriting (The Zouzou), a high-value claim which required a genuine stress-test by the court of the market’s standard mortgagee interest insurance policy clauses. Elsewhere in chambers, Luke Parsons KC is representing the reinsurers in The Prestige, arising out of a 2022 oil spill off the coast of Spain, the issue being whether the Spanish Government can reclaim the oil spill clean-up costs where there is an English arbitration clause and a decision in Spain. In November 2021 the set appointed its first female head of chambers, Poonam Melwani KC.
Testimonials
Set
‘Excellent set of chambers with some very strong barristers.‘
‘Quadrant Chambers is the go-to set for marine insurance matters.‘
‘Chambers’ strength in depth of experience is formidable. It has Counsel available to attend to every type of issue or instruction, and is always accessible.‘
‘Very user friendly, cost effective and always provide suitable Counsel for the job at hand.‘
‘Our go-to set for high-value or complex insurance disputes work. The strength in depth is fantastic. The silks are all highly competent; and, additionally, most of the members of chambers have first-class market knowledge across the sectors that our firm works in. What sets Quadrant apart is its practical and commercial focus. Clients really warm to this.‘
Clerking
‘Daniel Westerman always goes the extra mile to maintain and ensure a high level of client service, offering practical and commercial solutions to any issues.‘
Devereux
Devereux‘s members are consistently instructed on complex and high-value instructions involving all aspects of domestic and international insurance and reinsurance. Colin Edelman KC‘s cases are routinely at the forefront of insurance law, his recent track record including acting as lead counsel for the FCA at the Supreme Court, which clarified whether a variety of insurance policy wordings covered COVID-19 lockdown-related business interruption losses; and Andrew Burns KC is well-known for asbestos insurance cases, and assisting with direct claims against insurers under the Third Party Rights Act 2010. At the senior-junior end of chambers, Richard Harrison‘s recent highlights include acting for construction insurers in a claim involving one of the world’s tallest buildings.
Testimonials
Set
‘Specialist insurance/reinsurance set with a strong market reputation.‘
‘Very impressed in all my dealings with them.‘
Clerking
‘Knowledgeable clerks who are always able to provide assistance and guidance.‘
‘Cyrus Biggs in particular is hugely helpful and approachable. Always keeps you apprised of time frames and fee estimates, which is incredibly helpful in terms of client management.‘
‘Cyrus Biggs and Zoe Hamilton are both excellent clerks, who are very responsive and helpful.‘
Twenty Essex
‘Up there as a go-to set for insurance litigation‘, Twenty Essex acts across the whole spectrum of commercial insurance and reinsurance disputes, both in arbitration (seated in England and elsewhere, including Bermuda), as well as in court. Further to the recent high-profile pandemic-related FCA test case concerning business interruption, Philip Edey KC‘s recent activity includes a number of other lockdown-related business interruption insurance disputes; and Charles Kimmins KC‘s longstanding track record includes leading insurance matters that come before the Commercial Court and Court of Appeal. At senior-junior level, insurance and reinsurance work features prominently within Susannah Jones ‘ practice; and in a boost to Chambers, Joshua Folkard, who has a significant insurance practice, joined from 4 New Square in September 2021.
Testimonials
Set
‘Twenty Essex is up there as a go-to set for insurance litigation.‘
‘We use Twenty Essex heavily in our practice and it is a superb set; all of the barristers are reliably excellent.‘
Clerking
‘The clerks’ team is incredibly responsive and user friendly.‘
‘Arron Zitver really knows his market and is a pleasure to deal with.‘
‘The members of the team with whom I have interacted (Anthony Carroll and Arron Zitver) are extremely responsive and thorough in following up on the management of ongoing briefs.‘
7 King's Bench Walk
Testimonials
Set
‘An excellent set, where the barristers have incisive intelligence, skill and extensive experience in exclusively commercial practice areas.‘
‘We treat 7KBW as our go-to set for coverage matters. It is unrivalled.‘
‘Contains the finest insurance barristers at the English bar. The strength, depth and experience of 7KBW is second to none.‘
‘7KBW is one of the pre-eminent chambers (if not the pre-eminent chambers) for insurance law, with considerable strength in depth in terms of leading and junior counsel.‘
‘7KBW has a barrister for almost every requirement. A very talented group of practitioners.‘
Clerking
‘The clerks are second to none and really understand the insurance sector that we operate in.‘
Brick Court Chambers
‘A leading set for insurance and reinsurance‘, Brick Court Chambers‘ members are consistently instructed in major cases, their recent experience greatly involving COVID-19-related matters. Significant examples include Simon Salzedo KC‘s representation of an insurer that joined in the late 2020 FCA Test Case, which concerned business interruption (BI) insurance in context of lockdowns. In other areas, Mark Howard KC advised insurance group QBE on potential litigation regarding coverage of Canary Islands’ businesses concerning a 2020 sandstorm. Within the senior junior pool, Richard Eschwege KC‘s recent caseload includes acting in COVID-19-related coverage disputes under catastrophe reinsurance policies, as well as reinsurance matters under the Bermuda Form policy; and at rising star level, junior Tom Wood acted, along with 2021-appointed silk Tony Singla KC, for several art galleries and museums, which are claiming for pandemic-related business interruptions.
Testimonials
Set
‘Good strength in depth.‘
‘Brick Court has always been (and remains) a leading set for insurance and reinsurance.‘
‘Brick Court has an A-list of intellects who are good to work with.‘
‘Brick Court remains the best commercial set in my view, and attracts (academically) the best pupils.‘
‘Brick Court has a blue-chip reputation.‘
Clerking
‘The clerks are always available and easy to deal with.‘
Gatehouse Chambers
Gatehouse Chambers is ‘a very strong set, particularly at the junior end‘, with insurance work a major area of practice for the chambers, and being in alignment with its expertise in construction, property damage, commercial dispute resolution and professional liability, along with personal injury and clinical negligence. Paul Reed KC is a renowned expert in construction insurance matters; and with pub-related work a longstanding specialism of the set, senior junior David Pliener KC is acting for pub company Stonegate in the largest case to consider further lockdown business interruption insurance issues, following the recent FCA Test Case in the Supreme Court.
Testimonials
Set
‘Gatehouse has a market-leading team for construction-related insurance disputes.‘
‘Very good set – always someone available to assist and they run very useful training sessions.‘
‘A very strong set, particularly at the junior end – and it has some excellent senior juniors.‘
‘Strength in depth in the construction insurance field.‘
‘Gatehouse is a good set and has a strong insurance practice. I’ve never had an issue with availability of barristers and find that their training programmes have been consistently good over the Covid period.‘
Clerking
‘Always friendly, professional, and responsive.‘
2 Temple Gardens
With ‘a real history of serving the insurance and reinsurance market‘, 2 Temple Gardens‘ recent track record includes a significant volume of COVID-19-related work, including business interruption event cancellation insurance, travel, life insurance, private health, and supply chain interruption matters. Members of the insurance group leading such advice include Charles Dougherty KC and Neil Moody KC, along with senior juniors Daniel Crowley and Timothy Killen, who have been instructed by major insurers to advise on key points of principle following the 2021 Supreme Court FCA Business Interruption Test Case decision. The set has also experienced an increase in insurance-related international arbitration work, as well as instructions for complex cross-border disputes.
Testimonials
Set
‘2 Temple Gardens has a real history of serving the insurance and reinsurance market, and as a result has a level of industry knowledge that stands it apart from many others.‘
‘Great strength and depth across all insurance work.‘
‘I have always liked 2 Temple Gardens because of the depth of its experience in this specialist and niche area.‘
‘2TG is a first-class set with excellent practitioners at all levels of seniority.‘
‘2TG is a strong and impressive set, offering broad coverage across insurance law.‘
Clerking
‘Very smooth service.‘
4 New Square
A a leading player in insurance and reinsurance work 4 New Square is a ‘go-to chambers for its excellence of barristers and depth of skilled counsel‘. In a case brought under the Financial Markets Test Case Scheme by the FCA to establish the response of non-damage business interruption insurance extensions to the COVID-19 pandemic, David Turner KC led 2021-appointed silk Clare Dixon KC, and senior juniors Shail Patel and Anthony Jones, in the set’s representation of Royal & Sun Alliance. Elsewhere in chambers, Alison Padfield KC‘s advice is sought in relation to the insurance or reinsurance aspects of high-profile incidents, recent examples including the Grenfell Tower disaster, as well as the insurance issues surrounding COVID-19. Additional growth at the top end saw Helen Evans KC take silk in the 2022 round.
Testimonials
Set
‘Good strength in depth, particularly for insurance disputes.‘
‘4 New Square is our go-to chambers for its excellence of barristers and depth of skilled counsel in many of the fields we work in.‘
‘Leaders in reinsurance disputes, and they are particularly in demand when the issues involves multi-jurisdictional disputes.‘
‘As a set, 4 New Square focuses primarily on serving insurers, which can provide policyholders with a helpful perspective when we instruct them to act against insurers.‘
‘Great set with some wonderful silks and juniors.‘
Clerking
‘Very helpful clerks.‘
Crown Office Chambers
Crown Office Chambers is ‘a go-to set for insurance coverage issues‘. Its workload covers a vast range of contentious claims and coverage issues in the London market; and the set is particularly well known for its expertise in construction and energy, property damage, professional liability, product and employers/public liability insurance. Members are additionally instructed in diverse matters such as kidnap and ransom and force majeure issues, while being increasingly active in D&O, warranties, indemnities and cyber disputes. Andrew Rigney KC has particular expertise in coverage and Design Exclusion and London Engineering Group market clauses; and his recent experience includes leading senior junior Caroline McColgan in the representation of Zurich in the FCA’s Supreme Court test case, which was brought on behalf of small businesses seeking cover for COVID-19 lockdown-related business interruption losses, and is widely perceived to be the most significant insurance case of recent times.
Testimonials
Set
‘Crown Office Chambers is always my first choice. Very accomplished barristers who are a pleasure to deal with.‘
‘One of our go-to sets for insurance. Offers a high calibre of silks with some good juniors coming through too.‘
‘A go-to set for insurance coverage issues.‘
‘Excellent strength and depth.‘
‘My go-to set. Many members are great and I work with them regularly.’
Clerking
‘Very efficient, polite and pleasant.‘
Fountain Court Chambers
Fountain Court Chambers is ‘a fantastic set for insurance coverage disputes at all levels‘. The set acts in relation to various classes of insurance, including property and business interruption, directors’ and officers’ liability, and product and employer’s liability. Other key areas include political risk, trade credit, professional indemnity, contractors all risk, and warranty and indemnity insurance. David Railton KC routinely acts in some of the market’s largest incidents and losses; and further to her involvement in the COVID-19 lockdown business interruption-related FCA Test Case, Leigh-Ann Mulcahy KC is currently acting in Various Eateries Trading v Allianz, a pandemic-related claim for indemnity under a business interruption policy for losses resulting from the hospitality industry’s closure.
Testimonials
Set
‘Chambers is very strong and with real depth and quality. ‘
‘Fountain Court stands heads and shoulders above its competitors in terms of the quality of its barristers.‘
‘Fantastic set for insurance coverage disputes at all levels, and works well as a team. Very collaborative on business development and training opportunities, including internationally via its Singapore outpost.‘
‘Outstanding set for insurance work.‘
‘A very good set, with good silks and good juniors.‘
Clerking
‘The clerks are efficient and effective.‘
3 Verulam Buildings
With longstanding credentials in insurance and reinsurance disputes, 3 Verulam Buildings‘ is ‘a strong set of Chambers with lots of high-quality barristers‘. Recent work includes major COVID 19-related business interruption claims, including Tom Weitzman KC‘s representation of insured restauranteurs in arbitration proceedings, in which they sought to recover from their property insurer, ChinaTaiping, business losses resulting from the restrictions imposed on them in response to COVID-19; and Adam Kramer KC is a go-to policyholder silk for business interruption claims against insurers, reinsurers and brokers, since his representation (while still a senior junior) of the FCA in the high-profile test case it brought on behalf of business interruption insurance policyholders. The set is additionally highly regarded for its expertise in insurance regulation, with members frequently acting for policyholders, firms and the regulators.
Testimonials
Set
‘Very good insurance practitioners at this set.‘
‘A strong insurance set, with a growing insurance practice and an increasing number of members with insurance expertise. Particular areas of strength include (but are not limited to) most categories of non-marine insurance, broker’s negligence and the financial regulation of insurance.‘
‘We thoroughly enjoy working with 3VB and have found it to be a great set to work with – responsive and helpful.‘
‘3VB has impressive expertise, and I have never had a problem with access to Counsel on short notice.‘
‘3VB is a strong set of Chambers with lots of high-quality barristers.‘
Clerking
‘Clerks that are very user-friendly and willing to go the extra mile to ensure clients get a good service.‘
4 Pump Court
4 Pump Court has ‘good depth and strength in a wide range of insurance areas‘. The set routinely acts for insured parties, insurers, reinsurers and insurance brokers in disputes in London’s Commercial Court, as well as international arbitrations (including Bermuda Form arbitrations) across the world. Following Rachel Ansell KC‘s appearance in the FCA business interruption test case, she continues to act in matters involving COVID-19 cover, including defending a Lloyd’s Syndicate Managing Agency against a high-profile £60m claim in the Commercial Court, which was brought by Parkdean Resorts for cover allegedly provided by a business interruption policy. At the senior-junior end, Simon Goldstone is noted for his specialism in high-value construction all risks insurance disputes; and Alice Carse is a May 2022 arrival from Devereux.
Testimonials
Set
‘Chambers has a good, strong team for insurance work.‘
‘A real leading Chambers, especially in insurance and reinsurance.‘
‘4PC has good depth and strength in a wide range of insurance areas.‘
Clerking
‘Excellent – helpful, accommodating and good communicators.‘
‘The clerks are generally very helpful, particularly Stewart Gibbs. Stewart is very personable, and reaches out to understand us as the instructing solicitors and how best they can help us, both on a particular matter and more generally in the future.‘
‘Always a pleasure.‘
Essex Court Chambers
Fielding an ‘impressive range of individuals‘, Essex Court Chambers has a significant market presence in insurance and reinsurance disputes, with members regularly acting in claims before courts and arbitration panels in London, Paris, Vienna, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong, Singapore, the US and Canada among others. John Lockey KC routinely acts for insurers, reinsurers, policyholders and brokers in a broad range of insurance and reinsurance disputes and related litigation; and his recent experience includes representing Arch Insurance in the FCA’s lockdown-related business interruption test case alongside Jeremy Brier KC (prior to his appointment in the 2022 Silk round).
Testimonials
Set
‘Impressive range of individuals.‘
‘Excellent set.‘
Clerking
‘Very good.‘
‘The clerks are excellent.‘
‘All the clerks do a good job.‘
‘Excellent indeed.‘
Work highlights
Quadrant Chambers
With an insurance and reinsurance practice that covers both marine insurance and non-marine insurance cases, Quadrant Chambers‘ ‘strength in depth of experience is formidable‘. In recent highlights, Guy Blackwood KC and senior junior Benjamin Coffer successfully acted for the underwriters in Piraeus Bank v. Antares Underwriting (The Zouzou), a high-value claim which required a genuine stress-test by the court of the market’s standard mortgagee interest insurance policy clauses. Elsewhere in chambers, Luke Parsons KC is representing the reinsurers in The Prestige, arising out of a 2022 oil spill off the coast of Spain, the issue being whether the Spanish Government can reclaim the oil spill clean-up costs where there is an English arbitration clause and a decision in Spain. In November 2021 the set appointed its first female head of chambers, Poonam Melwani KC.
Testimonials
Set
‘Excellent set of chambers with some very strong barristers.‘
‘Quadrant Chambers is the go-to set for marine insurance matters.‘
‘Chambers’ strength in depth of experience is formidable. It has Counsel available to attend to every type of issue or instruction, and is always accessible.‘
‘Very user friendly, cost effective and always provide suitable Counsel for the job at hand.‘
‘Our go-to set for high-value or complex insurance disputes work. The strength in depth is fantastic. The silks are all highly competent; and, additionally, most of the members of chambers have first-class market knowledge across the sectors that our firm works in. What sets Quadrant apart is its practical and commercial focus. Clients really warm to this.‘
Clerking
‘Daniel Westerman always goes the extra mile to maintain and ensure a high level of client service, offering practical and commercial solutions to any issues.‘
Devereux
Devereux‘s members are consistently instructed on complex and high-value instructions involving all aspects of domestic and international insurance and reinsurance. Colin Edelman KC‘s cases are routinely at the forefront of insurance law, his recent track record including acting as lead counsel for the FCA at the Supreme Court, which clarified whether a variety of insurance policy wordings covered COVID-19 lockdown-related business interruption losses; and Andrew Burns KC is well-known for asbestos insurance cases, and assisting with direct claims against insurers under the Third Party Rights Act 2010. At the senior-junior end of chambers, Richard Harrison‘s recent highlights include acting for construction insurers in a claim involving one of the world’s tallest buildings.
Testimonials
Set
‘Specialist insurance/reinsurance set with a strong market reputation.‘
‘Very impressed in all my dealings with them.‘
Clerking
‘Knowledgeable clerks who are always able to provide assistance and guidance.‘
‘Cyrus Biggs in particular is hugely helpful and approachable. Always keeps you apprised of time frames and fee estimates, which is incredibly helpful in terms of client management.‘
‘Cyrus Biggs and Zoe Hamilton are both excellent clerks, who are very responsive and helpful.‘
Twenty Essex
‘Up there as a go-to set for insurance litigation‘, Twenty Essex acts across the whole spectrum of commercial insurance and reinsurance disputes, both in arbitration (seated in England and elsewhere, including Bermuda), as well as in court. Further to the recent high-profile pandemic-related FCA test case concerning business interruption, Philip Edey KC‘s recent activity includes a number of other lockdown-related business interruption insurance disputes; and Charles Kimmins KC‘s longstanding track record includes leading insurance matters that come before the Commercial Court and Court of Appeal. At senior-junior level, insurance and reinsurance work features prominently within Susannah Jones ‘ practice; and in a boost to Chambers, Joshua Folkard, who has a significant insurance practice, joined from 4 New Square in September 2021.
Testimonials
Set
‘Twenty Essex is up there as a go-to set for insurance litigation.‘
‘We use Twenty Essex heavily in our practice and it is a superb set; all of the barristers are reliably excellent.‘
Clerking
‘The clerks’ team is incredibly responsive and user friendly.‘
‘Arron Zitver really knows his market and is a pleasure to deal with.‘
‘The members of the team with whom I have interacted (Anthony Carroll and Arron Zitver) are extremely responsive and thorough in following up on the management of ongoing briefs.‘