7 King’s Bench Walk is ‘undoubtedly the leading set for insurance disputes‘. Several of the set’s silks and juniors played roles in the leading insurance market test case (The Financial Conduct Authority v Arch Insurance (UK) & others), brought by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) against various insurers over pandemic-related losses and business interruption cover, including Jonathan Gaisman QC leading Adam Fenton QC and junior Harry Wright in the representation of Hiscox. In recognition of his longstanding work involving the insurance and reinsurance markets, Michael Holmes QC took silk in the 2021 round.
Insurance and reinsurance in
London Bar7 King's Bench Walk
Testimonials
Set
‘7KBW are undoubtedly the leading set for insurance disputes.‘
‘7KBW has become the go-to’ set for any insurance and reinsurance dispute. They have tremendous strength in depth.‘
‘I have worked with this set for over 25 years, and it remains a top-class set in insurance and reinsurance.‘
‘7KBW is my go-to set for insurance and reinsurance advice. All members are highly skilled and very experienced in insurance matters. They also have very good juniors coming through the ranks.‘
‘There are a number of good silks at this set, which I rate very highly for insurance work.‘
Clerking
‘I have always found 7KBW to be efficient and responsive to my needs.‘
‘Joint senior clerk Bernie Hyatt is particularly adept at finding solutions in double-quick time.‘
‘Eddie Johns and Gary Rose are among the best clerks I have seen.‘
‘The clerks are excellent – Joe Clayton is our go-to clerk, and he provides an impeccable service.‘
‘They are always pragmatic, and seek to find a solution to any tricky logistics or costs issues – provides a better service than any other set I have dealt with.‘
Essex Court Chambers
Essex Court Chambers regularly represents the London market, international insurers, policyholders and brokers in major insurance and reinsurance disputes. Recent high-profile cases include Financial Conduct Authority v Arch (UK) Insurance & Others, the test case on Covid-19 business interruption, in which John Lockey QC and junior Jeremy Brier QC represented the first defendant in both the Divisional Court and the Supreme Court. In other areas, David Scorey QC acted for Chubb in Halliburton v Chubb, a $100m claim under an insurance policy, which related to the $1.1bn claims settlement by Halliburton for the Deepwater Horizon incident in the Gulf of Mexico - the matter reached the UK Supreme Court on a point about the selection of arbitrators across multiple linked disputes.
Testimonials
Set
‘The barristers here are all very good people.‘
Clerking
‘Very effective and pleasant with it.‘
4 New Square
'A really effective chambers with excellent barristers', 4 New Square's recent insurance work was dominated by COVID-19-related litigation. In a test case brought by the FCA to determine whether certain business interruption policies would respond to COVID-19 losses, David Turner QC, and Clare Dixon QC (who was recently appointed silk) and Shail Patel, represented Royal & Sun Alliance. In other highlights, in Dreams Living v Allianz, Ben Elkington QC acted for furniture wholesaler Dreams Living, further to its warehouse burning down, which resulted in business interruption losses. Further significant developments for the set include George Spalton QC also taking silk in 2021.
Testimonials
Set
‘Go-to chambers for coverage disputes.‘
‘4 New Square has some excellent individuals – a very strong set.‘
‘4 New Square is a really effective chambers with excellent barristers.‘
‘The Chambers is full of really bright people who are good at what they do – I use them whenever I get the chance.‘
‘Strength in depth – always able to provide someone of a very good standard to help out.‘
Clerking
‘Lizzy Stewart is a very strategic senior clerk and CEO.‘
‘Very efficient clerks – team clerk Tom Woolsey was recently highly responsive to me, even out of hours.‘
‘All are responsive, particularly senior team clerk Andrew Call and deputy senior clerks Dennis Peck and Alex Dolby.‘
‘Dennis Peck is a pleasure to deal with.‘
‘Dennis Peck is excellent.‘
Brick Court Chambers
Brick Court Chambers 'has quality oozing from every pore'. In recent highlights, Mark Howard QC represented QBE in an unprecedented test case, in which the FCA sought declarations against eight insurers concerning the extent to which various non-damage business interruption policies respond to loss caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. In other developments for the set, Tony Singla QC, who acted for a number of insureds in substantial pandemic-related disputes and business interruption cover, took silk in March 2021. and Neil Calver QC departed chambers for the High Court bench in October 2020.
Testimonials
Set
‘Brick Court are obviously a heavyweight set and have some enormously experienced counsel.‘
‘Brick Court Chambers is absolutely first rate.‘
‘Brick Court needs little introduction- this set has quality oozing from every pore.‘
‘Excellent strength in depth in insurance and reinsurance.‘
‘Resurgence of reinsurance work is bringing out the skills of a number of Brick Court counsels.‘
Clerking
‘Good across the board and prepared to be flexible to accommodate clients’ budgets and timescales.‘
‘Brick Court’s clerks are open and easy to deal with in relation to availability and fees.‘
‘The service is excellent.‘
‘Practice manager Will Jackman and joint senior clerk Paul Dennison are both excellent, likeable and responsive.‘
‘Paul Dennison is a fabulous clerk – great with clients, very commercial and someone I trust.‘
Crown Office Chambers
An 'excellent set of barristers', Crown Office Chambers' workload covers most aspects of contentious claims and coverage issues in the London market; and the set is particularly well known for insurance matters involving construction, energy, property damage, professional liability, and employer and public liability insurance. Recent highlights include Andrew Rigney QC leading senior junior Caroline McColgan on behalf of Zurich at first instance (and in the Supreme Court), in relation to a headline test case brought by the FCA: the matter was brought on behalf of tens of thousands of small businesses seeking cover in relation to pandemic-related business interruption.
Testimonials
Set
‘Crown Office Chambers provides a very good all-round service in relation to insurance work and has good strength in depth.‘
‘An excellent set of barristers and go-to chambers for property damage cases for insurers – user friendly with lots of choices.‘
‘Crown Office are very reliable across the board and deliver a service, as well as technical excellence.‘
‘Crown Office are always willing to work with you and provide excellent training.‘
‘I consider this set to be excellent on coverage matters – we have our go-to two or three barristers but if they are not available, others are perfectly capable of stepping in.’
Clerking
‘The Clerks at Crown Office are exemplary. They run the place like a business, rather than an academic establishment and clients recognise and appreciate this.‘
‘Extremely well-organised clerks, who are also very helpful and responsive.‘
‘The clerks are all very professional and helpful, and able to find a solution if any problems arise. In particular, they are very easy to communicate with.‘
‘Senior team clerk Steve Purse and and team clerk Matthew Solari stand out.’
‘Steve Purse, Matthew Solari and junior team clerk Fraser Lining are all very responsive, knowledgeable and professional individuals, who go out of their way to provide support and assistance as best they can and at short notice as needed.‘
Fountain Court Chambers
A ‘leading set for insurance and reinsurance work‘, Fountain Court Chambers consistently acts on behalf of both insurers and policyholders in high-profile and precedent-setting disputes. A large number of members were instructed in the FCA’s recent High Court test case (FCA v Arch & others) on business interruption insurance, and whether it responds to claims arising from the coronavirus pandemic. Leigh-Ann Mulcahy QC, and rising star Max Evans acted for the FCA in the High Court; and Ben Lynch QC, who took silk during the 2020 round, was instructed, as lead counsel for the Hiscox Action Group, in both the High Court and leapfrog Supreme Court proceedings – the team also included Christopher Knowles .
Testimonials
Set
‘Fountain court is a leading set for insurance and reinsurance work, with a number of practitioners who practice at the highest level.‘
‘Fountain Court Chambers provides an excellent service at all levels.‘
‘There are some very strong insurance barristers in the set.‘
‘A very good set – one of my two go-to sets and there are lots of very good juniors.‘
‘A very high-quality set with great barristers.‘
Clerking
‘The clerking team provides an outstanding service to clients, and with a perceptive understanding of the insurance and reinsurance market.‘
‘The clerks are generally fantastic and a pleasure to work with.‘
‘Excellent clerking all round – the best around in my experience.‘
‘Joint deputy senior clerk Sian Huckett is excellent.‘
‘Team leader’s assistant Chloe Gibbs goes the extra mile with her service delivery.‘
2 Temple Gardens
2 Temple Gardens is 'strategically placed to offer expert insurance counsel at all levels of call'. Leading rising star Lucas Fear Segal, Bob Moxon Browne QC's recent highlights include representing the reinsurers (as defendants) in the headline life insurance claim by Alexander Perepilichnyy's widow; and Howard Palmer QC, joint leader of the insurance and reinsurance group, is acting for the defendant in Caisse Primaire D’Assurance Maladie de Deux-Sevres v Royal and Sun Alliance Insurance and Thomson, which comprises conflict of laws' issues, the content of compulsory motor insurance policies in France, and the right to pursue an insurance company in the UK.
Testimonials
Set
‘A specialist set in this area with very good strength in depth – 2TG is excellent, specifically for the quality of silks and availability of juniors.‘
‘2TG is my go-to chambers and I always instruct its cross-border team, as the barristers are all very knowledgeable and have a great deal of expertise.‘
‘The barristers are helpful and will always try to move matters around to accommodate. They also put on training regularly, which is very helpful.‘
‘2TG is strategically placed to offer expert insurance counsel at all levels of call. As a chambers it has been involved in leading Court of Appeal, House of Lords, and Supreme Court authorities in its core practice areas for the past five decades.‘
‘2TG has a strong insurance/reinsurance team, but what sets it apart is the cross-discipline experience. Unlike some sets, because 2TG covers diverse areas of work, its barristers are better able to assist where insurance issues overlap with commercial/cross-border/injury issues.‘
Clerking
‘The clerks’ room at 2TG is very experienced and will bend over backwards to assist.‘
‘They have a good appreciation of the strengths and weaknesses of their barristers, and are always able to make sensible recommendations of appropriate counsel.‘
‘Senior clerk Lee Tyler steers the ship extremely well.‘
‘Joint first junior clerk Billy Hammonds is particularly involved in the insurance and commercial side of 2TG’s practice.‘
‘Exceptional service – Billy Hammonds, in particular, is down to earth, approachable, and capable of having an open, honest and straightforward dialogue when it comes to fees and ensuring his barristers’ diaries are correctly maintained.‘
3 Verulam Buildings
Fielding 'several members who specialise in insurance and reinsurance disputes', 3 Verulam Buildings' leading barristers were recently instructed in claims under a wide variety of insurance policies, including securities claims under D&O Polices, mis-selling, cladding (and other construction policy-related claims), Covid-19 matters, and several reinsurance disputes. In one of the most important insurance cases of recent times, Adam Kramer QC (who took silk in the 2021 round) and senior junior Peter Ratcliffe acted for the FCA in its successful, high-profile test case, which it brought on behalf of business interruption insurance policyholders, and which was leapfrogged to the Supreme Court.
Testimonials
Set
‘Excellent set in these areas.‘
‘Always experienced good service generally from this set of chambers.‘
‘Provides a good overall service, with several members who specialise in insurance and reinsurance disputes, while others have an in-depth knowledge of insurance regulation.‘
‘Very good set of chambers with exceptional members, who are experienced well beyond their years – undeniable strength in depth.‘
‘Our experience of these chambers has been very positive indeed.‘
Clerking
‘Very good, with some decent flexibility on fees when the occasion requires.‘
‘The clerks’ room provides a good service.‘
‘The clerks are very responsive and helpful, as well as being very pleasant to deal with.‘
‘James Kelly and Jack Wheeler both have a very good understanding of the needs of clients.‘
‘Joint senior practice managers Stephen Penson and Stuart Pullum are fantastic clerks. They get to know how instructing solicitors work and understand counsels’ ways of working to ensure that the instructions and advice flow.‘
4 Pump Court
'One of the best insurance sets around', 4 Pump Court's members have a strong market reputation for their representation of insured parties, insurers, reinsurers and insurance brokers, both within the UK market (including Lloyd’s and the company market), and internationally in disputes in London's Commercial Court and international arbitrations across the world. In 2020, several of the set's members acted in insurance matters arising out of the pandemic, such as QBE UK's instruction of Rachel Ansell QC and Martyn Naylor in the The Financial Conduct Authority v Arch Insurance (UK) and Others, the leading insurance case on Covid-19-related business interruption insurance claims.
Testimonials
Set
‘One of the best insurance sets around.‘
‘Great insurance set with counsel that are always available.‘
‘Love working with this set.‘
‘They are my go-to set and have always delivered.‘
Clerking
‘The clerking team is the best I have come across.‘
‘The most helpful and accommodating set of clerks around.‘
‘The best there is.‘
‘Good clerks, who are sensible and helpful.‘
Quadrant Chambers
Consistently instructed in significant reported cases, Quadrant Chambers' insurance and reinsurance practice includes both marine insurance and non-marine insurance cases. In recent work, Luke Parsons QC acted in Icestar BV v ABN Amro Bank NV (on behalf of London market insurers), a five-week Commercial Court trial that was noteworthy because it considered a broker’s duty of good faith to explain orally the risk the client seeks to place; and Guy Blackwood QC acted in the Commercial Court in MS Amlin Corporate Member and others v Flora Shipping and others, a large scuttling case, in which serious allegations of fraud were levelled.
Devereux
Frequently involved in the most significant insurance and reinsurance-related disputes, Devereux's contentious insurance clients further benefit from the set's experience in complementary areas of work, such as professional negligence, employment, personal injury, tax, sport and pensions. In Financial Conduct Authority v Arch Insurance (UK) and Ors, widely regarded as the most important insurance case of the decade, and affecting many thousands of business interruption insurance policyholders across the UK, Colin Edelman QC was lead counsel for the FCA at the High Court and Supreme Court; and Richard Harrison led the junior counsel team for the FCA in the High Court.
Testimonials
Set
‘Devereux Chambers is a very well-respected set.‘
‘Counsel are always very busy, but they work together to ensure that work is turned around swiftly and appropriately managed.‘
Clerking
‘The clerking service is exceptional.‘
‘Very friendly and efficient clerking.‘
‘The clerks are all aware of the practice specialisms and capacity of counsel, and able to offer guidance as required/appropriate.‘
‘The clerks are highly efficient.‘
Gatehouse Chambers
Insurance work is a core practice area for 'consistently excellent set' Gatehouse Chambers, underpinning much of its work in construction, property damage, commercial dispute resolution and professional liability, as well as personal injury and clinical negligence. Following the major upheaval caused by the pandemic to businesses, many of the set's recent cases involved questions of coverage and force majeure. Paul Reed QC is an acknowledged expert in construction insurance work; and, regularly involved in large insurance disputes, Nigel Jones QC acted for Enterprise Insurance Company in the Supreme Court of Gibraltar in a high-profile claim against former directors for breach of duty and misfeasance.
Testimonials
Set
‘Great set – helpful, open, collaborative, very tuned into diversity and inclusion, and accessible and flexible.‘
‘Innovative and highly commercial – a modern set that projects excellent business-like, but friendly, qualities.‘
‘Really forward looking and decades ahead of some sets – a consistently excellent set.‘
‘Impressive set that is always happy to help.‘
‘A very generous and inclusive culture – a really excellent set.‘
Clerking
‘Very good clerking – quick response times and friendly.‘
‘Senior practice manager Richard Sumarno is easy to work with, and can be relied upon for realistic fees and availability.‘
‘Richard Sumarno and practice director James Duncan-Hartill are great clerks, as is practice manager Paul Nuttall.‘
‘Paul Nuttall is particularly noteworthy.‘
‘Great to have a very good CEO in Amanda Illing, who is excellent.‘
Twenty Essex
'A very strong set with barristers who are excellent to a person', Twenty Essex fields experts across the whole spectrum of commercial insurance and reinsurance disputes. The current pandemic gave rise to several insurance cases, including the highly-publicised FCA test case to assess business interruption insurance policies (FCA v Arch Insurance (UK) and others), in which Philip Edey QC acted for policyholders. In other areas, Charles Kimmins QC was instructed by the LCIA to intervene in the Supreme Court Halliburton v Chubb appeal, concerning issues of arbitral appointments in the context of Bermuda Form arbitrations after the Deepwater Horizon disaster.
Testimonials
Set
‘Twenty Essex is a very strong set with barristers who are excellent to a person.‘
Clerking
‘Superb service from the clerks.‘
‘Very responsive and always deliver as promised.‘
7 King's Bench Walk
Testimonials
Set
‘7KBW are undoubtedly the leading set for insurance disputes.‘
‘7KBW has become the go-to’ set for any insurance and reinsurance dispute. They have tremendous strength in depth.‘
‘I have worked with this set for over 25 years, and it remains a top-class set in insurance and reinsurance.‘
‘7KBW is my go-to set for insurance and reinsurance advice. All members are highly skilled and very experienced in insurance matters. They also have very good juniors coming through the ranks.‘
‘There are a number of good silks at this set, which I rate very highly for insurance work.‘
Clerking
‘I have always found 7KBW to be efficient and responsive to my needs.‘
‘Joint senior clerk Bernie Hyatt is particularly adept at finding solutions in double-quick time.‘
‘Eddie Johns and Gary Rose are among the best clerks I have seen.‘
‘The clerks are excellent – Joe Clayton is our go-to clerk, and he provides an impeccable service.‘
‘They are always pragmatic, and seek to find a solution to any tricky logistics or costs issues – provides a better service than any other set I have dealt with.‘
Essex Court Chambers
Essex Court Chambers regularly represents the London market, international insurers, policyholders and brokers in major insurance and reinsurance disputes. Recent high-profile cases include Financial Conduct Authority v Arch (UK) Insurance & Others, the test case on Covid-19 business interruption, in which John Lockey QC and junior Jeremy Brier QC represented the first defendant in both the Divisional Court and the Supreme Court. In other areas, David Scorey QC acted for Chubb in Halliburton v Chubb, a $100m claim under an insurance policy, which related to the $1.1bn claims settlement by Halliburton for the Deepwater Horizon incident in the Gulf of Mexico - the matter reached the UK Supreme Court on a point about the selection of arbitrators across multiple linked disputes.
Testimonials
Set
‘The barristers here are all very good people.‘
Clerking
‘Very effective and pleasant with it.‘
4 New Square
'A really effective chambers with excellent barristers', 4 New Square's recent insurance work was dominated by COVID-19-related litigation. In a test case brought by the FCA to determine whether certain business interruption policies would respond to COVID-19 losses, David Turner QC, and Clare Dixon QC (who was recently appointed silk) and Shail Patel, represented Royal & Sun Alliance. In other highlights, in Dreams Living v Allianz, Ben Elkington QC acted for furniture wholesaler Dreams Living, further to its warehouse burning down, which resulted in business interruption losses. Further significant developments for the set include George Spalton QC also taking silk in 2021.
Testimonials
Set
‘Go-to chambers for coverage disputes.‘
‘4 New Square has some excellent individuals – a very strong set.‘
‘4 New Square is a really effective chambers with excellent barristers.‘
‘The Chambers is full of really bright people who are good at what they do – I use them whenever I get the chance.‘
‘Strength in depth – always able to provide someone of a very good standard to help out.‘
Clerking
‘Lizzy Stewart is a very strategic senior clerk and CEO.‘
‘Very efficient clerks – team clerk Tom Woolsey was recently highly responsive to me, even out of hours.‘
‘All are responsive, particularly senior team clerk Andrew Call and deputy senior clerks Dennis Peck and Alex Dolby.‘
‘Dennis Peck is a pleasure to deal with.‘
‘Dennis Peck is excellent.‘
Brick Court Chambers
Brick Court Chambers 'has quality oozing from every pore'. In recent highlights, Mark Howard QC represented QBE in an unprecedented test case, in which the FCA sought declarations against eight insurers concerning the extent to which various non-damage business interruption policies respond to loss caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. In other developments for the set, Tony Singla QC, who acted for a number of insureds in substantial pandemic-related disputes and business interruption cover, took silk in March 2021. and Neil Calver QC departed chambers for the High Court bench in October 2020.
Testimonials
Set
‘Brick Court are obviously a heavyweight set and have some enormously experienced counsel.‘
‘Brick Court Chambers is absolutely first rate.‘
‘Brick Court needs little introduction- this set has quality oozing from every pore.‘
‘Excellent strength in depth in insurance and reinsurance.‘
‘Resurgence of reinsurance work is bringing out the skills of a number of Brick Court counsels.‘
Clerking
‘Good across the board and prepared to be flexible to accommodate clients’ budgets and timescales.‘
‘Brick Court’s clerks are open and easy to deal with in relation to availability and fees.‘
‘The service is excellent.‘
‘Practice manager Will Jackman and joint senior clerk Paul Dennison are both excellent, likeable and responsive.‘
‘Paul Dennison is a fabulous clerk – great with clients, very commercial and someone I trust.‘
Crown Office Chambers
An 'excellent set of barristers', Crown Office Chambers' workload covers most aspects of contentious claims and coverage issues in the London market; and the set is particularly well known for insurance matters involving construction, energy, property damage, professional liability, and employer and public liability insurance. Recent highlights include Andrew Rigney QC leading senior junior Caroline McColgan on behalf of Zurich at first instance (and in the Supreme Court), in relation to a headline test case brought by the FCA: the matter was brought on behalf of tens of thousands of small businesses seeking cover in relation to pandemic-related business interruption.
Testimonials
Set
‘Crown Office Chambers provides a very good all-round service in relation to insurance work and has good strength in depth.‘
‘An excellent set of barristers and go-to chambers for property damage cases for insurers – user friendly with lots of choices.‘
‘Crown Office are very reliable across the board and deliver a service, as well as technical excellence.‘
‘Crown Office are always willing to work with you and provide excellent training.‘
‘I consider this set to be excellent on coverage matters – we have our go-to two or three barristers but if they are not available, others are perfectly capable of stepping in.’
Clerking
‘The Clerks at Crown Office are exemplary. They run the place like a business, rather than an academic establishment and clients recognise and appreciate this.‘
‘Extremely well-organised clerks, who are also very helpful and responsive.‘
‘The clerks are all very professional and helpful, and able to find a solution if any problems arise. In particular, they are very easy to communicate with.‘
‘Senior team clerk Steve Purse and and team clerk Matthew Solari stand out.’
‘Steve Purse, Matthew Solari and junior team clerk Fraser Lining are all very responsive, knowledgeable and professional individuals, who go out of their way to provide support and assistance as best they can and at short notice as needed.‘
Fountain Court Chambers
A ‘leading set for insurance and reinsurance work‘, Fountain Court Chambers consistently acts on behalf of both insurers and policyholders in high-profile and precedent-setting disputes. A large number of members were instructed in the FCA’s recent High Court test case (FCA v Arch & others) on business interruption insurance, and whether it responds to claims arising from the coronavirus pandemic. Leigh-Ann Mulcahy QC, and rising star Max Evans acted for the FCA in the High Court; and Ben Lynch QC, who took silk during the 2020 round, was instructed, as lead counsel for the Hiscox Action Group, in both the High Court and leapfrog Supreme Court proceedings – the team also included Christopher Knowles .
Testimonials
Set
‘Fountain court is a leading set for insurance and reinsurance work, with a number of practitioners who practice at the highest level.‘
‘Fountain Court Chambers provides an excellent service at all levels.‘
‘There are some very strong insurance barristers in the set.‘
‘A very good set – one of my two go-to sets and there are lots of very good juniors.‘
‘A very high-quality set with great barristers.‘
Clerking
‘The clerking team provides an outstanding service to clients, and with a perceptive understanding of the insurance and reinsurance market.‘
‘The clerks are generally fantastic and a pleasure to work with.‘
‘Excellent clerking all round – the best around in my experience.‘
‘Joint deputy senior clerk Sian Huckett is excellent.‘
‘Team leader’s assistant Chloe Gibbs goes the extra mile with her service delivery.‘
2 Temple Gardens
2 Temple Gardens is 'strategically placed to offer expert insurance counsel at all levels of call'. Leading rising star Lucas Fear Segal, Bob Moxon Browne QC's recent highlights include representing the reinsurers (as defendants) in the headline life insurance claim by Alexander Perepilichnyy's widow; and Howard Palmer QC, joint leader of the insurance and reinsurance group, is acting for the defendant in Caisse Primaire D’Assurance Maladie de Deux-Sevres v Royal and Sun Alliance Insurance and Thomson, which comprises conflict of laws' issues, the content of compulsory motor insurance policies in France, and the right to pursue an insurance company in the UK.
Testimonials
Set
‘A specialist set in this area with very good strength in depth – 2TG is excellent, specifically for the quality of silks and availability of juniors.‘
‘2TG is my go-to chambers and I always instruct its cross-border team, as the barristers are all very knowledgeable and have a great deal of expertise.‘
‘The barristers are helpful and will always try to move matters around to accommodate. They also put on training regularly, which is very helpful.‘
‘2TG is strategically placed to offer expert insurance counsel at all levels of call. As a chambers it has been involved in leading Court of Appeal, House of Lords, and Supreme Court authorities in its core practice areas for the past five decades.‘
‘2TG has a strong insurance/reinsurance team, but what sets it apart is the cross-discipline experience. Unlike some sets, because 2TG covers diverse areas of work, its barristers are better able to assist where insurance issues overlap with commercial/cross-border/injury issues.‘
Clerking
‘The clerks’ room at 2TG is very experienced and will bend over backwards to assist.‘
‘They have a good appreciation of the strengths and weaknesses of their barristers, and are always able to make sensible recommendations of appropriate counsel.‘
‘Senior clerk Lee Tyler steers the ship extremely well.‘
‘Joint first junior clerk Billy Hammonds is particularly involved in the insurance and commercial side of 2TG’s practice.‘
‘Exceptional service – Billy Hammonds, in particular, is down to earth, approachable, and capable of having an open, honest and straightforward dialogue when it comes to fees and ensuring his barristers’ diaries are correctly maintained.‘
3 Verulam Buildings
Fielding 'several members who specialise in insurance and reinsurance disputes', 3 Verulam Buildings' leading barristers were recently instructed in claims under a wide variety of insurance policies, including securities claims under D&O Polices, mis-selling, cladding (and other construction policy-related claims), Covid-19 matters, and several reinsurance disputes. In one of the most important insurance cases of recent times, Adam Kramer QC (who took silk in the 2021 round) and senior junior Peter Ratcliffe acted for the FCA in its successful, high-profile test case, which it brought on behalf of business interruption insurance policyholders, and which was leapfrogged to the Supreme Court.
Testimonials
Set
‘Excellent set in these areas.‘
‘Always experienced good service generally from this set of chambers.‘
‘Provides a good overall service, with several members who specialise in insurance and reinsurance disputes, while others have an in-depth knowledge of insurance regulation.‘
‘Very good set of chambers with exceptional members, who are experienced well beyond their years – undeniable strength in depth.‘
‘Our experience of these chambers has been very positive indeed.‘
Clerking
‘Very good, with some decent flexibility on fees when the occasion requires.‘
‘The clerks’ room provides a good service.‘
‘The clerks are very responsive and helpful, as well as being very pleasant to deal with.‘
‘James Kelly and Jack Wheeler both have a very good understanding of the needs of clients.‘
‘Joint senior practice managers Stephen Penson and Stuart Pullum are fantastic clerks. They get to know how instructing solicitors work and understand counsels’ ways of working to ensure that the instructions and advice flow.‘
4 Pump Court
'One of the best insurance sets around', 4 Pump Court's members have a strong market reputation for their representation of insured parties, insurers, reinsurers and insurance brokers, both within the UK market (including Lloyd’s and the company market), and internationally in disputes in London's Commercial Court and international arbitrations across the world. In 2020, several of the set's members acted in insurance matters arising out of the pandemic, such as QBE UK's instruction of Rachel Ansell QC and Martyn Naylor in the The Financial Conduct Authority v Arch Insurance (UK) and Others, the leading insurance case on Covid-19-related business interruption insurance claims.
Testimonials
Set
‘One of the best insurance sets around.‘
‘Great insurance set with counsel that are always available.‘
‘Love working with this set.‘
‘They are my go-to set and have always delivered.‘
Clerking
‘The clerking team is the best I have come across.‘
‘The most helpful and accommodating set of clerks around.‘
‘The best there is.‘
‘Good clerks, who are sensible and helpful.‘
Quadrant Chambers
Consistently instructed in significant reported cases, Quadrant Chambers' insurance and reinsurance practice includes both marine insurance and non-marine insurance cases. In recent work, Luke Parsons QC acted in Icestar BV v ABN Amro Bank NV (on behalf of London market insurers), a five-week Commercial Court trial that was noteworthy because it considered a broker’s duty of good faith to explain orally the risk the client seeks to place; and Guy Blackwood QC acted in the Commercial Court in MS Amlin Corporate Member and others v Flora Shipping and others, a large scuttling case, in which serious allegations of fraud were levelled.
Devereux
Frequently involved in the most significant insurance and reinsurance-related disputes, Devereux's contentious insurance clients further benefit from the set's experience in complementary areas of work, such as professional negligence, employment, personal injury, tax, sport and pensions. In Financial Conduct Authority v Arch Insurance (UK) and Ors, widely regarded as the most important insurance case of the decade, and affecting many thousands of business interruption insurance policyholders across the UK, Colin Edelman QC was lead counsel for the FCA at the High Court and Supreme Court; and Richard Harrison led the junior counsel team for the FCA in the High Court.
Testimonials
Set
‘Devereux Chambers is a very well-respected set.‘
‘Counsel are always very busy, but they work together to ensure that work is turned around swiftly and appropriately managed.‘
Clerking
‘The clerking service is exceptional.‘
‘Very friendly and efficient clerking.‘
‘The clerks are all aware of the practice specialisms and capacity of counsel, and able to offer guidance as required/appropriate.‘
‘The clerks are highly efficient.‘
Gatehouse Chambers
Insurance work is a core practice area for 'consistently excellent set' Gatehouse Chambers, underpinning much of its work in construction, property damage, commercial dispute resolution and professional liability, as well as personal injury and clinical negligence. Following the major upheaval caused by the pandemic to businesses, many of the set's recent cases involved questions of coverage and force majeure. Paul Reed QC is an acknowledged expert in construction insurance work; and, regularly involved in large insurance disputes, Nigel Jones QC acted for Enterprise Insurance Company in the Supreme Court of Gibraltar in a high-profile claim against former directors for breach of duty and misfeasance.
Testimonials
Set
‘Great set – helpful, open, collaborative, very tuned into diversity and inclusion, and accessible and flexible.‘
‘Innovative and highly commercial – a modern set that projects excellent business-like, but friendly, qualities.‘
‘Really forward looking and decades ahead of some sets – a consistently excellent set.‘
‘Impressive set that is always happy to help.‘
‘A very generous and inclusive culture – a really excellent set.‘
Clerking
‘Very good clerking – quick response times and friendly.‘
‘Senior practice manager Richard Sumarno is easy to work with, and can be relied upon for realistic fees and availability.‘
‘Richard Sumarno and practice director James Duncan-Hartill are great clerks, as is practice manager Paul Nuttall.‘
‘Paul Nuttall is particularly noteworthy.‘
‘Great to have a very good CEO in Amanda Illing, who is excellent.‘
Twenty Essex
'A very strong set with barristers who are excellent to a person', Twenty Essex fields experts across the whole spectrum of commercial insurance and reinsurance disputes. The current pandemic gave rise to several insurance cases, including the highly-publicised FCA test case to assess business interruption insurance policies (FCA v Arch Insurance (UK) and others), in which Philip Edey QC acted for policyholders. In other areas, Charles Kimmins QC was instructed by the LCIA to intervene in the Supreme Court Halliburton v Chubb appeal, concerning issues of arbitral appointments in the context of Bermuda Form arbitrations after the Deepwater Horizon disaster.
Testimonials
Set
‘Twenty Essex is a very strong set with barristers who are excellent to a person.‘
Clerking
‘Superb service from the clerks.‘
‘Very responsive and always deliver as promised.‘