Next Generation Partners

Professional negligence in Wales

DAC Beachcroft LLP

Acting independently, as well as alongside lawyers from the firm’s Bristol office, the ‘very approachable’ Newport-based team at DAC Beachcroft LLP provides ‘sensible, clear and commercial advice’ to an exclusively defendant-focused client base across a range of professional negligence claims, often involving multiple claimants. Most of this work relates to claims brought against solicitors, an area that the firm is ‘extremely knowledgeable both in the legal issues affecting a case and on regulatory matters’. Drawing upon ‘unparalleled client care and industry knowledge’, team head Clare Hughes-Williams is ‘very well respected’ in relation to private litigation, as well as disciplinary hearings involving the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Praised for her ‘very methodical’ approach, which helps to ‘narrow down any contentious issues’, Catrin Davies is also a key member of the team, as is Tom Bedford, who ‘fights for his clients while keeping a close eye on the commercial reality of the situation’. 

Practice head(s):

Clare Hughes-Williams


Other key lawyers:

Catrin Davies; Tom Bedford; Sophie Ruffles; James Bowen


Testimonials

The very approachable team provides sensible, clear and commercial advice.’

‘Extremely knowledgeable both in the legal issues affecting a case and on regulatory matters.’

The team is really efficient and cost effective.’

Key clients

Beazley


AmTrust


Aviva


Axa XL


Munich Re


QBE Insurance Company


Tokyo Marine HCCI


Travelers Insurance Company Ltd


W R Berkley Insurance (Europe) Ltd


Zurich


Axis


AIG


Hiscox


Work highlights


  • Defending Kesar & Co against SRA allegations of deliberate and serious Accounts Rules breaches and a lack of integrity.

Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP

Making efficient use of legal technology and also often acting on a contingency basis, Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP provides a ‘responsive and cost-effective’ service to banks in professional negligence claims brought against solicitors and surveyors stemming primarily from secured commercial and residential lending. Nick Rundle is often at the forefront of this secured recoveries work arising from commercial lending, as is Wayne Davies , who is ‘easy to deal with and good at gathering together the correct information', including in cases involving large portfolios both under commercial ownership or owned by individual buy-to-let landlords. Gareth Vowles has ‘a commercial approach which ensures the best result for clients’, including intermediaries, lenders and asset managers as defendants in claims arising from alleged negligent advice and/or the mis-selling of a myriad of financial products – instructions which account for some of his workload in his role as head of the office’s financial services disputes and investigations team. As well as handling claimant work for banks, including in the context of professional negligence allegations of mortgage fraud, James Coleman also regularly acts for financial institutions clients in internal and regulatory investigations.

Practice head(s):

Nick Rundle; Gareth Vowles; Tom Black


Other key lawyers:

Wayne Davies; James Coleman; Lindsey Caddy; Tiffany Neville; David Sweet; Yassmin Yehia


Testimonials

They are responsive and cost effective.’

Gareth Vowles has a commercial approach which ensures the best result for the clients.’

‘Wayne Davies – Easy to deal with, good at gathering together the correct information.’

Key clients

Santander UK


Bank of Ireland


Nationwide (including The Mortgage Works and UCB)


Investec/Kensington Mortgages


HSBC


Castle Trust Capital


West One Finance


Onesavings Bank


Metro Bank


Charter Court Financial Services


Work highlights


Hugh James

The ‘strong and approachable’ team at Hugh James has a ‘real depth of experience’ on behalf of individuals, businesses, banks and public sector clients seeking recourse against professional services entities relating to a range of professional negligence claims. A considerable number of these are brought against the legal profession, including many relating to personal injury matters, either alleging an under settlement in claims or in the context of advice provided by lawyers in the original underlying claim. The firm also has a ‘particular expertise in group claims against large corporate defendants and insurance-funded professionals’, an area that ‘outstanding’ commercial litigation head Richard Locke excels in. Kevin O’Brien is also a pivotal member of the team, particularly as to relates to claims against solicitors and valuers involving property transactions. ‘Cool and collected’ team head Abigail Flanagan is also recommended and is ‘a reassuring presence capable of handling the most complex cases’, including those brought against solicitors, accountants, actuaries and surveyors.

 

Practice head(s):

Abigail Flanagan


Other key lawyers:

Richard Locke; Kevin O’Brien; Charlotte Wright; Laura Zverev


Testimonials

There is a consistency to the individuals who liaise with you in relation to your matter.’

Very strong team covering a wide range of professional negligence areas and excellent litigation practice.’

This is a strong and approachable team with real depth of experience.’

They have been effective in taking instructions, gathering evidence and moving the claims forward. They have particular expertise in group claims against large corporate defendants and insurance-funded professionals.’

‘The advice and care the team give to a matter is extremely thorough. The advice is always comprehensible and in a format that is deliverable to the client, without having to decipher unnecessary legalese.’

‘Richard Locke is outstanding. He empathizes with claimant clients and his team is very effective in rebuilding trust which is a difficult first step when a client feels that they have been let down by other professionals.’

Abigail Flanagan – cool and collected, she is a reassuring presence capable of handling the most complex cases.’

‘Abigail Flanagan – just an excellent all-round litigator. Particular skill in relation to professional negligence as she is utterly tireless for her clients and not put off by the normal tactics of defendant professional negligence firms.’

Key clients

Various Kenyan nationals


Hannah Evans


Transform Medical Group


Ironbridge Finance Ltd


Work highlights


  • Representing various Kenyan Nationals involved in the Mau Mau uprising against British rule in Kenya in the 1950’s. Their claim for professional negligence is based upon an alleged failure by their former solicitors to properly handle the original failed group action brought against the UK government.
  • Acting for a private individual who lacks capacity (via her litigation friend) in a claim brought against her former legal representatives alleging that they negligently advised the client and allegedly under-valued her claim after she was severely injured following a car accident in 2009.
  • Representing the assignees of Transform Medical Group in claims against solicitors and Counsel who had acted for Transform and its insurers in defending a substantial body of claims brought against Transform in the PIP Breast Implant group litigation, between 2011/12 and 2016.

Berry Smith

Mixing 'approachability with sound advice', Berry Smith's 'very hardworking' team provides a 'first-class customer service' for individuals, businesses and public sector clients pursuing professional negligence claims against lawyers, accounting firms and property professionals, in particular. 'Very intelligent' team head Iwan Doull has 'exceptional analytic and forensic skills', attributes which are key to his high success rate in claims against property professionals, as well as for after-the-event insurer ARAG in claims brought against solicitors who negligently advised their insureds. Property litigator Simon Care 'gets to grips with a case very quickly and identifies the critical points', ensuring high levels of success for clients bringing professional negligence claims with a property angle.


Practice head(s):

Iwan Doull


Other key lawyers:

Simon Care; Harry Moyle; Lauren Parsons


Testimonials

‘The fantastic team displays a first-class customer service.’

‘The team is very hardworking and very responsive to clients’ needs. Also the team mixes approachability with sound advice.’

Berry Smith has one of the best professional negligence teams in South Wales and the West Country. They compare very favourably with anyone else in this area and with firms in large regional cities.’

Key clients

Blaenau Gwent County Council


Vone Developments LLP


Brit Syndicates 2987 at Lloyds


ARAG Plc


Brit Insurance (UK) Ltd


ARAG Plc


Welsh Government


Faisal Ali


Joe Guishard


Work highlights


  • Representing a local authority against a national provider of asbestos surveying services.
  • Resolved a problem caused by the negligence of solicitors acting for developer of luxury dwellings (successfully pursuing a claim in the Upper Tribunal to have the covenant modified to allow for the development) and further pursing the solicitors for consequential losses.
  • Successfully secured punitive damages and costs for a client after a three-day trial against a national firm of Surveyors, Connells, for the negligent survey of a property.

Capital Law Limited

Appreciated for their ‘razor-sharp commerciality and warm collaborative working style’, which draws upon access to an impressive wider commercial litigation offering, Capital Law Limitedcan draw on excellent talent and capabilities in professional negligence claims’. Having recently joined the firm from the Serious Fraud Office, Phillippa Ellis  – who splits her time between the firm’s fledging London office and Cardiff - is ‘well suited to professional negligence claims and claims against professionals involving fraud’, adding further breadth and depth to the team’s growing offering in the space. Leveraging ‘a clear-eyed understanding of the commercial pressures that can be used in a professional negligence claim’, Lucy Emanuel  regularly advises on high-profile matters, including many which have been funded utilising the firm’s own litigation fund. Litigation finance expert, Andrew Brown  co-heads the overarching team alongside Stephen Meade , who has experience at handling property-related professional negligence claims, in particular. The arrival in February 2022 of David Hudson from Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP has enhanced the team as a result of his ‘real breadth and depth of experience in complex professional negligence claims’.

 

Practice head(s):

Andrew Brown; Stephen Meade


Other key lawyers:

Philip Jones; Lucy Emanuel; David Hudson; Phillippa Ellis


Testimonials

Capital Law is an excellent firm whose practice in professional negligence is focused upon large claimant cases. It is closely linked to their commercial litigation team, which means Capital can draw on excellent talent and capabilities in professional negligence claims.’

Their razor-sharp commerciality and warm collaborative working style make the team a delight to work with.’

Lucy Emanuel is an extremely experienced partner with a clear-eyed understanding of the commercial pressures that can be used in a professional negligence claim.’

David Hudson has real breadth and depth of experience in complex professional negligence claims.’

Phillippa Ellis has a strong background in regulatory work, with a focus in recent years on large-scale commercial litigation which makes her particularly well suited to professional negligence claims and claims against professionals involving fraud.’

Key clients

Walsham Chalet Park Limited (in liquidation) (Deloitte LLP)


Roadchef (Employee Benefits Trustees) Limited


RB Care Homes Action Group


Intercare Action Group


APEM Group Limited


Cardiff City Football Club


Work highlights


  • Representing Cardiff City Football Club in High Court proceedings against its former insurance broker in a matter relating to the tragic case of Emiliano Sala.
  • Acting for Teneo, the liquidators of Walsham Chalet Park Limited (in Liquidation) in a professional negligence claim against the company’s professional advisors.
  • Acting for a cohort of individuals who invested in an unauthorised collective investment scheme (RB Care Homes), in a professional negligence claim against the scheme’s professional advisors.

JCP Solicitors

Forming a part of its broader commercial litigation offering, JCP Solicitors' 'friendly and approachable' team regularly handles claims against solicitors and surveyors, in particular. The 'knowledgeable and client-focused' Sophie Thomas is the primary contact.

Practice head(s):

Sophie Thomas; Andrew Meech


Other key lawyers:

David Owen


Testimonials

The team at JCP Solicitors are friendly and approachable. Their communication and engagement level is also excellent.’

‘The very efficient Sophie Thomas is knowledgeable and client-focused.’

Work highlights