Richard Palmer > Weightmans > Newcastle upon Tyne, England > Lawyer Profile

With a focus on construction-related work, such as cladding claims and defects claims, as well as asbestos-related matters, Weightmans’ team in Newcastle handles a range of advice. The department is led by Richard Palmer, and Anne-Marie Knight is a key contact for advising both insurers and insured professional clients, including contractors, heritage consultants and approved inspectors. Amy Nesbitt regularly acts in the defence of professional negligence matters, and Tom Thurlow. who ‘has great expertise in the construction industry and a calm approach to difficult issues’, was promoted to partner in May 2023. Other key members of the team are Katy Ames and Joseph Walton.

Acting for insurers, regional businesses, and public bodies, Weightmans stands out for its strength in insurance-related construction disputes, particularly claims relating to cladding. Key contacts in the Newcastle office include new partner Tom Thurlow, who focuses his practice on insurance disputes in the construction sector, while Natalie Keyes has a broad practice that spans both contentious and non-contentious mandates, including build contracts work and dispute resolution, including adjudication and mediation proceedings. Alan Ross joined the team from Ward Hadaway LLP in September 2023 and is recommended for projects work. Richard Palmer is a name to note for professional indemnity instructions, while Anne-Marie Knight is another key individual recommended for professional negligence claims.

Weightmans LLP advises London Market, composite insurers, international insurers and reinsurers on complex insurance and reinsurance disputes. The firm has bases all over the UK, with practice head and insurance expert Richard Palmer based in Newcastle. In London, Ling Ong excels in coverage disputes and has handled London Market issues and reinsurance claims for Lloyd’s syndicates, and Alice Wilson specialises in property and business interruption claims.

Richard Palmer leads the professional indemnity practice at Weightmans LLP. Quentin Fox is recommended for his skill in resolving disputes against construction professionals such as architects, surveyors, project managers, and engineers. The team has expanded to include Alain Orengo, who joined from Plexus Legal Gateway in October 2023. Orengo has more than two decades of experience defending claims against a variety of professionals, including insurance brokers, accountants, surveyors, and estate agents.