Thrown To The Lyons: Are Solicitors Under A General Duty To Warn?

Are solicitors under a duty to warn their clients about risks relating to matters which fall outside the scope of their retainer, or are their duties limited to advising only on matters which form part of their instructions? These questions often arise in professional negligence claims against solicitors. In this article we consider the current state of the law in light of the Court of Appeal's decision in Lyons v Fox Williams LLP [2018] EWCA Civ 2347.

The claimant, Mr Lyons, was the CFO and Managing Partner of Operations for EY in Moscow. He was seriously injured in a motorbike accident which resulted in part of his right foot being amputated and lasting damage to his right shoulder and arm.