Crown Office Chambers advises on professional negligence cases across a broad range of sectors including legal, insurance, IT and financial services. The set has members involved in the Grenfell Tower civil litigation, Andrew Rigney KC leads the team representing Rydon, the main design and build contractor, in relation to several claims, alongside Michael Harper and Toby Chandler. Ivor Collett acts for the defendant solicitors in Kagbara and others v Leigh Day, a case in which Nigerians who secured damages from Shell in an English court after leaks from an oil pipeline allege that the proceeds of their settlement were mishandled by the solicitors. Carlo Taczalski represents the defendant brokers in CPH Holdings v Generali v Aon UK Limited, a high value claim that centres around the arrangement of appropriate insurance cover. Henk Soede joined from Deka Chambers in 2024.
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Profile
Position
Barrister specialising in insurance (including policy disputes and wording, insurance fraud, and claims involving brokers and underwriting agents) and professional indemnity litigation across many professions, particularly in the fields of construction and lawyers. He is experienced in ADR and professional disciplinary work. Reported cases include: APP Wholesale Plc v Adlink UK Ltd [2012]; Davies v Barnes Webster & Sons [2011]; Hirst & Ors v Trustees of the Irk Maclaren Settlement & Anor [2007]; Warfield Park Homes Ltd v Warfield Park Residents’ Association [2006]; Kew v Bettamix Ltd and ors (2006); Hodson Developments Ltd v GTA Civils Ltd Whitehouse Practice (2006); Shine v London Borough of Tower Hamlets (2006); and Warfield Park Homes Ltd v Warfield Park Residents’ Association (2006).
Career
Qualified 1995; Middle Temple; publications: specialist editor ‘Pittaway & Hammerton: Professional Negligence Cases’ (Butterworths 1998).
Languages
French, German.
Memberships
PIBA; PNBA (executive committee); Chancery Bar Association; TECBAR; London Common Law and Commercial Bar Association; the Bar Council (2007 to date).
Education
Lincoln College, Oxford (1993 BA (Hons)); City University, London (1994, post-graduate diploma in law).
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Clerks are efficient and easy to deal with. Rob Frankish and Lauren Whiston have been particularly helpful.'
- 'Steve Purse is impeccable in terms of both service and relationship ;he knows what we need and ensures that we get it.'
- ''Steve Purse is excellent and always finds a way to find someone when needed.'
- 'The clerking team are excellent - Steve Purse is one of the best in the business and does an unparalleled job in getting us the right team for the case. Joe Shepherd and Lauren Whiston have both been great in supporting Steve in recent years.'
- 'The clerks are strong, particularly Steve Purse, who really looks after solicitors and makes sure to deliver the right barrister for them and their client, and the new senior clerk, James Wilkinson.'
- 'Crown Office Chambers is one of the go to sets for professional indemnity work. Their silks are well respected and they have great depth of juniors.'
- 'Crown Office Chambers is rightly regarded at the top of professional negligence.'
- 'Crown Office is a top-tier construction and professional negligence set.'