7 King’s Bench Walk is particularly known for its work on audit negligence cases, as well as claims against insurance brokers an legal professionals, crossing over with the set’s reputation for pure insurance work. Rebecca Sabben-Clare KC, Josephine Higgs KC and James Brocklebank KC are routinely instructed on high profile audit negligence cases. Brocklebank KC led Ralph Morley in Enterprise Insurance Co. v EY Ltd, a claim centred around the auditors’ role in the company’s failure. James Goudkamp acts for the claimants in URS Corp Ltd v BDW Trading Ltd, which sheds light on issues in the law of torts and concerns whether or not a developer can recover damages on repair costs voluntarily undertaken.
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Profile
Position
Josephine Higgs KC has a broad commercial practice with particular expertise in insurance and reinsurance, professional negligence, civil fraud, conflict of laws and jurisdiction, and international arbitration.
She is regularly instructed in high value commercial disputes in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, and in domestic and international arbitrations (including ICC, LCIA, ARIAS and Bermuda Form). She frequently acts in matters with an international flavour, often involving conflicts of laws and jurisdictional issues and matters of international commerce.
Jo has extensive experience of large-scale, long-running, complex disputes working closely with other counsel, solicitors, clients, factual and expert witnesses. Her ability to work well with others is often cited as one of her particular strengths.
Recent cases include: International Entertainment Holdings & Ors v Allianz [2025] 1 All E.R. (Comm) 623 (Court of Appeal, business interruption insurance claim); Liberty Mutual v Bath Racecourse [2025] EWCA Civ 153 (Court of Appeal, business interruption insurance claim); Russian Aircraft Operator Policy Claims [2024] 4 WLR 47 (jurisdiction challenge); Al Mana Lifestyle Holdings v United Lifestyle [2023] Lloyd’s Rep IR 359 (Court of Appeal, jurisdiction challenge); Harcus Sinclair LLP v Your Lawyers [2022] AC 1281 (Supreme Court, restraint of trade and solicitors’ undertakings); the FCA Covid Business Interruption Insurance test case (acting on behalf of successful policyholders); Patisserie Valerie Holdings v Grant Thornton [2021] EWHC 3022 (Comm) (auditors’ negligence claim acting for claimants and Simetra Global Assets v Ikon Finance [2019] 4 WLR 112 (civil fraud, successful appeal to Court of Appeal).
Career
Called 2000; Silk 2022; Middle Temple.
Languages
French, German, Italian (all basic knowledge).
Memberships
COMBAR; BILA; CFLA.
Education
St Paul’s Girl’s School; Brasenose College, Oxford (BA English and Classics First Class – highest first); City University (CPE/Dip Law); Inns of Court School (BVC).
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'The best clerks room to deal with.'
- '7 Kings Bench Walk is one of the leading commercial sets, with a pantheon of highly talented individuals at all levels of seniority.'
- 'Professional negligence forms a significant part of the set's practice, dovetailing with other specialisms such as insurance and reinsurance and financial disputes.'
- 'They have brilliant KCs and senior barristers available across the commercial litigation and arbitration spheres.'
- 'The clerks are very responsive.'
- 'Good strength in depth.'
- 'Good clerking service.'