Clifford Chance LLP‘s team advises policyholders in a range of sectors, including the aviation, oil and gas, energy, construction, media, and sports industries. The team has strengths in W&I, political risk, D&O, construction risks, and title insurance coverage, and is respected for its ’superb legal knowledge and great strategic thinking’. Heading the team is Philip Hill, who handles the full range of complex, high-value and high-stakes insurance disputes. Hill focuses on business interruption insurance claims, alleged market manipulation and accounting fraud, and claims under CAR policies. Christopher Ingham specialises in matters within the gas, oil, and energy sectors. Specialising in risk issues within the financial sector and for corporate clients is Kate Scott, with relevant work involving COVID-19-related reinsurance disputes.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘Very few teams know the insurance litigation sector as well as Clifford Chance. They combine superb legal knowledge and great strategic thinking. They very often get a successful settlement for their clients.’
‘Christopher Ingham is very clever and astute. He knows exactly how best to position his clients’ case.’
‘Outstanding levels of commitment to the clients' interests, backed by industry-leading expertise in the field.’
‘Philip Hill is an incredibly cerebral but commercially-minded lawyer who always seems to see around corners. Julian Acratopolo is incisive and fights tooth and nail for his client. Balit Rai is tenacious, charming and leaves no stone unturned when it comes to preparing a case for trial.’
‘Extremely responsive, commercially astute, technically excellent, strategic and practical. Large team, well run and very organised. Excellent depth with strong senior associate bench.’
‘Philip Hill and Baljit Rae are insurance and reinsurance specialists. They navigate very complex issues with ease, and you can be confident they have thought deeply through every angle before coming up with a well-thought-out strategy.'
- 'Lindsay Bickerton is very strong in support of the broader disputes team. An excellent communicator, straight talking and calm and unflustered in her approach, even when the going is tough.'
- 'Guy Burkitt and Murray Tabeart - both are astute, commercial, excellent communicators and clear in their delivery of strategic advice to clients. Both are also a pleasure to deal with.'
Work highlights
Advised three aircraft lessors on claims under lessors' own policies (for Hull All Risks and War Risks) totalling nearly US$1 billion in complex and major insurance litigation before the English Courts arising from aircraft stranded in Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.
Acted for eight Premier League football clubs in High Court proceedings to recover business interruption insurance claims losses arising from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Acting for Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, Falcon 2019-1 Aircraft 3 Limited, KDAC Aircraft Trading 2 Limited, Avolon Aerospace, BOC Aviation, CDB Aviation, Hermes, NAC Aviation, SMBC Aviation Capital, Air Lease Corporation, Castlelake Aviation and Wings Capital in Commercial Court claims totalling US$4.2 billion against insurers and reinsurers under the operators' policies for losses arising from aircraft detained in Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
Philip Hill
Other key lawyers
Christopher Ingham; Kate Scott; Julian Acratopolo; Balit Rai; Lindsay Bickerton; Guy Burkitt; Murray Tabeart