Situated within the firm’s wider insurance and litigation practice, the professional negligence team at CMS handles a broad range of professional indemnity matters, particularly in the construction, engineering and renewable energy sectors. Graeme MacLeod jointly leads the team alongside ‘sophisticated negotiator’ Harriet Munro, who is regularly instructed to defend insolvency practitioners and insurance brokers. The team also regularly handles conspiracy to defraud and negligent advice claims. Praised as ’forensic, analytical, and thorough’, Rowena Williams is another key contact in the group.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Rowena Williams is an impressive associate with excellent attention to detail.’
‘Harriet Munro is excellent and a real star. She is highly attuned to the needs and wants of insurers, is a sophisticated negotiator, seeing and capitalising on opportunities for out-of-court resolution at all stages, whilst being unafraid to litigate to a conclusion.
'Rowena Williams is highly capable, completely on top of all aspects of running complex litigation to advantageous conclusions.’
‘The professional negligence team is one of the best in Scotland in terms of experience and resource.’
‘Harriet Munro is an excellent partner with broad experience. She has a very good understanding of insurance law and is able to provide clear advice in complex cases where there may be issues as between the client and insurers.’
‘Friendly, approachable and yet wholly professional.’
‘Harriet Munro is confident, articulate and provides great strategic advice on managing complex disputes.'
'Rowena Williams is forensic, analytical and thorough with an exceptional capacity for detail. She is also tenacious and creative when trying to resolve complex problems.’
Key clients
- QBE
- Markel International
- AIG
- Ledingham Chalmers LLP
- Riverstone
- AXIS
- Liberty Syndicate
- AXA XL
- WR Berkley
- Munich Re
Work highlights
- Acted for the defender, a global firm of engineers, in a high-profile dispute concerning the impact of remediation of brownfield sites.
- Acted for a leading Scottish law firm in a $300m conspiracy to defraud claim.
- Advised an engineering firm in defending claims totalling £4m+ brought by an international hotel franchise and their landlord in relation to allegedly defective cladding installed on a landmark hotel development in Scotland.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Practice head
Harriet Munro; Graeme MacLeod
Other key lawyers
Rowena Williams