Fenchurch Law, known for representing policyholders in insurance disputes, utilises a deep understanding of the sector to work directly with insurance brokers. Practice head David Pryce focuses on handling complex and high-value insurance coverage disputes. Joanna Grant has a notable specialism in the built environment, focusing her work on advising in commercial coverage disputes relating to all types of construction and property risks. Recognised for her policyholder work with a specialisation in financial and professional risks, Jessica Chappell joined the team from Davis Woolfe LLP in January 2024 and is working on several complex coverage disputes. The team’s expertise has also been strengthened by the arrival of Christopher Ives from Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP. Ives has a strong focus on insured warranty and indemnity claims before both international and domestic courts.

Known for its breadth of work, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP regularly acts on major insurance cases, including Covid-19 claims, aviation litigation, and W&I claims. Paul Lewis works consistently with high-profile clients and regularly leads on mandates for policyholders. Alexander Oddy is a name to note for advice on policyholder claims in the energy and natural resources sector. Greig Anderson focuses his work on complex financial institution losses, specifically advising on D&O, cyber, professional indemnity, and crime insurance policies, while Sarah McNally has strengths in transactional insurance, especially in warranty and indemnity insurance. Covering a broader range of sectors is Antonia Pegden, with expertise in insurance disputes, professional negligence, and contentious pension matters. Fiona Treanor is well known for handling significant claims in the insurance markets for policyholders and acting on complex technical reinsurance work.

Reed Smith LLP acts on all aspects of insurance disputes and claims work, and the team has expertise in professional indemnity, crime cover, war and political risk, marine and non-marine insurance, and more. In particular, Margaret Campbell shines on matters involving commercial and mortgage indemnity insurance, finance insurance, energy risks, and political risks. Peter Hardy has a range of clients in the financial services, transportation, and construction sectors and is prepared to handle all matters involving insurance coverage claims and disputes. Laura-May Scott stands out for her litigation experience, acting for policyholders and large corporations regarding major disputes and complex insurance policies. Mark Pring brings a diverse portfolio, regularly acting on major cross-border litigation, mediations, and arbitrations. Pring also provides commercial advice on risk management issues such as professional indemnity, directors’ liability, and property risks.

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.

Fladgate LLP‘s team has ‘real market expertise’ and maintains a strong reputation for advising policyholders on a broad range of matters across numerous sectors, including pharma, manufacturing, retail, and utilities. Leading the practice is Garbhan Shanks, a ‘perceptive and knowledgeable solicitor’ who focuses on litigation, arbitration, and mediation in commercial disputes. Jack Foster has a vast amount of experience in claims involving all types of professional negligence, misrepresentation and breach of contract, PI claims, and luxury asset losses. Amanda Montano has a niche focus on trade finance and insurance-related disputes, and works on matters utilised by credit institutions and other firms as credit risk mitigation. Naomi Hall’s experience spans W&I insurance, professional liability, errors and omissions, public and product liability, and political risks.

HFW advises policyholders in coverage disputes of a complex and international nature, focusing on onshore and offshore property, marine, mining, and construction classes, and energy matters. Christopher Foster advises policyholders on numerous complex matters involving COVID-19, major catastrophic events such as Hurricane Katrina, and the Grenfell Tower fire. Jonathan Bruce focuses his work within the energy, property, and marine sectors, and actively works on complex coverage disputes concerning property and business interruption, pollution, and general liability. Nigel Wick acts on various major onshore and offshore energy loss matters, as well as large market losses, including ones arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

K&L Gates LLP acts only for policyholders on insurance coverage disputes. The team is recognised for its work across the insurance sector, including D&O, professional, public, and product liability issues. The practice is run by Sarah Turpin. Turpin is well-versed in all types of liability insurance, including credit risk, cyber risk, and business interruption. Matthew Smith has a focus on insurance disputes involving the construction, oil, and gas industries.

Mishcon de Reya LLP‘s ‘very knowledgeable’ team advises across the insurance spectrum on a range of matters, including complex D&O claims, construction and power generation insurance disputes, and insurance and reinsurance issues. The full-service offering is headed by Richard Leedham, who has expertise in commercial disputes, often with international and fraud elements. Sophie Fairclough advises on a wide array of matters, with sector expertise in financial services, professional indemnity, pharma, retail & consumer, and property losses. Ralph Fearnhead regularly advises policyholders on alternative modes of litigation funding, including third-party funding, ATE/BTE, and CFAs and DBAs.

Stewarts Law LLP focuses on complex, high-value disputes. The team has led on high-profile business interruption litigation relating to COVID-19 as well as on significant financial lines mandates, including D&O and cyber matters. Aaron Le Marquer, head of the practice, advises policyholders on all lines of commercial insurance and maintains a high-profile Covid-19 BI practice. James Breese, known for being an ‘excellent communicator and a tremendous eye for detail’, has acted on several W&I, cyber, and business interruption matters. Acting primarily for policyholders on matters involving insurance defence and coverage instructions is Chloe Derrick, who ‘takes a logical and sensible approach to contentious matters’.

Wordley Partnership is jointly led by Paul Wordley, Graham Denny, Alison Proctor, Costas Frangeskides, and Simon Schindler. Wordley has extensive experience in advising clients both internationally and nationally on insurance and reinsurance disputes. Denny works with a number of sectors on insurance disputes, including commodities, financial services, marine, sport & entertainment, and oil & gas. Proctor works on large, complex, cross-border disputes, specifically physical damage triggers, business interruption claims, and EAR/CAR policy terms. Frangeskides handles insurance and reinsurance arbitrations under ad hoc, trade, and institutional arbitrations. Schindler works on several complex coverage and defence issues internationally and domestically. The team was recently strengthened by the arrivals of John Leonida, from Clyde & Co, and Raian Kanso, from Deloitte LLP, both in 2024.

The ‘outstanding team’ at Addleshaw Goddard advises on all levels of insurance coverage and related disputes. The full-service department works closely with other teams to advise on disputes arising out of M&A, D&O coverage disputes, and related advisory work. The team is led by the ‘very thorough and well-prepared’ Richard Wise. Wise works primarily with a number of high-value clients, advising on D&O and corporate liability coverage for regulatory investigations. Laura Payne is well-versed in advising major national and multinational policyholders and has a niche in international Bermuda Form arbitration.

A&O Shearman acts for policyholders in coverage disputes, where the team has a niche in capital markets, finance, tax and regulatory, corporate reorganisations, and structured financial products. Mahmood Lone has experience in advising financial institutions on both domestic and cross-border litigation. Russell Butland acts on matters relating to property damage and business interruption, D&O, comprehensive crime, professional indemnity, and trade credit. Acting for insurers, reinsurers, and policyholders is Charlie Weston-Simons. He has worked on many complex commercial insurance disputes, some of which include construction, marine cargo, and various private M&A transactions.

Burges Salmon LLP ‘s ‘extremely pragmatic and commercial’ team is equipped to advise on complex coverage disputes under professional indemnity, public liability, and property damage insurance contracts. Matthew Kaltsas-Walker, the team head, has extensive experience handling claims within construction insurance, D&O, W&I, and public liability claims. Christopher Wenn, based in both Bristol and London, has a specialised focus on corporate and commercial disputes in the energy and utilities sector.

The 'truly specialist' team at Edwin Coe LLP is known for its work in cyber risk, D&O, political risk, trade credit, and business interruption matters. Roger Franklin, head of insurance litigation, has a focus on claimant insurance work. Franklin handles professional negligence matters, shareholder claims, and general liability and coverage disputes. Nicola Maher is recognised for her work in representing corporate, SME, and high-net-worth policyholders in complex insurance coverage disputes and commercial litigation. Maher acts across a number of sectors, such as hospitality, pharma, real estate, and manufacturing.

Wynterhill LLP acts exclusively for policyholders across all types of insurance covers. Leading the practice are Stuart Hill and Dan Brooks. Brooks is well-versed in professional indemnity matters and related negligence claims, specifically within the construction sector. Hill is experienced in issues within the aviation insurance market and often works with high-net-worth individuals, insurance brokers, and financial services companies. Chris Dunlop also has expertise within the construction sector.

Covington & Burling LLP is known for its work on complex coverage disputes. Heading the team is Sonia Campbell, who joined from Mishcon de Reya LLP in October 2024. Campbell is well-known for working exclusively for policyholders on a range of issues, including fidelity/commercial crime, D&O, business interruption (MDBI/PDBI), and credit/trade risk. Richard Mattick handles contractual disputes and product liability cases, as well as proceedings involving complex jurisdictional issues.

The ‘talented and experienced specialist solicitors’ at Keystone Law often work on complex, multi-jurisdictional matters. Jane Harte-Lovelace advises insurers and brokers on D&O, professional indemnity, and financial lines policy matters. Marie-Claire Di Mambro, a ‘stand-out practitioner’, is well-experienced in resolving difficult insurance coverage disputes, while Frank Maher is a ‘true expert’ in anti-money laundering compliance, professional regulation, and professional indemnity insurance coverage disputes. Known for advising law firms and property professionals on regulatory issues, Sue Mawdsley has expertise in financial crime issues.

The ‘extremely experienced team’ led by Kamran Rehman at Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP is prepared to act on a range of complex policy coverage matters for policyholders. Michael Brown has a niche in advising on matters involving the financial services sector, civil fraud claims, and regulatory investigations. Brown’s clients often come from the energy, real estate, and insurance sectors, and he usually acts for banks, investor groups, and other financial institutions. The ‘experienced and knowledgeable’ Colin Hayes works on many cases with an international or multijurisdictional perspective. Hayes has extensive experience in acting on complex coverage disputes for policyholders.