Harnessing a ‘profound understanding of the insurance industry’, Beale & Co is instructed by leading insurer and construction clients in high-value, multi-party disputes. The practice is helmed by ‘leaders in their field’ Joe Bryant, who heads the firm’s FSR team, and Joe Eizenberg, head of the Bristol office. Joanna Lewis and Nic Pegg are specialists in construction and engineering matters, while David McArdle advises solicitors and their professional indemnity insurers in claims arising from failed or under settled litigation, complex commercial transactions and fraud. Sarah Hinton also comes recommended.

Highly regarded for its ‘excellent all-round service’, the team at Burges Salmon LLP is distinguished for its robust claimant professional negligence practice, spanning the banking, legal, construction, pensions and fund management sectors. The Bristol offering is led by the ‘highly experienced’ Andrew Burnette, a specialist in high-value claims against solicitors and financial services professionals, while Justin Briggs specialises in matters concerning pensions and private wealth. Suzanne Padmore is recommended for her strong pensions disputes practice and Caroline Brown harnesses extensive expertise in claims for negligence and fraud. Rachel Hucker is another key contact, acting on behalf of leading banks, new challenger banks and funds.

The deep bench of specialists at Clarke Willmott LLP ‘sets the team apart in a competitive landscape’, rendering the practice well-equipped to advise trustees, corporate and private clients in the full spectrum of professional negligence matters. In Bristol, practice lead Alex Jakubowski specialises in commercial litigation, with notable expertise in the energy sector; the ‘commercially minded’ litigator Darren Kidd represents clients in financial services disputes; Bonita Walters heads the contentious trusts and probate team; and real estate litigation specialist Chris Taylor handles claims arising in property transactions. In Taunton, Esther Woolford leads on civil litigation matters within the agricultural sector, alongside agri-business expert Laura Mackain-Bremner. Laura Robinson, David Stedman and Damian Pits are other names to note.

Drawing on its extensive UK-wide network of offices, Clyde & Co’s Bristol-based ‘top-rated team of experts’ is well-positioned to represent insurers, solicitors, and barristers in complex and high-value disputes. The firm’s national professional indemnity team is helmed by Louisa Robbins in Manchester, while the ‘stand-out’ Jim Taylor leads the Bristol practice, handling a wide range of professional negligence claims and coverage disputes. Philip Evans is highly regarded for a robust regulatory investigations practice, spanning the architecture, financial and legal sectors, while Toby Rouse and Kathleen Atherton leverage considerable professional indemnity experience acting for solicitors and financial professionals. The practice was bolstered by the arrival of Tom Bedford in July 2024, formerly a partner at DAC Beachcroft.

Harnessing ‘formidable market knowledge’, CMS‘s Bristol-based professional indemnity team works alongside the London office to defend leading insurers, financial institutions and construction sector clients. Cheryl Gibson co-heads the insurance team alongside London-based Simon Garrett, specialising in insurance policy coverage and claims against construction professionals. Robert Jones and Zoe Burge are noted as ‘stand-out partners’, defending claims against surveyors and solicitors respectively. Working between London and Bristol, Tristan Hall advises professional services firms and their insurers in a range of professional negligence claims.

Highlighted as ‘reliable, highly knowledgeable and approachable,’ DAC Beachcroft LLP’s extensive team of specialists acts for leading professional and financial risk insurers, while maintaining a particularly strong reputation in the education sector. Key figures include Marcus Campbell, who oversees the Bristol professional risk practice; Caroline Cherry heads the specialist claims handling unit; Charlie Bending is joint-head of the firm’s national surveyors service line, advising leading property consultants; Graham Briggs is responsible for the firm’s national D&O line; and Rebecca Smith helms the accountancy and actuarial service line. Andrew Crocombe, head of the specialist educations claims team, is described as a ‘stand-out partner’, supported by senior associate Becky Lea. Regulatory expert Sam Kneebone joined the firm from RPC in January 2025.

RPC‘s Bristol offering stands out for its ‘unrivalled strength in depth’, with an expanding team of specialists working across sub-groups dedicated to various professional sectors, including solicitors, accountants, tech and construction professionals. Rhian Howell spearheads the Bristol practice, while the ‘go-to’ Will Sefton specialises in defending solicitors and directors, as head of the firm’s lawyers liability and regulatory group. Rachael Healey handles claims against financial professionals; Daniel Guilfoyle is the head of cyber and tech; Ben Goodier leads the construction sub-group, acting in multi-party and high value claims against construction professions and brokers; and Scott Ashby is a key contact for claims against legal professionals. In January 2025, Catrin Davies joined the firm, formerly a partner at DAC Beachcroft LLP. Davies brings extensive expertise acting for leading law firms in civil and regulatory matters.

Praised for its blend of ‘expertise, commercialism and dependability’, Browne Jacobson LLP is turned to by leading regional and national firms for its robust solicitors professional negligence practice. Jonathan Newbold leads the national practice, while Exeter-based Gary Oldroyd oversees the South West offering, leveraging extensive expertise in defending high-value claims against lawyers. Oldroyd is joined by Claire Cornish and Danielle De Val, who specialise in the defence of negligence claims, as well as providing comprehensive policy coverage advice. The ‘brilliant’ Nicholas Saunders comes recommended for defending claims involving financial professionals and solicitors, as well as handling insurance coverage disputes.

Kennedys‘ ‘dynamic’ professional liability team works closely with the firm’s corporate, regulatory, and debt practices to represent major insurance sector clients, while also building a niche expertise in education-related claims. The Bristol-based practice is co-led by Helen Ager, highlighted as a ‘real standout’ in the professional liability sector, and Laura Hurst, a specialist in defending claims against solicitors, brokers, accountants and financial institutions. Michelle Johnston is a key contact for national and international law firms, advising on coverage under solicitors PI and D&O policies. Ash Daniells joined the team from RPC in November 2024, leveraging a robust practice defending claims against financial professionals.

Led by the ‘extremely experienced’ Neil Franklin, TLT‘s professional negligence practice is particularly adept at defending clients in the financial services sector, including FTSE 100 banks, clearing banks, tertiary and secondary lenders. From the Bristol office, Franklin is joined by Sam McCollum, an expert in commercial and retail property disputes; pensions litigation specialist Victoria Mabbett; and Katie Hill, who handles multi-party disputes on behalf of solicitors, brokers and valuers.

With 'in-depth knowledge' across a range of sectors, Ashfords LLP is well-positioned to represent clients in professional negligence claims, particularly within the banking, legal, construction, and bloodstock industries. At the helm, Rory Mac Neice co-heads the practice, highlighted for a niche specialism in veterinary professional negligence, complemented by a robust practice acting for banks and other lending institutions. Mac Neice is joined by co-lead Victoria Bonnet, a specialist in property-related professional negligence claims, and construction sector experts Stephen Homer and Patrick Blake. Anusheh Burcher and Lianne Edwards also come recommended.

Lester Aldridge LLP‘s dispute resolution team acts for clients in a broad spectrum of professional negligence claims, with a particular focus on property-related matters. In Bournemouth, practice head Chris Evans and Kate Stewart represent clients in claims against solicitors and surveyors, while Rachel Gimson harnesses ‘excellent knowledge of the sector’ to act for clients in construction disputes. Other key names are Ben Kerley, Rebecca Stubbs and Tom Spencer, who joined the firm in February 2025.

Working closely with the firm’s specialist property litigation and construction teams, Stephens Scown LLP’s dispute resolution practice is well-equipped to handle claims against property professionals and solicitors, alongside a growing focus on claims against insurance brokers. Stephen Wray leads the Taunton-based team, while Catherine Mathews and Richard Slater handle claims against legal professionals and financial advisors in Exeter. In Truro, Jeremy Crook and Gemma Mittell are key contacts for claims involving employment issues and conveyancer negligence respectively.