Professional negligence

Members of 7KBW are regularly involved in professional negligence cases including claims against accountants, auditors, brokers, surveyors and solicitors.

Members have been involved in many of the leading professional negligence cases of recent years, such as the Buncefield litigation, Barings and Aneco.

7KBW is listed as a leading set in both Chambers UK and the Legal 500, and also in the other major directories.  Its experience extends far and wide, from bookmakers to the Registrar of Companies, from recruitment agents to tax advisers, and much else besides.

Auditors and Accountants

Chambers has particular expertise in relation to professional negligence claims against accountants and auditors. Members of Chambers have appeared in all the major audit negligence cases of the last decade, including Cattles v. PwCEquitable Life v Ernst & YoungMAN v Freightliner and Barings v Coopers & Lybrand.

Insurance and Reinsurance related Cases

Members often advise and act in relation to disputes involving related professional negligence issues in the insurance context, including insurance and reinsurance of professional indemnity claims and claims against insurance brokers.  Seminal cases have included Gooda WalkerHenderson v MerrettAneco Reinsurance Underwriting v Johnson & Higgins.

Recent Leading Cases

  • Group Seven v Notable Services LLP [2019] EWCA Civ 614
  • Cattles v. PwC (audit negligence claim concerning the collapse of one of the largest UK Consumer Finance groups).
  • Sebry v. Companies House [2015] EWHC 115 (establishing that the Registrar of Companies owes a duty of care to trading companies).
  • Renewable Power v. Light v. McCarthy Tetrault and Grant Thornton [2014] EWHC 3192 (the case is believed to be the first attempt to hold a Nominated Adviser liable in respect of an admission to AIM).
  • Orlen Lietuva v. Aon Limited (Gavin Kealey QC, Michael Holmes, Elizabeth Lindsey and Andrew Pearson acted for the insured operator of an oil refinery in this claim for over £100m against AON, alleging that AON had been negligent in relation to its business interruption cover).
  • Ritz Hotel Casino Ltd v. Noral Al-Daher [2014] EWHC 2847 (a claim against the Ritz Hotel concerning the duty of care owed by a casino to players).
  • Equitas v. Walsham Brothers [2013] EWHC 3264
  • Starlight Shipping v. Allianz Marine [2012] 1 Lloyd’s Rep. 162
  • “Buncefield” Colour Quest Ltd v Total Downstream UK Plc
  • Dunlop Haywards (DHL) Ltd and Anor v Erinaceous Insurance Services Ltd
  • Dunlop Haywards (DHL) Ltd and Anor v Barbon Insurance Group
  • Graham Calvert v William Hill Credit Limited
  • Henderson v Merrett
  • Equitable Life v Ernst & Young
  • MAN v Freightliner
  • Barings v Coopers & Lybrand 
  • Aneco Reinsurance Underwriting v Johnson & Higgins

Professional negligence barristers

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