Sarah Cowey

Sarah is regularly instructed in the areas of insurance and reinsurance in cases concerning all types of marine and non-marine business, in both Court and arbitration.  Sarah is recommended in this area in the Legal 500 2025.

Selected cases and experience:

• Acting in the operator policy aviation insurance claims in the Commercial Court arising out of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
• Greensill Bank AG (in administration) v Zurich Insurance Company Limited: Acting for Greensill Bank AG as part of a Counsel team in relation to a claim under a Comprehensive Trade Credit Insurance Policy for losses arising from accounts receivable owed by customers to entities in the Liberty Commodities group of companies.
• Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Limited & Others v Equitas Insurance Limited: Acting for the defendant to a claim under a reinsurance policy in respect of underlying bodily injury claims allegedly caused by exposure to asbestos-containing and/or welding related products (led by David Scorey KC).
• Acting for an insured in relation to a claim under a warranty and indemnity insurance policy (led by Rebecca Sabben-Clare KC).
• Advising an insured in relation to claims under a professional indemnity insurance policy and a warranty and indemnity insurance policy relating to Non-Standard Investments offered on an online investment platform (led by Rebecca Sabben-Clare KC).
• Advising an insured in relation to a claim pursuant to the Third Parties (Rights Against Insurers) Act 2010 against the professional indemnity insurers of a management company in respect of breaches of the management agreements and breaches of fiduciary duties (led by Michael Holmes KC).
• Masefield AG v Amlin Corporate Member Ltd [2011] EWCA Civ 24, [2010] EWHC 280 (Comm): This decision – the first case involving a piracy claim under an insurance policy for more than 150 years – clarifies the law of marine insurance, piracy and total losses, and the treatment of ransom payments as a matter of English law and public policy. Sarah was led by Peter MacDonald-Eggers KC at both first instance and in the Court of Appeal.
• Te Hsing Maritime SA and another v Certasig: Sarah was instructed to act for insurers in relation to a claim for a constructive total loss under a marine insurance policy and to apply for security for costs ([2012] EWHC B16 (Comm)).
• Société Générale v Württembergische Versicherung AG & Ors: Led by Alistair Schaff KC and Andrew Wales, Sarah was instructed to represent London placing brokers who were being sued for professional negligence in respect of an insurance claim concerning the alleged misappropriation of gold bullion in Turkey.
• Sierra Rutile Limited v Reliance Insurance Trust Corp (SL) Limited. An insurance claim in the Commercial Court for property damage and business interruption arising from the capsize of a dredger in Sierra Leone.
• CNA Insurance Company Limited v Willis Limited: Sarah was instructed as part of a team of counsel to represent Willis in respect of substantial claims arising out of the PA LMX and Occupational Accident reinsurance markets in the 1990s.
• Zanrose Textiles Limited v NIG: Acted as junior counsel for the insured in respect of an insurance claim arising from fire damage to a warehouse. The claim settled at mediation.
• Led by Christopher Butcher QC (as he then was) in an arbitration concerning a quantum dispute under an insurance policy in respect of a large DIY store in Greece which was damaged in a fire.
• Instructed as part of a team of counsel in respect of a large reinsurance arbitration relating to a whole account excess of loss reinsurance programme.
• Advising reinsurance brokers in Malaysia in respect of a professional negligence claim brought by the reinsureds.