Professional Negligence
UK Guide 2025 : London (Firms)
Band 1
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
(020) 7247 2277About
Provided by Clyde & Co LLP
Professional and Financial Disputes
This is among the firm’s largest departments and forms part of a global professional liability practice across the firm's international offices. In the UK, the London team is ranked in tier 1 by the directories and a number of the partners are individually ranked. The department’s work falls into three broad areas: the defence of professional services firms in claims and regulatory investigations (PI), coverage work relating to FI and D&O policies; and general commercial litigation. Many associates work across more than one of these areas and trainees have the opportunity to gain a wide variety of dispute resolution experience.
The department has specialist teams with a focus on each of the major professions, including law firms, accountants, property and construction professionals and insurance professionals, always acting in the defence of malpractice claims (often of high value) brought by claimants and regulators. The department’s work can involve complex cross-border issues and we often work alongside our colleagues in international offices.
The department’s reputation for excellence means that we tend to be involved in
some of the most high profile litigation in the High Court. Last year, one of our cases resulted in the team being named “Litigation Team of the Year” at The Lawyer Awards and the department will often be mentioned in The Lawyer’s list of the top 20 litigation cases for the year.
Chambers Review
Clyde & Co is strong across the board for professional negligence, with regular standout work defending claims in the financial services, legal, construction and insurance sectors. The team offers an international service to clients and attracts high praise from the market for its commercial approach. Its clients include leading law firms, large insurers and Big Four accountancy firms.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"The team is commercial and able to balance the interests of both insurers and insureds, offering sound and strategic advice."
"The firm has some of the best lawyers in the City, offering excellent services, and is a top-level team."
"They are fantastic and have Richard Harrison and Sarah Clover, who are big names in the PI market."
"The team at Clyde & Co is very focused on client needs and has proven to be effective at looking around corners for us."
"The team is commercial and able to balance the interests of both insurers and insureds, offering sound and strategic advice."
"The firm has some of the best lawyers in the City, offering excellent services, and is a top-level team."
"They are fantastic and have Richard Harrison and Sarah Clover, who are big names in the PI market."
"The team at Clyde & Co is very focused on client needs and has proven to be effective at looking around corners for us."
Notable Practitioners
Sarah Clover is a vastly experienced practitioner who frequently represents leading firms and barristers in sensitive negligence claims.
"Sarah Clover is great, you can't knock her."
"She's fantastic; if you want someone calm and measured on a big-ticket claim she is the person to go to."
"Sarah is one of the best out there. She handles enormous claims."
Richard Harrison is recognised for his wealth of knowledge and experience in the legal negligence space, with notable strength in multi-claimant litigation. He represents both barristers and solicitors in cases involving alleged dishonesty and fraud.
"Richard is a legend in the market, handling huge solicitor negligence cases."
"He is really good at marshalling all his different offices and making it a seamless service, for example, coordinating offices to get expertise on one call."
"Richard Harrison is highly regarded for providing sage advice."
James Roberts focuses his practice on professional liability claims arising from the financial sector, including representation of accountants and directors.
"James understands the issues at hand and has a huge wealth of experience in the auditing world."
Ranked Lawyers at
Clyde & Co LLP
London (Firms)