With a strong team based in Tunbridge Wells, Cripps advises on negligence claims against a range of professionals such as solicitors, financial advisers, accountants, and surveyors. Pradeep Oliver is highly recommended for cases concerning unlawful investment schemes. Described as ‘a levelheaded and pragmatic adviser’, Tristam Razzell is a further standout member of the team who routinely advises clients on negligence within the financial sector. Sophie Walsh is also noted for her experience assisting with claims relating to conveyancing solicitors. The team is headed up by Russell Simpson, who has decades of experience in the field.
Professional negligence in South East
Cripps
Practice head(s):
Russell Simpson
Other key lawyers:
Pradeep Oliver; Tristam Razzell; Sophie Walsh
Testimonials
‘Tristam Razzell is a levelheaded and pragmatic adviser.’
‘Attention to detail is one of the strong points of the team. They make sure the client is kept up to date with the status of the case.’
‘The team is proactive and always ready to assist promptly.’
‘Pradeep Oliver stands out for his tenacity.’
‘They have very knowledgeable individuals who act on behalf of claimants. They offer sensible and pragmatic advice, which is always given and with a high degree of technical expertise.’
‘Pradeep Oliver and Russell Simpson are a pleasure to work with and display excellent judgment. Tristam Razzell is an up-and-coming lawyer.’
Work highlights
- Acting for multiple groups of investors who invested in hotel investment schemes that have turned out to be unlawful collective investment schemes and/or fraudulent ponzi schemes.
- Acting for a group of high-net-worth clients in a professional negligence claim against their previous financial advisers and solicitors for negligent advice surrounding an investment bond held in an offshore trust.
- Advising an independent property developer who is bringing a claim against his former conveyancing solicitors who negligently failed to advise on the existence of a covenant on the property’s title, restricting the number of buildings that could be developed.
Freeths LLP
Freeths LLP has significant experience acting for both claimants and insurers in professional negligence claims. The team in Oxford is headed up by Clare Bellis and Caroline Watson. Bellis is praised for being an ‘experienced litigator with a depth of expertise in both property/real estate litigation and professional negligence’, while Watson is recommended for cases within the financial sector. Managing partner Sarah Foster has more than two decades of experience advising on professional indemnity disputes; she is especially skilled at handling professional negligence claims relating to trusts and estates.
Practice head(s):
Clare Bellis; Caroline Watson
Other key lawyers:
Sarah Foster; Sally Goodger; Paul Brown
Testimonials
‘They are one of the firms with national reach that can offer genuine professional negligence expertise in more significant disputes.’
‘Clare Bellis is a bright, experienced litigator with a depth of expertise in both property/real estate litigation and professional negligence. She’s very easy to work with. She’s committed to the case and willing to go the extra mile.’
‘Paul Brown is great. He’s tough, sensible, friendly, calm.’
Work highlights
- Acting for a major professional indemnity insurer in relation to a series of subrogated recovery claims, arising from contractor negligence.
- Advising trustees of a substantial family trust who faced claims of negligent and/or fraudulent breach of trust in relation to their trust administration.
- Acting for the UK arm of a med-tech life science company in defending against claims for breach of contract with counterclaims including negligence for the tech company’s failure to perform services to a reasonable standard.
Moore Barlow
Moore Barlow stands out for its skill in representing claimants who have suffered losses due to professional negligence, including claims involving elements of fraud and conspiracy. The team is headed up by David Foster in Guilford and Claire Haverfield in Southampton. In particular, Foster has experience in mediating disputes. Andrew Reid is another integral member of the team with a wealth of experience recovering losses resulting from professional negligence, including claims against solicitors, financial advisers, and surveyors. Mark Osgood left the firm in May 2024.
Practice head(s):
David Foster; Claire Haverfield
Other key lawyers:
Andrew Reid; Esther Millard
Testimonials
‘The team keeps the personal and commercial aims of its clients at the forefront of its mind, looking after the clients’ particular needs throughout the lifetime of their claim.’
‘Esther Millard has worked tirelessly to progress the clients’ claim and has left no stone unturned in the pursuit of a successful result. Her commitment has been faultless.’
‘Moore Barlow’s commercial litigation team and professional negligence team occupies a fairly unique position in the industry, catering for claims by individuals all the way up to major lending institutions and other big businesses.’
‘Claire Haverfield is robust and very client focused.’
‘Andrew Reid is a gifted technical lawyer with an eye for detail.’
‘David Foster at all times provided first-class personal attention to all aspects of the client’s concerns.’
‘The service has been fantastic. If we needed to ask any questions, there was always somebody to ask, and they replied quickly.’
‘Esther Millard has to be the best lawyer I have ever worked with. She is very proactive and is extremely quick to understand very complex cases. Her emails are very clear and informative. Her response time is superfast! I would highly recommend her.’
Key clients
Amicus Finance Ltd
Blake Morgan LLP
Blake Morgan LLP has a team based in Southampton that routinely handles claims of professional negligence relating to construction, tax planning, and legal advice. Co-heading the team, Richard Portlock has more than three decades of experience handling professional liability disputes, including matters relating to pension schemes. Fellow co-head Michael Colledge is recommended for cases involving accounting and conveyancing professionals. Stephen Cannell is also noted for his experience assisting with high-value disputes, including mis-selling claims.
Practice head(s):
Michael Colledge; Richard Portlock
Other key lawyers:
Stephen Cannell
Testimonials
‘The firm cares about responsiveness and delivering on the brief.’
‘Stephen Cannell is a great listener, adept at putting himself in the client’s position, and delivers at a fast pace.’
‘Michael Colledge is always insightful and provides a calm and careful analysis.’
Charles Russell Speechlys LLP
Charles Russell Speechlys LLP is especially adept at handling complex professional negligence claims within the financial services and real estate sectors. The team is co-led by Stephen Burns and Duncan Elson
in Guildford. In particular, Elson has extensive experience handling issues of negligence in matters relating to private wealth, including trusts and estates. Joe Edwards focuses on advising clients embroiled in property disputes and routinely handles professional negligence claims within this sector. Edward Birrell is also noted for his experience assisting with claims against legal advisers and accountants.
Practice head(s):
Stephen Burns; Duncan Elson
Other key lawyers:
Joe Edwards; Edward Birrell
Testimonials
‘The team has been very knowledgeable about the law and other relevant cases. They have also shown real care and skill at taking the time to carefully explain things to people with little legal knowledge, who have had their lives badly affected by professional negligence issues.’
‘The team has proved knowledgeable, aggressive when needed, and skilled in case procedures. At the same time, they are caring and principled.’
‘From the start, we have been impressed by Joe Edwards and his ability to give top-quality attention. He is able to work fast, and his emails are invariably clear and accurate.’
Key clients
Premier Ground Rents and Premier Ground Rents No. 7 Limited
Investors in Parliament Residence Phase 2
Work highlights
- Acting for the trustee in matters relating to professional negligence experience and the financial services sector.
- Acting for the principal employers of a company concerning their hybrid occupation pension scheme.
Dentons
Dentons focuses on advising claimants within the construction and financial sectors. The team is led by Louisa Caswell in London and Rob Francis in Milton Keynes. Having undertaken work in relation to the Grenfell Tower inquiry, Francis is skilled with handling public inquiry matters, including cases with elements of professional negligence. Sarah Rutnah frequently handles claims against various professionals such as accountants, surveyors, and legal advisers. James Fairbairn retired from the practice in August 2023, and Tim Constable left the firm in May 2023.
Practice head(s):
Rob Francis; Louisa Caswell
Other key lawyers:
Sarah Rutnah; Sonia Vilar; Natasha Lowry
Testimonials
‘Exceptionally good knowledge of claims against professionals arising out of loans made in the banking sector.’
‘Sarah Rutnah – Clever, analytical and strategic. Sonia Vilar (Senior Associate) – Bright, highly diligent, efficient and a pleasure to work with.’
Key clients
National House-Building Council
Work highlights
- Acted for NHBC in relation to the Grenfell Tower inquiry, which involved a critical review of the conduct of many parties, including construction professionals, who were involved with Grenfell Tower disaster.
- Acted for a client in a professional negligence claim against an accountant and tax consultant arising out of the entering into and unwinding of an E-Share tax scheme.
Duncan Lewis Solicitors
With a strong presence in Harrow, Duncan Lewis Solicitors has experience advising on professional negligence claims against accountants and solicitors. Leading the team, Anthony Okumah is a seasoned litigator, who is also a member of the Professional Negligence Lawyers Association. Having joined the firm in November 2023 from JPC Law, Sunil Patel leads the team alongside Okumah. Sobashni De Silva left the firm in October 2023.
Practice head(s):
Anthony Okumah; Sunil Patel
Other key lawyers:
Karolina Natkaniec
Work highlights
- Advised a client on a professional negligence claim against his previous solicitors, who failed to issue the client’s employment appeal on time or attend a hearing at the Employment Tribunal.
Legal Risk LLP
Legal Risk LLP specialises in advising law firms and their insurers regarding professional indemnity matters, including coverage disputes and insurance issues arising out of mergers and acquisitions. Described as ‘dependable, considerate, and technically minded’, Francis Dingwall leads the team in Oxford.
Practice head(s):
Francis Dingwall
Testimonials
‘They are unparalleled in the niche of professional indemnity.’
‘Francis Dingwall gives very clear, practical advice on a range of professional indemnity and regulatory issues.’
‘They are thorough, technically minded, reliable, and approachable.’