Professional negligence

Angus Turner

Angus has been a partner since 2000, having qualified with Mills & Reeve in 1995. He is recognised by the legal directories, and clients, as a leader in his field and specialises in acting on professional indemnity claims against law firms, as well as advising insurers on policy response. Angus is regularly instructed on complex and high value claims, arising from all areas of the profession including property investment schemes, corporate transactions, matrimonial settlements and ‘lost’ litigation. Angus heads up the firm’s Legal Malpractice sector, and is also an accredited mediator.

David Gooding

David is a professional indemnity and policy coverage specialist. His practice is focussed on advising lawyers, accountants and financial professionals and their insurers on defending and resolving claims as well as assisting accountants and solicitors with disciplinary investigations. He also advises insurers on policy coverage disputes and dishonesty investigations. David is head of the national accountants disputes practice. David is regularly instructed to assist and defend businesses facing high profile and significant claims. He recognises the financial, personal and reputational impact of a claim on professionals and their businesses. David is able to reduce that impact by relying on 20 years' experience, working closely with clients and by providing insightful, commercial and clear advice.  His recent experience includes helping strike out an unmeritorious multi-million pound claim against a professional firm pursued by a determined litigant in person. This year, he successfully led the defence of an accountants claim at the Supreme Court, Matthew & Others v Sedman & others [2021] UKSC 18 

Julian Smart

Julian is a partner and specialises in commercial fraud and recovering misappropriated funds on behalf of clients, with particular expertise in freezing and tracing assets. Having previously worked in BLM's London office Julian moved to Birmingham to establish the recovery and professional indemnity team. He is instructed by professional indemnity insurers to defend negligence claims against professionals including: surveyors, accountants, architects and engineers.