Professional liability

Professional liability

What sets us apart as leaders in professional liability work is a thorough understanding of those areas of law within which the professionals themselves operate.

At Wilberforce Chambers we combine dedicated experience in professional negligence with an impressive knowledge of contracts, trusts, tax, complex corporate structures and transactions, pension regulation, land law, financial services, construction law, intellectual property and insurance.

We aim to give clear, practical and realistic advice. This commitment to user-friendly service, combined with our rigorous approach to legal issues and strong advocacy skills, ensures that we stand out from the competition, particularly in complex and difficult cases. Our determination to get the best for our clients also means that we seek to be closely involved in all aspects of the litigation process, from the earliest stages to the ultimate determination, helping to review the best options at each step. In addition, many of our members are trained mediators and arbitrators who can assist in settling disputes without the requirement for potentially costly court litigation.

Our members’ experience encompasses a wide variety of professional negligence work, including claims against solicitors, barristers, accountants, auditors, actuaries, construction professionals (including engineers, architects, surveyors and project managers), finance practitioners (including tax and pension advisers), company directors and insurance brokers.

Our members offer expert advice and advocacy in relation to a wide range of professional liability and disciplinary issues.

Our work includes:

• Advising on the merits of potential proceedings.
• Advising on pre-action protocol letters.
• Drafting statements of case setting out the client’s case.
• Advising on the content of, and settling reports to, insurers, ensuring that the costs and consequences of the various options are evaluated.
• Appearing at interlocutory hearings.
• Advising on evidence, tactics, merits and settlement.
• Advising on the content of, and settling, witness statements.
• Liaising with experts and helping them to express their opinions clearly in reports.
• Advising on Mediation Statements and appearing at mediations.
• Appearing at trials and subsequent appeals.

We also have experience in dealing with regulatory issues in relation to a variety of different professional bodies.

Rankings and recognition

Wilberforce is ranked as a leading professional negligence set in both Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500.

Chambers & Partners 2023: Wilberforce Chambers can bring to bear deep expertise in a wide range of professional negligence claims, acting for both defendants and claimants. The set is frequently sought out for solicitors’ liability claims and matters involving financial services professionals, often complicated by fraud elements. Property-related work is a strong suit, and the barristers are an obvious choice for negligence claims concerning the more complex of conveyancing matters, or major development projects. Members continue to act in matters of considerable size and importance, notably Aurium Real Estate London Ultra Prime v Mishcon de Reya, in which Ian Croxford KC represented the successful respondent.

The Legal 500 2023: Wilberforce Chambers is well-regarded for the set’s user-friendly service and rigorous approach to legal issues when it comes to their professional negligence work, which encompasses claims against solicitors, barristers, accountants, auditors, actuaries and construction professionals. Ian Croxford KC has acted for and against professional firms in connection with substantial litigation, alongside work connected with accountants and solicitors. John Wardell KC has a busy practice, with defence work focused on claims brought against members of the Bar and patent attorneys. Clare Stanley KC has a practice focused on claims against solicitors and accountants, and is well known in acting in cases relating to trust, tax and restructuring matters.

Chambers & Partners Bar Awards 2022: Ian Croxford KC shortlisted for Professional Negligence Silk of the Year.