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The PII countdown begins (Pt 3)

23 July 2015 / Frank Maher
Issue: 7662 / Categories: Features , Insurance surgery , Profession , Insurance / reinsurance
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Professional indemnity insurance: Frank Maher issues a call to action

This is the third of three articles on professional indemnity insurance (PII). We look at the SRA’s proposals for reform of the compulsory cover required by the SRA minimum terms and conditions (MTC) announced earlier this month. Their discussion paper, “Protecting client’s financial interests”, proposes sweeping reform and massive reductions in the protection provided to clients—and solicitors and their staff.

The agenda for change is driven by the SRA, but is there a risk of throwing away (not even selling) the family silver?

As noted in the last article, we have the most comprehensive cover of any profession in the world (see Pt 2, NLJ, 17 July, p 21). This can come at a price. We have seen some years when firms, particularly the smaller ones and those with a significant conveyancing practice, have had difficulty obtaining cover. This was largely a product of the exposure to lender claims which followed the global financial crisis.

The result was

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Serious injury teambolstered by high-profile partner hire

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Firm strengthens employment team with partner hire

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

Lawyers’ liability practice strengthened with partner appointment in London

NEWS
Ceri Morgan, knowledge counsel at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP, analyses the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Johnson v FirstRand Bank Ltd, which reshapes the law of fiduciary relationships and common law bribery
The boundaries of media access in family law are scrutinised by Nicholas Dobson in NLJ this week
Reflecting on personal experience, Professor Graham Zellick KC, Senior Master of the Bench and former Reader of the Middle Temple, questions the unchecked power of parliamentary privilege
Geoff Dover, managing director at Heirloom Fair Legal, sets out a blueprint for ethical litigation funding in the wake of high-profile law firm collapses
James Grice, head of innovation and AI at Lawfront, explores how artificial intelligence is transforming the legal sector
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