Next Generation Partners

Leading Associates

Firms To Watch: Professional negligence

The professional negligence practice at Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP is well-regarded for its expertise in managing professional negligence claims against solicitors and financial services professionals. Charlie Shillito and Sophie Newman are both key figures within the team.
DMH Stallard LLP's professional negligence team, jointly led by Simon Elcock and David Bailey, often represents professionals and their insurers in cases involving negligence allegations, as well as individuals impacted by negligence.

Professional negligence in South East

Cripps

Cripps' professional negligence team, led by Russell Simpson, handles a broad spectrum of claims spanning negligence actions against solicitors, accountants, and architects. Pradeep Oliver is recommended for his expertise in matters involving alleged unlawful collective investment schemes. Tristam Razzell focuses on disputes arising from the mis-selling or mismanagement of financial products or services. Sophie Walsh is active across both individual claimant matters and large-scale group claims, regularly drawing on her combined expertise in professional negligence and contentious trusts disputes. The team operates from the firm's Tunbridge Wells office.

Praxisleiter:

Russell Simpson


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Pradeep Oliver; Tristam Razzell; Sophie Walsh


Referenzen

‘Sensible collaboration with good probate/wills department where appropriate.’

‘Sophie Walsh is efficient and engages thoughtfully with the issues in the case.’

‚I have had the pleasure of working with Sophie Walsh, who is not only incredibly intelligent but also exceptionally approachable. Sophie has taken great care of our case, demonstrating remarkable dedication and work ethic.‘

Highlight-Mandate


  • Instructed by over 250 investors who invested in care home investment schemes operated by Qualia Care.
  • Instructed by investors who invested in hotel and care home investment schemes operated by MBI Developments, Northern Powerhouse Developments and Merydion Corporation Limited.
  • Acted for a UK development company in a claim against accountants and tax advisors for negligent advice relating to a remuneration trust tax mitigation scheme.

Freeths LLP

The team at Freeths LLP handles the full range of professional negligence claims, including matters arising from data breaches and cyber-related negligence. Practice head Clare Bellis is experienced in representing claimants, particularly in negligence claims against former solicitors, often in connection with property transactions. Caroline Watson, who also leads the practice, is recognised for advising both claimants and defendants in claims involving financial services and tech businesses.

Praxisleiter:

Clare Bellis; Caroline Watson


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Paul Brown; Sally Goodger


Referenzen

‘Good use of technology in sharing documents. Response time is very good, I also have a team of 3 people, all of whom are approachable, proactive and helpful.’

‘Great team.’

‘Caroline Watson – stand out lawyer, great with clients – gets the client’s aims and goes out of her way to achieve those.’

Highlight-Mandate


  • Acted for a client facing a £2m claim for negligent misstatement on the sale of his property. The buyer was in particular alleging failing to disclose boundary disputes and had issues with the client’s alleged failure to disclose his intended use of retained land.
  • Acted for a development company in claims for negligence and breach of contract against its former solicitors for negligent advice it gave in relation to development agreements and leases of EV charging points at a substantial retail park development.
  • Acting for the UK arm of an international plc, providing gamma knife radio surgery to patients with complex brain tumours who have exhausted other treatment options.
  • Acting for a client facing a £2m claim for negligent misstatement on the sale of his property. The buyer was in particular alleging failing to disclose boundary disputes and had issues with our client’s alleged failure to disclose his intended use of retained land.

Moore Barlow

The team at Moore Barlow, led by David Foster and Claire Haverfield, is claimant-focused and advises on a wide range of professional negligence claims brought by lenders, hotels, manufacturers, and breweries against solicitors, accountants, and architects. The group is also adept at handling complex cases involving allegations of fraud, criminality, and conspiracy. Another key figure of the team, Andrew Reid, is recognised for his expertise in cases involving accounting errors during corporate restructures.

Praxisleiter:

David Foster; Claire Haverfield


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Andrew Reid; Esther Millard; Alex Poplawska; Susannah Marsh; Daniel Baker


Referenzen

‘Moore Barlow is a full-service regional powerhouse with competence in all areas of litigation, including professional negligence. They can take on all sizes of claims, matching their team and output to their client’s resources. The team make sensible use of Counsel to supplement their own expertise.’

‘David Foster leads the Moore Barlow litigation team with subtlety and aplomb. His skill in assessing the big picture, as well as the personalities of parties and witnesses, greatly improves the chance of a favourable outcome.’

‘Moore Barlow has the technical ability and experience in prof neg to go up against far larger firms. Moore Barlow has one of only a very few genuine specialist claimant prof neg teams, and acts equally well for both large corporates, such as lenders, small, medium-sized businesses and individuals.’

Kernmandanten

Amicus Finance Ltd


Octopus Real Estate


Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP

The team at Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP specialises in defending professional negligence claims, leveraging the firm's national network to handle insurance-related litigation. Based in Southampton, the practice is led by Sushma MacGeoch, with James Robins also at the helm, bringing expertise in professional negligence claims, regulatory investigations, disciplinary proceedings, organisational liability, and digital risks. Hannah Cane departed the firm in November 2024.

Praxisleiter:

Sushma MacGeoch; James Robins;


Blake Morgan LLP

The team at Blake Morgan LLP is adept at handling a wide range of claims for individuals, including those covered by arrangements with insurers, in addition to handling claims for companies, trustees of occupational pension schemes, and not-for-profit organisations. The practice, based in Southampton, is jointly led by Richard Portlock and Michael Colledge, and is experienced in aerospace industry cases.

Praxisleiter:

Richard Portlock; Michael Colledge


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Stephen Cannell; Elin Walker


Referenzen

‘Very responsive, listens to client and tries to deliver on client objective. Individual service not conveyor belt.’

‘Stephen Cannell is a standout figure.’

‘Excellent.’

Charles Russell Speechlys LLP

The team at Charles Russell Speechlys LLP is well-regarded for its expertise in high-value professional negligence claims within the financial services sector, including complex disputes related to trusts, estates, tax, and pensions. Led by Stephen Burns , the team is also well-equipped to handle cases concerning property professionals, such as architects, engineers, surveyors, and contractors. Duncan Elson has longstanding experience covering the full spectrum of contentious trusts, estates and related disputes. Joe Edwards is a key figure within the team who is described as ‘extremely charming’ by clients.

Praxisleiter:

Stephen Burns


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Duncan Elson; Edward Birrell; David Haines; Joe Edwards


Referenzen

‘CRS are a leading firm in the real estate dispute space. As an adjunct to that, they have significant expertise in acting for claimants in property related professional negligence.’

‘Joe Edwards has real expertise in acting for claimants in property-related professional negligence disputes. He is charming to work with and very astute.‘

‚This is very client orientated friendly practice.‘

Kernmandanten

97 Investors in Parliament Residence Phase 2, Liverpool


Premier Ground Rents Limited (plus other companies within the Group)


Oman Midland Investment Limited


Highlight-Mandate


  • Instructed on behalf of97 Investors in Parliament Residence Phase 2, Liverpool in a group litigation claim in which the clients brought professional negligence proceedings against a firm of solicitors, 174 Law Solicitors Limited, and 6 professional indemnity insurers.
  • Acting for Premier Ground Rents Limited (plus other companies within the Group) on a professional negligence claim arising from the failure to properly advise the clients on a number of investment property acquisitions.
  • Instructed to advise the executors of the late client and his company in relation to negligent tax advice provided by their former tax adviser, Alchemy Associates Limited in relation to various share transfers and filings.

Duncan Lewis Solicitors

The team at Duncan Lewis Solicitors, which forms part of the firm’s wider civil litigation practice, is jointly led by Anthony Okumah, Sunil Patel, and the newly appointed Nazhat Ditta. The team is adept at handling complex claims arising under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act (TOLATA).

Praxisleiter:

Anthony Okumah; Sunil Patel; Nazhat Ditta


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Paige Evans; Karolina Natkaniec