Fenchurch Law launches combined legal service and costs cover for policyholders with insurance claims disputes
Fenchurch Law, the UK’s leading firm working exclusively for policyholders and brokers on complex insurance disputes, has launched Fenchurch Law Unlimited (Unlimited) with the goal of protecting policyholders and levelling the playing-field with insurers.
Most policyholders are unable to match the financial resources or the specialist professional support networks that their insurers can call upon. This means that if insurers refuse to pay a claim, very few policyholders are able to challenge the decision on a commercially level playing-field.
As part of the package, policyholders also have access to unlimited legal advice in relation to their rights and obligations under their insurance policies and cover for the cost of pursing a claim against the insurer. Costs such as counsels’ fees, experts’ and court fees, and the risk of having to pay insurer’s costs are also covered, for claims with good prospects of success. It will be sold through brokers on a delegated authority basis, alongside the policyholder’s existing commercial or personal lines insurance.
How does it work?
The policyholder buys the service at the same time as they take out their insurance policy, for a single up-front fee calculated as 1% of the premium of the policyholders’ insurance policies.
Commenting on Unlimited David Pryce, managing partner at Fenchurch Law, said: “When an insurer refuses to pay a claim very few policyholders are able to challenge them on a commercially level playing-field. Unlimited is all about improving outcomes for policyholders, and addresses a risk faced by all policyholders but for which there was no protection available, until now”.
“Working in conjunction with a group of like-minded providers we have been able to produce a package of services offering the same high quality representation insurers already receive in dealing with disputes. We will now be working to introduce the benefits of Unlimited across the UK insurance broking sector as a key part of their client support offering.”
For further details about Unlimited and how it could benefit you or your clients please contact us either by email at address unlimited@fenchurchlaw.co.uk or call our dedicated Unlimited phone number 020 3058 3088.
Fenchurch Law boosts professions practice with associate appointment
Fenchurch Law, one of the UK’s leading firms working exclusively for policyholders and brokers on complex insurance disputes, has expanded its professions practice with the appointment of associate Cécile Lonjarret.
Cécile has expertise in professional indemnity claims representing a variety of professionals including architects, solicitors, barristers, financial advisers and accountants. She joins Fenchurch Law from Baker & McKenzie.
Commenting on the appointment, David Pryce, managing partner at Fenchurch Law, said: “Cécile is the 4th new joiner to Fenchurch Law in the last 6 months which is testament to our commitment to attracting high-calibre individuals. We are committed to investing in the growth of our business and this continued investment in the expansion of capabilities is part of our wider objective of improving outcomes for policyholders.”
Comprising very experienced practitioners Jonathan Corman and Rob Fink the professions team represent professionals of all types, including accountants, insolvency practitioners, solicitors, IFA’s and surveyors.
Shock horror: "Innocent Non-Disclosure" clause applies to innocent non-disclosure
A case reported on 23 March involved a provision which one might ordinarily have described as an "Innocent Non-Disclosure" clause (albeit it was not entitled that): it protected the policyholder against the consequences of any material non-disclosure unless it had been "deliberate or fraudulent". The Insurers had nevertheless attempted to argue that the clause did not apply where the policyholder had failed to disclose information as a result of an honest but mistaken belief that the information had not needed to be disclosed.
Predictably enough(?), the court (Coulson J) rejected the Insurers' arguments, holding that they would lead to an "absurd [and] wholly unbusiness-like result".
Why did Insurers even take the point? Surely it wasn't simply because there was almost £18m at stake?
See Mutual Energy Ltd v Starr Underwriting & Travellers
The full judgment is here: http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/TCC/2016/590.html
Jonathan Corman is a Partner at Fenchurch Law.
Fenchurch Law Ltd shortlisted for Insurance Law Firm of the Year Award
Fenchurch Law Ltd has been shortlisted for the second time for the Insurance Law Firm of the Year in the prestigious Claims Awards 2016, which celebrate excellence and innovation in the general insurance claims sector.
The Insurance Law Firm of the Year Award recognises technical ability and the application of innovative ideas and customer service within legal services.
Managing Partner David Pryce commented: “We are very pleased to have been shortlisted for this award again. Since founding Fenchurch Law in 2010, our aim has not only been to lead the market for complex policyholder coverage disputes in the UK but also to innovate in the interests of the policyholder and broker. Putting policyholders first is at the heart of everything we do and over the last 12 months we have continued to put in place a number of unique funding arrangements for policyholders across the UK and secured over £9 million in payments from insurers.”
Final winners will be announced at The Claims Awards evening at the Royal Garden Hotel in London on the 2nd June.