Endurance Corporate Capital Limited v Sartex Quilts & Textiles Limited [2020] EWCA Civ 308 The Court of Appeal recently dismissed the insurer’s appeal in Endurance Corporate Capital Ltd v Sartex Quilts and Textiles Ltd (click here for the full judgment). Upholding the first instance decision of David Railton QC sitting as a deputy High Court … Read more

Now that W&I has been so widely used for a number of years, a body of notifications and claims is building. Most insurers and brokers prepare claims activity reports, with convergence of experience suggesting that there are notifications to around 20% of policies. Given that alternative dispute resolution or arbitration may be deployed there is … Read more

In Niramax Group Ltd v Zurich Insurance Plc [2020] EWHC 535 (Comm) the High Court held it was material to the assessment of a risk under an all risks contactors’ mobile plant policy (the “Policy”) that the insured had failed to disclose the fact that risk requirements concerning a separate buildings policy remained outstanding and that special terms had been imposed. Read more

The PRA and FCA have set out their expectations for UK-regulated firms under the Senior Managers and Certification Regime ("SMCR") in the light of the COVID-19 outbreak. A joint statement from the PRA and FCA applies to dual-regulated firms, while the FCA has published a separate statement for solo-regulated firms. Read more

We are pleased to invite you to our weekly webinar series discussing the business challenges presented by the COVID-19 outbreak. The third webinar, entitled, ‘People: the challenges being faced’, will be broadcast on 7 April 2020 and will focus on a number of the key issues currently being faced by UK employers, as well as the government support that may be available. The webinar will be chaired by James Palmer, Chair and Senior Partner of Herbert Smith Freehills, who will be joined by expert colleagues who will share their experience and views on these issues.   Read more

The COVID-19 pandemic is creating significant health, social and economic challenges world-wide, forcing governments and businesses to assess the impact on their people, operations and governance. Our latest "at a glance guide" considers some of the announcements made to date by EIOPA, the PRA and the FCA.  These cover a range of issues including actions that insurers should be taking to protect customers and employees, encouragement to firms to preserve capital and the extension of reporting deadlines. Our COVID-19 crisis hub aims to help our clients navigate their way through the many legal and regulatory issues that COVID-19 creates for their businesses Read more

The UK Government has published guidance requesting that schools and other educational institutions provide limited care for children whose parents have roles that are critical to the COVID-19 response. This includes parents working in certain financial services roles, including in the insurance sector, that are essential to the functioning of the economy (referred to as … Read more

By RICHARD LIDDELL QC, 4 NEW SQUARE AND SARAH MCNALLY, PARTNER,  HERBERT SMITH FREEHILLS This article was first published by 4 New Square here. Many events, including music, theatre, conferences and exhibitions have been cancelled or postponed in the wake of COVID-19 and more will follow. Sporting events at grassroots and professional level have also been hit hard.  The most … Read more