Herbert Smith Freehills LLP

Because technical ability alone is not enough, we seek to build exceptional working relationships with our clients. By doing so, we are able to develop a deeper understanding of our clients’ businesses, provide commercially astute, innovative advice and create better business outcomes for them.

We act for many large public companies, directors and officers, major insurers, reinsurers, brokers, creditors/financiers and receivers/administrators on a range of matters across jurisdictions and industry sectors, including:

• advising corporate policyholders from a broad range of industry sectors including energy, financial, manufacturing, transport and retail on such matters as policy and coverage disputes, risk management and insurance policy wording
• advising insurers and reinsurers on drafting insurance policies, resolving policy wording disputes, indemnity issues and issues relating to breach of warranty, breach of condition, claims control and follow the settlements clauses
• advising brokers on the full spectrum of issues that emerge from the role of the broker including defence of professional negligence allegations
• handling product liability issues for corporate clients both in relation to the underlying liability issue and any insurance arrangements, and
• advising clients in relation to issues flowing from critical business events including personal injury claims; corporate manslaughter charges and health and safety investigations.

We have been pleased to work with Airmic on a series of its recent know-how projects including the innocent non-disclosure clause, reservation of rights clause and the basis clause guide. These practical tools assist Airmic members, Airmic partner brokers and insurers to promote legal certainty in their insurance contracts and reduce the scope for contested claims.