Casualty

We act for insurers, re-insurers and self-insureds across a broad range of industries from construction, heavy engineering, manufacturing, chemical and offshore to the service sector, utilities, public sector, retail and distribution, haulage and sport and leisure. Our specialist teams cover all major fields as well as niche specialisms.

For our insurer clients, protecting and improving margins while growing market share is imperative. In an increasingly competitive and regulated environment we understand the challenges facing insurers, reinsurers, underwriters, and brokers. Central to our approach is cost containment and minimising of leakage. We aim to control indemnity spend and reduce life cycles. Our senior practitioners work across all classes of cases to ensure the best possible service and outcomes for our clients.

For our corporate clients, we prioritise meeting company service objectives, safeguarding brand integrity, and offering comprehensive support in risk management. We actively strive to develop regulatory compliance, mitigate risks, and minimise costs associated with claims management.

Read more about our Risk Management offering.

Our focus is on driving the right outcome for our clients while keeping the cost of our service proportionate. 

Our expertise

Claims dealt with by our specialist team vary in value, complexity, subject matter, covering every sector including construction/workplace accidents as well as complex multi-defendant actions.

The potential range of public liability claims is extensive and it’s vital that coverage is properly reviewed and confirmed in all cases. Our expertise includes the London Market and handling of complex coverage issues.

The impressive skills, knowledge and experience of our team in occupiers’ liability and defective premises claims include those involving derelict properties, retail premises and residential property, as well as the personal liability of policyholders outside a property, e.g for commercial premises, student housing, supported housing, hotels and public houses.

Our team specialises in this complex area, including defending claims for injury to a person and/or damage to property caused as result of defective design or failure of equipment. Often that can lead to pursuing recovery from the supplier or manufacturer of the equipment, either as a claim for indemnity in the proceedings or a separate recovery action.

Our team has a broad range and extensive experience in defending a variety of civil and criminal claims in this area – providing a consistent and expedient approach between the two.
We act for both corporate and individual clients in respect of Corporate Manslaughter/Gross Negligence Manslaughter, HSE, EHO, CQC, Food and Trading Standards cases.
Our expertise and joined up approach ensure we avoid duplication of effort and achieve significant costs savings, often in excess of 50%.

Inquests

We have considerable experience and regularly advise businesses and individuals on enforcement notices; attending interviews under caution with the regulator; responding to the regulator at all stages of the investigation and where possible avoiding criminal proceedings; representations at court, PR and media management.

HF’s Criminal Motor Defence Team has extensive and cross-border experience of advising drivers, insurers and corporate clients following a serious motoring incident. We’re alive to the very real concerns and anxiety that drivers experience when they are suddenly and unexpectedly facing a criminal investigation following a fatal or serious injury road traffic collision.