URS Corporation Ltd v BDW Trading Ltd [2025] UKSC 21

The Supreme Court decision may disappoint some for the conclusion that it was not necessary to decide whether Pirelli General Cable Works Ltd v Oscar Faber & Partners [1983] 2 AC 1 should be overturned, but will surely be followed by intense concentration in professional liability cases on questions of causation and mitigation.

Limitation: When does time start to run?

Dan Stacey, Clare Elliott and Christopher Cooke have written a long note about limitation – and in particular “when does time start to run”.

Orchard v Dhillon [2025] EWHC 834 (Ch)

Contrary to the earlier decision in InnovatorOne, the High Court has held in Orchard v Dhillon [2025] EWHC 834 (Ch) 

Yerbury v Azets Holdings Ltd [2025] EWHC 757 (KB)

Alice Nash considers the decision, which confirms that professional firms offering insolvency services are not vicariously liable for the acts and omissions of employees accepting appointments as Receivers, as they act in a personal capacity rather than in the course of their employment.

Rukhadze and others v Recovery Partners GP Ltd and another [2025] UKSC 10

Clare Price considers this recent decision in which the Supreme Court was asked to revisit the role of causation in a fiduciary’s duty to account for profits made in breach of duty.

Bartolomucci v Circle Health Group Limited [2025] EWHC 529 (KB)

Alexander Hutton KC and Justin Meiland consider this important decision regarding private medicine in which the Court dismissed the Claimant’s argument that the hospital group should be contractually liable for medical services provided by consultants. 

Evans v Hughes Fowler Carruthers Ltd

Nicholas Davidson KC and Clare Parkhouse consider this unusual summary judgment case in which Adam Johnson J upheld the arguability of a solicitor’s ‘Gold v Mincoff’ duty

Roger Leggett & Others v American International Group UK Limited [2025] EWHC 278 (Comm)

Questions of suing the right defendant and indemnity coverage can be slippery where there has been a business transition between successive professional practices. 

Barrowfen Properties Ltd v. Patel [2025] EWCA Civ 39

When a claimant has lost a valuable chance but the breach of duty happens to have conferred a benefit on the claimant, how do you do the arithmetic?

Bailey v Bijlani

A judge has permitted a claimant in a dental negligence action to recover against the credit card company whose card she used to purchase the treatment.

Norman Hay v Marsh Ltd

The Court of Appeal have clarified the law on loss of a chance in professional negligence cases generally and insurance brokers cases particularly. 

Alexander Hutton KC and Thomas Mason appear in Topalsson GmbH v CMS Cameron Mckenna Nabarro Olswang LLP [2025] EWHC 118

Alexander Hutton KC and Thomas Mason appear in Topalsson GmbH v CMS Cameron Mckenna Nabarro Olswang LLP [2025] EWHC 118

A Bridge Too Far? Imposter Fraud, Bridging Finance and Summary Judgment

The 2010s saw a decade of litigation concerning the trust imposed on solicitors holding money on client account and the circumstances when those solicitors will be liable for breach of trust when that money goes missing (usually because it is paid to an imposter).

Melia v Tamlyn & Son Ltd [2024] EWHC 3002 (Ch)

The case of Melia v Tamlyn and Son Limited tackles several key issues in professional negligence, including the scope of duty post-MBS, approach to conflicts of evidence, and the significance of unlawful conduct.

Thank you, Michael!

Chambers is sad to announce that Michael will retire from the Bar on 1 March 2025.  We look forward to thanking him for his enormous contribution to Chambers at an event in spring 2025

Welcome to our new Junior Clerk Carrigan Beavan

We are delighted to welcome our new Junior Clerk Carrigan Beavan!

D&O Claims Case Update: BHS Liquidators Succeed in D&O Claim against former directors

Last week there was a substantial D&O judgment dealing with wrongful trading and misfeasance in the BHS litigation. What do practitioners need to know?

RSA v. Tughans [2023] EWCA Civ 999

The Court of Appeal has just decided an important case on professional indemnity insurance, RSA v Tughans.

Legal 500 Bar Awards 2023

We are proud to announce that Hailsham Chambers has been nominated for four Legal 500 2023 Bar Awards.

Simon Howarth KC acts in new case relating to s.39 FSMA

Simon Howarth KC represented the 12th Defendant in KVB v Jacob Hopkins McKenzie

Developments in solicitor-client costs disputes

The recent ECJ decision in DV v MA may have an important impact on Solicitors Act detailed assessments.

Judicial Exemption to Personal Data Access:  X v (1) Transcription Agency (2) Master James

In the case of X v (1) The Transcription Agency (2) Master James, handed down on 9th May 2023

Tax Schemes and Tax Counsel: Can the Investor Sue in Relation to the Opinion?

Simon Howarth KC examines the Court of Appeal judgment in McLean v Thornhill

Practico Costs Round Table with Andrew Post KC, Andy Ellis and Jeremy Morgan KC

In this latest costs chat with Practico, our very own Andrew Post KC joins Andy Ellis and Jeremy Morgan KC discuss the following topics:

Judicial Appointment

We are pleased to announce that Nicola Rushton KC has been appointed a Deputy High Court Judge by the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales. She will be sitting in the Chancery Division. 

This is a part-time appointment and Nicola will continue in practice at Hailsham, specialising in professional negligence and commercial matters.

Christmas Opening Hours

Click here to see Hailsham's Christmas opening hours  

Mediation and Neutral Evaluation

David Pittaway KC spoke at a blue-sky thinking conference at the University of Leicester’s Law Department on The Role of [A]DR and Neutral Evaluation in the Reformed Civil Justice System of England and Wales. 

Royal & Sun Alliance Ltd v Tughans (A Firm)

Alice Nash provides a review of this key professional indemnity insurance judgment