Whether payment into escrow account ascertained insured’s loss under underlying liability policy. Read the judgment here.
Alison Padfield QC is a barrister specialising in commercial dispute resolution. She has particular expertise in insurance and reinsurance, professional conduct/discipline and regulation, and professional liability.
***Latest news***:
*Alison won Insurance Silk of the Year at the Chambers & Partners UK Bar Awards 2020.
**The 5th edition of Insurance Claims (Bloomsbury Professional) has now gone to press and will be published in February 2021.
***On 25 February 2021, Alison will be speaking to the British Insurance Law Association on Decision-making by (re)insurers – limits on contractual rights.
Alison appears in courts at all levels including the Supreme Court. She also represents clients in arbitrations/expert determination and at mediation.
Alison prosecuted cases before the Bar disciplinary tribunal for more than 20 years. She now accepts instructions to defend barristers facing disciplinary investigations and charges before the tribunal. She also acts in judicial review claims arising out of disciplinary and regulatory matters, and claims involving the Equality Act 2010 and human rights issues.
Alison accepts appointments as an arbitrator.
Click here for Alison Padfield QC’s Privacy Policy.
Alison is the author of Insurance Claims (Bloomsbury Professional, 4th edition, 2016; 5th edition to be published February 2021), a specialist text on insurance law including insurance brokers’ negligence.
Legal 500 2021 ranks Alison as a leading silk:
- Insurance and Reinsurance: ‘Alison is an insurance guru and very well respected by clients and partners. She is always prepared, calm and unflappable and has a very easy manner that puts clients from all walks of life entirely at their ease. She is also intellectually outstanding and great on tactics.’
- Professional Negligence: ‘Not only is she intellectually outstanding, great on tactics, but you can always rely on the fact that she will work with you seamlessly as part of the team.’
- Professional Disciplinary and Regulatory Law: ‘She has encyclopaedic knowledge of regulatory law and is very practical-minded.’
Alison is also ranked by Chambers UK 2021 as a leading silk in Insurance and Professional Negligence.
Alison’s recent appellate work includes appearances in the Supreme Court in O’Connor v Bar Standards Board [2017] 1 WLR 4833 and Teal Assurance Co Ltd v W R Berkley Insurance (Europe) Ltd [2014] Lloyd’s Rep IR 56 (with Colin Edelman QC) and the Court of Appeal in Teal Assurance Co Ltd v W R Berkley Insurance (Europe) Ltd (No 2) [2017] Lloyd’s Rep IR 259 (with Colin Edelman QC) and Aspen Insurance UK Ltd v Adana Construction Ltd [2015] Lloyd’s Rep IR 511 (with Colin Wynter QC).
Alison’s recent notable High Court appearances include Just Digital Marketplace Ltd [2021] EWHC 15 (QB), Oran Environmental Solutions Ltd v QBE Insurance (Europe) Ltd [2020] EWHC 1271 (Comm), Re High Court Enforcement Regulations 2004 [2020] EWHC 347 (QB), Cohen v Lorrells LLP & Anr [2019] EWHC 32 (QB) and (Regulation 12 proceedings) and Dorairaj v Bar Standards Board [2018] EWHC2762 (Admin).
Insurance and reinsurance
Alison won Insurance Silk of the Year at this year’s Chambers & Partners UK Bar Awards 2020.
Before taking silk, Alison was twice shortlisted for Insurance Junior of the Year in the Chambers & Partners Bar Awards: in 2014 and 2017.
Alison is recognised as a leading specialist in insurance and reinsurance. She is frequently asked to advise on insurance issues relating to high profile and high value cases. Alison has extensive experience of advising and representing insurers and policyholders, and claimants under the Third Parties (Rights Against Insurers) Acts 1930 and 2010, in all aspects of insurance and reinsurance disputes, and across all types of non-marine cover.
Alison’s recent work includes advice on the impact of COVID-19 on insurance policies of various types including business interruption and event cancellation insurance. More generally, her work includes all aspects of insurance except marine insurance – including material damage and business interruption insurance, public and product liability insurance, professional indemnity insurance (including construction professionals), directors’ and officers’ (D&O) and trustees’ liability cover, employers’ liability insurance policies, commercial combined policies, construction and engineering (including contractors’ all risk (CAR) and contractors’ combined policies), legal expenses insurance (both before the event/BTE and after the event/ATE), private medical insurance, and accident, life, permanent health (PHI) and critical illness insurance. She is involved in all aspects of insurance claims, both under the common law and under the Insurance Act 2015, and involving subrogation, double insurance, and related issues such as compensation for breach of ICOBS under s 138D of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, and applications for non-party costs orders against insurers under s 51 of the Senior Courts Act 1981.
For more information, please view the Insurance & Reinsurance section under Areas of Expertise below.
Professional conduct and discipline and related areas
Alison prosecuted cases before the Bar disciplinary tribunal for more than 20 years. She now accepts instructions to defend barristers facing disciplinary investigations and charges before the tribunal. She also acts in judicial review claims arising out of disciplinary and regulatory matters, and claims involving the Equality Act 2010 and human rights issues.
Alison has extensive knowledge of professional conduct and disciplinary issues involving barristers. She has 20 years’ experience of appearing in the Bar’s Disciplinary Tribunal, in appeals to the Visitors of the Inns of Court and the Administrative Court, and in related civil proceedings including for judicial review, misfeasance and under the Human Rights Act. She also has significant knowledge of the law of contempt.
Alison is instructed on cases within her areas of expertise which have cross-over employment and discrimination aspects, including the Equality Act 2010 and human rights issues, due to her many years’ experience in the Employment Tribunal and the Employment Appeal Tribunal at an earlier stage in her career. This included advising and representing the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis in a series of high profile race and religious discrimination claims brought by senior officers and staff.
For more information, please view the Disciplinary & Regulatory section under Areas of Expertise below.
Professional liability
Alison has significant expertise in professional liability claims. She has particular experience in insurance and reinsurance brokers’ negligence claims which include cross-over insurance or reinsurance issues. She also has experience of applications for civil restraint orders under CPR PD 3C and of claims for wasted costs against legal representatives under s 51 of the Senior Courts Act 1981.
Alison’s most recent published professional liability article, written with Diarmuid Laffan for the New Law Journal, is on the obligations of SIPP providers after R (Berkeley Burke SIPP Administration Ltd) v Financial Ombudsman Service Ltd.
For more information, please view the Professional Liability section under Areas of Expertise below.
Commercial litigation
Alison’s commercial litigation practice is wide-ranging, including claims for damages for breach of commercial agreements, such as contracts for the sale of goods or supply of services, directors’ duties, shareholder and partnership disputes and claims involving the Commercial Agents (Council Directive) Regulations 1993. She also has extensive experience of insurance and reinsurance claims and professional liability claims in a commercial and construction context.
For more information, please view the Commercial Litigation section under Areas of Expertise below.
Previous recognition in legal directories and awards
Legal 500 2018 said about Alison: ‘Intellectually outstanding, extremely knowledgeable; great on tactics, always client focused and extremely commercial in her approach’ (Professional Negligence), ‘Exudes intellectual and personal integrity; her promotion to silk was overdue’ (Commercial Litigation), and ‘A go-to barrister for insurance cases and her text book on insurance claims is the most user friendly on the market’ (Insurance and Reinsurance).
Chambers UK 2018 ranked Alison in Band 1 for Insurance: ‘Recognised as “a go-to junior for insurance claims interpretations and policy questions.” She is experienced in both insurance and professional negligence cases and is particularly noted for her methodical and meticulous approach. She handles insurance and reinsurance arbitrations as well as litigation. “An effective advocate, who is accessible and user-friendly.” “She is delightful and extremely knowledgeable.”’
Legal 500 2017 said: ‘Calm, measured, robust and responsive; her advice is invaluable’ (Commercial Litigation), ‘Intellectually very able, extremely knowledgeable on case law, great attention to detail and always prepared’ (Professional Negligence), and ‘Unflappable, attentive to detail and an absolute pleasure to work with’ (Insurance and Reinsurance).
In Insurance, Chambers UK 2017 said about Alison: ‘A very highly thought-of junior who is “just a joy to work with” and experienced in both insurance and professional negligence cases. She is noted for her methodical and meticulous approach.’ “She is outstandingly user-friendly: nothing I put her way seems to floor her. Always calm and in control, she’s good at rolling up her sleeves and making you feel you’re all in this together.” “Technically brilliant and with an eye for detail.”’
Publications
Alison’s key publication is Insurance Claims (Bloomsbury Professional, 4th edition, 2016; 5th edition to be published February 2021), a specialist text on insurance law including insurance brokers’ negligence:
‘It is extremely welcome to find a book addressing the law of insurance in which clear and succinct answers can readily be found’ – from Colin Edelman QC’s Foreword to the 3rd edition
‘Alison Padfield’s book … has admirably combined brevity with clarity of exposition … an excellent book’ – from a review by Professor Robert Merkin QC of the first edition in the Journal of Business Law
Alison is also a regular contributor to publications on insurance law. She co-authored Informa’s Insurance law in 2018: a year in review with Miles Harris, and some of her published articles are available to download here. Alison also writes the Chaffanbrass commercial law blog. Her blog on the decision of the Supreme Court in Travelers Insurance Co Ltd v XYZ was republished in Costs Lawyer (Issue 5, November/December 2019).
Alison is frequently asked to give seminars and lectures on insurance law. In February 2021 she will be speaking to the British Insurance Law Association on Decision-making by (re)insurers – limits on contractual rights. In July 2018, she gave a lecture to BILA on non-party costs orders against insurers under s 51 of the Senior Courts Act 1981.
Recent notable court and arbitration appearances
- Just Digital Marketplace Ltd [2021] EWHC 15 (QB) – whether controlled goods agreement can be entered into by video without enforcement agent attending physically at premises where goods are located
- Oran Environmental Solutions Ltd v QBE Insurance (Europe) Ltd [2020] EWHC 1271 (Comm) – validity of service of claim form
- Re High Court Enforcement Regulations 2004 [2020] EWHC 347 (QB) (Regulation 12 proceedings against a High Court Enforcement Officer)
- Cohen v Lorrells LLP & Anr [2019] EWHC 32 (QB) – whether claim against alleged successor practice under solicitors’ minimum terms and conditions (MTCs – professional indemnity insurance) should be struck out
- Dorairaj v Bar Standards Board [2018] EWHC 2762 (Admin) – whether breach by regulator of complaints rules deprived disciplinary tribunal of jurisdiction
- W R Berkley Insurance (Europe) Ltd v Teal Assurance Co Ltd [2017] Lloyd’s Rep IR 259, CA (with Colin Edelman QC) – reinsurance – whether payment into escrow account ascertained insured’s loss under underlying liability policy
- O’Connor v Bar Standards Board [2017] UKSC 78 – time limits and indirect race discrimination claim under Human Rights Act 1998
- Aspen Insurance UK Ltd v Adana Construction Ltd [2015] Lloyd’s Rep IR 511, CA (with Colin Wynter QC) – claim involving construction of public liability and product liability wordings and their inter-relationship in a combined contractors’ liability policy
- R (Prescott) v Bar Council [2015] EWHC 1919 (Admin) – public law challenge relating to the BPTC Handbook and its application
- A Company v D&O Insurers (2014) (with Colin Edelman QC) – successful defence of claim against insurers under policy of D&O insurance at two-day arbitration hearing – details are confidential
- Herridge v Parker & Allianz Insurance Plc [2014] Lloyd’s Rep IR 177 – defence of application for costs against after the event (ATE) insurer as non-party under s 51(3) of the Senior Courts Act 1981; first reported case involving such an application against an ATE insurer
- Teal Assurance Co Ltd v W R Berkley Insurance (Europe) Ltd [2013] Lloyd’s Rep IR 56, SC (with Colin Edelman QC) – reinsurance case in Supreme Court concerning the order in which claims made by an insured exhaust layers of liability insurance cover and related Commercial Court proceedings
Privacy Policy
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