Devereux is a recognised leader in the insurance and reinsurance field, previously awarded 'Insurance Set of the Year' by Chambers UK. Colin Edelman KC has received multiple awards as Chambers UK 'Insurance Silk of the Year', as has Richard Harrison for the Chambers UK 'Insurance Junior of Year' award. Colin is also deservedly recognised as pre-eminent in his field and is alone named as the 'Star Individual' by Chambers UK.
COVID-19 Pandemic Expertise
Members of the Insurance team have already been consulted on a wide range of issues arising from the pandemic. Equipped with extensive experience of the Lloyd’s and companies’ markets, and highly esteemed for its work in insurance and reinsurance law, the Devereux insurance team is ideally placed to advise on all insurance and reinsurance issues raised by the pandemic. Important issues arise under event cancellation, material damage and business interruption, trade credit/insolvency, EL, PL and D&O covers, amongst others. The novel context of the pandemic and governmental responses has already provoked substantial legal controversy as to cover provided by policies, which is set to continue.
Colin Edelman KC and Richard Harrison acted for the Financial Conduct Authority in the Covid-19 business interruption test claim brought against eight leading insurers. Colin and Richard led the senior and junior team of counsel respectively in the High Court action, with Colin leading the FCA’s team of counsel at the Supreme Court.
Recommendations and Awards
"Specialist insurance/reinsurance set with a strong market reputation." - Legal 500 2023
"Frequently involved in the most significant insurance and reinsurance-related disputes, Devereux's contentious insurance clients further benefit from the set's experience in complementary areas of work, such as professional negligence, employment, personal injury, tax, sport and pensions." - Legal 500 2022.
"Devereux has a robust insurance and reinsurance practice, and has barristers with impressive experience in international arbitration and challenging coverage litigation.” – Chambers UK Bar 2022.
Work Undertaken
Devereux has extensive experience of the operation of the Lloyd's and companies' markets and are frequently involved in the most significant cases in the field. Devereux members also act as advocates or arbitrators in insurance and reinsurance arbitrations, including international arbitrations. Instructions include those that involve all aspects of insurance and reinsurance related disputes, including the construction of policy and treaty wordings, breach of warranties, avoidance for non-disclosure and misrepresentation, fraud, aggregation, notification, affirmation, waiver and estoppel, claims co-operation and control clauses, follow settlements clauses, subrogation and contribution. Work with an international dimension includes jurisdictional disputes and Bermuda Form arbitrations. Devereux members also advise in relation to compliance with statutory and regulatory provisions, such as the FCA's Insurance Conduct of Business Sourcebook, and other non-contentious work (including policy drafting and review).
Devereux members act for insurers, reinsurers, policyholders, brokers, other services providers within the insurance and reinsurance industry and third-party claimants. The breadth of our practice areas is a key asset. Our experience of complementary areas of work such as professional negligence, employment, personal injury, tax, sport and pensions provides a distinct advantage in disputes involving professional indemnity insurance, all forms of liability insurance, permanent health insurance (PHI), sickness and accident claims, claims under the Third Parties (Rights Against Insurers) Act and cases involving the Motor Insurance Bureau (MIB). Exposure to a broad range of work means that our junior tenants gain extensive experience of all aspects of oral and written advocacy at an early stage.
Publications
Publications written by members of Devereux include Law of Reinsurance by Colin Edelman KC and Andrew Burns KC (3rd edition) as well as a wide range of legal articles and papers. A paper by Colin Edelman KC and Richard Harrison was relied upon by an alliance of the UK insurance industry, consisting of Mactavish, Lloyd’s, the LMA, IUA, ABI, BIBA, LIIBA and AIRMIC, in the House of Lords debate on proposed amendments to the Insurance Act 2015. Members of our insurance team speak at industry events in the UK and abroad, including insurance centres such as Bermuda and Hong Kong.
