Professional negligence

The experienced professional negligence team at Penningtons Manches Cooper advises individuals, businesses – including lenders – and trustees in a wide range of professional negligence claims. We handle cases involving various professionals, including lawyers, accountants and surveyors, providing expert legal support in navigating complex professional negligence issues.

Comprehensive professional negligence services

Claims arising from professional mistakes can be intricate and multifaceted. Our lawyers swiftly and accurately assess the strengths and weaknesses of each case and advise on the best strategy to maximise the chances of a successful outcome at a proportionate cost.

We have been at the forefront of the professional negligence market for many years, with a strong track record in numerous significant cases. These often involve developing legal issues such as the scope of a professional’s duty, the types of damages that are recoverable, and the circumstances under which a professional’s insurer may refuse to indemnify claims. Our team is recognised by the Legal 500 and Chambers UK legal directories as a leading practice in professional negligence, underlining our commitment to delivering excellent results.

In addition to representing individuals and businesses, our professional negligence lawyers are renowned for their expertise in the growing field of group action litigation. We have acted on major multi-party claims against solicitors and other professionals, managing large-scale cases seamlessly while ensuring that every client receives the representation they deserve.

Our approach is always client-focused. We use clear, accessible language and maintain transparency so clients fully understand their case and remain informed throughout. This fosters trust and confidence, helping them to feel supported at every stage. Applying a commercial lens, we strive to achieve the best possible conclusion in all professional negligence claims while working diligently to manage costs. Our goal is to provide efficient legal solutions that align with our clients’ business objectives.

Their level of experience and expertise is unparalleled, making them one of the best in this market for this type of work.

Legal 500

Our professional negligence lawyers offer a range of cost-effective funding solutions, including risk-sharing conditional fee agreements (also known as no win, no fee agreements), third-party funding, and costs insurance. These options are designed to reduce cost and risk exposure, making it easier for clients to pursue their claims without undue financial burden.

Choosing Penningtons Manches Cooper means selecting a team recognised for its expertise, innovative funding solutions and commitment to client satisfaction. Our comprehensive services make us the ideal partner for anyone pursuing a professional negligence claim.

How we help our clients

Accountants – pursuing claims for incorrect tax advice or other failures causing financial loss

Architects – advising on negligence in design, planning, or structural miscalculations

Barristers – handling claims involving poor advocacy or misjudged legal strategy

Engineers and surveyors – resolving disputes over faulty reports, valuations, or construction oversight

Financial advisors – challenging unsuitable investment advice or misrepresentation of financial products

Insurance brokers – acting in claims where inadequate cover or policy errors lead to uninsured losses

Solicitors – representing clients in cases of failed strategy, incorrect advice or poor drafting

Tax advisors – advising on claims for incorrect structuring or failure to mitigate tax liabilities

Insights
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What our clients are saying

The whole team is very good, including the paralegals and trainees. They manage large groups of clients with patience and care.

Chambers UK

A hugely experienced team that displays strength in depth in this very complex area.

Legal 500

They have plenty of strategic thinking and understanding of how to get the best results for their clients. They have great team work and are very responsive.

Legal 500

Their level of experience and expertise is unparalleled, making them one of the best in this market for this type of work.

Legal 500

The team are extremely experienced from the top through to the junior end.

Legal 500

Recent work highlights

High Court group claim upheld

Successfully defending a group claim application in the High Court from 134 claimants, which contained significant common issues of law and fact to be tried in one set of proceedings, against an appeal from Williams & Co, which was rejected.

Negligent valuation of listed building

Acting for bridging lender Hope Capital concerning the negligent valuation of a National Trust Grade II* listed building on which it provided a loan. The loan defaulted, receivers were appointed and the property was later sold at a large loss.

Multi-jurisdictional group action against lender

Defending enforcement proceedings for a group of individuals in a complex, multi-jurisdictional dispute with Credit Immobilier de France from our UK and Paris offices after the lender called for mortgages to be repaid under mortgage terms in England.

Office Properties liquidation advice

Advising the liquidators of Office Properties PL Ltd on a claim against a former director for a £7 million unlawful dividend paid to the parent company, and on negligent advice from Adcamp LLP. The proceedings are ongoing.

Fraudulent payment instructions settlement

Achieving a substantial costs order in favour of our client after a payment services provider failed to exercise reasonable care in executing fraudulent payment instructions by directors of our client’s business, which as a result became insolvent.

Northern Powerhouse group action

Representing 200+ investors in the Northern Powerhouse property investment schemes in their action against a law firm. Approval was granted to the claimants to submit a precedent-setting single claim form, strengthening the trend for class actions in the UK.

National law firm negligence claim

Acting against a national firm of solicitors in a high-value professional negligence claim arising from its alleged mishandling of complex litigation proceedings, resulting in significant financial loss and reputational damage to our client.

Redress for Hong Kong investors

Representing 138 Hong Kong investors in a group action claim arising from failed UK property developments, pursuing professional negligence claims against their former solicitors for inadequate legal advice and failure to protect their investments.

Tax dispute over company restructuring

Advising a property investment company in a claim against its accountants for negligent tax advice arising from a restructuring of group companies, which led to a stamp duty charge.

National law firm negligence claim

Acting against a national firm of solicitors in a high-value professional negligence claim arising from its alleged mishandling of complex litigation proceedings, resulting in significant financial loss and reputational damage to our client.

Redress for Hong Kong investors

Representing 138 Hong Kong investors in a group action claim arising from failed UK property developments, pursuing professional negligence claims against their former solicitors for inadequate legal advice and failure to protect their investments.

Tax dispute over company restructuring

Advising a property investment company in a claim against its accountants for negligent tax advice arising from a restructuring of group companies, which led to a stamp duty charge.

Case studies

Successful Court of Appeal ruling with major ramifications for group action

Penningtons Manches Cooper has successfully defended a High Court challenge to a group claim, in a ruling that supports cost-effective collective redress and confirms that multiple claimants can use a single claim form where it is considered convenient.
Read more

Group action against NFU Mutual for Covid-19 business interruption

Our group actions team is representing around 90 businesses in a major Commercial Court claim against NFU Mutual, challenging its refusal to pay Covid-19 business interruption claims — a case with potentially far-reaching implications for insurers.
Read more

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