Howden offers legal help to surveyors

Specialist Lloyd’s broker, Howden, has created a panel of law firms to provide a range of legal services to its surveying clients.

The panel members are Reynolds Porter Chamberlain, Beale and Company, Weightmans and CMS Cameron McKenna

Howden was recently appointed by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) as its preferred UK professional indemnity (PI) broker.

The Howden legal panel will provide surveyors with free collateral warranty and contract reviews in addition to assistance with day-to-day legal matters.

Howden will also be working with the panel to develop a series of seminars and insurance market updates to keep surveyors informed on areas such as risk management and issues surrounding PI insurance.

Emma Vigus who leads the surveyors’ team at Howden said: “We recognise that the surveying sector is facing a steep rise in both claims and PI premiums and we want to provide the industry with as much assistance as possible in order to overcome these difficulties, including access to sound legal advice.

"The firms we have chosen to work with have a proven expertise in the sector and we’re confident that they are best placed to provide our surveying clients with practical advice when they need it.”

Paul Redfern of Beale and Company said: “It’s natural to seek legal advice when it comes to being notified of a potential claim, but we believe providing a proactive service to surveyors throughout the year can help them in so many other areas of their business as well as mitigating the risk of facing a claim.

"It’s refreshing to see Howden putting together a panel offering made up of firms that really understand the pressures and challenges that surveyors face on a day-to-day basis, which will ensure their clients get the support they need 24-7.”

Mike Grant, partner and head of professional risk at Weightmans added: “We relish the prospect of working in tandem with Howden to provide a range of innovative risk and advisory services to RICS members.”