Experience
Specialising in commercial insurance, Helen is regularly instructed by major insurer clients, particularly in relation to high value/complex disputes, including those involving international aspects and issues of jurisdiction and applicable law.
She advises in relation to both first and third party claims concerning commercial and consumer insurance products, including in regard to High Net Worth Individuals.
Helen has a wealth of expertise in advising on policy coverage and interpretation disputes, property damage, product liability, business interruption and environmental impact claims.
Helen is regularly instructed in relation to major property damage incidents arising from a broad spectrum of insured perils including fires, explosions, floods and other adverse occurrences, most recently the COVID-19 global pandemic in respect of which she represented an insurer client in the Financial Conduct Authority Test Case before the High Court and in a leapfrog appeal to the Supreme Court. She also works closely with colleagues in DWF's Catastrophic Injury and Regulatory Teams providing support with regard to policy coverage aspects.
In addition, Helen is experienced in acting in matters involving environmental aspects such as for example loss/damage to renewable energy facilities, pollution and nuisance.
Predominantly instructed to act on behalf of defendants in high value public and product liability claims, Helen's calm and reassuring nature enable her to quickly build a rapport with policyholders and to steer them through what can be an incredibly challenging time for them personally and/or for their business. Her product liability work is extremely varied in nature and she has experience in dealing with a broad range of agricultural claims including those involving loss/damage to livestock and/or crops, engineering and manufacturing claims and claims involving defective buildings/structures and even aircraft fleets.
Helen's attention to detail enables her to quickly identify the key issues and provide clear, practical, concise and timely advice to clients, adopting a pragmatic approach to seeking to resolve disputes. Helen regularly represents clients in various forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution.
Helen has particular expertise in advising on and resolving insurance related complaints involving vulnerable customers and complaints which are escalated to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) and leads a team of solicitors specialising in this area.
Recent Cases
Financial Conduct Authority v. Arch Insurance (UK) Ltd and others [2020] EWHC 2448 (Comm) and [2021] SCUK 1
Representing a major insurer client in the 2020/2021 FCA Business Interruption Test Case relating to policy coverage and interpretation in respect of business interruption claims arising from the COVID-19 pandemic estimated to be relevant to c.370,000 small businesses with potential claims totalling c.£1.2 billion.
In addition to dealing with the above litigation, Helen leads a team of solicitors acting for insurer clients in respect of several hundred policy coverage disputes arising from non-FCA Test Case wordings, including assisting insurers with the drafting of submissions to the Financial Ombudsman Service in regard to COVID-19 business interruption claims.
Rushbond Plc v. JS Design Partnership LLP [2020] EWHC 1982 (TCC)
Representing the Defendant in a multi-million pound claim against an architects practice in which a dispute arose as to whether it was a 'pure omissions' case giving rise to no assumption of responsibility to the Claimant property owner and no basis on which a duty of care might be owed.
Laserpoint Ltd v. Prime Minister of Malta & Others [2016] EWHC 1820 (QB)
Acted for the successful appellant in an appeal against the enforcement in England of a multi-million pound judgment handed down by the Civil Court in Malta against the appellant. There had been a delay of nearly 26 years before judgment was issued which in all the circumstances was a breach of Article 34 of Regulation (EC) 44/2001 (Brussels 1).