Areas of Core Excellence

ACE abuse claims group

This group, led by Paul Donnelly, Partner, provides clients with access to genuine market leading specialist lawyers vastly experienced at advising on a wide spectrum of claims often involving sexual, physical, and emotional abuse, or neglect, of children and vulnerable adults together with other types of claims arising out of the, usually deliberate, tortious conduct of third parties. This includes both third party claims and first party policy coverage issues/disputes. The group has members covering all UK jurisdictions and links in with the significant expertise that the firm has in other jurisdictions, most notably Canada and Australia.

Our ACE Group is involved in leading cases testing the boundaries of developing areas of law. This includes successfully defending through the appellant courts several of the leading “failure to remove" claims against local authority social services professionals (both common law claims and the ongoing development of social services claims under the Human Rights Act which followed those cases) and vicarious liability claims as the doctrine has continued to expand and contract through recent reported appellant court decisions.

The group have also successfully acted in recent leading cases developing the tort of intentional infliction of harm and are advising (including advising insurers on policy coverage issues) in cases involving child sexual exploitation rings and criminal conspiracy allegations arising out of the modern slavery/exploitation of vulnerable adults, often with an international element involving jurisdiction issues.

Members of our ACE group are used to advising on niche & sensitive issues in these claims such consent, grooming and limitation. The team consists of specialist lawyers handling claims sectors ranging from local government/public sector to charity, education (including higher education), religious organisations and the private care sector.

Our ACE Group is set up to provide client training, undertake horizon scanning, prepare thought leadership articles and develop and share best practice (and Know Your Opponent intel and strategies) in what are sensitive and evolving areas of law and area of risk for key insurer and insured clients. 

ACE International Group

The ACE International Group, led by Sara-Jane Eaton, Partner, assisted by Alastair Homan, Director, and Sarah Mahoney, Senior Associate, has been set up to highlight DWF's core excellence in handling all types of private international law and travel claims, providing expertise and knowledge not only externally to clients but also internally to colleagues globally.

The Group has access to several multi-lingual lawyers and claims handlers and specialises, in particular, in handling personal injury claims of all manner and size which have a cross-border element and includes expertise in jurisdiction as well as applicable law issues arising from motor, EL/PL, Product liability and travel liability claims. They can also assist and guide others on overseas contractual and commercial matters. 

The Group regularly provides presentations and training in this specialist area, carries out horizon scanning, prepares thought leadership articles, shares experts and has very good links with overseas lawyers required to provide expert evidence. Many members are affiliated to cross border working groups and associations such as ABTA, FOIL cross-border SLT, the Green Card motor Correspondents working group, PEOPIL and IETL.

The Group guides and advises clients and major injury and casualty teams on how to navigate what can be a complex area in which to litigate and has collectively over 80 years' experience in dealing with applicable laws other than the law of England and Wales. The Group is supported by DWF's many international offices.