Loading...

Qualifying insurers

 

Client Protection

Related information

Previous lists of qualifying insurers (2010 and earlier)

Qualifying insurers agreements

 Qualifying insurers agreement 2012 (PDF 146 pages, 665K) – in effect from 1 October 2012

Qualifying insurers agreement 2011 (PDF 142 pages, 1.2M) – in from 1 October 2011 to 30 September 2012

Previous qualifying insurers agreements (2010 and earlier)

Indemnity insurance brokers

Further advice and support on brokers or professional indemnity insurance in general can be found on the Law Society website.

Appendix 1

What does it mean to be a Qualifying Insurer?

All insurers who are an "authorised insurer" to conduct business in the UK can become a qualifying insurer provided they sign a Qualifying Insurer's Agreement under which they agree to offer policies which meet set Minimum Terms and Conditions and agree to participate in an assigned risks pool. The Financial Services Authority regulates authorised insurers.

Section 37 of the Solicitors Act 1974 allows the SRA to make indemnity rules which require solicitors or any specified class of solicitors to take out and maintain insurance with "authorised insurers".

In the Solicitors Act, "authorised insurer" means
(a) a person who has permission under Part IV of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 to effect or carry out contracts of insurance of a relevant class; An FSA-authorised insurance company
(b) a person who carries on an insurance market activity, within the meaning of section 316(3) of that Act; A Lloyd's syndicate
(c) an EEA Firm of the kind mentioned in paragraph 5(d) of Schedule 3 to that Act, which has permission under paragraph 15 of that Schedule (as a result of qualifying for authorisation under paragraph 12 of that Schedule) to effect or carry out contracts of insurance of a relevant class; or An insurance company authorised by the relevant regulator in another member state of the European Economic Area (ie, the European Union plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein), which is exercising its passporting rights under EU insurance directives to carry on insurance business in the UK
(d) a person who does not fall within paragraph (a), (b) or (c) and who may lawfully effect or carry out contracts of insurance of a relevant class in a member state other than the United Kingdom. An insurance company exercising passporting rights under the Treaty of Rome to carry on business in the UK (unusual).

The term "relevant class" has the meaning set out in section 87(1B) of the Solicitors Act. This definition must be read with section 22 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and any relevant order under that section and Schedule 2 to that Act.

Appendix 2

European Economic Area (EEA) Qualifying Insurers

European Economic Area (EEA) Qualifying Insurers(PDF 2 Pages, 10K)

The Solicitors Regulation Authority does not regulate, vet or approve insurers. In order to be eligible to be a Qualifying Insurer an insurer must be an "authorised insurer" as defined by section 87(1A) of the Solicitors Act 1974. "Authorised insurers" are regulated by the Financial Services Authority. (For more information, see appendix 1 What does it mean to be a Qualifying Insurer?) see Appendix 2 for information about "EEA insurers"

As of 1 October 2012, the following insurers are Qualifying Insurers for the purposes of the SRA Indemnity Insurance Rules 2012. If you have any queries, please telephone 0121 329 6425/6305.


A M Trust Europe Limited
[via broker only]

Market Square House
St James Street
Nottingham
NG1 6FG

Contact name: Russell Newell

Telephone: 0115 941 1022

Financial rating

Credit rating/Insurer strength rating: A

Rating agency: A M Best

As of: 12 September 2012


Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty AG
[via broker only]

60 Gracechurch Street
London
EC3V 0HR

Contact name: David Cable

Telephone: 0203 451 3015

Email: david.cable@allianz.com

Website: www.AGCS.Allianz.com

Financial rating

Credit rating/Insurer strength rating: AA-

Rating agency: Standard & Poor's

As of: 12 September 2012


Alpha Insurance A S
[via broker only]

Harbour House
Sundkrogsgade 21
DK-2100 Copenhagen
Denmark

Contact name: Paul Lawrence

Telephone: 0207 264 1260

Fax number: 0207 702 2894

Email: enquiries@irsllp.co.uk

Website: www.irsllp.co.uk


Apro Management Limited (Balva Insurance Company AAS)
[via broker only]

3rd Floor
Dukes House
32-38 Dukes Place
London
EC3A 7LP

Contact name: Wayne Redgrave

Telephone: 0203 150 1100

Fax number: 0203 150 1101

Email: wayneredgrave@apromanagement.com

Website: www.apromanagement.com


Apro Management Limited (Berliner Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft) (23 May 2013)
[via broker only]

Dukes House
32 - 38 Dukes Place
London
EC3A 7LP

Contact name: Wayne Redgrave

Telephone: 020 3150 0102

Fax number: 020 3150 0101

Email: wayneredgrave@apromanagement.com

Website: www.apromanagement.com


Aviva Insurance Limited
[via broker only]

1 Undershaft
London
EC3P 3DQ

Contact name: Trevor Meadowcroft

Telephone: 0207 157 2452

Email: trevor.meadowcroft@aviva.co.uk

Financial rating

Credit rating/Insurer strength rating: A+

Rating agency: Standard & Poor's

As of: 12 September 2012


Axis Specialty Europe Plc (through Axis Specialty London)
[via broker only]

4th Floor
Plantation Place South
60 Great Tower Street
London
EC3R 5AZ

Contact name: Ian Bowler

Telephone: 0207 877 3934

Financial rating

Credit rating/Insurer strength rating: A+/ A

Rating agency: Standard & Poor's/ AM Best

As of: 12 September 2012


Barbican Syndicate 1955
[via broker only]

33 Gracechurch Street
London
EC3V 0BT

Contact name: Ed Pickard

Telephone: 0207 407 3588

Email: epickard@triley.co.uk

Financial rating

Credit rating/Insurer strength rating: A+/ A

Rating agency: Fitch/ Standard & Poor's/ A M Best

As of: 12 September 2012


Beazley (19 March 2013)
[via broker only]

Plantation Place South
60 Great Tower Street
London
EC3R 5AD

Contact name: Ian Rose

Telephone: 0207 674 7155

Fax number: 0207 674 7100

Email: ian.rose@beazley.com

Financial rating

Credit rating/Insurer strength rating: A

Rating agency: AM Best

As of: 19 March 2013


Chartis Europe Limited
[via broker only]

The Chartis Building
58 Fenchurch Street
London
EC3M 4AB

Contact name: Raheila Nazir

Telephone: 0207 954 4978

Fax number: 0207 954 8808

Financial rating

Credit rating/Insurer strength rating: A

Rating agency: Standard and Poor's

As of: 25 September 2012


Chubb Insurance Company of Europe SE
[via broker only]

106 Fenchurch Street
London
EC3M 5NB

Contact name: Chris Pavlou

Telephone: 0207 956 5313

Financial rating

Credit rating/Insurer strength rating: AA/ A++/ Aa2/ AA

Rating agency: Fitch/ A M Best/ Moody's/ Standard & Poor's

As of: 12 September 2012


Elite Insurance Company Limited
[via broker only]

52/54 Holborn House
High Holborn
London
WC1V 6RL

Contact name: Richard Spencer

Telephone: 0845 601 1221

Fax number: 01476 563 600

Email: rspencer@elite-insurance.co.uk

Website: www.elite-insurance.co.uk


Enterprise Insurance Company Plc
[via broker only]

22 - 24 Ragged Staff Wharf
Queensway Quay
Gibraltar

Contact name: Kieran Higgins

Telephone: 0845 163 4820

Fax number: 0845 163 4840

Email: quotes@solicitorspi.com

Website: www.solicitorspi.com


European Risk Insurance Company

39 Clarence Street
Southend-on-Sea
Essex
SS1 1BH

Contact name: Richard Gibbs

Telephone: 0845 890 1565

Fax number: 0845 890 1566

Email: info@erichf.com

Website: www.erichf.com


First Title Insurance Plc
[via broker only]

Title House
33-39 Elmfield Road
Bromley
Kent
BR1 1LT

Contact name: Paul Lawrence

Telephone: 020 7264 1269

Fax number: 020 7702 2894

Email: paull@indemnityrisksolutions.co.uk

Website: www.irsllp.co.uk

Financial rating

Credit rating/Insurer strength rating: A

Rating agency: A.M Best Company

As of: 30 August 2012


International Insurance Company of Hannover Limited
[via broker only]

1st - 3rd Floor
10 Fenchurch Street
London
EC3M 3BE

Contact name: Simon Carter

Telephone: 020 7015 4034

Email: simon.carter@inter-hannover.com

Website: www.inter-hannover.com

Financial rating

Credit rating/Insurer strength rating: AA-, A+

Rating agency: Standard & Poor's, A M Best

As of: 23 May 2013


Liberty Mutual Insurance Europe Limited

3rd Floor
Two Minster Court
Mincing Lane
London
EC3R 7YE

Contact name: Melanie O'Neill

Telephone: 0207 860 6600

Financial rating

Credit rating/Insurer strength rating: A/ A-

Rating agency: A M Best/ Standard & Poor's

As of: 12 September 2012


Pembroke Syndicate 4000
[via broker only]

2nd Floor South
3 Minster Court
Mincing Lane
London
EC3R 7DD

Contact name: Tom Pexton

Telephone: 020 7337 4400

Fax number: 020 7337 4401

Financial rating

Credit rating/Insurer strength rating: A+

Rating agency: Standard & Poor's

As of: 12 September 2012


QBE Insurance (Europe) Limited
[via broker only]

Plantation Place
30 Fenchurch Street
London
EC3M 3BD

Contact name: Mark Casady

Telephone: 0207 105 4166

Fax number: 0207 105 4014

Email: mark.casady@uk.qbe.com

Financial rating

Credit rating/Insurer strength rating: A+, A+, A+

Rating agency: Standard & Poor's, Fitch Ratings, A M Best

As of: 18 September 2012


QBE Syndicate 1886
[via broker only]

Plantation Place
30 Fenchurch Street
London
EC3M 3BD

Contact name: Mark Casady

Telephone: 0207 105 4166

Fax number: 0207 105 4017

Email: mark.casady@uk.qbe.com

Website: www.QBEeurope.com

Financial rating

Credit rating/Insurer strength rating: 4 LSA Stable, B+

Rating agency: Standard & Poors, Moodys

As of: 23 October 2012


QBE Syndicate 386
[via broker only]

Plantation Place
30 Fenchurch Street
London
EC3M 3BD

Contact name: Mark Casady

Telephone: 0207 105 4166

Fax number: 0207 105 4017

Email: mark.casady@uk.qbe.com

Financial rating

Credit rating/Insurer strength rating: 5, A

Rating agency: Standard & Poor's, Moody's

As of: 18 September 2012


RSA Insurance
[via broker only]

Leadenhall Court
1 Leadenhall Street
London
EC3V 1PP

Contact name: Steve Abrahams

Telephone: 020 7337 5518

Website: www.rsagroup.com

Financial rating

Credit rating/Insurer strength rating: A/ A+/ A2

Rating agency: AM Best/ Standard & Poor's/ Moodys

As of: 30 August 2012


Travelers Insurance Company Limited

Exchequer Court
33 St mary Axe
London
EC3A 8AG

Contact name: David Sawyer

Telephone: 0203 207 6529

Email: solicitors@travelers.com

Website: www.travelers.co.uk/solicitors

Financial rating

Credit rating/Insurer strength rating: AA

Rating agency: Standard & Poor's

As of: 12 September 2012


W R Berkley Insurance (Europe) Limited
[via broker only]

2nd Floor
40 Lime Street
London
EC3M 7AW

Contact name: Anthony Judge

Telephone: 0207 280 9000

Fax number: 0207 280 9090

Financial rating

Credit rating/Insurer strength rating: A, A

Rating agency: A M Best, Standard & Poor's

As of: 18 September 2012


XL Insurance Company Limited
[via broker only]

XL House
70 Gracechurch Street
London
EC3V 0XL

Contact name: Lara Smallshaw

Telephone: 0207 933 7000

Fax number: 0207 469 1000

Email: lara.smallshaw@xlgroup.com

Website: www.xlgroup.com

Financial rating

Credit rating/Insurer strength rating: A/ A/ A2/ A

Rating agency: A M Best/ Standard & Poor's/ Moodys/ Fitch

As of: 12 September 2012


Zurich
[via broker only]

London Underwriting Centre
3 Minster Court
Mincing Lane
London
EC3R 7DD

Contact name: Jenny Screech

Telephone: 0845 606 3322

Fax number: 0845 600 4032

Email: jenny.screech@uk.zurich.com

Website: www.zurich.co.uk/commercial

Notes

For details of Zurich's credit rating please refer to their website.