Insurance & Reinsurance
Caroline has substantial experience of insurance and reinsurance disputes. She has acted for Insurers in a relation to a wide range of policies, and is developing a particular specialism in warranty and indemnity (“W&I”) insurance.
Caroline’s most prolific insurance cases include: the FCA Test Case litigation, Finsbury Food Group PLC v Axis & Ors [2023] EWHC 1559 (Comm); and Project Angel Bidco Ltd v Axis & Ors [2023] EWHC 2649 (Comm). The latter two were the first commercial court trials concerning policies of W&I insurance.
Other recent instructions include 2 Entertain Video Ltd & Ors v Sony DADC Europe Limited, an £8m claim for loss following the destruction of a Sony Warehouse in North London during the 2011 riots in which Caroline was led by Ben Quiney KC. In 2020/2021, she was led by Andrew Rigney KC in National Trust for Places of Historic Interest and Outstanding Natural Beauty v Cuffe PLC & Anor [2020], TCC, a subrogated recovery claim arising out of a devastating fire at a Grade-I listed mansion house where the damages claimed exceeded £115m. Early on in her practice, Caroline was instructed with Roger ter Haar KC to represent the Defendant in the major reinsurance case Amlin Corporate Member Ltd & Ors v Oriental Assurance Company [2013] EWHC 2380 (Comm). She acted as junior counsel at trial in the commercial court and on appeal to the Court of Appeal (see Amlin Corporate Member Ltd & Ors v Oriental Assurance Company [2014] EWCA Civ 1135.)
Selected Cases
- Advising Insurers in relation to a number of claims under W&I policies, following the decisions in Finsbury Foods and Project Angel Bidco.
- Advising on coverage issues (including Business Interruption) and generally in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Acting for Excess Insurers in relation to a material non-disclosure defence to a £15million+ claim for alleged engineers’ negligence made against the engineers’ professional indemnity insurance;
- Acting for a major UK reinsurance broker in a high value dispute over unpaid commission following a mid-term change of broker. The Claim settled shortly after Caroline prepared draft proceedings.
- Acting for a claimant policy holder in a £multi-million coverage dispute following a fire at a warehouse.
- Acting for insurers in one of the first direct claims under the Third Parties (Rights against Insurers) Act 2010.
- Acting for claimant policy holders in a fire claim where insurers are attempting to defend proceedings for declaratory relief/damages on grounds of arson and other technical defences.
- Acting for the Defendant in a complex claim by an insurance broker against its principal (the insured) for an adjustment premium fee said to be due to an insurer. The matter raised difficult questions of agency and brokers’ duties. It was settled on very favourable terms.
- Advising an insured who had been declined cover on grounds of material non-disclosure.
- Advising on the effect of the Third Parties (Rights against Insurers) Act 1930 and whether it could be relied upon to require an insurer to meet a set of personal injury claims directly.
- Drafting a defence to a claim for declaratory relief (confirmation of cover) in a claim for consequential losses arising from storm damage.
- Advising in an insurance brokers’ dispute concerning the broker’s right to sue the insured for an alleged breach of the insurance contract.
Awards
News
- Crown Office Chambers shortlisted in 17 categories at The Legal 500 Bar Awards 2024
- Warranty and Indemnity Insurance: The Court of Appeal offers Guidance on the Interpretation of Policies and Exclusions
Articles
- Defending W&I claims: strategic themes illustrated in Finsbury Foods v Axis & Ors
- 2 Entertain Video Ltd & Ors v Sony DADC Europe Ltd [2020] EWHC 972 (TCC) – TCC gives judgment in major insurance claim arising out of the 2011 London Riots
Qualifications
- Major Scholar, Inner Temple (2009 – 2010)
- BVC, BPP Law School (Very Competent) (2009 – 2010) Exhibitioner, Inner Temple (2008 – 2009)
- GDL, BPP Law School (Distinction) (2008 – 2009) Demyship, Magdalen College, Oxford (2006 – 2008)
- BA (Hons) University of Oxford (2005 – 2008)
Memberships
- LCLCBA
- PNBA
- TECBA
Recommendations
“Caroline is an incredibly bright and very capable senior junior.”…”She does the legwork and is an engine room in matters.”
Chambers & Partners, 2025
“Caroline is excellent: a very good lawyer, very bright, extremely hard-working, dedicated and terrific with clients. She is also a very good cross-examiner.”…”She provides good analytical and commercial advice. She is very much a team player and always happy to help. Her written work is excellent.”
Legal 500, 2025
“Caroline is extremely bright and is very good at grappling with the issues. Her advice is always pragmatic and commercial. She’s a delight to work with.”
Chambers & Partners, 2024
“Easy to deal with and responsive.”
Legal 500, 2024
“She completely engages with cases and is energetic and proactive.”
Chambers & Partners, 2022
“Caroline is very bright, a superb lawyer, immensely hard-working and dedicated, fantastic with clients, has great judgement and is an absolute pleasure to work with.”
Legal 500, 2022
“She is user-friendly on claims in the High Court.”
Chambers & Partners, 2022
“Caroline is very knowledgeable, industrious, and a real team player.”
Legal 500, 2022
“She is brilliant – extremely bright, immensely hardworking and very pragmatic. Nothing is too much trouble for Caroline and she is perfectly happy to roll up her sleeves and get stuck in.”
Legal 500, 2021
“Quickly assimilated large amounts of information and provided succinct advice. She was prepared, stuck to her guns under pressure, and artfully deflected some of the more difficult issues we faced.”
Legal 500, 2021
“She expertly deals with particularly difficult and robust challenges to her position, whilst maintaining a cool, pragmatic and commercial head.”
Legal 500, 2020
