Suzanne Chalmers

Professional Liability

Suzanne has considerable experience of claims for and against professionals, including solicitors and barristers, all types of construction professionals, insurance brokers, surveyors, financial advisers, teachers, education authorities and social services.

Construction Professionals

She is experienced in dealing with claims against architects, design and build contractors, engineers and other construction professionals. She is frequently engaged in relation to cases arising out of fire, flood or collapse.

Legal Professionals

She is regularly instructed to deal with claims against solicitors arising out of both contentious and non-contentious business. Issues have included limitation, apportionment, the measure of damages recoverable and the application of the SAAMCO cap.

Insurance Brokers

With increasing frequency, Suzanne is instructed in relation to claims against brokers or concurrent claims against insurers and brokers.

Selected Cases

• A claim in the TCC against architects and main contractors arising out of the flooding of residential apartment blocks in a development at Merryhill shopping centre, Birmingham. Issues included the meaning and scope of collateral warranties provided by the professionals and the adequacy of the design of rainwater drainage systems.
• A claim against project managers arising out of a major fire in the course of construction works at the Football Association’s premises.
• A subrogated recovery action in the TCC by building guarantee insurers against architects and developers arising out of defects in a row of newly built terraced houses.
• Acting for the Claimants in a claim against solicitors for failure to register an option to purchase and a subsequent claim against solicitors for failing to pursue professional negligence claim. The key issue in the case is the measure of damages recoverable.
• Acting for a sub-contractor in multiple multi-party proceedings arising out of flooding at a luxury apartment block in Knightsbridge due to the failure of PCVs. At issue is whether the failures are due to manufacturing / design defects or poor specification / design.
• Acting for the brokers in relation to a £1 million claim in the Commercial Court against insurers and insurance brokers arising out of a fire at commercial premises. At issue was the materiality of non-disclosures, inducement and the scope of the duty of care of brokers.
• Defending a claim by a Trust against solicitors and a Trustee arising out of the sale of Trust property and the conduct of subsequent litigation against the Trust. Issues included the scope of the duty of care owed by solicitors, trustees and professional trustees.
• Claims on behalf of former miners in respect of claims brought by them against their former solicitors for negligent advice and under-settlement of the VWF claims against the National Coal Board.

News

• On appeal, Suzanne Chalmers upholds trial Judge’s application of the ‘ex turpi causa’ maxim…
• Joyce v O’Brien & Tradex Insurance Co Ltd: Richard Lynagh KC & Suzanne Chalmers successfully defend the claim in the Court of Appeal

Read more

Qualifications

• Recorder (2009)
• Awarded Lord Justice Holker Scholarship (1994)
• MA (Hons), Magdalen College, Oxford (1994)

Memberships

• Commercial Bar Association
• London Common Law & Commercial Bar Association
• Personal Injury Bar Association
• Professional Negligence Bar Association
• Technology & Construction Bar Association