S.I. No. 409/2011 - The Solicitors Acts 1954 to 2008 (Professional Indemnity Insurance) Regulations 2011

ARRANGEMENT OF REGULATIONS

REGULATIONS

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SCHEDULE Table of Revocations

APPENDIX 1

Minimum Terms and Conditions of Professional Indemnity Insurance for Solicitors and Registered Lawyers in Ireland.

APPENDIX 2

Risk Management Audit Terms of Reference

S.I. No. 409 of 2011

THE SOLICITORS ACTS 1954 TO 2008 (PROFESSIONAL INDEMNITY INSURANCE) REGULATIONS 2011

Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of 5th August, 2011.

THE LAW SOCIETY OF IRELAND, in exercise of the powers conferred on them by section 26 of the Solicitors (Amendment) Act 1994 hereby make the following Regulations:-

1. Citation:

• (a) These Regulations may be cited as The Solicitors Acts 1954 to 2008 (Professional Indemnity Insurance) Regulations 2011.

• (b) These Regulations shall come into operation on 1 December 2011.

• (c) The regulations listed in the Schedule to these Regulations shall cease to have effect as from 11:59 pm on 30 November 2011 to the extent set out in the Schedule

2. Interpretation:

• (a) In these Regulations, the following terms shall have the following meanings—

“additional ARP premium” has the meaning ascribed to it in Regulation 9(d)(ii);

“ARP” means the assigned risks pool;

“ARP coverage” means an arrangement for indemnification issued by the SPF manager on behalf of those qualified insurers that participate in the assigned risks pool in respect of the indemnity period in which the coverage incepts and incorporating the minimum terms and conditions as varied by these Regulations but shall not include coverage issued to a defaulting firm through the assigned risks pool;

“ARP default premium” means the sums payable by a defaulting firm for any coverage arranged pursuant to Regulation 13(a) from time to time;

“ARP eligibility criteria”, in relation to a firm, means that the firm does not hold qualifying insurance with a qualified insurer and:—

(i)(a) in respect of a firm that held ARP coverage from the assigned risks pool for the indemnity period which commenced on 1 December 2010, that the firm has not been in the assigned risks pool for more than 24 (twenty four) of the 60 (sixty) months preceding the date of its application to enter the assigned risks pool and is not a successor firm to such a firm; or

• (b) in respect of all other firms, that the firm has not been in the assigned risks pool for more than 12 (twelve), or such other period (not to exceed 24 (twenty four) months) as the PII committee may from time to time determine, of the 60 (sixty) months preceding the date of its application to enter the assigned risks pool and is not a successor firm to such a firm, and

• (ii) in respect of a firm which commenced practice on or subsequent to the operative date, it established qualifying insurance with a qualified insurer or more than one (1) qualified insurer with effect from the date of commencement of its practice, and

• (iii) that no direction in relation to the firm is in effect pursuant to Regulation 15 (g) or Regulation 16 (e)(iv), and

• (iv) that the firm is not a defaulting run-off firm;

“ARP eligibility dispensation” means, in respect of any firm, a dispensation under Regulation 9(b);

“ARP eligible firm” means a firm that satisfies the ARP eligibility criteria or in respect of which an ARP eligibility dispensation is in effect;

“ARP premium” means, in respect of each firm which has been issued with an ARP coverage, the initial ARP premium and the additional ARP premium in respect of an indemnity period (or part thereof);

“ARP premium schedule” means the schedule to be determined by the PII committee and published by the Law Society from time to time which sets out the terms pursuant to which premium levels, in respect of firms which are issued with coverage in the assigned risks pool, are to be determined by the SPF manager in accordance with these Regulations;

“ARP run-off cover” means run-off cover from the run-off fund on like terms and conditions to ARP coverage;

“ARP run-off eligibility criteria” means in relation to a firm, a firm which:—

• (i) held ARP coverage on the date of cessation of its practice, and

• (ii) in respect of a firm which held ARP coverage prior to the operative date, continued to satisfy the ARP eligibility criteria on the operative date, and

• (iii) in respect of which there is no succeeding practice, and

• (iv) is not a defaulting firm;

“ARP run-off eligible firm” means a firm that satisfies the ARP run-off eligibility criteria;

“assigned risks pool” means the assigned risks pool referred to in Regulation 7 through which an ARP eligible firm or a defaulting firm may obtain or be granted coverage that incorporates the minimum terms and conditions as varied by these Regulations;

“authorised insurer” means an insurer that holds an authorisation to carry on insurance business for the purposes of Directive 73/239/EEC or that is otherwise entitled to carry on non-life insurance business in the State;

“claim” means a request or demand for, or an assertion of a right to, or an intimation of an intention to seek:—

• (i) civil compensation of any nature,

• (ii) civil damages of any nature, or

• (iii) any award to be made pursuant to the provisions of the Solicitors Acts 1954 to 2008 for compensation or restitution to clients or any other obligations that may be imposed on solicitors to compensate or make restitution to clients by statute from time to time,

but for the avoidance of doubt, the term “claim” does not include any claim for payment of costs incurred by an insured in defending or resisting proceedings seeking an award against that insured of the nature described in paragraph (iii) of this definition where the qualifying insurance, in accordance with the minimum terms and conditions, excludes a qualified insurer’s liability to indemnify an insured in respect of such costs;

“close of practice guidelines” means the close of practice guidelines to be published by the PII committee from time to time;

“Commercial Property Regulations” means the Solicitors (Professional Practice, Conduct and Discipline — Commercial Property Transactions) Regulations 2010;

“Council” means the council of the Law Society;

“coverage period” means the period for which the qualifying insurance or the ARP coverage (as the case may be) held by a firm affords cover;

“defaulting firm” means a firm that does not hold qualifying insurance and which falls within one (1) of the following categories:—

• (i) in the case of a firm that is an ARP eligible firm, it has failed to make an application to be admitted into the assigned risks pool prior to the start of any relevant indemnity period or immediately prior to the expiry of its coverage period, whichever is the earlier,

• (ii) in the case of a firm that is not an ARP eligible firm, it is a firm that is carrying on a practice without qualifying insurance,

• (iii) a firm designated as a defaulting firm pursuant to Regulation 9(f);

“defaulting run-off firm” means a firm that ceases a practice in circumstances where it is required pursuant to these Regulations to establish and maintain run-off cover, but where it is neither an ROF eligible firm nor an ARP run-off eligible firm (and a firm on whose behalf the SPF manager makes arrangements for run-off cover to be extended to that firm following the cessation of its practice, through the run-off fund, because it is neither an ROF eligible firm nor an ARP run-off eligible firm shall be regarded as a defaulting run-off firm);

“defence costs” mean legal costs and disbursements and investigative and related expenses reasonably and necessarily incurred with the consent of a qualified insurer in relation to a claim including without limitation the costs of:—

• (i) defending any proceedings, or

• (ii) conducting any proceedings for indemnity, contribution or recovery, or

• (iii) investigating, reducing, avoiding or compromising any actual or potential claim;

but the term “defence costs” does not include:—

• (a) any internal overhead expenses of a firm or a qualified insurer or the cost of any insured’s time, or

• (b) any costs incurred by an insured in defending or resisting proceedings seeking an award against that insured of the nature described in paragraph (iii) under the definition of “claim” where the qualifying insurance, in accordance with the minimum terms and conditions, excludes a qualified insurer’s liability to indemnify an insured in respect of such costs;

“financial institution” means any of the following:—

• (i) a credit institution as defined in section 2(1) of the 1995 Act,

• (ii) a credit institution that is the holder of an authorisation for the purposes of Article 4(1) of Directive 2006/48/EC,

• (iii) a retail credit firm authorised pursuant to section 31 of the 1997 Act,

• (iv) a home reversion firm authorised pursuant to section 31 of the 1997 Act,

• (v) any other party that engages on a professional basis in the business of providing financial accommodation of any nature to another person,

• (vi) any assignee of debt from an entity that has been engaged in the business of providing financial accommodation of any nature to another person, including without limitation, NAMA,

but, for the avoidance of doubt, does not include a Minister of the Government in the exercise of the functions, powers or duties of his office;

“firm” means:—

• (i) any partnership of two (2) or more lawyers (as constituted from time to time, whether before or during any relevant indemnity period) where such partnership includes at least one (1) solicitor or registered lawyer and whether or not such partnership includes non-registered lawyers, and

• (ii) any sole practitioner being either a solicitor or registered lawyer, and including a sole practitioner who employs one (1) or more solicitors or registered lawyers, and a sole practitioner who is employed by a person who is not a solicitor or registered lawyer,

where the relevant partnership or relevant sole practitioner, as the case may be, carries on a practice;

“firm’s practice” means the practice carried on by a firm, and includes the business of any trustee, nominee, service or administration company owned by the principals of the firm;

“indemnity period” means any period of one (1) year starting on 1 December in each year;

“initial ARP premium” has the meaning ascribed to in Regulation 9(d)(ii);

“insolvency event” means, in relation to a qualified insurer:—

• (i) the appointment of a liquidator, receiver, administrative receiver, administrator or examiner to the qualified insurer (or an analogous appointment being made in respect of the qualified insurer in any jurisdiction outside the State),

• (ii) the passing by the members of a qualified insurer of a resolution for a voluntary winding up (or an analogous step being taken in relation to a qualified insurer in any jurisdiction outside the State),

• (iii) the making of a winding up order in relation to a qualified insurer (or an analogous order being made in relation to a qualified insurer in any jurisdiction outside the State), or

• (iv) the approval of a voluntary arrangement or similar form of composition with creditors in respect of a qualified insurer (or an analogous event occurring in relation to a qualified insurer in any jurisdiction outside the State);

“insurer reimbursement claim” means a claim maintained and upheld against a qualified insurer, by a claimant other than a financial institution, which would have been paid by a qualified insurer:—

• (i) in circumstances where if that claimant had been a financial institution, the qualified insurer would have been entitled to exclude liability for the claim in accordance with clause 6.15 of the minimum terms and conditions; and

• (ii) the qualified insurer has not recovered the full extent of the sums paid by it by way of a claim for reimbursement pursuant to clause 7.2 of the minimum terms and conditions;

“investment advice” has the meaning given in the Investment Intermediaries Act 1995 ;

“investment business service” has the meaning given in the Investment Intermediaries Act 1995 ;

“Law Society” means the Law Society of Ireland;

“legal services” means services of a legal or financial nature and includes any part of such services, and for the avoidance of doubt, includes (without limitation):—

• (i) any investment business services or investment advice provided by a firm,

• (ii) acting as personal representative or trustee,

• (iii) acting as notary public,

• (iv) acting as a commissioner for oaths,

• (v) acting as liquidator or receiver,

• (vi) acting as company secretary,

• (vii) acting as director of any body corporate owned by the principals of a firm that provides trustee, nominee, administration or other services,

• (viii) acting as arbitrator or mediator, and

• (ix) acting on a pro bono basis;

“minimum common risk management standard” means the minimum common risk management standard or any equivalent by whatever name called published by the Law Society (in terms approved by the PII committee) from time to time or if none is published or in force then as shall be determined by the SPF management committee;

“minimum terms and conditions” means the minimum terms and conditions set out in Appendix 1 to these Regulations with which a qualifying insurance (or, in the case of a qualifying insurance provided as a co-insurance, any part thereof) underwritten by a qualified insurer is required by these Regulations to comply, or in the case of ARP coverage and run-off cover, such minimum terms and conditions, as varied by or pursuant to these Regulations, to apply in respect of such cover;

“misconduct” has the meaning given in section 3 of the Solicitors (Amendment) Act 1960 (as amended by section 24 of the Solicitors (Amendment) Act 1994 and section 7 of the Solicitors (Amendment) Act 2002 );

“NAMA” means the National Asset Management Agency;

“non-performance event” means, in relation to a qualified insurer the loss by that qualified insurer of its ability to lawfully fulfil any obligations undertaken by it in respect of qualifying insurance in the State (whether by withdrawal or qualification of its authorisation to do so or otherwise);

“operative date” means 1 December 2011;

“phoenix firm” means, in relation to any firm (a “predecessor firm”), a firm that is carrying on a practice that, in the absolute discretion of the PII committee, is largely similar to or has succeeded to the practice formerly carried on by a predecessor firm or any part thereof, and two (2) or more firms may be treated as each being phoenix firms to a single predecessor firm for the purpose of these Regulations;

“PII committee” means the professional indemnity insurance committee constituted under Regulation 18;

“practice” means a business (which term includes any gainful occupation) or any part thereof consisting of the provision of legal services from an establishment in the State and where such legal services (as they involve the provision of legal advice) relate to the law of the State (including European Union law as it forms part of the law of the State);

“practising certificate” has the meaning given in section 46 of the Solicitors Act 1954 ;

“preceding practice” means each practice to which the firm’s practice is a succeeding practice;

“predecessor firm” is a firm in relation to which pursuant to these Regulations another firm is a phoenix firm;

“principal” means:—

• (i) the sole practitioner of any firm which during any indemnity period carries on or carried on business as a sole practitioner and includes a sole practitioner who employs or employed one (1) or more solicitors or registered lawyers,

• (ii) every partner of a firm and every person held out as a partner of a firm that during any indemnity period carries on or carried on business as a partnership;

“qualifying certificate” has the meaning given in the European Communities (Lawyers’ Establishment) Regulations 2003 (Statutory Instrument No. 732 of 2003);

“qualifying insurance” means a policy or policies of insurance which (in the case of a single such policy) includes the relevant minimum terms and conditions or (in the case of a number of policies) taken together include the minimum terms and conditions in effect at the date of inception, extension, renewal or replacement of the policy or policies of insurance;

“qualified insurer” means, in respect of an indemnity period, an authorised insurer which has entered into and duly executed a qualified insurers agreement with the Law Society on or before 1 November immediately prior to the commencement of that indemnity period and which is effective to permit such insurer to underwrite qualifying insurance;

“qualified insurers agreement” means an agreement in such terms as the PII committee may from time to time designate setting out the terms and conditions on which a qualified insurer may provide qualifying insurance to firms in the State and the terms on which such qualified insurer shall participate in the special purpose fund;

“re-calculated ARP premium” has the meaning ascribed to it in Regulation 9(e);

“registered lawyer” has the meaning given in the European Communities (Lawyers’ Establishment) Regulations 2003 (Statutory Instrument No. 732 of 2003) and a reference to a registered lawyer in these Regulations, where consistent with the context thereof, includes a former registered lawyer or a deceased registered lawyer;

“relevant person” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Commercial Property Regulations;

“relevant premium income” has the meaning ascribed to it in the qualified insurers agreement;

“residential property” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Commercial Property Regulations;

“residential property transaction” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Commercial Property Regulations;

“risk management audit” means an investigation of the practice of a firm that has been admitted to or that seeks to be admitted to the assigned risks pool, with a view to ascertaining the management and other conditions prevailing within the firm and the management and professional competence of the personnel employed by or engaged in the firm’s practice (including the principals of the firm);

“risk management auditor” means any person or persons (including any body corporate, partnership or unincorporated body) selected and appointed by the SPF management committee to conduct a risk management audit in accordance with these Regulations;

“risk management audit recommendations” means any recommendations made by a risk management auditor in a risk management audit report in relation to the future management of the practice of a firm;

“risk management audit report” means a report produced by a risk management auditor appointed to conduct a risk management audit into the practice of a firm, and detailing in particular (but without limitation) the following matters:—

• (i) the risk management auditor’s view as to the management and other conditions prevailing within the firm and the management and professional competence of the personnel employed by or engaged in the firm’s practice and of the principals of the firm,

• (ii) providing such information in relation to the practice conducted by the firm as is necessary to ensure that the report responds to the matters required to be addressed by the risk management audit terms of reference,

• (iii) giving the views of the risk management auditor as to the reasons why the firm was unable to obtain qualifying insurance, and

• (iv) making recommendations as to the steps that should be taken by the firm to enhance its prospects of being in a position to obtain qualifying insurance from a qualified insurer outside the assigned risks pool in the future;

“risk management audit terms of reference” means the matters set out in Appendix 2 to these Regulations, as such matters as may be varied from time to time by the PII committee;

“ROF” means the run-off fund;

“ROF coverage” means an arrangement for indemnification issued by the SPF manager to a ROF eligible firm on behalf of those qualified insurers that participate in the special purpose fund and incorporating the minimum terms and conditions as varied by or pursuant to these Regulations;

“ROF eligibility criteria”, in relation to a firm, means a firm:—

• (i) which:

• (a) was carrying on a practice on the operative date and which established qualifying insurance with a qualified insurer or more than one (1) qualified insurer with effect from the operative date, or

• (b) commenced a practice subsequent to the operative date and which established qualifying insurance with a qualifying insurer or more than one (1) qualified insurer with effect from the date it commenced practice, and

• (ii) which held qualifying insurance with a qualified insurer or more than one (1) qualified insurer immediately prior to becoming a run-off firm, and

• (iii) which was not a defaulting firm immediately prior to the operative date, and

• (iv) in respect of which there is no succeeding practice;

“ROF eligible firm” means a firm that satisfies the ROF eligibility criteria;

“roll” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Solicitors Act 1954 ;

“run-off cover” means an arrangement for indemnification issued by the SPF manager on behalf of those qualified insurers that participate in the special purpose fund for a firm that has ceased to carry on a practice which includes the relevant minimum terms and conditions as varied by or pursuant to these Regulations;

“run-off cover rules” means the model terms and conditions to be published by the PII committee pursuant to Regulation 5(g);

“run-off firm” means a firm that:—

• (i) was carrying on a practice on the operative date or that subsequently commenced a practice, and

• (ii) has ceased to carry on a practice, and

• (iii) in respect of which there is no succeeding practice;

“run-off fund” means the run off fund established pursuant to Regulation 7(c);

“solicitor” has the meaning given in section 3 of the Solicitors Act 1954 (as amended by section 3 of the Solicitors (Amendment) Act 1994 ) and a reference to a solicitor in these Regulations, where consistent with the context thereof, includes a former solicitor or a deceased solicitor;

“SPF management committee” means the SPF management committee constituted under Regulation 19;

“SPF manager” means any person (including any body corporate, partnership or unincorporated body) from time to time appointed by the PII committee to manage the special purpose fund, and includes any replacement to such a person appointed from time to time;

“special purpose fund” means the special purpose fund constituted under Regulation 7;

“succeeding practice” means a practice that satisfies any one (1) or more of the following conditions in relation to another practice (such other practice being a preceding practice for these purposes):—

• (i) it is expressly held out as being a successor to the practice or part thereof of the preceding practice, or

• (ii) it is conducted by a partnership that has a majority of principals that are identical to those persons that were principals of any partnership that conducted the preceding practice, or

• (iii) it is conducted by a sole practitioner who was the sole practitioner conducting the preceding practice, or

• (iv) it is conducted by a partnership in which the sole practitioner conducting the preceding practice is a partner and where no other person has been held out as a successor to the preceding practice, or

• (v) the partnership which, or sole practitioner who, conducts the practice has assumed the liabilities of the preceding practice;

but notwithstanding the foregoing a practice shall not be treated as a succeeding practice for the purposes of the minimum terms and conditions pursuant to paragraphs (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v) of this definition if another practice is or was held out by the owner of that other practice as the succeeding practice;

“the 1995 Regulations” means The Solicitors Acts 1954 to 1994 (Professional Indemnity Insurance) Regulations 1995, as amended by the Professional Indemnity Insurance (Amendment) Regulations 1998, The Solicitors Acts 1954 to 1994 (Professional Indemnity Insurance) (Amendment) Regulations 1999, The Solicitors Acts 1954 to 1994 (Euro Changeover) Regulations 2001, The Solicitors Acts 1954 to 2002 (Professional Indemnity Insurance)(Amendment) Regulations 2004 and The Solicitors Acts 1954 to 2002 (Professional Indemnity Insurance)(Amendment) Regulations 2005;

“the 2007 Regulations” means The Solicitors Acts 1954 to 2002 (Professional Indemnity Insurance) Regulations 2007 (Statutory Instrument No. 617 of 2007) as amended by The Solicitors Acts 1954 to 2008 (Professional Indemnity Insurance) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 (Statutory Instrument No. 384 of 2009), The Solicitors Acts 1954 to 2008 (Professional Indemnity Insurance) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2009 (Statutory Instrument No. 441 of 2009) and The Solicitors Acts 1954 to 2008 (Professional Indemnity Insurance) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (Statutory Instrument No. 495 of 2010);

“working day” means every day, not including a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, on which banks generally are open for the transaction of normal banking business in the State.

• (b) Other words and phrases in these Regulations shall have the meanings (if any) assigned to them by The Solicitors Acts 1954 to 2008.

• (c) The Interpretation Act 2005 shall apply for the purpose of interpreting these Regulations as it applies to the interpretation of an Act of the Oireachtas, except insofar as it may be inconsistent with The Solicitors Acts 1954 to 2008 or with these Regulations.

• (d) A reference in these Regulations to any, directive, statute, statutory provision, statutory instrument or other similar instrument includes:—

• (i) any subordinate legislation made under it, and

• (ii) any provision which it has superseded or re-enacted (with or without modification) or amended, and any provision superseding it or re-enacting it (with or without modification) or amending it either before, at or after the date of commencement of these Regulations

3. Maintenance of Insurance:

• (a) Every firm that carries on a practice during an indemnity period where such indemnity period (or part thereof) commences on or after the operative date shall, subject to and in accordance with the remaining provisions of these Regulations, establish and maintain in place qualifying insurance with a qualified insurer.

• (b) The PII committee shall be entitled, in its discretion at any time and from time to time, for such period or periods as it considers fit and subject to such conditions as it may specify, to recognise a policy of insurance held by a firm (including, but not limited to, a firm at least one (1) of the principals of which is a registered lawyer) as being equivalent to qualifying insurance for all or some of the purposes of these Regulations. For the avoidance of doubt, the PII committee shall be entitled to exercise its discretion under this Regulation 3(b) by prescribing categories of policies of insurance or other arrangements for coverage that shall be regarded as equivalent to qualifying insurance for all or some of the purposes of these Regulations.

• (c) The PII committee shall have power to treat a firm as complying with any requirements of these Regulations notwithstanding that the firm has failed so to comply where such non-compliance is regarded by the PII committee in a particular case or cases as being insignificant.

• (d) The PII committee shall have power at such time or times and on such conditions as it thinks fit, to waive any provision or part of a provision of these Regulations in a particular case or cases, including by extending the time, either prospectively or retrospectively, for the doing of any act under any provision of these Regulations.

• (e) Where a firm is required by these Regulations to establish and maintain in place qualifying insurance during an indemnity period, no individual solicitor or registered lawyer employed by or engaged in the firm’s practice shall, during his or her period of employment or engagement with the firm, also be required to establish or maintain in place qualifying insurance in respect of that part of such individual’s practice as is carried on in the name of and for the account of the firm.

• (f) Regulation 3(a) shall not apply to or in respect of any solicitor or registered lawyer who provides legal services only as part of an employment within the State to provide legal services to and for his or her employer, provided that:—

• (i) the solicitor’s or registered lawyer’s employer is not also a solicitor or a registered lawyer; and

• (ii) the solicitor or registered lawyer confirms to the Law Society in a manner acceptable to it that, for the duration of a relevant indemnity period, the solicitor or registered lawyer has not and will not engage in the provision of legal services to or for any person other than his or her employer; and

• (iii) the solicitor or registered lawyer shall notify the Law Society immediately in writing if the exemption from Regulation 3(a) under Regulation 3(f) shall cease to apply in respect of the solicitor or registered lawyer.

• (g) A firm to which Regulation 3(a) applies shall be required to establish and maintain qualifying insurance in respect of any indemnity period (or part thereof) in which the firm carries on a practice, or as at and from the commencement by the firm of a practice, whichever is the earlier.

• (h) No firm shall be permitted to agree a coverage period with a qualified insurer which is greater than 24 (twenty four) months.

• (i) A firm shall provide to the Law Society such evidence that it has established and is maintaining qualifying insurance in accordance with these Regulations as the Law Society may from time to time require.

• (j) Without prejudice to the generality of Regulation 3(i), a firm shall be required to provide to the Law Society, or procure that there is provided to the Law Society on its behalf, such confirmation and evidence, in any form designated by the Law Society, that it has established and is maintaining qualifying insurance within ten (10) working days of the commencement of the coverage period to which the qualifying insurance relates.

• (k) Without prejudice to the generality of Regulation 17(a), every principal of a firm to which these Regulations apply shall be responsible for ensuring:—

• (i) that the firm has established and maintains in place qualifying insurance where required under these Regulations during any indemnity period (or part thereof) in which the firm carries on a practice; and

• (ii) that the firm provides in a timely manner any evidence that may be required under or pursuant to these Regulations that it has established and is maintaining qualifying insurance where required under these Regulations.

• (l) A phoenix firm shall not be in compliance with its requirement to establish and maintain qualifying insurance with a qualified insurer pursuant to Regulation 3(a) unless its professional indemnity insurance cover includes cover in accordance with the minimum terms and conditions for claims made against any other firm in respect of which it is treated as a phoenix firm pursuant to Regulation 3(m).

• (m) The PII committee may, in its absolute discretion at any time, decide to treat any firm as being a phoenix firm to another firm, or as not being a phoenix firm to another firm, in circumstances where the effect of treating the first-mentioned firm as a phoenix firm to the second-mentioned firm, or the effect of treating the first-mentioned firm as not being a phoenix firm to the second-mentioned firm, would be that the first-mentioned firm would not then be, or would then be, an ARP eligible firm or a run-off firm (as the respective case may be) and the PII committee may, for the purposes of making any such decision, take into account such facts and matters as to it appear appropriate and relevant.

4. Self-Insured Excess on Qualifying Insurance:

• (a) A firm shall be permitted, in accordance with the minimum terms and conditions, to agree with its qualified insurer a self-insured excess in respect of its qualifying insurance, to be borne by the firm in the event of a claim, provided that the qualified insurer has agreed that, in any case where the firm defaults in making payment of any part of such self-insured excess to a claimant when lawfully due, the qualified insurer will pay the outstanding amount directly to the claimant.

• (b) Every firm shall be required to make prompt payment to a claimant, in the event of a claim being upheld against it, of the amount of any self-insured excess provided for under a qualifying insurance when the same is lawfully due to the claimant.

• (c) Without prejudice to the generality of Regulation 17(a), every principal of a firm to which these Regulations apply shall be responsible for ensuring that the firm makes prompt payment of any self-insured excess under its qualifying insurance as required by these Regulations.

5. Maintenance of Insurance in Run-off:

• (a) Every run-off firm shall be required to establish and maintain run-off cover from the expiry of the coverage period during which its practice ceases.

• (b) The run-off cover required to be obtained by a run-off firm pursuant to Regulation 5(a) shall be as follows:—

• (i) for a run-off firm that is a ROF eligible firm, ROF coverage.

• (ii) for a run-off firm that is an ARP run-off eligible firm, ARP run-off cover.

• (c) No premium shall be payable by an ROF eligible firm or an ARP run-off eligible firm for run-off cover from the run-off fund.

• (d) The run-off cover provided by the run-off fund shall commence from the expiry of the coverage period during which that firm’s practice ceases, such cover to be provided on the basis of the minimum terms and conditions as varied by or pursuant to these Regulations.

• (e) For the avoidance of doubt, where run-off cover is extended to a ROF eligible firm or to an ARP run-off eligible firm by the run-off fund, that firm shall be deemed to have “established” run-off cover for the purposes of the definition of defaulting run-off firm and any other relevant definitions or provisions that require a firm to “establish and maintain” run-off cover.

• (f) Run-off cover is not subject to cancellation on any basis whatsoever, save that it may be cancelled on terms to be agreed between the SPF manager and the firm where the following conditions are met:—

• (i) the firm has obtained replacement qualifying insurance in accordance with the minimum terms and conditions on the date of cancellation of the relevant run-off cover;

• (ii) the qualified insurer or qualified insurers under the replacement qualifying insurance referred to in Regulation 5(f)(i) have confirmed in writing to the firm and to the SPF manager that they are providing qualifying insurance on the basis that the firm’s practice is to be treated as a continuation of the firm’s practice prior to the cessation thereof and that accordingly they will be liable for any claims against the firm arising from matters that occurred prior to the cessation; and

• (iii) the qualified insurer or qualified insurers under the replacement qualifying insurance referred to in Regulation 5(f)(i) have provided any required confirmations of coverage to the Law Society pursuant to these Regulations.

• (g) The PII committee may from time to time, prior to the beginning of an indemnity period, publish model terms and conditions to apply to run-off cover, which shall when published constitute the minimum terms and conditions applicable to such cover.

6. Defaulting Run-off Cover:

• (a) The SPF manager shall make arrangements to ensure that a defaulting run-off firm is covered through the run-off fund in respect of any period during which such a firm does not hold run-off cover in accordance with its obligations under Regulation 5 and such arrangements shall procure that a defaulting run-off firm in respect of which the arrangements apply is covered in respect of all claims and circumstances where coverage would extend to a defaulting firm through the assigned risks pool. Any arrangements made by the SPF manager pursuant to this Regulation 6(a) in respect of defaulting run-off firms shall not be regarded as run-off cover for the purposes of satisfying Regulation 5(a).

• (b) No premium shall be payable by a defaulting run-off firm for arrangements made under Regulation 6(a).

• (c) The SPF manager, on behalf of qualified insurers, shall be entitled to recover from each and every principal in a defaulting run-off firm all amounts paid in or towards the discharge of a claim and defence costs pursuant to arrangements made under Regulation 6(a) together with interest thereon at two percent (2%) over the base lending rate of the European Central Bank from time to time.

7. Establishment of Special Purpose Fund:

• (a) On the operative date there shall be and is hereby established by these Regulations a fund to be known as the “special purpose fund” to fulfil the functions assigned to it by these Regulations.

• (b) From the operative date, the assigned risks pool shall form a constituent part of the special purpose fund.

• (c) On the operative date there shall be and is hereby established by these Regulations a fund to be known as the run-off fund. The run-off fund shall form a constituent part of the special purpose fund and shall fulfil the functions assigned to it by these Regulations.

• (d) In each indemnity period, the special purpose fund shall be participated in by each insurer which is a qualified insurer in that indemnity period.

8. Entering the Run-off Fund:

• (a) A firm which intends to cease practice shall provide the SPF manager with a written notice of its intention to cease practice at least 60 (sixty) days, or such other period as the PII committee may from time to time determine, prior to ceasing practice and at least 60 (sixty) days, or such other period as the PII committee may from time to time determine, prior to the expiry of its coverage period, whichever is the earlier. The firm shall include its most recent completed proposal form with such notice.

• (b) The SPF manager shall procure that:—

• (i) in respect of a ROF eligible firm, ROF coverage shall be issued to the firm with effect from the date of expiry of the coverage period in which its practice ceases; and

• (ii) in respect of an ARP run-off eligible firm, ARP run-off cover shall be issued to that firm with effect from the date of expiry of its coverage period.

• (c) Every firm that holds run-off cover through the run-off fund, or in respect of which arrangements are made under Regulation 6(a) shall notify any claim or circumstance required to be reported or notified to the SPF manager pursuant to its run-off cover or arrangements within any time prescribed therefor under such run-off cover or arrangements.

• (d) ROF coverage issued to a ROF eligible firm shall have a self-insured excess equal to the self-insured excess applicable to the qualifying insurance held by that firm at the time it ceased practice. ARP run-off cover issued to an ARP run-off eligible firm shall have a self-insured excess equal to the self-insured excess applicable to ARP coverage.

• (e) Subject to Regulation 8(g), the SPF manager shall pay any amount that is within the self-insured excess of any firm’s run-off cover to a claimant but shall be entitled to recover any amount so paid from the firm.

• (f) Where a run-off firm fails to:—

• (i) comply with the close of practice guidelines; or

• (ii) notify the SPF manager of its intention to cease practice in accordance with Regulation 8(a); or

• (iii) send its most recently completed proposal form to the SPF manager in accordance with Regulation 8(a); or

• (iv) comply with the minimum common risk management standard; or

• (v) fully co-operate with the SPF manager in the conduct of claims; or

• (vi) notify any claim or circumstance required to be notified to the SPF manager pursuant to Regulation 8(c) within a reasonable period of time,

an additional self-insured excess as determined by the SPF manager in accordance with the run-off cover rules shall apply to that firm’s run-off cover.

• (g) The SPF manager shall not be obliged to pay any amount which is within the additional self-insured excess (as determined by the SPF manager in accordance with Regulation 8(f)) in respect of a claim made by a financial institution.

• (h) Every run-off firm that is issued with run-off cover by the run-off fund, or in respect of which arrangements are made under Regulation 6(a), shall provide to the SPF manager such information as the SPF manager may from time to time in its discretion reasonably require to deal efficiently and effectively with that firm’s membership of the run-off fund.

9. Entering the Assigned Risks Pool:

• (a) Subject to Regulation 9(k), where at any time a firm either has not established or fails to maintain qualifying insurance underwritten by a qualified insurer as required by these Regulations, that firm shall (if it is an ARP eligible firm) apply to enter the assigned risks pool prior to:—

• (i) the date on which the relevant indemnity period commences, or

• (ii) the date on which it fails to maintain qualifying insurance,

whichever date is the earliest.

• (b) The PII committee, in its absolute discretion, shall have power to grant a dispensation from the ARP eligibility criteria (or any part thereof) to a firm in an appropriate case.

• (c) The ARP premium payable by any firm in respect of whose practice an ARP coverage is to be issued from time to time, shall be calculated by the SPF manager in accordance with the ARP premium schedule.

• (d) A firm that is required to apply to enter the assigned risks pool and that is an ARP eligible firm shall apply in the following manner:—

• (i) it shall submit to the SPF manager a proposal form, in a format designated from time to time by the SPF management committee, seeking to obtain ARP coverage and stating the date upon which such coverage should commence (not being a date earlier than the date upon which the application is made), together with such further information (if any) as may be required by the SPF manager for the purposes of considering the firm’s application and determining the applicable ARP premium in accordance with Regulation 9(d);

• (ii) it shall pay in advance of entry to the assigned risks pool such sum by way of an advance payment of premium to be known as the “initial ARP premium” as the SPF manager may determine in accordance with the ARP premium schedule, and it shall undertake to pay and shall pay such further sums, to be known as “additional ARP premium”, by way of premium calculated in accordance with the ARP premium schedule, on such further dates as the SPF manager may from time to time determine;

• (iii) it shall submit to the Law Society a signed undertaking, in a format designated from time to time by the SPF management committee, confirming that it will:—

• (A) submit to such monitoring and risk management audits and take all such actions and pay such costs and expenses thereof as is provided for under and pursuant to these Regulations, and

• (B) pay any costs and expenses incurred by the Law Society or the SPF manager from time to time as a result of any failure on its part to comply with any provision of these Regulations.

• (e) Where a firm with ARP coverage is deemed to be in compliance with the minimum common risk management standard in respect of an indemnity period pursuant to Regulation 16, that firm shall be entitled to have its ARP premium for that indemnity period re-calculated in accordance with the relevant provisions of the ARP premium schedule, to be known as the “re-calculated ARP premium”. Where the re-calculated ARP premium is lower than that firm’s ARP premium:

• (i) if the firm has already paid the ARP premium for that indemnity period to the SPF manager, it shall be entitled to reimbursement from the SPF manager of the difference between the re-calculated ARP premium and the ARP premium; or

• (ii) if the firm has not already paid the ARP premium for that indemnity period to the SPF manager, it shall pay the re-calculated ARP premium to the SPF manager on such date at the SPF manager may from time to time determine.

• (f) The provisions of Regulation 9(e) may, from time to time, be cancelled or varied by the PII committee in its sole discretion and for such period as it may, in its sole discretion, determine.

• (g) Where a firm has been issued with ARP coverage, the terms of the ARP coverage shall prescribe that, and the firm shall be deemed to agree that, any additional ARP premium or re-calculated ARP premium (as the case may be) determined in accordance with Regulation 9(d) to be applicable in respect of such an ARP coverage shall, as from the date upon which the additional ARP premium or re-calculated ARP Premium is due (as determined by the SPF manager pursuant to Regulation 9(d)) (if not already paid by the firm), constitute a debt due from the firm to the SPF manager as agent of all qualified insurers participating in the special purpose fund. Failing payment of the additional ARP premium or, re-calculated ARP premium within three (3) days of the relevant due date, the SPF manager shall be entitled to treat the firm as a defaulting firm for the period during which the additional ARP premium or re-calculated ARP premium remains outstanding, such that the ARP premium for that firm for that period shall be calculated in accordance with Regulation 13(e).

• (h) Every firm that applies to enter the assigned risks pool shall provide to the SPF manager such information as the SPF manager may from time to time in its discretion reasonably require to progress the firm’s application for entry to the assigned risks pool and otherwise to deal efficiently and effectively with the firm’s membership of the assigned risks pool.

• (i) Every firm to which this Regulation 9 applies shall be required to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the firm receives an acknowledgement in writing of receipt by the SPF manager of its application, pursuant to this Regulation 9, to enter the assigned risks pool within ten (10) working days of the date of despatch of such application by or on behalf of the firm, and where no such acknowledgement in writing is received within ten (10) working days of such date, the application shall be deemed never to have been made, and the firm shall be required to re-apply in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 9.

• (j) An ARP eligible firm that has applied in the manner prescribed by these Regulations to enter the assigned risks pool will be issued by the SPF manager with an ARP coverage.

• (k) An ARP eligible firm may apply to enter the assigned risk pool within 60 (sixty) days immediately following the expiry of its most recent coverage period.

• (l) The provisions of Regulation 9(k) are a dispensation solely in relation to the time limits for making an application to join the assigned risks pool and such provisions shall not in any way relieve a firm of any requirement of these Regulations to establish or maintain qualifying insurance.

10. Operation of ARP Coverage:

• (a) The period of coverage under each ARP coverage shall commence:—

• (i) in the case of a firm that applies to enter the assigned risks pool prior to the commencement of an indemnity period, from the start of that indemnity period;

• (ii) in the case of a firm that applies to enter the assigned risks pool during an indemnity period, from the date specified in the firm’s application, but that date may not be earlier than the date upon which the application was made, and no ARP coverage may provide retrospective cover.

• (b) The period of coverage under each ARP coverage shall terminate on the earliest to occur of the following dates:—

• (i) the date upon which the relevant indemnity period ends;

• (ii) the date upon which the firm obtains qualifying insurance outside the assigned risks pool; or

• (iii) the date when the firm ceases to be an ARP eligible firm.

• (c) Every firm that holds ARP coverage shall be required to report or notify any claim or circumstance required to be reported or notified pursuant to its ARP coverage to the SPF manager within any time prescribed therefor under that ARP coverage.

• (d) Without prejudice to the generality of Regulation 17(a), every principal of a firm to which these Regulations apply shall be responsible for ensuring:—

• (i) that the firm applies to enter the assigned risks pool within the time limits and in the manner required under these Regulations;

• (ii) that the firm pays any premium due in respect of an ARP coverage to the SPF manager promptly when due;

• (iii) that the firm takes steps to ensure that it is provided with an acknowledgement of its application to enter the assigned risks pool when required to do so under these Regulations; and

• (iv) that the firm makes any notifications or reports required by these Regulations to be made pursuant to its ARP coverage in a timely manner.

• (e) The SPF manager shall make arrangements to procure that a qualified insurer shall be reimbursed in respect of insurer reimbursement claims and shall ensure that the amount of such reimbursement is equal to the sums paid by that qualified insurer in respect of the relevant claim, provided however that the amount of such reimbursement shall be without prejudice to any sums to be paid by the qualified insurer following a demand being made by the SPF manager, pursuant to the qualified insurers agreement, for the purposes of settling liability in respect of the relevant claim. No qualified insurer shall be entitled to such reimbursement unless that qualified insurer can demonstrate, to the reasonable satisfaction of the SPF manager, that it has acted in a commercially reasonable manner and as though recourse to the assigned risks pool is not available to it and has used its best efforts to obtain reimbursement of amounts paid by it pursuant to its rights under clause 7.2 of the minimum terms and conditions.

11. Membership of the Assigned Risks Pool:

• (a) A firm that has been issued with an ARP coverage but that is no longer an ARP eligible firm shall be required, as from the date upon which it ceases to be an ARP eligible firm, to establish and maintain qualifying insurance with a qualified insurer in accordance with Regulation 3(a) and if it fails to do so, it shall be required to cease its practice.

• (b) A firm may leave the assigned risks pool at any time after it has provided to the Law Society such evidence as the Law Society may require that it has obtained qualifying insurance from a qualified insurer that satisfies the provisions of these Regulations for at least the remainder of the then-current indemnity period.

• (c) Where a firm applies for membership of the assigned risks pool but is not permitted to enter the assigned risks pool, that firm shall be required to indemnify the Law Society, the SPF manager and the SPF management committee on demand in respect of any costs, fees, expenses, losses or liabilities incurred by the Law Society, the SPF manager and the SPF management committee in relation to its application.

12. Variation of the Minimum Terms and Conditions in respect of cover granted by the Assigned Risks Pool:

• (a) The minimum terms and conditions to apply in respect of ARP coverage are amended to the extent that claims made by financial institutions shall not be covered by the ARP, with the exception of a claim made by a financial institution in respect of a residential property transaction where:—

• (i) the relevant firm was first instructed to provide legal services in respect of that transaction on or after the operative date; and

• (ii) the relevant firm was deemed to be or found to be in compliance with the minimum common risk management standard in accordance with Regulation 16 prior to the commencement of the provision of the legal services.

• (b) The PII committee may from time to time publish model terms and conditions to apply to ARP coverage, which shall when published constitute the minimum terms and conditions applicable to such coverage.

• (c) The provisions of Regulation 12(a) may, from time to time, be cancelled or varied by the PII committee in its sole discretion and for such period as it may, in its sole discretion, determine.

• (d) The PII committee may, in its sole discretion and for such period as it may, in its sole discretion, determine, impose an aggregate limit on the ARP’s liability for claims in respect of any one firm in any one indemnity period and such limit shall, unless otherwise determined by the PII committee, be €1,500,000 (one million five hundred thousand euro).

• (e) Any limit or exclusion imposed by the PII committee in accordance with Regulation 12(d) shall not apply in respect of defence costs, save that in such cases ARP coverage will apply proportionate liability for defence costs in accordance with clause 3 of the minimum terms and conditions.

• (f) If a claim is made that would otherwise exceed the limit of liability, as imposed by the PII committee in accordance with Regulation 12(d), whether on its own or in aggregate with prior or concurrent claims, the ARP will be liable only for the amount of such claim that does not exceed the limit prescribed thereunder by the PII committee.

13. Defaulting Firms:

• (a) The SPF manager shall make arrangements to ensure that a defaulting firm is covered in respect of any period in which such a firm does not hold qualifying insurance with a qualified insurer and has not applied to enter the assigned risks pool and been issued by the SPF manager with an ARP coverage, and such arrangements shall procure that a defaulting firm in respect of which the arrangements apply is covered in respect of all claims and circumstances where coverage would have extended pursuant to the minimum terms and conditions as varied by or pursuant to these Regulations.

• (b) Every defaulting firm shall be liable to pay to the SPF manager the ARP default premium in respect of any coverage arranged in respect of its practice or former practice pursuant to Regulation 12(c)(a).

• (c) The SPF manager on behalf of qualified insurers shall be entitled to recover from each and every principal in a defaulting firm all amounts paid in or towards the discharge of a claim and defence costs pursuant to arrangements made under Regulation 12(c)(a), together with interest thereon at two percent (2 %) over the base lending rate of the European Central Bank from time to time.

• (d) A defaulting firm may, at the discretion of the PII committee, be required to cease its practice unless it obtains qualifying insurance from a qualified insurer outside the assigned risks pool.

• (e) The amount of the ARP default premium payable by:—

• (i) any firm designated as a defaulting firm pursuant to Regulation 9(f); or

• (ii) any defaulting firm in respect of which arrangements pursuant to Regulation 12(c)(a) are made from time to time;

shall be calculated by the SPF manager in accordance with the ARP premium schedule determined by the PII committee from time to time.

14. Insolvency of Qualified Insurers and Other Events:

• (a) Where a firm has established qualifying insurance with a qualified insurer or a number of qualified insurers in accordance with Regulation 3, and an insolvency event or non-performance event occurs in respect of that qualified insurer or one (1) or more of those qualified insurers, as the case may be, the firm shall, as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event within 30 (thirty) working days after the date upon which such insolvency event or non-performance event occurs (but not counting the date upon which such event occurs):—

• (i) establish and maintain in place qualifying insurance with a qualified insurer or qualified insurers that is or are unaffected by an insolvency event or non-performance event; or

• (ii) where it is an ARP eligible firm, apply under Regulation 9 to enter the assigned risks pool.

• (b) A firm to which Regulation 14(a) applies shall provide to the Law Society such evidence that it has established and is maintaining qualifying insurance or that it has applied to enter the assigned risks pool, as the Law Society may from time to time require.

• (c) Without prejudice to the generality of Regulation 14(b), a firm shall be required to provide to the Law Society, or procure that there is provided to the Law Society on its behalf, confirmation in any form designated by the Law Society that it has established and is maintaining qualifying insurance or that it has applied to enter the assigned risks pool within 30 (thirty) working days of the insolvency event or non-performance event that gives rise to the obligation to establish and maintain qualifying insurance pursuant to Regulation 14(a).

• (d) Without prejudice to the generality of Regulation 17(a), every principal of a firm to which these Regulations apply, shall be responsible for ensuring:—

• (i) that the firm has established and maintains in place qualifying insurance following the occurrence of an insolvency event or a non-performance event in respect of its former qualified insurer or qualified insurers, with a qualified insurer or qualified insurers that is or are unaffected by such an event, or that it applies to enter the assigned risks pool; and

• (ii) that the firm provides any evidence that the firm has established and is maintaining qualifying insurance or that it has applied to enter the assigned risks pool following the occurrence of an insolvency event or a non-performance event in respect of its former qualified insurer or qualified insurers as may be required under or pursuant to these Regulations in a timely manner.

15. Risk Management Audits:

• (a) A firm that enters or that seeks to enter the assigned risks pool shall be required to submit to and co-operate with a risk management audit to be conducted by a risk management auditor selected and appointed by the SPF management committee at such times and at such intervals during the firm’s membership of the assigned risks pool as the SPF management committee may in its absolute discretion determine.

• (b) Every principal of a firm to which Regulation 15(a) applies shall be responsible for ensuring that the firm submits to and co-operates with any risk management audit that is directed by the SPF management committee in relation to the firm’s practice pursuant to Regulation 15(a).

• (c) Where the SPF management committee directs that a risk management audit is to be carried out in relation to the practice of a firm, every principal of that firm shall be responsible for ensuring that the risk management auditor appointed to carry out the risk management audit is afforded every possible facility to carry out the following tasks:—

• (i) to attend at any place or places where the firm engages in its practice and, for the avoidance of doubt, any place or places where the firm may store its records (including electronic records) in relation to matters it is involved in;

• (ii) to interview any principal of the firm and such other persons employed by or associated with the firm as the risk management auditor deems necessary and appropriate;

• (iii) to inspect such documents relating to the practice of the firm as the risk management auditor deems necessary and appropriate; and

• (iv) to provide the risk management auditor with access to all electronic records maintained by or on behalf of the firm and to all computer or electronic communication systems operated by the firm and relating in either case to the practice of the firm.

• (d) Every principal of a firm to which this Regulation 15 applies shall direct all persons employed by the firm and any relevant third party (to the extent that it is possible for that principal to do so) to facilitate and provide all necessary assistance to the risk management auditor in reviewing any documents referred to in Regulation 15(c)(iii) and any records or systems referred to in Regulation 15(c)(iv).

• (e) It shall be misconduct for any principal of a firm, or any solicitor or registered lawyer employed by a firm to which this Regulation 15 applies to fail to attend at any interview with a risk management auditor of which not less than two (2) working days notice has been given to that person, or to fail to provide a risk management auditor with access to documents, records or computer or communication systems within two (2) working days of a request in that regard being made to such principal, solicitor or registered lawyer by a risk management auditor pursuant to these Regulations.

• (f) Where the SPF management committee directs that a risk management audit is to be carried out in relation to the practice of a firm, that firm shall be required to indemnify the Law Society (or as the Law Society may direct) on demand in respect of any costs, fees, expenses, losses or liabilities incurred by the Law Society in relation to the conduct of that risk management audit, and every principal of that firm shall be responsible for ensuring that the firm discharges its liabilities to the Law Society under Regulation 15.

• (g) Where a firm fails to comply with any provision of this Regulation 15, the SPF management committee may direct that such firm shall no longer be treated as an ARP eligible firm, and may further direct that any successor firm to such a firm shall not be an ARP eligible firm.

16. Risk Management Audit Reports:

• (a) A risk management auditor who conducts a risk management audit in relation to a firm shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, furnish a written risk management audit report to the SPF manager and to the SPF management committee. The report shall include an opinion from the risk management auditor as to whether the firm is in compliance with the minimum common risk management standard in the indemnity period in which the risk management audit is carried out.

• (b) The SPF management committee shall, on receipt of a risk management audit report, provide a copy thereof to the firm concerned and shall invite such firm to provide any written response thereto to the SPF management committee within ten (10) working days of receipt by the firm of such risk management audit report.

• (c) Following receipt by the SPF management committee of the written response (if any) of a firm the subject of a risk management audit report or (failing any such written response) at any time after the expiry of the relevant time period for such firm to provide a written response, the SPF management committee may provide the firm concerned with a written direction indicating:—

• (i) which of the risk management audit recommendations are to be binding on the firm, and any such direction made by or on behalf of the SPF management committee shall be binding upon the firm immediately upon such direction being made by the SPF management committee and the firm shall forthwith take steps at its own expense to comply with any such direction; and

• (ii) whether the opinion of the risk management auditor as to whether the firm is in compliance with the minimum common risk management standard is to be binding on the firm and any such direction made by or on behalf of the SPF management committee shall be binding upon the firm immediately upon such direction being made by the SPF management committee.

• (d) At any time following the receipt by the SPF management committee of the written response (if any) of a firm the subject of a risk management audit report or (failing any such written response) at any time after the expiry of the relevant time period for such firm to provide a written response, the SPF management committee may, on giving not less than two (2) working days notice, require any principal of such firm to attend before it to respond to such questions and to provide such information or to produce such documents regarding the management of the practice of the firm as may appear appropriate to the SPF management committee.

• (e) At any time following the receipt by the SPF management committee of the written response (if any) of a firm the subject of a risk management audit report or (failing any such written response) at any time after the expiry of the relevant time period for such firm to provide a written response, the SPF management committee may take any one (1) or more of the following measures:—

• (i) direct the firm concerned to comply with such measures within such time period as the SPF management committee may deem appropriate and reasonable to avoid or mitigate the risk of claims in respect of civil liability arising from the practice of the firm, and such measures may be more extensive than any risk management audit recommendations, and the firm shall forthwith take steps at its own expense to comply with any such direction;

• (ii) instruct any risk management auditor to assist and supervise the firm concerned or any principal of the firm or any solicitor or registered lawyer employed by the firm and to report to the SPF management committee as appropriate in relation to compliance by the firm, principal, solicitor or registered lawyer concerned with any measures directed by the SPF management committee pursuant to Regulation 16(e)(i);

• (iii) commission any further inquiry into the affairs of the firm concerned to be made as to the SPF management committee may appear appropriate and necessary to permit the SPF management committee properly to assess the prevailing state of management of that firm;

• (iv) conclude that the circumstances of the state of management of the firm concerned as disclosed by a risk management audit report, or by any subsequent report or investigation directed by the SPF management committee to be undertaken are such that it is not appropriate and reasonable that the firm should be provided or continue to be provided with ARP coverage by the assigned risks pool and may in consequence decide, on not less than two (2) working days notice in writing to the firm concerned, to declare that the firm in question shall no longer be an ARP eligible firm and shall be treated thenceforth as a defaulting firm.

• (f) Where the SPF management committee takes any step pursuant to Regulation 16(e)(ii) or Regulation 16(e)(iii) in relation to the practice of a firm, that firm shall be required to indemnify the Law Society (or as the Law Society may direct) on demand in respect of any costs, fees, expenses, losses or liabilities incurred by the Law Society in relation to the steps taken, and every principal of that firm shall be responsible for ensuring that the firm discharges its liabilities to the Law Society under this Regulation 16(f).

• (g) The PII committee may in its discretion and on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate:—

• (i) permit the Law Society to use any risk management audit report as the Law Society deems appropriate for the purposes of exercising any of its statutory powers and functions;

• (ii) provide to qualified insurers a copy of any risk management audit report in accordance with the confidentiality provisions of the then current qualified insurers agreement.

17. Responsibilities of Principals: