S.I. No. 534/2016 - The Solicitors Acts 1954 to 2011 (Professional Indemnity Insurance) Regulations 2016
This is the act as published. Later amendments are not folded into the text below: each one is a separate act in this repository and an entry in this law's history.
2 amending acts · 2020-10-13, S.I. No. 429/2020 - Solicitors Professional Indemnity Insurance Regulations 2020
- (c) Without prejudice to the generality of Regulation 16(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 16(a).
- (d) Without prejudice to the generality of Regulation 19(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 participating insurer or participating insurers, with a participating insurer or participating 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 participating insurer or participating insurers as may be required under or pursuant to these Regulations in a timely manner.
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 17(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 17(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 17 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 17(c)(iii) and any records or systems referred to in Regulation 17(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 17 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 17.
- (g) Where a firm fails to comply with any provision of this Regulation 17, 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.
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 18(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 18(e)(ii) or Regulation 18(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 18(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 participating insurers a copy of any risk management audit report in accordance with the confidentiality provisions of the then current participating insurers agreement.
Responsibilities of Principals:
- (a) Every principal of a firm to which these Regulations apply shall be responsible for ensuring that the firm complies with its obligations and responsibilities under these Regulations, and it shall be misconduct for a principal to fail to procure that the firm so complies.
- (b) Without prejudice to the generality of Regulation 19(a), every principal of a firm to which these Regulations apply, and in the case of a firm that has ceased its practice every person that is or was a principal of that firm at the relevant time as determined by the PII committee in its discretion, shall be responsible for ensuring:—
- (i) that the firm ceases its practice where required so to do under these Regulations;
- (ii) that the firm discharges any costs, liabilities and expenses due to the Law Society under these Regulations promptly on demand;
and
- (iii) that the firm and each principal thereof complies with each of the responsibilities imposed upon it under Regulations 17 and 18.
- (c) Where any firm fails to comply with any of its obligations and responsibilities under or pursuant to these Regulations, or any principal of a firm fails to comply with any of his or her obligations and responsibilities under or pursuant to these Regulations, the PII committee may take any one (1) or more of the following courses of action:—
- (i) apply to the High Court for suspension of the practising certificate or qualifying certificate of any principal or former principal of that firm, or of the principal concerned, as the case may be; or
- (ii) direct the Registrar to refuse to issue a practising certificate or qualifying certificate to any principal or former principal of that firm, or to the principal concerned, as the case may be; or
- (iii) apply to the Disciplinary Tribunal for an inquiry into the conduct of any principal or former principal of that firm, or of the principal concerned, as the case may be, on grounds of misconduct; or
- (iv) apply to the High Court for an order to prohibit any principal or former principal of that firm, or the principal concerned, as the case may be, from contravening any provision of these Regulations;
or
- (v) apply to the High Court for an order to require any principal or former principal of that firm, or the principal concerned, as the case may be, to perform any obligation imposed on the firm or such principal by any provision of these Regulations.
- (d) Where the PII committee decides to take one (1) of the courses of action referred to in Regulation 19(c), the PII committee shall give to each affected principal or former principal of that firm, notice in writing of its intention to do so.
- (e) The provisions of Regulation 19 are without prejudice to the designation by these Regulations as misconduct of any particular act or omission by a solicitor or a registered lawyer, or to any other right or power given under these Regulations, under the Acts or under any instrument made under or pursuant to the Acts to the PII committee or to the Law Society.
Professional Indemnity Insurance Committee:
- (a) The Council shall, as soon as practicable after the coming into operation of these Regulations, appoint a professional indemnity insurance committee which shall be responsible for exercising on behalf of the Council the functions vested in:—
- (i) the Law Society by or under section 26 of the Solicitors (Amendment) Act 1994 ; and
- (ii) the PII committee by or under these Regulations; and
(iii)(to the extent that the 1995 Regulations remain in force by virtue of these Regulations) the committee constituted under the 1995 Regulations and designated as the PII committee thereunder by or under the 1995 Regulations; and
(iv)(to the extent that the 2007 Regulations remain in force by virtue of these Regulations) the committee constituted under the 2007 Regulations and designated as the PII committee thereunder by or under the 2007 Regulations, save in each case for the making of regulations; and
(v)(to the extent that the 2011 Regulations remain in force by virtue of these Regulations) the committee constituted under the 2011 Regulations and designated as the PII committee thereunder by or under the 2011 Regulations.
- (b) The Council shall from time to time in its discretion determine the number of members of the PII committee and appoint the members thereof and may, in its sole discretion and for such period as it may determine, retain as members of the PII committee each or any of the members of the PII committee in place at the coming into operation of these Regulations.
- (c) The quorum of the PII committee shall be three (3).
- (d) The PII committee may establish sub-committees to carry out some or all of its functions, or delegate some or all of its functions to an executive of the Law Society, the SPF management committee or the SPF manager.
- (e) The PII committee shall exercise on behalf of the Council the following functions of the Law Society:—
- (i) making recommendations, issuing guidance or giving directions on behalf of the Law Society in relation to the management, administration and protection by the SPF manager of the special purpose fund;
(ii)(without prejudice to the generality or specificity of any Regulation) directing steps necessary or expedient to be taken to ascertain whether these Regulations or the provisions of the 2011 Regulations are being complied with;
- (iii) specifying circumstances in which any solicitor or registered lawyer or specified category of solicitors or registered lawyers may be exempted in whole or in part from compliance with these Regulations or the 2011 Regulations;
- (iv) specifying the manner in which solicitors or registered lawyers or any specified category of solicitors or registered lawyers shall bring their compliance with, or exemption from, these Regulations or the 2011 Regulations to the notice of their clients or the Law Society;
- (v) determining whether a perceived breach of section 26(6) of the Solicitors (Amendment) Act, 1994 or of these Regulations or of the 2011 Regulations by a solicitor or registered lawyer should be the subject of an application by the Law Society to the Disciplinary Tribunal for an inquiry into the conduct of that solicitor or registered lawyer on the ground of alleged misconduct;
- (vi) making decisions in relation to matters (including procedural matters) deemed to be in pursuance of or incidental or supplementary to the functions vested in the Law Society under section 26 of the Solicitors (Amendment) Act 1994 or in pursuance of or incidental or supplementary to the provisions of these Regulations or of the 2014 Regulations.
- (f) The PII committee shall, at least once in every calendar year, review the minimum terms and conditions and shall recommend to the Law Society any amendments thereto as to the PII committee appear appropriate.
- (g) The PII committee shall be entitled to appoint the SPF manager to discharge the functions and responsibilities of:
- (i) the person or entity appointed as pool manager under the 1995 Regulations to the extent that those regulations remain in effect by virtue of these Regulations; and
- (ii) the person or entity appointed as ARP manager under the 2007 Regulations to the extent that those regulations remain in effect by virtue of these Regulations;
- (iii) the person or entity appointed as SPF manager under the 2011 Regulations to the extent that those regulations remain in effect by virtue of these Regulations; and
- (iv) the person or entity appointed as SPF manager under the 2014 Regulations to the extent that those regulations remain in effect by virtue of these Regulations.
- (h) The PII committee shall from time to time and in its sole discretion issue rules regulating the conduct of coverage disputes and any rules (or part thereof) issued by the PII committee under this Regulation 21(h) shall be binding upon a participating insurer and a firm immediately upon such rules being made by the PII committee and each participating insurer and each firm shall forthwith take steps at its own expense to comply with any such rules.
SPF Management Committee:
- (a) The PII committee shall, as soon as practicable after the coming into operation of these Regulations appoint a special purpose fund management committee which shall be responsible for exercising the functions vested in:
- (i) the SPF management committee by or under these Regulations;
and
- (ii) any functions delegated to it by the PII committee pursuant to Regulation 20.
- (b) The number of members of the SPF management committee shall be five (5).
- (c) The members of the SPF management committee shall be appointed by the Law Society and shall comprise the SPF manager, two (2) representatives of the Law Society and one (1) representative of each of the two (2) participating insurers with the largest relevant premium income for that indemnity period as calculated in accordance with Schedule 2 of the participating insurers agreement.
- (d) The SPF management committee shall provide a quarterly report to the PII committee summarising its activities and the decisions it has taken in the previous quarter. The SPF management committee shall receive and consider any comments that the PII committee may have on any such report.
Provision of Information and Co-Operation with Qualifying Insurers and SPF Manager:
- (a) If a person asserts a claim against a firm or any person insured under that firm’s qualifying insurance and the claim relates to a matter within the scope of coverage under the minimum terms and conditions, that firm and every principal thereof (including, in the case of a firm that has ceased its practice, any former principal thereof) shall be required to provide that claimant on request with details of the identity of the participating insurers that provided the qualifying insurance, together with any applicable coverage reference number and the relevant participating insurers’ contact details.
- (b) The Law Society may maintain in such form or forms as it considers appropriate a register of firms showing such details of any qualifying insurance, ARP coverage or run-off cover maintained by those firms appearing on the register as the Law Society deems fit, together with details of any firms that have not maintained such insurance and/or cover, and may permit persons to enquire as to the registered status of firms and provide persons with the information contained in the register relating to firms in such manner and to such extent as the Law Society may determine.
- (c) The Law Society may, based on the information available to it, establish an information service to disclose certain information to participating insurers in such a manner as it may in its absolute discretion deem fit, including the following:—
- (i) on or before 31 January in each indemnity period, provide a participating insurer with details of the identity of firms which maintained qualifying insurance with that participating insurer in the prior indemnity period, together with the identity of the current participating insurer (including for the avoidance of doubt, the assigned risks pool and the run-off fund) of any such firm;
- (ii) from time to time, to provide a participating insurer with details of the identity of any firm, which has had all of its principals suspended or struck off the roll.
- (d) All firms and their principals shall extend such co-operation to the participating insurer providing qualifying insurance or the SPF manager (as appropriate) as is required by the minimum terms and conditions. In the event that a participating insurer or the SPF manager (as appropriate) considers that a firm or its principals have failed to extend such co-operation, the participating insurer or the SPF manager (as appropriate) may notify the Law Society and the Law Society may take disciplinary action against the principals and the former principals of such firm as appropriate.
- (e) In the event that a participating insurer or the SPF manager (as appropriate) considers that a firm has failed to pay any stamp duty which the firm is liable to pay, the participating insurer or the SPF manager (as appropriate) may notify the Law Society and the Law Society may take disciplinary action against the principals and the former principals of such firm as appropriate.
Amendment to Independent Law Centres Regulations:
- (a) The Solicitors Acts 1954 to 2002 (Independent Law Centres) Regulations, 2006 are hereby amended by the deletion of Regulation 8 thereof and its replacement with the following:-
“For the avoidance of doubt, an employed solicitor shall be required to comply with the Solicitors Acts 1954 to 2011 (Professional Indemnity Insurance) Regulations 2016.”
Signed on behalf of the Law Society of Ireland pursuant to Section 79of the Solicitors Act 1954 .
Dated this 18th day of October 2016.
SIMON MURPHY,
President of the Law Society of Ireland.
SCHEDULE Table of Revocations
| NAME OF INSTRUMENT | EXTENT OF REVOCATION |
| The Solicitors Acts 1954 to 2011 (Professional Indemnity Insurance) Regulations 2014 (Statutory Instrument No. 445 of 2014) | Revoked in its entirety save that:—(i) the instrument (as subsequently amended) shall remain binding upon solicitors and registered lawyers required, prior to the operative date, by virtue of the provisions of the instrument to maintain run-off cover (as defined by the instrument) such that those solicitors and registered lawyers shall be required to continue to maintain such coverage in accordance with the terms of the instrument and that the provisions of the instrument (including provisions relating to the enforcement thereof and the penalties thereunder) shall be fully continued in effect as regards such solicitors and registered lawyers and such run-off cover; and (ii) the instrument (as subsequently amended) shall remain in effect to the extent necessary to permit the proper functioning and operation of the special purpose fund constituted by virtue of the provisions of the instrument to permit the special purpose fund to be administered to fulfil the terms of all coverages granted thereunder (iii) the instrument (as subsequently amended) shall remain in effect to permit the proper functioning and operation of the SMDF (as defined therein) to permit the SMDF to be administered to fulfil the terms of all coverages granted by it. |
| The Solicitors Acts 1954 to 2011 (Professional Indemnity Insurance) (Amendment) Regulations 2015 (Statutory Instrument No. 403 of 2015) | Revoked in its entirety save that the provisions of the relevant instrument shall be continued in effect to the extent that it amends The Solicitors Acts 1954 to 2008 (Professional Indemnity Insurance) Regulations 2014 (Statutory Instrument No. 445 of 2014) in order to give effect to the provisions of this Table as they relate to the revocation of The Solicitors Acts 1954 to 2011 (Professional Indemnity Insurance) Regulations 2014 (Statutory Instrument No. 445 of 2014). |
Appendix 1
Minimum Terms and Conditions of Professional Indemnity Insurance for Solicitors and Registered Lawyers in Ireland
1 Interpretation
1.1 In these terms and conditions, the following expressions shall have the following meanings:—
“Amount Insured” means the limit of liability of each Insurer under the Insurance, including, for the avoidance of doubt, the aggregate limit of liability of all Insurers where the coverage is provided on the basis of co-insurance;
“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;
“Circumstance” means an incident, fact, occurrence, matter, act or omission that may give rise to a Claim in the context of civil liability;
“Claim” means a request or demand for, or an assertion of a right to, or an intimation of an intention to seek:—
- (a) civil compensation of any nature,
- (b) civil damages of any nature, or
- (c) any award to be made pursuant to the provisions of the Solicitors Acts 1954 to 2011 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 (c) of this definition where the Insurance, in accordance with the Minimum Terms and Conditions, excludes the Insurer’s liability to indemnify the Insured in respect of such costs;
“Claimant” means a person or entity that has made or may make a Claim (including a Claim for contribution or indemnity);
“Commercial Property Regulations” means the Solicitors (Professional Practice, Conduct and Discipline — Commercial Property Transactions) Regulations 2010;
“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;
“Defence Costs” mean legal costs and disbursements and investigative and related expenses reasonably and necessarily incurred with the consent of the Insurer in relation to a Claim including without limitation the costs of:—
- (a) defending any proceedings, or
- (b) conducting any proceedings for indemnity, contribution or recovery,
or
- (c) investigating, reducing, avoiding or compromising any actual or potential Claim;
but the term “Defence Costs” does not include:—
- (i) any internal overhead expenses of the Firm or the Insurer or the cost of any Insured’s time, or
- (ii) any costs incurred by an Insured in defending or resisting proceedings seeking an award against that Insured of the nature described in paragraph (c) under the definition of “Claim” where the Insurance, in accordance with the Minimum Terms and Conditions, excludes the Insurer’s liability to indemnify the Insured in respect of such costs;
“Direction” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in clause 8.3;
“Employee” means any person, other than a Principal, employed or otherwise engaged in the Firm’s Practice, including, without limitation, solicitors, registered lawyers, other lawyers, trainee solicitors, consultants, associates, locum staff members, persons seconded to work in the Firm’s Practice or persons seconded by the Firm to work elsewhere, office and clerical staff or otherwise;
“Financial Institution” means any of the following:—
- (a) a credit institution as defined in section 2(1) of the 1995 Act,
- (b) a credit institution that is the holder of an authorisation for the purposes of Article 3(1) of Directive 2013/36/EU,
- (c) a retail credit firm authorised pursuant to section 31 of the 1997 Act,
- (d) a home reversion firm authorised pursuant to section 31 of the 1997 Act,
- (e) any other party that engages on a professional basis in the business of providing financial accommodation of any nature to another person,
- (f) 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:—
- (a) 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
- (b) 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 the Firm, and includes the business of any trustee, nominee, service or administration company owned by the Principals of the Firm;
“Insurance” means the professional indemnity insurance or coverage required by each Firm pursuant to the Regulations;
“Insured” means, in respect of a Firm:—
- (a) the Firm,
- (b) each trustee, nominee, service or administration company owned by the Firm and/or the Principals of the Firm from time to time,
- (c) each director, officer or employee of any such company as is referred to in paragraph (b) above from time to time,
- (d) each Principal or former Principal of the Firm from time to time, (e) each Employee or former Employee of the Firm from time to time, or
- (e) the estate or legal personal representatives of any deceased former Principal or Employee of the Firm;
“Insurer” means the underwriter of the Insurance or the provider of the coverage the subject of the Minimum Terms and Conditions;
“Investment Advice” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Regulations;
“Investment Business Service” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Regulations;
“Law Society” means the Law Society of Ireland;
“Lead Insurer” means the Insurer named as such in the contract of Insurance but if contrary to clause 3.6.2 no Lead Insurer is named as such, means the first-named Insurer on the relevant certificate of insurance;
“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):-
- (a) any Investment Business Services or Investment Advice provided by a Firm,
- (b) acting as personal representative or trustee,
- (c) acting as notary public,
- (d) acting as a commissioner for oaths,
- (e) acting as liquidator or receiver,
- (f) acting as company secretary,
- (g) acting as director of any body corporate owned by the principals of a firm that provides trustee, nominee, administration or other services,
- (h) acting as arbitrator or mediator,
- (i) acting on a pro bono basis, and
- (j) acting as Personal Insolvency Practitioner.
“Minimum Terms and Conditions” means the minimum terms and conditions set out in Appendix 1 to the Regulations with which a Qualifying Insurance (or, in the case of a Qualifying Insurance provided as a coinsurance, any part thereof) underwritten by a Participating 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 ascribed to such term in the Regulations;
“NAMA” means the National Asset Management Agency;
“Participating Insurer” means, in respect of an Indemnity Period, an Authorised Insurer which has entered into and duly executed a Participating 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;
“Participating 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 Participating Insurer may provide Qualifying Insurance to Firms in the State and the terms on which such Participating Insurer shall participate in the Special Purpose Fund;
“Partner” means a partner in a Firm;
“Partnership” means an unincorporated firm;
“Personal Insolvency Practitioner” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Personal Insolvency Act 2012 ;
“Policy” means a contract of professional indemnity insurance made between a Participating Insurer (whether alone or in conjunction with other participating insurers) and a Firm, and “Policies” shall be construed accordingly;
“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);
“Preceding Practice” means each Practice:
- (a) which has ceased practice; and
- (b) to which the Firm’s Practice is a Succeeding Practice;
“Principal” means:—
- (a) 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,
- (b) 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;
“Regulations” means The Solicitors Acts 1954 to 2011 (Professional Indemnity Insurance) Regulations 2016, as the same may be amended from time to time;
“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;
“Self-Insured Excess” means an amount that the Insured is required by the terms of any contract between the Insured and the Insurer to pay to the Claimant in the event of a Claim;
“Special Purpose Fund” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Regulations;
“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):—
- (a) it is held out as being a successor to the practice or part thereof of the Preceding Practice by whatever means such holding out occurs, or
- (b) it is conducted by a Partnership where half or more of the Principals are identical to those persons who were Principals of any Partnership that conducted the Preceding Practice, or
- (c) it is conducted by a sole practitioner who was the sole practitioner conducting the Preceding Practice, or
- (d) it is conducted by a sole practitioner who was one of the Principals conducting the Preceding Practice, or
- (e) 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
- (f) 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 (b), (c), (d), (e) or (f) of this definition if another practice is or was held out by the owner of that other practice as the Succeeding Practice;
“the 1995 Act” means the Consumer Credit Act 1995 (as amended);
“the 1997 Act” means the Central Bank Act 1997 (as amended);
“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.
1.2 In these Minimum Terms and Conditions, unless the context otherwise requires:—
- (a) words and expressions shall have the same meaning and shall be construed consistently with the same words and expressions in the Solicitors Acts 1954 to 2011 (Professional Indemnity Insurance) Regulations 2016;
- (b) the Interpretation Act 2005 shall apply for the purpose of interpreting these Minimum Terms and Conditions 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 2011 or with these Minimum Terms and Conditions;
- (c) a reference in these Minimum Terms and Conditions 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 Minimum Terms and Conditions;
- (d) the singular includes the plural, and vice versa;
- (e) words denoting any gender include all genders and words denoting the singular include the plural and vice versa;
- (f) any reference to a person shall be construed as a reference to any individual, firm, company, corporation, government, state or agency of a state or any association or partnership (whether or not having separate legal personality) of two (2) or more of the foregoing;
- (g) references to a “company” include any body corporate;
- (h) headings are inserted for convenience only and shall not affect the interpretation of these Minimum Terms and Conditions; and
- (i) references to awareness of the Insured shall be limited to the actual knowledge of a Principal of the Firm, or any solicitor or registered lawyer employed by the Firm.
2 Scope of Cover
2.1 The Insured
The person insured under each Insurance must include, and coverage under the Insurance as joint insureds must extend to, all those persons and entities set out in clause 1 under the definition of “Insured”.
2.2 Civil Liability
The Insurance must indemnify each Insured against civil liability incurred by an Insured arising from any provision of Legal Services provided that:—
- (a) a Claim in respect of such civil liability is:
- (i) first made against the Insured during the Coverage Period; and
- (ii) notified to the Insurer during the Coverage Period or within three (3) Working Days immediately following the end of the Coverage Period; or
- (b) a Claim in respect of such liability is first made during or after the Coverage Period and:
- (i) arises from Circumstances first notified to the Insurer during the Coverage Period; or
- (ii) arises from Circumstances first notified to the Insurer within three (3) Working Days immediately following the end of the Coverage Period provided that the Insured was aware of the Circumstances during the Coverage Period.
2.3 Continuous Coverage
Historic claims
2.3.1 Notwithstanding the provisions of clause 2.2 and subject to the provisions of clause 2.3.2, the Insurance must indemnify the Insured against civil liability incurred by the Insured arising from any provision of Legal Services where:
- (a) a Claim in respect of such liability:
- (i) is first made against the Insured during the coverage period (the “Relevant Period”) of a professional indemnity insurance policy (the “Relevant Policy”) held by the Firm with the Insurer in respect of an Indemnity Period commencing on or after 1 December 2013; and
- (ii) is first notified to the Insurer during the Coverage Period;
- (b) the Insured maintained Qualifying Insurance with the Insurer without interruption from the Relevant Period until the date of notification of the Claim to the Insurer; and
- (c) the Claim would have been covered by the Relevant Policy,
such a Claim to be referred to herein as an “Historic Claim”.
2.3.2 Where the Insurance is underwritten on a co-insurance basis, the Insurance may provide that an Insurer shall only be liable in respect of an Historic Claim where the Insurer provided cover to the Insured continuously and without interruption from the Relevant Period until the date of notification of the Historic Claim.
Limit of liability
2.3.3 The liability of an Insurer in respect of any one Historic Claim referred to in clause 2.3.1 shall not exceed the lesser of the limit of liability of the Insured under the Insurance and the limit of liability of the Insured under the Relevant Policy.
2.3.4 In the case of co-insurance, the liability of an Insurer in respect of any one Historic Claim referred to in clause 2.3.2 shall not exceed the lesser of the Insurer’s proportion of the limit of liability of the Insured under the Insurance and the Insurer’s proportion of the limit of liability of the Insured under the Relevant Policy.
Self-insured excess
2.3.5 Notwithstanding the provisions of clause 4, the self-insured excess payable by the Insured in respect of an Historic Claim referred to in clause 2.3.1 shall be the higher of the self-insured excess applicable to the Insurance and the self-insured excess applicable to the Relevant Policy.
Historic circumstances
2.3.6 Notwithstanding the provisions of clause 2.2 and subject to the provisions of clause 2.3.7, the Insurance must indemnify the Insured against civil liability incurred by the Insured arising from any provision of Legal Services where a Claim in respect of such liability is first made against the Insured during or after the Coverage Period and:
- (a) arises from Circumstances which:
- (i) the Insured first became aware of, or ought reasonably to have become aware of, during the Relevant Period of the Relevant Policy held by the Firm with the Insurer in respect of an Indemnity Period commencing on or after 1 December 2013; and
- (ii) are first notified to the Insurer during the Coverage Period;
- (b) the Insured maintained Qualifying Insurance with the Insurer without interruption from the Relevant Period until the date of notification of the Circumstances to the Insurer; and
- (c) the Claim would have been covered by the Relevant Policy,
such Circumstances to be referred to herein as “Historic Circumstances”.
2.3.7 Where the Insurance is underwritten on a co-insurance basis, the Insurance may provide that an Insurer shall only be liable in respect of a Claim arising from Historic Circumstances where the Insurer provided cover to the Insured continuously and without interruption from the Relevant Period until the date of notification of that Claim.
Limit of liability
2.3.8 The liability of an Insurer in respect of any one Claim referred to in clause 2.3.6 arising from Historic Circumstances shall not exceed the lesser of the limit of liability of the Insured under the Insurance and the limit of liability of the Insured under the Relevant Policy.
2.3.9 In the case of co-insurance, the liability of an Insurer in respect of any one Claim referred to in clause 2.3.7 arising from Historic Circumstances shall not exceed the lesser of the Insurer’s proportion of the limit of liability of the Insured under the Insurance and the Insurer’s proportion of the limit of liability of the Insured under the Relevant Policy.
Self-insured excess
2.3.10 Notwithstanding the provisions of clause 4, the self-insured excess payable by the Insured in respect of a Claim referred to in clause 2.3.6 arising from Historic Circumstances shall be the higher of the self-insured excess applicable to the Insurance and the self-insured excess applicable to the Relevant Policy.
2.4 Defence Costs
The Insurance must indemnify the Insured against Defence Costs in relation to:—
- (a) any Claim referred to in clauses 2.2, 2.5 and 2.6; and
- (b) any Circumstance referred to in clauses 2.2, 2.5 and 2.6, and the Insurance shall provide that such Defence Costs will be met by the Insurer as and when they are determined, due and payable.
2.5 Preceding Practice
2.5.1 The Insurance must indemnify each Insured against civil liability to the extent that such liability arises from any provision of Legal Services in connection with a Preceding Practice, provided that:—
- (a) a Claim in respect of such liability is:
- (i) first made against an Insured during the Coverage Period; and
- (ii) notified to the Insurer during the Coverage Period or within three (3) Working Days immediately following the end of the Coverage Period; or
- (b) a Claim in respect of such liability is first made during or after the Coverage Period and:
- (i) arises from Circumstances first notified to the Insurer during the Coverage Period; or
- (ii) arises from Circumstances first notified to the Insurer within three (3) Working Days immediately following the end of the Coverage Period provided that the Insured was aware of such circumstances during the Coverage Period.
2.5.2 For the purposes of such cover as is contemplated in clause 2.5, the Insurance must include:—
- (a) each Partnership or sole practitioner who carried on the Preceding Practice;
- (b) each trustee, nominee, service or administration company owned by the persons referred to in paragraph (a) from time to time;
- (c) each director or officer of any such company as is referred to in paragraph (b) above from time to time;
- (d) each Principal and former Principal of any Partnership referred to in paragraph (a);
- (e) each Employee and former Employee of any Partnership or sole practitioner or company referred to in paragraph (a) and (b); and
- (f) the estate or legal personal representatives of any person referred to in this clause 2.5.2 who is deceased or legally incapacitated.
2.5.3 The Insurance may permit the Insurer to charge an additional premium in respect of coverage for a Preceding Practice provided pursuant to this clause 2.5, but the Insurance may not provide that the Insurer can decline to indemnify the Insured or cancel, terminate or avoid the Insurance due to non-payment of any such additional premium when due.
2.6 Succeeding Practice
2.6.1 Where there is a Succeeding Practice to the Firm’s Practice the Insurance must indemnify each Insured against civil liability arising from any provision of Legal Services in connection with a Succeeding Practice to the Firm’s Practice, provided that:—
- (a) a Claim in respect of such liability is:
- (i) first made against an Insured during the Coverage Period; and
- (ii) notified to the Insurer during the Coverage Period or within three (3) Working Days immediately following the end of the Coverage Period; or
- (b) a Claim in respect of such liability is made during or after the Coverage Period and:
- (i) arises from Circumstances first notified to the Insurer during the Coverage Period; or
- (ii) arises from circumstances first notified to the Insurer within three (3) Working Days immediately following the end of the Coverage Period provided that the Insured was aware of such circumstances during the Coverage Period.
2.6.2 For the purposes of such cover as is contemplated in this clause 2.6 the Insurance must include:—
- (a) each Partnership or sole practitioner who carries on the Succeeding Practice;
- (b) each trustee, nominee, service or administration company owned by the persons referred to in paragraph (a) from time to time;
- (c) each director or officer of any such company as is referred to in paragraph (b) above from time to time;
- (d) each Principal and former Principal of any Partnership referred to in paragraph (a);
- (e) each Employee and former Employee of any Partnership or sole practitioner or company referred to in paragraph (a) and (b); and
- (f) the estate or legal personal representatives of any person referred to in this clause 2.6.2 who is deceased or legally incapacitated.
2.6.3 The Insurance may permit the Insurer to charge an additional premium in respect of coverage for a Succeeding Practice provided pursuant to this clause 2.6, but the Insurance may not provide that the Insurer can decline to indemnify the Insured or cancel, terminate or avoid the Insurance due to non-payment of any such additional premium when due.
3 Minimum Level of Insurance Cover
3.1 Minimum Level of Cover
The Amount Insured for each and every Claim (exclusive of Defence Costs) must be at least €1,500,000 (one million five hundred thousand euro).
3.2 Cover for Defence Costs
There must be no limit on the cover for Defence Costs.
3.3 Proportionate liability for Defence Costs
The Insurance may provide that liability for Defence Costs in relation to a Claim that exceeds the Amount Insured is limited to the proportion of such Defence Costs that the Amount Insured bears to the total amount paid or payable to dispose of that Claim.
3.4 No retrospective dates
The Insurance must not exclude or limit the liability of the Insurer in respect of Claims arising from incidents, occurrences, facts, matters, acts and/or omissions that occurred prior to any specified date.
3.5 No other limits
The Insurance may not apply any monetary exclusions or limits except as provided for by clauses 3.1 and 3.3 and where the Insurance is underwritten on a co-insurance basis, to the extent provided for in clause 3.6.2. For the avoidance of doubt, this clause 3.5 shall not be construed to prevent an Insured and an Insurer from agreeing that the cover shall provide for a Self-Insured Excess where this is otherwise permitted under these Minimum Terms and Conditions.
3.6 Co-insurance
3.6.1 The Insurance may be underwritten by more than one (1) Insurer, each of which must be a Participating Insurer and the Insurance may in such circumstances provide that the Insurer shall be severally liable only for its respective proportion of liability in accordance with the terms of the Insurance and shall state the respective proportions of liability of each of the relevant Participating Insurers.
3.6.2 Where the Insurance is underwritten jointly by more than one (1) Insurer, the Insurance must state which Participating Insurer shall be the Lead Insurer and in addition to any proportionate limit of Defence Costs in accordance with clause 3.3, the Insurance may provide that each Insurer’s liability for Defence Costs is further limited to the extent of the proportion of that Insurer’s liability (if any) in relation to a relevant Claim.
4 Self-Insured Excesses
4.1 Self-Insured Excess
The Self-Insured Excess (if any) applicable to the Insurance is a matter of contract to be determined between the Insurer and the Firm in each case.
4.2 Effect of Self-Insured Excess
4.2.1 The Insurance must provide that the Self-Insured Excess does not reduce or limit the liability of the Insurer contemplated by clause 3.1.
4.2.2 The Self-Insured Excess must not apply to Defence Costs.
4.2.3 The Insurance may provide for multiple Claims to be treated as one (1) Claim for the purposes of the Self-Insured Excess on such terms as the Insurer and the Firm may agree.
4.2.4 In the case of Insurance written on an excess of loss basis, there shall be no Self-Insured Excess except in relation to the primary layer.
4.3 Payment of Self-Insured Excess to Claimant
In the event that an amount which is within the Self-Insured Excess is not paid by a Firm to a Claimant within 30 (thirty) Working Days of its becoming due, the Insurer must redress the default on the part of the Firm and make payment thereof to the Claimant, and in such circumstances, the Insurance may provide that the Insurer shall be entitled to recover any amount so paid from the Firm.
5 Special Conditions
5.1 Minimum Terms and Conditions must prevail
5.1.1 The terms and conditions of the Insurance must comply with the Minimum Terms and Conditions as and to the extent prescribed by the Regulations.
5.1.2 Any provision of the Insurance that is inconsistent with the Minimum Terms and Conditions shall either be severed from the terms of the Insurance or the Insurance shall be rectified so as to comply with the Minimum Terms and Conditions.
5.1.3 The Insurance must provide that the Minimum Terms and Conditions shall always prevail in the event of a conflict between the terms and conditions of the Insurance and the Minimum Terms and Conditions.
5.2 No cancellation
5.2.1 The terms of the Insurance must provide that the Insurance or coverage cannot be cancelled unless:
- (a) the Firm’s Practice is merged into a Succeeding Practice provided that the Succeeding Practice has Insurance in compliance with the Minimum Terms and Conditions as and to the extent prescribed by the Regulations, or
- (b) replacement Insurance complying with the Minimum Terms and Conditions as and to the extent prescribed by the Regulations commences (but only where any replacement Insurance is not or would not in the event of cancellation of the original Insurance be provided wholly or partly by the Special Purpose Fund).
5.2.2 The terms of the Insurance must further provide that any cancellation must not prejudice the accrued rights and obligations of the parties thereto as at the effective date of cancellation.
5.3 No avoidance or repudiation
Without prejudice to clause 6.17, the Insurance must provide that the Insurer is not entitled to avoid or repudiate the Insurance on any grounds whatsoever including, without limitation, where there has been non-disclosure or misrepresentation by the Insured, whether such non-disclosure or misrepresentation is or is alleged to be innocent, negligent or fraudulent.
5.4 Rights of Insurer
5.4.1 Without prejudice to clause 5.3, the Insurance may provide that the Insurer is entitled to recover any outstanding premium or additional premium amounts from the Firm in any circumstance where (but for the operation of clause 5.3) the Insurer would have been entitled to avoid or repudiate the Insurance.
5.4.2 The Insurance may further provide that, in any situation where the Insurer becomes aware that there has been fraudulent non-disclosure or fraudulent misrepresentation to the Insurer in connection with a placement or renewal of Insurance for a Firm, the Insurer may refer the conduct of any relevant Principal of that Firm to the Law Society to permit the Law Society to take action against that Principal under the Solicitors Acts 1954 to 2011 or otherwise.
5.5 No set-off
The Insurance must provide:—
- (a) that any indemnity amount payable to the Insured by the Insurer must be paid only to the relevant Claimant or as the Claimant may direct,
and
- (b) that the Insurer is not entitled to set off against any such indemnity amount any payment owing to the Insurer by the Insured, including, without limitation, any payment of premium due to, or any payment required to be made by the Insured to reimburse, the Insurer.
5.6 No other policy to bar recovery
Save to the extent permitted under clause 6.4, the Insurance must provide that no rights of recovery available to a Firm under another policy of insurance may bar recovery under the Insurance.
5.7 Contribution where Succeeding Practice exists
Where there is a Succeeding Practice in relation to the Firm’s Practice during the Coverage Period, and as a result more than one (1) Qualifying Insurance covers a Claim or Circumstance, the Insurance may provide that contribution between Insurers shall be determined in accordance with the relative numbers of Principals of the owners of the respective constituent practices immediately prior to the relevant succession.
5.8 No denial or reduction
Subject to clause 2.2, the Insurer shall not on any grounds whatsoever, including but not limited to the following:—
- (a) any failure to notify a Claim or Circumstance within a prescribed period, or
- (b) any breach of any term or condition of the Insurance, or
- (c) any failure to pay any part of the premium in relation to the Insurance be entitled to reduce or deny its liability under the Insurance, except in circumstances where a prescribed exclusion contemplated by clause 6 applies.
9Coverage Period
The Coverage Period must run from the date of inception of the relevant Insurance and must expire no later than 24 months from the date of inception of the relevant Insurance.
10Contesting Liability
A Firm or an Insured shall not be required against its wish to contest the issue of liability in any legal or arbitration proceedings arising from any Claim unless a solicitor or a member of the Irish Bar (as mutually agreed upon between the Firm and the relevant Insurer, or failing agreement, to be appointed by the Chairman of the Bar Council of Ireland) shall advise that such proceedings or arbitration should be contested.
6 Exclusions
6.1 No other exclusions
The Insurance must not exclude or limit the liability of the Insurer on any basis whatsoever save where and to the extent that any Claim or related Defence Cost is proved to have arisen from one (1) or a number of the matters set out in this clause 6.
6.2 Death or bodily injury
The Insurance may exclude all and any liability of any Insured for causing death or bodily injury, save that the Insurance must cover liability for psychological injury or emotional distress (including but not limited to stress-related claims).
6.3 Property
The Insurance may exclude liability of the Insurer to indemnify for any act or omission which results in or contributes to damage to, or destruction or physical loss of any property of any kind whatsoever, other than property in the care, custody or control of any Insured in connection with the Firm’s Practice and not occupied or used in the course of the Firm’s Practice, unless such liability is occasioned by the Insured being in breach of professional duty in the performance of or failure to perform Legal Services.
6.4 Previous cover
The Insurance may exclude liability in respect of Claims where another professional indemnity insurance contract for a period earlier than the Coverage Period entitles the Insured to be indemnified in respect of the same Claim. Save as specified in this clause 6.4, the Insurance must comply with clause 5.6.
6.5 Fraud or dishonesty
The Insurance may exclude liability of the Insurer to indemnify all Insureds under the relevant Insurance to the extent that any civil liability or related Defence Costs arise from the dishonesty of or a fraudulent act or omission committed or condoned by any Insured.
6.6 Trading debts
The Insurance may exclude liability of the Insurer to indemnify any Insured against any trading loss or personal debt incurred by the Insured.
6.7 Partnership Agreement
The Insurance may exclude liability of the Insurer to indemnify the Insured against any actual or alleged breach or other relief in respect of disputes relating to the membership of and rights and obligations relating to membership of, the Firm, or disputes relating to or arising out of the partnership agreement between any two (2) or more persons comprising or formerly comprising the Firm.
6.8 Solicitors Acts
Save as specifically provided in this clause, the Insurance may generally exclude liability of the Insurer to indemnify the Insured against any loss occurring as a result of any process or proceedings brought against the Insured by or on behalf of the Law Society or any other person so entitled to ensure compliance with, or consequent on the breach (or alleged breach) by the Insured of any provisions of the Solicitors Acts 1954 to 2011 or any regulations made thereunder or in respect of Misconduct (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any costs incurred by an Insured in defending or resisting proceedings seeking an award against that Insured of the nature described in sub-clause (c) of the definition of “Claim”). However, the Insurance must specifically indemnify each Insured for any awards made under the provisions of the Solicitors Acts 1954 to 2011 for compensation or restitution to clients or any other obligations that may be imposed on solicitors or registered lawyers by statute from time to time to compensate or make restitution to clients.
6.9 Insured acting as their own lawyer
The Insurance may exclude liability of the Insurer to indemnify the Insured against any liability arising in respect of a transaction where the Insured has acted as his or her own lawyer save and except where another solicitor or registered lawyer in the Firm concerned has bona fide acted at arm’s length for the Insured concerned in respect of any such transaction or where the Claim is by a bona fide third party in respect of such transaction.
6.10 Claims/Exposure to risk outside Ireland
The Insurance may exclude liability of the Insurer to indemnify the Insured against any loss occurring or any liability arising in connection with:—
- (a) any part of the Firm’s Practice carried on from offices of the Firm located outside the Republic of Ireland, or
- (b) any advice given or action taken or omitted to be taken by the Insured in relation to any law other than the law of the Republic of Ireland (for this purpose the law of the Republic of Ireland includes European Union law where the same forms part of the law of the Republic of Ireland).
6.11 Employment
The Insurance may exclude liability of the Insurer to indemnify the Insured against any Claim or Circumstance arising out of:—
- (a) a wrongful dismissal, or
- (b) any other alleged or actual breach, or any other relief in respect of any contract of employment (including but not limited to a stress related claim brought by an Employee against a Firm where such claim arises out of the employment relationship between that Employee and the Firm), where such dismissal or breach is alleged or such relief is sought against the Insured.
6.12 Contracts
The Insurance may exclude liability of the Insurer to indemnify the Insured against:—
- (a) wrongful termination by the Insured of, or
- (b) any other actual or alleged breach by the Insured of, or
- (c) any other relief claimed against the Insured in respect of any contract for supply to or use by the Insured of services and/or materials and/or equipment and/or other goods.
6.13 Directors’ liability
The Insurance may exclude liability of the Insurer to indemnify any natural person in their capacity as a director or officer of a company, other than an administration, nominee, service or trustee company in respect of which coverage is required to be extended pursuant to these Minimum Terms and Conditions, except that:—
- (a) the Insurance must cover any liability of that person which arises from a breach of duty in the performance of or failure to perform Legal Services, and
- (b) the Insurance must cover each other Insured against any vicarious or joint liability.
6.14 War, Terror, Asbestos, Radiation
The Insurance may exclude liability of the Insurer to indemnify any Insured in respect of losses directly or indirectly caused by:—
- (a) war, riot, civil commotion and other hostilities,
- (b) terrorism,
- (c) asbestos or any actual or alleged asbestos related injury or damage involving the use, presence, existence, detection, removal, elimination or avoidance of asbestos or exposure to asbestos, and
- (d) ionising radiation or contamination by radioactivity from any nuclear fuel or from any nuclear waste from the combustion of nuclear fuel; or from the radioactive, toxic, explosive, or other hazardous properties of any explosive nuclear assembly or nuclear component thereof, provided that in each case any such exclusion or endorsement does not exclude or limit any liability of the Insurer to indemnify the Insured against civil liability or related Defence Costs arising from any actual or alleged breach of duty in the performance of (or failure to perform) Legal Services or failure to discharge or fulfil any duty incidental to the Firm’s Practice.
6.15 Undertakings to Financial Institutions in respect of Commercial Property Transactions
Certain capitalised terms in this clause are defined in clause 6.16.
- (a) Undertakings to Financial Institutions in respect of Commercial Property Transactions before 1 December 2009
The Insurance may exclude the liability of the Insurer to indemnify all Insureds under the relevant Insurance in respect of Claims arising directly or indirectly as a result of the provision by any Insured of a Relevant Undertaking in the course of a Commercial Property Transaction, before 1 December 2009, to a Financial Institution or to any director, officer, employee, agent or advisor of a Financial Institution, where:—
- (i) the Relevant Undertaking was given by that Insured (acting either for a client borrower alone, or for a client borrower and a Financial Institution jointly) in connection with the provision by the relevant Financial Institution of financial accommodation to that Insured’s client to permit that client to effect the relevant Commercial Property Transaction; and
- (ii) such Claims are made by a Financial Institution; and
- (iii) to the extent that the Insurer can demonstrate (and for the avoidance of doubt, the burden of proof in this regard shall rest with the Insurer) any civil liability or related Defence Costs arise from any dishonest, fraudulent, criminal or malicious act or omission by that Insured, or any acts or omissions which were done by that Insured knowing them to be wrongful.
For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this clause 6.15(a) shall be construed to permit liability to be excluded in circumstances where any Relevant Undertaking is provided to a Financial Institution in the course of the Insured’s sole representation of that Financial Institution as the Insured’s own client.
- (b) Undertakings to Financial Institutions in respect of Commercial Property Transactions on or after 1 December 2009 but before 1 December 2010
The Insurance may exclude the liability of the Insurer to indemnify all Insureds under the relevant Insurance in respect of Claims arising directly or indirectly as a result of the provision by any Insured of a Relevant Undertaking in the course of a Commercial Property Transaction, on or after 1 December 2009, to a Financial Institution or to any director, officer, employee, agent or advisor of a Financial Institution, where the Relevant Undertaking was given by that Insured (acting either for a client borrower alone, or for a client borrower and a Financial Institution jointly) in connection with the provision by the relevant Financial Institution of financial accommodation to that Insured’s client to permit that client to effect the relevant Commercial Property Transaction.
For the avoidance of doubt nothing in this clause 6.15(b) shall be construed to permit liability to be excluded in circumstances where any Relevant Undertaking is provided to a Financial Institution in the course of the Insured’s sole representation of that Financial Institution as the Insured’s own client.
- (c) Undertakings in breach of the Commercial Property Regulations on or after 1 December 2010
This document does not substitute the official text published in the Irish Statute Book. We accept no responsibility for any inaccuracies arising from the transcription of the original into this format.
This text is published under Irish Statute Book's own terms of reuse, not a Legalize or public-domain licence.
Irish Statute Book
CC-BY 4.0 (Oireachtas Open Data PSI Licence)
Contains Irish Public Sector Information licensed under the Oireachtas (Houses of the Oireachtas) Open Data PSI Licence / Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International, sourced from https://www.irishstatutebook.ie.