Insurance against legal claims

The cost of bringing or defending a legal action can put serious financial pressure on your business, whether you eventually win the case or not. You might face legal action from an employee, a customer, a supplier or a member of the public, or need legal help to resolve a dispute with a government agency such as HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

Simple steps can reduce the likelihood that you will get involved in litigation. The right insurance can help protect you if you cannot avoid legal action.

Being sued

Law enforcement

Suing

Reducing the risks

Buying cover

Exclusions

1. Being sued

If your business does anything that causes loss or damage to someone, it can be sued.

Contractual disputes are the main cause of litigation

• You may refuse to pay for goods or services, perhaps because they were late or faulty, but the supplier sues for payment. For example, a tenant might withhold rent (eg until the premises have been properly maintained) and the landlord sues.
• You may breach a contract by failing to supply goods or services on time or as agreed, and the customer sues. A business may be able to sue you for its loss of profits, as well as for the cost of correcting the original problem.

Employment disputes are another major cause of litigation

• Wrongful and unfair dismissal are the most common types of claim, followed by sexual and racial discrimination.
• Injury claims can vary from broken bones caused by an accident to complaints such as repetitive strain injury.

You may face public liability or product liability claims

These are most likely to arise when:

• A member of the public suffers an injury while on your premises, an injury caused by goods you have supplied, or financial loss as a result of any negligent advice you give. 'The public' includes everybody except your employees.
• You supply faulty goods or a poor service.

Shareholders and investors can sue you for breach of fiduciary duty

• The Companies Acts put a wide range of responsibilities on directors. They include more than 200 offences for which a director can be held personally liable.
• The personal liabilities of a director are unlimited, whereas your company has limited liability.
• Typically, directors are jointly liable, so you could be sued personally for the losses resulting from the actions of another director.

Insolvency can lead to litigation

• The Official Receiver and liquidators have an opportunity to review all the transactions of a business that has ceased to trade (on behalf of the creditors).
• If there is any evidence of wrongdoing, you, as a company director, could be sued personally.

If your business is sued, you may face significant costs

• You have to pay for the ongoing legal advice until the dispute is settled.
• The majority of cases are dropped, settled out of court, or reach the court stage but do not require the services of a QC.
• In some cases, costs can turn out to be substantial. And even if you win a case there is no guarantee that your costs will be paid. The judge may order both parties (the claimant and the defendant) to pay their own costs.

2. Law enforcement

Government organisations with responsibility for enforcing legislation have a duty to bring cases against businesses that break the law.

HMRC is particularly active

• The average settlement of a business tax investigation is about £5,000 (including tax, interest and penalties). Accountancy and legal fees can add significantly to these costs.

The Health & Safety Executive makes over 1,100 successful prosecutions a year

• About 5,500 businesses are served improvement notices or prevented from operating by prohibition notices.

Trading standards prosecutes several thousand businesses each year

• The most common prosecution is for false trade descriptions. For example, when a business misleads a customer about the quantity, quality or price of a product.

Companies House prosecutes over 1,600 directors each year

• Directors can be prosecuted for failing to submit accounts and returns on time.

Various environmental authorities prosecute businesses which cause pollution

• This can include noise pollution.

3. Suing

If your business suffers loss or damage as a result of somebody else’s action, you may need to consider legal action. If you are considering this, seek legal advice immediately.

Debt recovery is the most common reason for suing

• Often there is no contractual dispute. The customer simply refuses to pay or is unable to pay.
• If you sue and in the meantime the debtor goes bankrupt or into liquidation, you will probably end up paying your own legal costs, adding to what you have lost.

Contractual disputes can become extremely complicated

• When they refuse to pay, some customers may claim that you have not fulfilled the contract in some way. Whether or not this is true, it makes it harder for you to obtain payment.
• If your business suffers as a result of the failure of another company to meet its contractual obligations, taking legal action may be the only means of redress.

You may need to appeal against your local authority or other regulatory bodies

• Trade licensing and property regulations are common problem areas. For example, a nightclub could be closed down for breaking any one of dozens of regulations or a business could be crippled by something as simple as new parking restrictions.

The list of possible problems which could end up in litigation is endless

• It could be something as mundane as trying to stop a neighbour dumping rubbish outside your premises.

4. Reducing the risks

Even if you win the case, the time, stress and disruption involved in litigation can outweigh any financial gains. So a key objective for most businesses is to avoid being drawn into litigation in the first place.

Obtain legal advice before signing or issuing contracts

• Draw up a standard set of terms and conditions for sales contracts, and another set for purchase contracts. Any sale or purchase should be made "subject to the enclosed terms and conditions".
• This avoids the need to seek legal advice on everyday transactions.

Communicate to all employees what your key policies are

• For example, train all employees who manage, recruit, assess, discipline or dismiss other employees. They need to understand the basic dos and don'ts of employment law.

Be aware of any legislation which specifically affects your business

• The authorities concerned can tell you what the common problem areas are and how to stay within the law.
• Your trade organisation can usually tell you what new legislation will affect your industry in particular.

5. Buying cover

You can protect against a specific type of litigation by purchasing the appropriate insurance. For example, public liability insurance covers not only the legal expenses of a public liability case, but also any damages that are awarded against you.

More general cover can be obtained through legal expenses insurance

• This is bought by an increasing number of UK companies. In the case of smaller businesses, it may be included as part of a business insurance package.
• The scope of cover offered by legal expenses policies varies.

The policy will set out what types of legal action are covered

Most policies include cover for:

• Employment claims.
• Disputes with HMRC (including appeals). The accountancy costs you incur may also be covered.
• Claims made against a director for failing in his or her duties. Most policies cover a broad range of legal actions, subject to certain conditions and exclusions.

Legal expenses insurance is designed to protect your business should a dispute arise

• Typically this means defending against a legal action and any related costs - such as court fees and legal advice.

Many policies also cover the costs should you launch a legal action

For example:

• claims made against suppliers or customers for breach of contract;
• claims made against former employees for breach of a restrictive covenant (eg to prevent local competition);
• prosecution of vandals who damage your property.

Standard cover usually includes most costs

• For example, the costs, within limits, of employing solicitors (usually appointed by the insurer), barristers and expert witnesses, plus the court costs and related professional (eg accountancy) fees.
• In civil (ie not criminal) law cases, your policy should also cover your opponent's legal costs if they are awarded against you.
• Some awards made against you may also be covered (eg awards made by an employment tribunal).

Most policies offer extras

• 24-hour, 365-days-a-year legal helplines, for free initial advice on legal problems. The helpline may or may not be restricted to the types of legal action covered by the policy.
• Free legal reports. For example, employment manuals to help you draw up employment contracts and to avoid common employment law pitfalls.

Check the policy details

For example:

• How much excess you must pay towards each claim.
• The limit on the amount of cover. The legal costs for an expensive legal liability claim (or series of claims arising from a single incident) can exceed £1 million.

Seek advice from an insurance professional, such as an insurance broker or intermediary

They can:

• find you the right cover for the lowest price;
• explain the extent of the cover and the terms and conditions that apply.

Check if there are any special insurance packages on offer

• For example, through your industry association.

6. Exclusions

Most legal expenses policies impose conditions and exclusions. Check the wording of your policy carefully to make sure you have the cover you asked for.

You may be unable to make any claims during an initial period

• For example, no claims within the first 30 days of the policy, or 180 days if the case covers an employee who was already subject to disciplinary proceedings when the policy was taken out.

You might be required to call the legal helpline in some circumstances

• For example, before pursuing any action that could be subject to a claim. This is particularly important before dismissing employees.

There may be an excess for disputes covering the sale or purchase of goods or services

• You will not be covered for claims below the excess amount.

You may not be covered in certain situations

For example:

• where there are no reasonable prospects of success;
• where the action does not relate to normal business activities;
• for fines or other penalties you are ordered to pay by a criminal court;
• for any prosecution alleging dishonesty or intentional violence;
• for motoring prosecutions;
• for the defence of professional negligence claims (see Failing in your duty).