In the unlikely event that you believe there might be a circumstance that might lead to a claim against the firm, of any nature or size, you must notify the General Counsel immediately. Any correspondence received intimating a claim must be sent on the same day. This is because any delay in notifying our insurers can invalidate our insurance and can in certain circumstances expose you to personal liability. Under no circumstances should you make any admissions of liability or take steps to settle the claim without the express written authority of the General Counsel.
Once you have notified the General Counsel of a claim, the matter will usually be notified to our insurers. Please note that the firm may be conflicted and unable to continue to act. You should not communicate at all with any party suing or threatening to sue the firm without the express written consent of the General Counsel who is there to protect you and the firm. If it is the client who has intimated any fault on your part, the General Counsel will help you to draft appropriate correspondence as soon as possible.
We may agree that some or all of the matter can continue, but until you get that express instruction you must not have any contact with any party intimating that we have been negligent. Thereafter your contact with such parties should only be as agreed in writing and the General Counsel will, by necessity, continue to have a very close involvement in the matter until the threat of negligence is extinguished.
You must bear in mind the warranties in your agreement when you joined. These require you to notify the Director of Operations and Compliance without delay should you become aware of a claim linked to your work at any former firm.