Insurance Law Monthly

Sir Nigel Teare in Herculito Maritime Ltd v Gunvor International BV [2020] EWHC 3318 (Comm) had to decide a number of points arising out of the insurance arrangements in a charterparty. The main questions were: had the shipowners agreed to grant immunity to the charterers for general average contributions by accepting an obligation to insure against piracy risks with the charterers paying the premiums; and if there was such immunity, did it extend to the holders of the bills of lading.

The decision of Gendall J in the New Zealand High Court in Sleight v Beckia Holdings Ltd [2020] NZHC 2851 answers a question that has long been open, namely, whether a property insurer who has paid for repairs to be effected by a third-party builder bears liability under the policy to make good defective work on behalf of the builder.

In Lord Bishop of Leeds and Another v Dixon Coles and Gill (a firm) and Others [2020] EWHC 2809 (Ch) HHJ Saffman analysed the wording of the Solicitors Regulatory Authority Indemnity Insurance Rules 2013 whereby solicitors are required to carry insurance of at least £2 million per claim under wording complying with the Minimum Terms and Conditions of Professional Indemnity Insurance.