Our Professional Negligence Expertise
Professional Negligence Claims Against Solicitors
If you have retained solicitors in a transaction or litigation and the outcome was not as expected or there has been a clear mistake on behalf of the law firm, then you need a professional negligence solicitor who not only has expertise and experience in handling professional negligence claims but is supported by a firm which regularly deals with the type of transaction or litigation which has gone wrong. Myerson is a full-service commercial and personal law firm and thus can call on expertise in many areas of the law.
Our professional negligence lawyers have a wealth of experience in dealing with professional negligence cases and because the firm has expertise in commercial litigation, company transactions, property transactions, wills and probate, construction and divorce we are best-placed to understand how a particular matter should have proceeded and where it may have gone wrong.
Sample cases we have dealt with.
- A claim by an individual against her former solicitors who negligently handled a claim against a utility company and her local council which had been struck out. The claim was successfully settled before trial.
- A claim by a Company against solicitors who negligently handled litigation by failing to exchange witness statements in time. The client’s claim was struck out. We took over the client’s professional negligence claim when it was not progressing and the claim was settled for a 6 figure sum.
- A claim on behalf of a company against solicitors because they failed to obtain permission to rely on expert evidence and admissions were made during the trial which was damaging to the client. The matter was settled very favourably for the client
- Claims by various companies who had interest bank rate swap claims but whose solicitors did not deal with them in time before limitation expired. The claims against the companies’ former solicitors settled at mediation.
- Claims by 3 individuals who would have been left legacies in a will had the solicitor affected the testator’s wishes in good time before his death.
- Claims by Individuals who were intended beneficiaries of a Will whose gifts failed due to negligent drafting by the solicitor.
- A claim on behalf of a property purchaser who was not advised by a conveyancer that his property was located above a coal mine.
Professional Negligence Involving Property Transactions
Property transactions can be very complex. Our real estate department is one of the largest in the Northwest and is ranked top tier in Legal 500. Our expertise in property matters extends to professional negligence claims involving property and we have significant experience in successfully bringing claims against real estate solicitors, surveyors and architects.
Property negligence claims have become increasingly common recently as a result of many factors including the general increase in property values and the expanding commercial property market. They now make up a large proportion of professional negligence claims brought.
Examples of negligence:
- Failing to register an option or other property interests;
- Failing to undertake necessary property searches;
- Failing to warn a client that there was no right of way;
- Failing to warn a client that the property did not have the proper planning permission;
- Failing to check the tenancy rights of any tenants occupying a property;
- Failing to warn a client of the risks involved in carrying out repairs to a property prior to the exchange of contracts;
- Failing to warn a client of the risk involved in exchanging contracts on a purchase before exchanging contracts on a sale;
- Failing to warn a client of the dangers in exchanging contracts on a purchase prior to arranging a mortgage;
- Failing to notice that a lease of business premises restricted the use intended by a client;
- Failing to advise properly on the terms of a lease or tenancy agreement;
- Failing to ensure entries are removed from the property register prior to completion;
- Failing to spot a defect on the title or ownership of a property;
- Failing to advise properly upon rent review;
- Failing to properly break a lease.
Negligence claims we have dealt with against real estate lawyers
- A claim by a business whose first set of solicitors had been negligent by failing to serve a Lease Break Notice in time and whose second set of Solicitors were negligent in handling the litigation claim.
- A claim by a property development company which was negligently advised by a solicitor in relation to a property option agreement which meant that the project was not fundable and resulted in the company losing a valuable site.
- A claim against Solicitors for serving invalid break notices on the company’s landlord. The client was therefore liable for rent and other obligations under the lease for a further 2 years.
- A claim against solicitors who failed to serve a statutory notice on the company’s tenant which would have enabled the company to recover various charges from the tenant and its guarantor.
- A claim against solicitors who acted in connection with the purchase of a long leasehold of commercial premises. The client’s solicitor failed to advise him of the various onerous obligations that he had due to the head lease on the property.
- Claims by individuals against their former conveyancing solicitors because the solicitors failed to advise the clients of issues with their residential property when dealing with their purchase.
- A claim against solicitors because the solicitor failed to properly transfer title to a property to the client.
We are also able to identify when a surveyor may have breached their professional duties. The law provides that if a surveyor provides a valuation which is more than 10-15% above or below the correct value, that surveyor is likely to be found to be negligent.
An important factor in investigating a potential negligence claim against a surveyor is the type of report that was completed and provided to the client. In most cases, negligence claims are made when a full structural survey is issued. Full structural surveys provide the most information about the potential property meaning that there is more scope for potential negligence.
The surveyor report that provides the least detail is a mortgage valuation. Mortgage valuations provide only an evaluation of a potential mortgage meaning that other elements of the property such as its structural safety are not taken into account. Due to this lack of information, it can be difficult to claim negligence, however, if the claim is specifically relating to the mortgage in question you may be able to make a claim.
We have successfully brought claims against surveyors for the following errors:
- Failing to consider comparable properties in the local area;
- Providing a valuation on an incorrect basis e.g. potential value rather than current market value;
- Conducting a “drive-by” valuation instead of a full inspection; and
- Failure to spot defects in the property.
Professional Negligence Claims Against Architects
Architects are regularly instructed in commercial and residential property developments. Sometimes their failures can lead a property owner to suffer significant losses.
If an architect does not provide competent advice and you suffer a financial loss as a result, you may be able to bring a professional negligence claim against the architect in question.
It is common for individuals to hire architects as a way of relieving some of the responsibilities when they are designing or developing a commercial or residential property. In this instance, it is the duty of the architect to provide certain professional skills that meet a required level of competence. The architect will often plan the initial stages of the proposed building along with liaising with the construction team. Sometimes an architect will project manage a development.
The consequences of architect negligence can be extremely severe with potentially huge financial losses. There could be a situation where due to the architect’s negligence a property requires significant extra building work or even demolition.
Working closely with our commercial and property teams, we understand the issues that may be relevant when investigating a professional negligence claim against an architect.
When making a negligence claim it is important to define exactly what context the level of service has been delivered. If it is simply inadequate service then the potential of making a claim is minimal however if the architect is deemed negligent we will pursue the case for you. We will be able to identify sufficiently whether an architect has breached their professional duties.
Examples:
- Providing insufficient supervision during a project.
- Failing to manage a project effectively.
- Failing to advise properly in regards to any property plans or drawings.
- Failing to obtain sufficient planning permission.
- Failing to comply with necessary building regulations.
If an architect outsources specific tasks on a project to a third party and those tasks are not undertaken properly, it may be possible to hold the architect responsible for the mistakes of those third parties and claim compensation from the architect.
Professional Negligence Claims Against Tax Advisors
Given the complexities of our tax system, it is very common for individuals and companies to seek the assistance of tax advisers. Advice is often sought regarding tax avoidance schemes which allow an individual to reduce the amount of tax that might be otherwise payable. In certain situations, HMRC can take issues with such schemes meaning that the clients are left with a large backdated tax bills plus potential fines for late payments.
Tax advisers owe their clients a duty of care. It is a legal requirement that the tax advisor will provide a reasonably competent level of service. If this duty is breached and a financial loss is caused, there may be grounds to bring a professional negligence claim against the tax advisor in question.
Examples:
- Failing to consider the VAT implications on a property transaction
- Losing tax credits by not claiming them soon enough
- Missing deadlines for claiming tax credits or property related capital allowances
- Failing to reorganise group companies to reduce avoidable tax charges
- Failing to advise on proper payroll procedures
- Failing to provide standard tax advice to companies setting up or exiting the UK market
- Missing consequential adverse implications when giving commercial or basic tax advice
- Failing to advise on tax consequences of transactions such as disincorporation
- Failing to ensure all relevant criteria are met when facilitating a claim for specific tax relief
- Failing to advise on inheritance tax relief and how this liability can be reduced.
Professional Negligence Claims Against Accountants
Accountants are regulated by one of two professional organisations.
The Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA)
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales
Both of these organisations offer complaint procedures for individuals who have suffered from negligent advice. While this form of complaint procedure can provide positive outcomes there are instances where the outcome is unsatisfactory and you may need to take further action to recover your losses.
Examples of accountant negligence:
- Submitting incorrect tax returns or accounts
- Filing documents with HMRC and Companies House late
- Failing to give proper tax advice
- Failing to advise a sole trader to set up as a limited company so as to claim tax relief
- Overvaluing company assets
- Failing to detect fraud when auditing a company’s accounts.
Professional Negligence Claims Against Financial Advisers
If you engage the services of an independent financial advisor (IFA) they have a duty to act with reasonable care and skill when providing advice or handling or investing money.
If you have received negligent advice or been mis-sold a financial product, and suffered a loss as a result, you may be able to bring a professional negligence claim.
Independent financial advisors are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The FCA has a Code of Conduct which all financial advisors should abide by.
If you have received bad or poor advice or a level of service that is sub-standard, you should first make a complaint to the relevant firm’s complaints department. However, internal complaints procedures do not always result in a satisfactory result. If so, your next step should be to contact the Financial Services Ombudsman.
This independent body can carry out an investigation and may be able to award compensation.
However, any compensation awarded by the Ombudsman may not reflect the losses you have suffered as a result of the IFA’s negligence or breach and court proceedings can always be brought for the full amount of losses you have suffered. The Ombudsman can only award up to £150,000 so if your claim is in excess of this sum you should consider court proceedings. We can assist with complaints to the Ombudsman and court proceedings where necessary.
Negligence involving IFAs can often be complex and technical. In order to successfully bring a negligence claim against the financial advisor in question, you will have to show that the advice you received was not consistent with advice that another reasonable professional would have given.
That will often require expert evidence from an independent financial advisor.
Loss alone does not constitute grounds for a negligence claim against a financial advisor. For example, if an investment loses value due to unforeseen economic circumstances, it may not be the IFA’s fault.
We have a wealth of experience in successfully brining claims against IFA’s for poor investment decisions where the risk profile of investments significantly diverges from the level of risk a client was prepared to take.