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Recent insights
WBD wins Legal 500 award for real estate
16 Jan 2020
Womble Bond Dickinson has been recognised for its expertise in Real Estate in the 2020 Legal 500 awards – winning the Real Estate Firm (outside London) of the year. The Real Estate award covers expertise in commercial property, construction, planning and environment, property litigation and social housing.
Construction: a look back at 2019 and a look forward to 2020
16 Jan 2020
Looking back, it has been a year of fewer disputes, increased insolvency and a strong theme of 'clarity', or lack thereof, in the cases before the Technology and Construction Court. Looking forward, insureds are hoping to see a significant increase in investment in the development of homes and infrastructure following the 2019 General Election. Other big issues for insureds in 2020 will be the introduction of the new Building Safety Regulator, the VAT Reverse Charge and the Competition and Markets Authority investigation into the UK construction industry, as discussed below.
The changing face of claims handling for financial lines
15 Jan 2020
In October 2019 WBD launched its own independent claims handling operation for all financial lines claims. The firm had been successfully claims handling and providing a variety of fixed fee services for insurance clients for a number of years but over the course of 2019 we took the opportunity to review all aspects of our service to establish how it could be improved and to clearly demonstrate our continued commitment to supporting our clients' needs.
WBD strengthens energy portfolio with new London partner
14 Jan 2020
Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) has appointed Matt Lewy as a partner in the firm's London office. Joining the corporate and commercial team, Matt will support WBD's international energy practice working closely with colleagues in the UK and US including Aberdeen and Houston.
Cash retentions in construction – Scottish government consultation open
14 Jan 2020
It feels like a never ending merry-go-round or Groundhog Day or sorts. Two years since Peter Aldous MP brought his private members bill to Westminster, some 26 years since the recommendations in the Latham report and still no solution to the topic of cash retentions in the construction industry.
Four award nominations for WBD from the Managing Partner Forum
13 Jan 2020
WBD has been shortlisted for four awards at the Managing Partners' Forum (MPF) Management Excellence Awards 2020. These recognise the high profile thought leadership projects and client focused initiatives the firm has delivered in the last 12 months.
Vicarious liability in financial loss claims: key cases in 2019 and what to expect in 2020
10 Jan 2020
In 2019 the Courts were required to consider, on appeal from strike-out/summary judgment decisions, vicarious liability (and related issues) in connection with financial advisers and lenders. In the very recent decision in Barness & Ors v Ingenious Media Ltd & Ors, the Court was required to consider whether the claims against the two lender defendants alleging breach of contract, negligence and vicarious liability in connection with a film finance scheme should be struck out. The separate case of Frederick v Positive Solutions (Financial Services) Ltd, in which the Supreme Court heard an appeal in February 2019 against the Court of Appeal's 2018 decision upholding the summary judgment in favour of Positive Solutions, turned on the issue of whether Positive Solutions was vicariously liable for the fraudulent acts of an agent.
Avoiding a non-party costs claim - considerations for insurers
10 Jan 2020
In October 2019 the Supreme Court unanimously overturned the Court of Appeal's decision in Travelers Insurance Company Limited v XYZ [2019] UKSC 48 on non-party costs orders against insurers. We examine the background to the decision and consider how insurers can avoid non-party costs orders being made against them.
WBD advises NCR Corporation on £100 million technology acquisition
09 Jan 2020
Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD), has advised NCR Corporation, a global enterprise technology company for the retail, hospitality and banking industries, on the acquisition of Zynstra for approximately £100 million. Zynstra, based in Bath, has developed innovative "edge virtualisation" software which optimises existing retail store technology to enhance customer and employee experiences through faster innovation and which reduces cost to serve in-store.
