Contributors
Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) has appointed Ian Drew as an associate in the firm's Leeds office, joining WBD’s national insurance disputes team led by partner Sushma MacGeoch.
Ian is a professional indemnity specialist joining from insurance giant QBE and has extensive experience in advising on major multi-million pound claims for a wide range of clients in the legal, cyber, technology, media, accountancy and medical sectors. The WBD's Leeds insurance team boasts a mix of specialisms and breadth of industry knowledge with members of the team coming from the sector, having previously worked at major insurance companies.
As the latest recruit to the specialist team in Leeds, Ian joins Karen Eckstein, a qualified Chartered Tax Adviser and a long standing member of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists. Karen is a market leader in tax related professional indemnity claims and joined WBD two years ago. She has built a specialist team around advising on complex issues facing clients, in a practical and commercial way.
Another notable member of the team is associate James Hemming, who has several years’ experience as a senior claims adjuster at Markel insurance and holds the prestigious Diploma in Insurance qualification.
Sushma MacGeoch of WBD commented:
"Ian joins us with an impressive level of expertise in the insurance and claims sector and we're delighted to welcome him to our growing insurance disputes group. The mix of specialism and industry knowledge in our Leeds team gives WBD a unique perspective and insight into the issues facing our Insurer clients. The growth of our practice in Leeds demonstrates the firm’s commitment to the insurance market."
Ian Drew added:
"WBD has strong credentials in the insurance sector with an impressive client portfolio which brings great work opportunities for its lawyers. I look forward to working with Sushma, Karen and the rest of the team.”
WBD’s insurance team is one of the most well regarded in the country and acts for major insurers across the UK. The firm’s claims practice undertakes coverage disputes for insurers and defends clients on complex and high profile claims across a number of key disciplines to include professional indemnity, construction, Directors and Officers, casualty and property risks.
The firm was recommended in this year's Legal 500, a leading annual guide to law firms in the UK, ranking as a top tier law firm across 33 practice areas. In addition, the team in Leeds was ranked for Insurance Professional Negligence in Yorkshire. The firm was described in the directory as a 'major player in professional indemnity work' and Karen Eckstein as a 'market leader in tax-related negligence cases'.
WBD won the Legal Business Insurance Team of the Year Award 2017 on the back of its strong insurance offering, advising and defending leading UK and international insurers on complex and high profile claims across key areas including professional risks, construction, casualty and Directors and Officers liability. The firm was also shortlisted for the 2017 and 2018 Legal 500 Award for its specialism in professional negligence.
Ranking in the UK’s top 20 law firms, Womble Bond Dickinson provides legal expertise across a range of sectors including Insurance, Public & Government Services, Energy & Natural Resources, Financial Institutions, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Real Estate, Retail & Consumer, Transport, Logistics & Infrastructure, Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences, Technology and Private Wealth.
