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Chester · North Wales · England & Wales

Professional Negligence
Claims Solicitors

When a professional — a solicitor, surveyor, financial advisor, accountant, architect, engineer, or insurance broker — gives you negligent advice or fails in their duty of care, you may have a claim for the losses you have suffered.

Professional negligence claims are complex and require expert evidence. We assess each case on its merits — including the nature of the loss, the strength of the evidence, and the prospects of recovery. Viability is determined during your free initial consultation, not by a stated minimum value.

SRA Regulated
No Win No Fee Available
Same-Day Response
England & Wales
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No obligation · No win no fee available · Costs explained clearly

Our Funding Commitment

No Win, No Fee — Professional Negligence Claims

If your claim is unsuccessful, you pay nothing. Unlike many areas of dispute resolution, we offer no win no fee (conditional fee) agreements for professional negligence claims in appropriate cases. There are no upfront legal fees — we only get paid when you win.

No upfront legal feesOnly pay if you winHonest merits assessmentAll claim types considered
Call Now — Free Assessment

Complete Cost Protection

After-the-Event (ATE) Insurance — Your Protection if We Lose

When we pursue a professional negligence claim on a no win no fee basis, we also advise on after-the-event (ATE) insurance. This is a specialist insurance policy that protects you against one of the biggest risks in litigation: being ordered to pay the other side's legal costs if your claim is unsuccessful.

Covers the other side's costs

If your claim fails, ATE insurance pays the defendant's legal costs — so you face no unexpected bills.

Premium deferred until success

In most cases, the ATE premium is only payable if your claim succeeds — nothing to pay upfront.

Genuine no-risk litigation

Combined with our no win no fee agreement, ATE insurance means you can pursue your claim with complete financial protection.

We arrange it for you

We work with specialist ATE insurers and will advise on the most suitable policy for your case.

In plain terms: No win no fee means you don't pay our solicitor's fees if you lose. ATE insurance means you don't pay the other side's costs if you lose. Together, they mean you can pursue a legitimate professional negligence claim without any financial risk. Call us to find out more.

Specialist Sub-Pages

Types of professional negligence claims

Each type of professional negligence claim has its own legal complexities, evidence requirements, and limitation issues. Select the relevant professional below for detailed guidance specific to your situation.

Solicitor Negligence

Claims where legal advice was wrong, a deadline was missed, a transaction was mishandled, or you received negligent representation in court.

Missed limitation periodsNegligent conveyancing advicePoor litigation strategyIncorrect drafting of documents
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Barrister Negligence

Claims arising from negligent advocacy, incorrect legal advice, or failure to advise on the merits of a case at the Bar.

Negligent court representationIncorrect legal adviceFailure to advise on settlementDrafting errors in pleadings
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Surveyor Negligence

Claims where a surveyor failed to identify defects, provided an inaccurate valuation, or gave negligent advice on a property transaction.

Failure to identify structural defectsInaccurate property valuationNegligent HomeBuyer ReportMissed damp or subsidence
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Financial Advisor Negligence

Claims where a financial advisor recommended unsuitable investments, failed to explain risks, or gave advice that resulted in financial loss.

Unsuitable investment recommendationsPension mis-sellingFailure to explain investment risksNegligent insurance advice
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Accountant Negligence

Claims where an accountant gave negligent tax advice, failed to file returns correctly, or provided inaccurate accounts resulting in financial loss.

Negligent tax adviceFailure to file returns on timeInaccurate accountsPoor business restructuring advice
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Architect Negligence

Claims where an architect produced defective designs, failed to supervise a build correctly, or gave negligent advice on a construction project.

Defective building designsFailure to supervise constructionPlanning advice errorsFailure to identify building defects
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Engineer Negligence

Claims against structural, civil, or mechanical engineers for negligent calculations, designs, or failure to identify structural issues.

Negligent structural calculationsDefective engineering designsFailure to identify structural risksNegligent project supervision
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Insurance Broker Negligence

Claims where an insurance broker failed to arrange adequate cover, placed you with an unsuitable insurer, or gave negligent advice on your insurance needs.

Failure to arrange adequate coverPlacing with unsuitable insurerNegligent advice on policy termsUnderinsurance due to broker error
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The Legal Test

What you need to prove

To succeed in a professional negligence claim, you must establish three things:

01

Duty of care

The professional owed you a duty of care. This is usually established by the existence of a retainer, engagement letter, or professional relationship.

02

Breach of duty

The professional fell below the standard of care expected of a competent professional in their field. This is assessed by reference to what a reasonably competent professional would have done in the same circumstances — and is usually established through independent expert evidence.

03

Causation and loss

The breach of duty caused you a quantifiable financial loss. You must show that but for the professional's negligence, you would not have suffered the loss. The loss must be capable of being valued in money.

Your Journey

How a professional negligence claim works

01

Initial advice

We assess the merits of your claim, advise on the likely costs, and confirm whether a no win no fee arrangement is available.

02

Expert evidence

We instruct an independent expert in the relevant profession to assess whether the standard of care fell below what was required.

03

Pre-action protocol

We send a formal letter of claim under the Professional Negligence Pre-Action Protocol, giving the professional an opportunity to respond.

04

Resolution

Many claims settle at this stage. If not, we issue proceedings and pursue your claim through mediation or court.

Time limits apply — act promptly

The general limitation period for professional negligence claims is 6 years from the date of the negligent act. If you did not discover the negligence until later, the "date of knowledge" rules may extend this — but only to a maximum of 15 years from the negligent act. Seek advice promptly if you think you have a claim.

Your Professional Negligence Solicitor

Speak to Alex Bailey

Alex Bailey, Solicitor specialising in Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution at PDA Law Chester
Professional Negligence & Commercial Litigation

Alex Bailey

Solicitor — Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Alex qualified as a solicitor in 2007 and has extensive experience advising clients on professional negligence claims across England and Wales. He advises on claims against solicitors, surveyors, financial advisors, accountants, architects, and insurance brokers — providing an honest assessment of the merits and likely costs before you commit to a claim. No win no fee arrangements are available in appropriate cases.

Call 01244 757352Send an Enquiry

Start Your Claim

Tell us about your claim

Complete the short form below and Alex Bailey will review your details and contact you to discuss your claim — at no cost and with no obligation.

Professional Negligence Intake

Reviewed personally by Alex Bailey, Solicitor — Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution. All enquiries are treated in strict confidence.

An estimate is fine — we assess all claims with losses above £10,000. If you are unsure, select "Not yet quantified".

The professional whose advice or conduct you believe was negligent.

Briefly describe what went wrong and the financial impact on you.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about professional negligence claims

What is professional negligence?
Professional negligence occurs when a professional (such as a solicitor, surveyor, financial advisor, accountant, architect, or insurance broker) fails to meet the standard of care expected of a competent professional in their field, and that failure causes you loss. To succeed in a professional negligence claim, you must show: (1) the professional owed you a duty of care; (2) they breached that duty; and (3) their breach caused you a quantifiable loss.
What is the minimum value of claim worth pursuing?
We do not apply a fixed minimum claim value for professional negligence cases. We look for cases where losses have arisen from professional negligence — whether that is a financial loss, a missed opportunity, or another quantifiable harm. The viability of your claim depends on the merits, the strength of the evidence, and the likely recovery. We will give you an honest assessment of whether your claim is worth pursuing during a free initial consultation — before you commit to any expenditure.
Do you offer no win no fee for professional negligence claims?
Yes — unlike many of our other dispute resolution services, we do offer no win no fee (conditional fee agreements) for professional negligence claims in appropriate cases. This means you only pay our fees if your claim is successful. We assess each case individually: the claim must have strong merits and the likely recovery must justify the risk. We will give you a clear, honest view of whether a no win no fee arrangement is suitable for your case at the initial advice stage.
What is after-the-event (ATE) insurance and do I need it?
After-the-event (ATE) insurance is a policy taken out after a dispute arises to protect you against having to pay the other side's legal costs if your claim is unsuccessful. In professional negligence cases pursued on a no win no fee basis, ATE insurance is an important safeguard — it means that even if your claim fails, you will not be left with a large costs bill from the defendant's solicitors. The premium for ATE insurance is typically only payable if your claim succeeds (a "deferred" premium). We will advise you on whether ATE insurance is appropriate for your case.
How long do I have to bring a professional negligence claim?
The general limitation period for professional negligence claims is 6 years from the date of the negligent act or omission. However, if you did not discover the negligence until later, the "date of knowledge" rules under the Limitation Act 1980 may extend this period — but only to a maximum of 15 years from the negligent act (the "longstop" date). Time limits in professional negligence are complex — seek advice promptly if you think you have a claim.
What evidence do I need for a professional negligence claim?
You will need: (1) the original retainer or engagement letter with the professional; (2) all correspondence and documents relating to the advice or work; (3) evidence of the loss you have suffered; and (4) an independent expert report from a professional in the same field confirming that the standard of care fell below what was required. We will advise you on what evidence is needed and help you gather it.
Do you advise clients in North Wales and across England?
Yes. We act for clients across England and Wales — including North Wales (Wrexham, Flintshire, Deeside, Denbighshire), Central England (Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton, Nottingham, Leicester), and nationally. The majority of our professional negligence work is conducted remotely — no office visit is required.
What is the Professional Negligence Pre-Action Protocol?
The Professional Negligence Pre-Action Protocol is a set of procedural steps that parties must follow before issuing court proceedings in a professional negligence claim. It requires the claimant to send a detailed "letter of claim" to the professional, who then has a set period to respond. The Protocol encourages early settlement and exchange of information. Failure to follow the Protocol can result in cost penalties. We manage the entire pre-action process on your behalf.
Can I claim against my former solicitor?
Yes. Negligence claims against solicitors are among the most common professional negligence cases. Common examples include: missing a limitation period (so your claim is time-barred); negligent conveyancing (failing to identify a defect in title or advise on a risk); poor litigation advice (advising you to settle when you should have fought, or vice versa); and incorrect drafting of documents. All solicitors are required to hold professional indemnity insurance, so there is usually a fund available to meet a successful claim.
Can I make a no win no fee surveyor negligence claim?
Yes. Surveyor negligence claims — including building surveyor negligence and HomeBuyer Report negligence — are among the types of professional negligence claim where we can consider a no win no fee arrangement. The key factors are the strength of the evidence, the value of the loss, and the availability of professional indemnity insurance from the surveyor. Contact us for a free initial assessment.
What is gross negligence and how does it differ from professional negligence?
Gross negligence refers to a particularly serious or reckless departure from the standard of care — going well beyond a simple error of judgment. In professional negligence claims, you do not need to prove gross negligence; ordinary negligence (a failure to meet the standard of a reasonably competent professional) is sufficient. However, evidence of gross negligence can strengthen your claim and may be relevant to the level of compensation awarded.

Think you have a professional negligence claim?

Speak to Alex Bailey for an honest assessment of your claim — merits, costs, and whether no win no fee is available to you.

No obligation — talk through your options first. No win no fee available. ATE insurance available. Costs explained clearly.

SRA Regulated
Costs Explained Upfront
Same-Day Response
Chester & England/Wales
Speak to a SolicitorRequest a Callback
Experienced dispute solicitors
Honest assessment of your position
All enquiries strictly confidential

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