Tom Stapleton
Tom.Stapleton@kennedyslaw.com
+44 20 7667 9777
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Profile
Tom is a London-based partner, who specializes in advising (re)insurers on large and complex first party and third party claims.
His first party claims include advising on coverage for property and energy claims under operational and CAR risks. He also advises on PV losses and is particularly focused on advising on complex losses and litigated/arbitrated disputes (including pursuing subrogated recoveries) in multiple different jurisdictions.
Tom also specialises in providing coverage advice and defending complex professional negligence claims for construction professionals, D&Os and accountants.
Notable recent instructions include coverage advice on PV claims arising as a result of recent events in Ukraine, Israel and Sudan. He is also advising on a US$450 million refinery fire claim Poland, US$1OOmillion mining claims in South Africa and Australia and several large power losses across the globe. Tom’s recent D&O experience include successfully defending a company director against allegations of breach of fiduciary duty. The proceedings were discontinued with a contribution to defence costs.
Tom is a member of the Associate of The Chartered Insurance Institute, and the Forum of Insurance Lawyers.
Very good lawyer in his field, proactive, prompt, knows his fields understands clients needs.
Qualifications and admissions
- Qualified in England and Wales in 1998
Market recognition
- Recommended lawyer for 'Insurance and reinsurance litigation (London)'
The Legal 500 UK 2024 - Recommended lawyer for 'Construction (contentious) (London)'
The Legal 500 UK 2024 - Nominated by respondents for delivering outstanding service in the last 12 months
The Gracechurch London Market Insurance Law Monitor 2023 - Recommended lawyer for 'Construction (contentious) (London)'
The Legal 500 UK 2023
- Recommended Lawyer for 'Professional negligence (London)'
The Legal 500 UK 2018/19 - Recommended Lawyer for insurance and reinsurance litigation
The Legal 500 UK 2017 - Described as: "...very proactive, gets the job done. We have a good relationship where trust has been built.” and "...understands what we need and is able to deliver that in an impartial manner".
The Gracechurch London Market Insurance Law Report 2016 - "His quality and advice on claims is excellent".
The Gracechurch APAC Market Insurance Law Report 2017
Awards
Work highlights
- Advising Reinsurers in respect of Political Violence losses in Peru, Ukraine, Israel and Sudan.
- Advising insurers on coverage of property damage and business interruption in a US$200 million loss arising from a fire and explosion at a refinery in South Africa.
- Advising insurers on coverage and subrogation relating to turbine failures at various power generation plants in Spain, Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey.
- Advising Reinsurers on CAR and DSU claims in excess of US$700m arising from construction projects in Israel, Peru, Dubai and Saudi Arabia.
- Advising Reinsurers on coverage issues arising from a series of large corrosion, fire and water ingress claims on construction projects in Qatar.
- Acting for insurers in relation to coverage of large petro-chemical plant fires in Czech Republic, Argentina and Brazil.
- Defending litigated claims for US$70 million against an accountants firm (to trial) and £140m against a firm of Employers’ Agents involved in construction of a hospital.
- Defending universities/their Insurers in respect of class action claims arising out the covid pandemic.
Insurance and reinsurance