Start with your professional risks

The right conversation begins with your services, clients, contracts, staff, equipment and premises. Depending on your business and insurer, areas to consider may include:

Options for your firm

Office insurance

Whether you lease an office, work from a studio or operate from home, check that your business use, equipment and contents are correctly described. Depending on your needs, an office policy may offer options for contents, computers, stock, money, employers’ or public liability and business interruption. Buildings, portable equipment and work away from the premises may need separate consideration. Home working arrangements can affect existing household cover. Tell us where you work and what equipment belongs to the business so we can discuss suitable options.

Professional indemnity insurance

Professional indemnity insurance may respond to certain claims alleging a professional mistake, negligent advice, design error or omission, including associated defence costs, subject to the policy wording. It can be relevant to consultants and firms whose work includes advice, design or specialist services. We’ll ask about your services, client types, contract terms, turnover and any work performed outside the UK. Limits, retroactive dates, exclusions and notification requirements matter and vary by insurer.

Cyber insurance

A cyber incident can disrupt systems, expose data or affect the services your firm provides. Depending on the policy, cyber cover may include access to incident response support and options for certain recovery costs, liability or interruption losses. Terms and cover vary widely. We’ll discuss how you store and protect information, use cloud services, handle payments and respond to an incident. No policy removes the need for effective security and backups.

Directors’ & officers’ liability

Directors’ and officers’ insurance may help protect individuals against certain claims alleging wrongful acts in their management role, subject to the policy terms. It can be worth considering for companies with directors, senior managers or external investors. Tell us about your company structure, activities, turnover and any subsidiaries. Insurers set their own exclusions, limits and conditions; check the wording for the cover actually offered.

What to have ready

A few details help us understand your requirements and approach insurers:

• Your professional services and typical client contracts
• Annual turnover, staff numbers and subcontracting arrangements
• Office location, equipment and any home working
• Where your clients are based and where you carry out work
• Existing policies, requested limits and any recent claims or circumstances

We’ll help you compare the options available and draw attention to key terms, exclusions and conditions. Cover is only confirmed by the insurer’s quotation and policy documents.