17/03/2020

Andrew Dinsmore instructed on Covid-19 business interruption coverage

Andrew Dinsmore has been instructed to advise a multi-million pound chain of high-profile restaurants on their business interruption coverage under their Combined ‘All Risks’ Policy with a major international insurer, following the Government’s advice on Covid-19.

As part of this advice, he has considered the ambit of “Notifiable Diseases” in circumstances where (i) there were no reported cases of Covid-19 within the jurisdiction at the time the policy was entered into, and (ii) the Government’s position that people are ‘strongly advised’ not to visit restaurants but are not banned from doing so.

Further, he has advised on the client’s rights under s. 13A of the Insurance Act 2015 to be paid within a reasonable period of time and the best steps that the client can take to preserve their position including notification requirements and the appropriate approach to collecting evidence in support of a lost profit claim.

Alongside Andrew’s insurance practice, he acts in shipbuilding, offshore construction, commodities and fraud (including cyber-security). He has experience of force majeure clauses and urgent interim relief such that he is able to advise on Covid-19 in these contexts.

Andrew is public access qualified and able to accept instructions directly in appropriate cases.