Professional Liability Conference 2024

The 3^rd Annual Gatehouse Professional Liability Conference will take place on 21 November 2024 from 1:00pm with lunch and concluding at 5:00pm with drinks.

Please join us for a mixture of substantive law updates and practical tips sessions, to be chaired by John de Waal KC and delivered by our team including Daniel Gatty, Colm Nugent, James Hall, Sara Ibrahim, Helena White, Ebony Alleyne, William Golightly, Philip Marriott and our two newest members David Lipson and Callum Reid-Hutchings.

The team will be talking on topics like limitation, construction professional negligence issues and ‘how not to get sued when conducting litigation’.

Please register your interest via email events@gatehouselaw.co.uk 

Alternatively, register here.

If you have any questions, please email events@gatehouselaw.co.uk

Programme

13:00 – 14:00 – Lunch and registration

14:00 – 14:45 – Limitation in professional liability claims: the basics and updates from the last year

Daniel Gatty, William Golightly and David Lipson will discuss:

• Primary limitation periods under s.2 and s.5 of the Limitation Act 1980 as against different classes of professionals
• The alternative under s.14A where the facts relevant to the cause of action are not known at the date of primary limitation
• The final alternative under s.32, in cases of fraud and deliberate concealment, especially in light of the Supreme Court’s decision in Canada Square v Potter [2023] UKSC 41

14:45 – 15:20 – How not to get sued

Drawing on his experience of bringing and defending claims arising of the negligent conduct of litigation, Colm Nugent will address the common pitfalls and traps that crop up time and time again in these sorts of claims. The talk will highlight the steps that all litigators can take now to place themselves in the very best position, if the dreaded letter of claim ever arrives.

By taking simple steps, your firm (or your client) can place themselves in the very best position to defeat these claims and minimise any outlay.

15:20 – 15:40 – Coffee break

15:40 – 16:20 – Construction professional negligence claims post-Grenfell stage 2

Ebony Alleyne, Helena White, and Philip Marriott will discuss professional negligence claims against construction professionals in light of “stage 2” of the Grenfell enquiry, including issues regarding reliance on BBA Certificates and the advice of other professionals, achieving compliance with Building Regulations, and the role of building inspectors.

16:20 – 17:00 – Panel discussion

Andrew Grantham KC, James Hall, Sara Ibrahim, and Callum Reid-Hutchings will have a panel discussion, and take questions from the audience, on two key issues for any professional negligence claim: causation and quantification.

17:00 – Drinks reception