Court attendance costs extension — UK PI
Short answer. A court attendance costs extension pays a fixed daily amount for each day a principal or employee attends court as a witness in a claim covered by the policy. It compensates for lost fee-earning time rather than legal costs, is normally sub-limited, and applies only where the underlying claim is itself covered. The daily rate and cap are set in the policy schedule.
The court-attendance-costs extension pays a daily allowance where professionals attend court as witnesses in relation to a PI claim. A small but genuinely useful extension for busy practitioners.
What the extension covers
Daily allowance for the professional attending court in connection with a PI claim.
Usually covers principal, partners, directors, and senior employees.
Rate is typically stated in the wording — often £250-£750 per day.
Usually excludes expert witness fees (a separate matter).
When it applies
- Court attendance as witness of fact in defending the PI claim.
- Depositions and pre-trial hearings.
- Sometimes extends to inquest and coroner hearings.
- Rarely to regulatory hearings (though some wordings extend).
- Not usually to attending court as advocate on someone else's claim.
Daily rates
Solicitors and senior professionals: £500-£750 per day typical.
Junior professionals and support staff: £250-£400 per day typical.
Rate scaled to the individual's seniority in some wordings.
Cap on total attendance: often 20-30 days per event, some wordings unlimited.
Some wordings offer travel and accommodation cover on top.
Practical value
- For a partner losing a full week's chargeable time to court, the allowance is meaningful.
- For staff, it can offset employment overhead during the court attendance.
- Adds to firm's willingness to defend claims rather than settle to avoid the disruption.
- Modest impact on premium; typically included at no extra cost.
- Worth confirming the rate in the wording at each renewal.
Frequently asked
Is this standard in PI policies?
Who can claim the daily rate?
How much per day?
Does it cover expert witness fees?
What about virtual hearings?
Do I claim it at the end or up front?
Related
- PI claim investigation what to expect
- PI defence-cost cap in PI insurance
- Expert witness in tribunal PI cover UK
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