Professional indemnity scenarios — by profession

These scenarios are anonymised composites based on publicly reported PI claim patterns, FOS decisions, SRA / RICS / CIArb disciplinary outcomes and reported case law. They are not actual Apex client data. Names, locations and identifying details have been changed. Apex Insurance Brokers Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, FRN 724952.

Each scenario follows the same structure: the firm, what happened, the claim, how the policy responded, the outcome, lessons for buyers, and where a specialist broker adds value. The case law, statute and policy mechanics referenced in each scenario are accurate. Quantum figures are illustrative and consistent with public Lloyd’s market commentary, FOS published decisions and FSCS data.

Solicitors

• Conveyancing — vendor identity fraud and a six-figure shortfall
• Litigation — missed limitation on a personal injury claim
• Private client — will drafting error and a disinherited beneficiary
• Commercial property — breach of solicitor’s undertaking
• AML — source-of-funds failure on a high-value purchase
• Data breach — misdirected disclosure and privilege loss
• Conflicts — acting for borrower and lender on a development loan

Independent financial advisers

• Defined benefit transfer — unsuitable advice to leave a DB scheme
• SIPP — unregulated investments and non-standard assets
• Pension freedoms — drawdown without sustainability modelling
• BSPS — British Steel Pension Scheme transfer redress
• Structured products — mis-sold capital-at-risk plans

Chartered surveyors

• Valuation — over-valuation of a buy-to-let portfolio
• Survey — missed structural movement on a homebuyer report
• Boundary — plan error on a development site sale
• Red Book — commercial valuation methodology breach

Architects

• Specification — wrong cladding specification on a mid-rise block
• Building Safety Act — fire stopping omission discovered post-Grenfell
• Project oversight — site instructions and unauthorised variations
• Listed building — consent error and enforcement notice

Consulting engineers

• Structural — calculation error on a transfer structure
• M&E — plant room specification undersize
• EIA — Habitats Regulations omission on a coastal site
• Peer review — independent check failure on a temporary works design

IT professionals

• Data breach — cloud misconfiguration and a six-figure ICO outcome
• Project — ERP implementation overrun and contract termination
• IP — third-party code infringement in a delivered SaaS product

Design and construct

• Sub-contract coordination — steelwork interface failure
• Performance specification — energy performance shortfall
• Novated consultant — design liability gap on a hospital project