This cover is purchased to fund the costs of legal advice and/or the costs of bringing or defending a court case. Generally, most Legal Expenses policies contain a clause which specifies that the case must have a reasonable prospect of success in order to pursue or defend, however, each situation is judged on its own merits. The reasoning behind this is quite simple, in that it is not in anyone’s interests to pursue or defend a case they are unlikely to win.

Each policy contains different sections of cover so it is important that you familiarise yourself with the coverage before taking out the policy. These policies are ideal for companies without their own in-house legal team as the costs involved in defending your company’s legal rights will certainly stretch the resources of any business and have a negative effect on their finances. Taking out a policy is a sensible way of protecting yourself in the event of a dispute. Please note that Legal Expenses Insurance is not concerned with the payment of damages.

Dependent on the insurer and policy, the onus may be on yourself to keep the MID updated (if so you will be issued with an online login which will enable you to do this). Alternatively if we or your insurers update the MID, if out of office hours, you may send an email to us which should detail the date/time cover is required (please note cover cannot be backdated) and we/insurers will update the MID accordingly.

This covers the cost of compensation claims made against your business directors and key managers for alleged wrongful acts. A wrongful act can include breach of trust, breach of duty, neglect, error, misleading statements, wrongful trading. This cover is also known as D&O Insurance.

This covers the cost of compensating anyone who is injured by a faulty product that your business designs, manufactures or supplies.

This cover will protect you against your legal liability for death or bodily injury and / or loss or damage to third party property arising out of your ownership of property.

Employers Liability cover is mandatory so you will be issued with a certificate for this insurance and you must display a copy of the certificate where your employees can easily read it. From the 1st October 2008 you are allowed to display this document electronically provided your employees are made aware of where they can find a copy and it is reasonably accessible. Insurers do not issue a certificate for Public Liability Insurance as this cover is not mandatory. If someone asks to see evidence of your Public Liability Insurance we can produce a To Whom, It May Concern Letter for you.

This information is provided to insurers so they can load the information to the Employers Liability Database which was set up by the Employers Liability Tracing Office to help those who have suffered injury or disease in the workplace identify the relevant insurer quickly and efficiently. This database became mandatory with effect from the 1 April 2012. Your ERN number can be found on many documents including, P45, P60, P11/D, Payslips.

This will protect you against the costs of compensating employees who are injured at work or become ill through work. If your business has employees then you are legally obligated to have this insurance and you can incur a fine if you do not have the appropriate cover in place. The definition of ‘employee’ will cover all permanent employees, contract, casual and seasonal employees, labour-only subcontractors , temporary staff including students and people on work placements, volunteers, advisors etc. Companies without any employees are exempt, as well as family businesses that employ their own family members.

You need to consider this cover if you own your own business premises which are visited by members of the public, your business organises off-site events or activities that are attended by members of the public, you run a business from your home for professional purposes where members of the public visit.

This covers the cost of claims made by members of the Public for incidents that occur in connection with your business activities. Public Liability Insurance covers the cost of compensation for death or bodily injury and / or loss or damage to third party property arising out of the operation of your business. This cover does not protect your employees, temporary staff, volunteers, work placement students etc. – for this you need Employers Liability which is a compulsory cover.