Professional Negligence

We are dispute specialists. It is all we do. Insurance law is the core of our practice. We are highly regarded in professional negligence claims for individuals and businesses who relied on brokers whose advice, product choice or renewal management later proved substandard.

Our professional negligence practice also extends to claims against financial advisors, where unsuitable investment advice, failures in risk assessment, or inadequate disclosure have resulted in financial loss. We advise clients on their options where financial advice has fallen below the standard expected, and guide them through the process of pursuing appropriate remedies.

Who We Act For in Insurance Broker Negligence Claims

Insurance broker negligence affects a wide range of clients. Whether you are an individual or a business, if you relied on a broker to secure protection and later discovered that the cover you expected was not in place or did not operate as intended, we can support you. 

We act for:

• Individuals, including homeowners, landlords, private clients and directors relying on personal lines, property cover or protection policies.
• Businesses, including SMEs, larger companies, developers, contractors, retailers, manufacturers, professional practices, funds, insurers and organisations with complex risk profiles.
• Cross-border clients, such as overseas investors instructing Irish brokers. 

We can help you understand whether the problem links back to the broker’s advice or decision-making.

How We Help in Claims Against Insurance Brokers

If you are dealing with a rejected insurance claim, unexpected exclusions or losses that you believed were insured, we can advise you on your rights and the options available to you.

Case assessment

We look at the policy wording, your correspondence with the broker, renewal notes, proposal forms and the circumstances surrounding the loss. This allows us to understand the strengths of your claim, the risks involved and whether pursuing it is worthwhile given the loss.

Pre-action correspondence and negotiation

If you decide to pursue a claim, we prepare a letter of claim to the broker. We manage all communication with the broker or their insurer. If there is an opportunity to resolve the matter without proceedings, we explore negotiation, without prejudice discussions or mediation, and explain how each process might help bring the matter to a practical resolution.

Proceedings 

If the matter cannot be resolved, we draft and manage the claim, instruct specialist barristers, and gather expert evidence such as underwriting analysis or independent expert broker reviews.

Why Good & Murray Smith LLP for Claims Against Insurance Brokers?

Insurance disputes require both legal knowledge and a strong grasp of how policies are placed, interpreted and assessed. Insurance disputes have been the core of our practice for decades. Our strengths include:

• Over a century of commercial and professional negligence experience, including hundreds of claims involving insurance advice and policy placement.
• A detailed understanding of insurance broker duties, including coverage analysis, risk placement, renewal processes, disclosure obligations and policy interpretation.
• An efficient, evidence-focused approach that concentrates on the documents and issues that genuinely shape the outcome and cost of the case.
• Strong negotiation and mediation skills, using ADR processes effectively where they help manage risk and reach a practical resolution.

Do I need all of my insurance documents before contacting you?

No. Most clients start with partial information — a copy of the policy, a few emails, the insurer’s refusal letter or renewal documents. We help you identify what matters and, where needed, request the full file from the broker. You do not need to organise everything before seeking advice.

Next Steps

If you are facing an uninsured or underinsured loss because of something your insurance broker did or failed to do, please do get in touch. We can help you understand your position and what options are available to you.

You can reach us at gms@goodmurraysmith.ie or +353 1 764 4100.

To understand more about claims against insurance brokers, you can read our guide. 

If you would like a wider overview of how we handle professional negligence matters across all sectors, you can return to our main professional negligence page.