Glut of law firms to face actions for negligence

Scores of law firms are in the firing line for professional negligence claims this year, The Law­yer’s annual top cases­ survey reveals.

Eversheds, along with Browne Jacobson, is facing a battle with Nationwide Building Society worth more than £20m after the financial lender found itself the victim of mortgage fraud.

Linklaters ;is ;suing Fladgate Fielder on behalf of Land Securities after the defendants allegedly filed a judicial review to blackmail the property company into contributing to the firm’s relocation costs. The case comes as Linklaters fights off court action brought by Baltic telecoms company Levicom, which claims to be $55m (£36.8m) out of pocket after following the firm’s arbitration advice.

Hammonds ;is ;also embroiled in two cases this year. The firm is still battling its ex-partners in a £3m profit dispute, but is also being sued by former client Albert Abela for alleged deceit and bribery said to involve a ­former partner.

However, the bulk of the law firms – 89 – are defending a claim brought by Axa Insurance, known as ‘The Son of Tag’ (see Top 10 Cases of the Year, page 12).

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