Howden brokerage appoints to new GC role

Lloyds of London's broker, Howden, has appointed Simon Gildener as a client-facing general counsel.

Gildener, who joins the firm from insurance boutique Robin Simons, where he was a disputes resolution partner, will also join the Howden board of directors.

The newly-created position will see Gildener offering the broker’s client base legal support, which includes advising on claims where deemed appropriate.

Gilderner told The Lawyer: “I won’t be doing commercial contracts or employment disputes which are traditionally associated with the GC role.

“It is a competitive time for insurance brokers, and commercial clients want higher levels to support. By offering a legal support service we are enhancing our services.”

He added: “A lot of Howden clients are big business with lawyers in procurement roles - it will be useful for them to be working alongside a lawyer.”

Howden chief executive Tim Coles said the appointment would give the broker a “significant competitive advantage, not just in the current challenging climate as we see liability claims rise but also in the future as the legal landscape evolves and we develop new wordings and products to respond accordingly.”