Property lawyers top professional indemnity hit-list

Property work has once again turned out to be the main cause of professional indemnity claims against solicitors.
According to a report by Alexander Forbes Claims Services, 34 per cent of claims from 31 August 2002 to date have been racked up over property matters.
Of the property claims, residential work was the biggest offender, accounting for 24 per cent of claims, while 10 per cent related to commercial property.
Trust and probate work was the next most common cause of negligence actions, claiming 12 per cent of the total. Litigation made up 11 per cent of the causes of claims, personal injury work nine per cent and matrimonial work six per cent. Less risky areas were company commercial, employment and landlord-and-tenant work, which each made up four per cent, and financial work, which made up three per cent.