Tom Corrigan

Tom specialises in all aspects of property-related insurance claims including policy coverage, fraud liability and recoveries.

He has over 30 years’ experience advising clients across a range of issues and has provided strategic advice to leading insurers on the implications of many of the key property damage events over this period. From major flooding events, including Carlisle and Boscastle, to the London Riots, the Buncefield explosion and most recently the business interruption claims arising from the Covid-19 pandemic.

He has worked with clients in developing best practice in relation to recoveries and particularly CFA funding.

He has particular experience and expertise in advising clients on highly sensitive policy coverage and fraud claims often involving high net worth individuals. He has acted in a large number of such cases where clients have successfully declined policy liability for breach of policy conditions or fraud.  

Relevant experience includes advising:

• Zurich and other insurers when an insured damages his/her own property whilst allegedly suffering from a mental illness. The legal position in such situations was unclear until Tom successfully acted for Zurich in Porter v Zurich Insurance which established the legal test. He also acted successfully for Covea where a tenant had deliberately set fire to a property he rented from Covea’s insured. The principles established in these cases have assisted insurers in handling numerous other similar claims.
• Aviva and other insurers on the legal implications when fire start at the electricity distribution companies incoming supply equipment. Tom acted for Aviva in Smith & others v UKPN which is the leading authority on the duty of care owed by electricity distribution companies in such situations.
• An insurer client in relation to a claim by a high net worth and high profile individual who claimed that during a flood event a private slipway had been washed away. Through extensive investigations carried out in conjunction with the clients own investigators it was established that the slipway had not existed and despite the reputational risk the claim was successfully defended at trial with the insured paying the clients costs.
• Various insurers on strategic issues relating to recoveries and has drafted Best Practice Recovery Guidelines. He was a member of the book team that produced the “Subsidence Handbook” in conjunction with the Subsidence Forum. 
• Various insurers on claims for business interruption arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic. Working closely with the clients claims team, Tom provided urgent advice on policy cover and assisted in drafting responses to policyholders and the Financial Ombudsman Service within the tight timescales required.

Tom is a member of the Law Society and has written various articles including most recently for the Insurance Post on the spike in Cavity Wall claims. He regularly provides training for clients on a variety of topics.