Liability & Legal Expenses

Directors and Officers insurance (D&O) covers company directors and officers in the event that they are accused of being engaged in wrongful or misleading acts whilst conducting company business. A variety of people may take action against directors. This type of cover will reimburse company directors and officers in such an eventuality. The cover may comprise:

Why do you need cover?
Many directors and officers assume that they are covered for legal actions against them as they have a limited liability company. This may not be true in all cases and claimants may pursue you personally depending on the circumstances of the claim. New directors who join your company may also insist on sufficient D&O insurance being in place, as they will not want to risk their own personal assets in the event of a claim against the company.

Who might claim against you?
Claimants might include:
- Shareholders
- Employees
- Creditors
- Auditors
- Customers
- Suppliers
- Regulators

Examples of Claims
1. The Health & Safety Executive launched a public enquiry following the death of a staff member while installing cabling on an office building. The company director was compelled to give evidence at the hearing. The legal costs of representing the director would be met by the company's D&O insurance policy.

2. An employee accuses a director of harassment. This is one of the most common types of claims to be covered by D&O insurance policies.

Please complete the Directors & Officers Liability Proposal Form

The policy will pay legal costs up to £100,000 including solicitors’ and barristers’ fees, court costs, expenses for expert witnesses, attendance expenses, accountants’ fees and employment compensation awards. It will also pay the costs of appealing or defending an appeal. The cover comprises:

Please complete the DAS Legal Expenses Form

Office Insurance is designed specifically for office-based businesses. Cover ranges from office contents, buildings, employer’s liability and public liability along with specialist covers to protect your office and day-to-day business activity. The cover may comprise:

Please complete the Office Insurance Proposal Form

Employers Liability Insurance covers your business if an employee is injured or falls ill at work. All employers must take out this type of insurance. If you occasionally hire staff or use temps or seasonal workers, you must take out insurance.

What does it cover?
Employers' Liability Insurance will meet the cost of compensation for injuries sustained to your employees. This type of insurance only covers your employees.
If any of your employees are injured in a motoring accident, any claims may be covered separately by your motor insurance policy.
Generally, an employee is defined as follows:
- you deduct N.I contributions and income tax from the salary you pay them
- you control when, where and how they work
- they cannot employ a substitute when they are unavailable to work

How much cover do I need?
If you are required to take out employers' liability insurance most insurers will offer £10,000,000 of cover. Once you have taken out cover you must display the insurance certificate in a place where your employee's can view it.
The Health & Safety Executive have the powers to fine your business if you are not covered properly for this type of insurance.

Please complete the Office Insurance Proposal Form

What does it cover?
Public Liability Insurance will cover you if someone is accidentally injured by you or your business operation. It may also cover you if you damage third party property while on business. The cover should include any legal fees and expenses which result from any claim by a third party. It is very important to ensure that your insurer knows exactly what type of business you run and you should always inform them if your circumstances change, as this may affect your policy.

Example of Public Liability Insurance Claim:
1) You are a self-employed IT support technician. Whilst at a customer's site, you accidentally knock over a cup of coffee, and the contents pour down the back of a computer, damaging it beyond repair. Public liability insurance would cover any claim from the customer.

Please complete the Office Insurance Proposal Form