Oliver Saunders advises on complex re/insurance coverage issues and regularly acts for re/insurers in mediation, arbitration and Commercial Court litigation. His experience spans most classes of direct insurance together with both facultative and treaty reinsurance (both in the live and run off sectors). He has previously undertaken a secondment to a leading Lloyd's Syndicate, advising the Claims Department on claims arising across all lines of London market business.
Professional QualificationsSolicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales
EXPERIENCE
Oliver's recent experience includes:
Successfully defending a leading London Market insurer in relation to Covid-19 business interruption losses. Reported decision: Bellini (N/E) Ltd trading as Bellini v Brit UW Limited [2023] EWHC 1545 (Comm). Also advising a number of insurers in relation to their potential inwards exposures to Covid-19 non-damage business interruption claims, including as a committee member of the Property Insurance Claims Group (a sub-group of the Lloyd's Market Association).
Actively defending reinsurers in relation to significant Covid-19 claims presented to CAT XL, Per Risk and Stop Loss treaties covering the following classes of business: (i) property; (ii) contingency; and (iii) travel.
Advising a market leading Lloyd’s aviation re/insurer in relation to its Russia/Ukraine conflict exposures in the UK, US and Ireland (both Contingent and Operator exposures).
Advising a Continental Company Reinsurer in connection with a claim brought by it against a Retrocessionaire concerning underlying UK retail business losses.
Advising a Continental Company Reinsurer in relation to potentially significant exposures to underlying Middle Eastern motor business.
Drafting policy wordings (and associated documents subject to SAMA compliance) on behalf of reinsurers in relation to (fronted) policy wordings concerning the NEOM construction project in Saudi Arabia.
Defending a Retrocessionaire under a performance bond retrocession contract in relation to a large infrastructure / construction project in Abu Dhabi that is subject to insolvency.
Drafting a high profile and unique reinsurance contract on behalf of the Lloyd's market to protect against a major loss event, which provided coverage of GBP1.25bn (GBP600m excess of GBP650m).
Regular advisor to insurers in connection with claims brought by well-known athletes and HNW individuals under disability income policies and similar insurance products.
Active advisor to insurers in relation to Contingency losses, including event cancellation and associated risks.
Acting on a GBP60m claim on a Contractors’ All Risks insurance policy in relation to the construction of one of Europe’s largest infrastructure projects of the past decade (confidential arbitration).
Defending a Bermudan headquartered run-off specialist against a Part 8 claim commenced following the acquisition of Lloyd's Syndicate 1110 in respect of alleged liabilities concerning earlier Years of Account. Reported decision: Prosight Global, Inc. v Randall & Quilter II Holdings Limited, Randall & Quilter Underwriting Management Holdings Limited [2021] EWHC 228 (Comm).
Advising on a Part VII transfer: Reported decision: Enstar [2017] (Bosworth, Knapton, Marlon, Mercantile, Unionamerica into River Thames).
Defending a Lloyd’s reinsurance broker against an approx. GBP20m claim. Reported decision: Equitas v Walsham Bros. [2013] EWHC 3264 (Comm).
