RPC boosts professional indemnity team with well-respected insurance partner hire

UK-headquartered law firm RPC has hired professional indemnity specialist Scott Ashby as Partner to join the firm's leading insurance team in Bristol. Scott joins from Beale & Co, where he acted for a wide variety of national and international firms, defending them against claims brought against lawyers and accountants. Scott joined RPC on 30 March 2020.

• Lateral partner hire to add considerable bench strength to leading professional indemnity insurance team

Scott, who joined Beale & Co in 2009 from Reed Smith, was recognised as a leading lawyer in Chambers and Partners 2020 having acted in a number of high profile and complex litigation claims against professional clients. His experience spans multi-million-pound claims in the High Court, Commercial Court, Technology and Construction Court and the Court of Appeal. He also has considerable experience in all forms of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) including mediation.

With Scott's arrival, RPC's leading professional negligence team has considerably strengthened its capacity to service insurers as well as insureds in defending claims involving the whole range of professions. Scott also regularly defends professional clients facing complaints made to professional bodies or regulators, including the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).

The insurance team based in Bristol plays an integral role in RPC's wider Insurance Group, operating as one team across four offices (London, Hong Kong, Singapore and Bristol) servicing UK and international clients. Scott's arrival at the firm follows a string of senior additions to the firm's Insurance Group, including the arrival of Partner Rhian Howell and the promotion of Rachel Healey to Partner in Bristol, Partners Naomi Vary and Karen Morrish to the London office and Carmel Green being made up to Partner in Hong Kong.

Commenting on Scott's arrival, RPC's Head of the Bristol Office, Rhian Howell said: "I have known Scott for a long time and his decision to join our leading insurance practice is a major coup for the firm. He will add considerable bench strength to the firm's insurance offering at a time when we see high client demand. 

"Scott is a very well-respected lawyer in the UK insurance market and shares RPC's key values around collegiality, collaboration and client service which is why the team is excited to start working with him."

Adding to this, RPC's Global Head of Insurance, Simon Laird said: "Scott is recognised as a first-rate lawyer in the UK insurance market making him a natural fit for what has become a market leading insurance practice. 

"Since Rhian's arrival in late 2018, the team has grown considerably under her leadership and continues to go from strength to strength as we have become a go-to firm for a number of insurance claims, including professional indemnity". 

Scott Ashby commented: "RPC's reputation as a leading law firm in the insurance space has made it an easy choice for me to join. I was particular drawn to the firm's genuine commitment to collaboration, collegiality and the highest level of client service; I can't wait to hit the ground running."