Professional Negligence

When a professional you trusted fails to meet the standard of care owed to you, the financial and personal consequences can be devastating. AppleRose Solicitors helps individuals and businesses claim the compensation they deserve from negligent professionals.

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Professional Standards & Accountability

Holding professionals to account

Professionals such as solicitors, accountants, surveyors, financial advisers, and architects owe their clients a duty to perform their services to a competent standard. When they fall short — through error, omission, or poor advice — and you suffer financial loss as a result, you may have a valid claim for professional negligence.

Our solicitors have extensive experience pursuing and defending professional negligence claims across a wide range of disciplines. We will assess the merits of your case candidly and pursue compensation vigorously on your behalf.

£5M+

Recovered for clients in professional negligence claims

92%

Claims settled without the need for trial

Expert

Independent expert witnesses instructed for every case

Professionals we bring claims against

Solicitors & barristers

Missed limitation deadlines, negligent advice, failure to register interests, botched transactions, or inadequate representation.

Accountants & auditors

Negligent tax advice, errors in financial statements, failure to identify fraud, and incorrect business valuations.

Surveyors & valuers

Negligent property surveys, inaccurate valuations, failure to identify structural defects, or boundary disputes arising from surveyor error.

Financial advisers

Unsuitable investment advice, pension mis-selling, failure to diversify, or advice that exposed clients to unacceptable levels of risk.

Architects & engineers

Design defects, planning errors, failures during construction supervision, or structural flaws arising from negligent professional input.

Medical professionals

Clinical negligence including misdiagnosis, surgical errors, prescription mistakes, and failures in duty of care causing patient harm.

Insurance brokers

Failure to arrange adequate cover, incorrect policy placement, or negligent advice leaving clients exposed and uninsured at the point of a claim.

IT consultants

Negligent systems implementation, data loss, security failures, or inadequate advice causing significant operational or financial disruption.

What you need to prove

A professional negligence claim requires establishing three core legal elements. Our solicitors and independent expert witnesses build your case around each of these from the outset.

Duty of care

The professional owed you a legal duty to perform their services to a competent standard.

Breach of duty

They fell below the standard expected of a reasonably competent professional in their field.

Causation

Their breach directly caused you to suffer loss — but for their error, you would not have been harmed.

Loss

They fell below the standard expected of a reasonably competent professional in their field.

Common examples of professional negligence

Missed limitation deadlines

A solicitor fails to issue proceedings before the limitation period expires, extinguishing the client's right to bring a claim entirely.

Negligent tax planning

An accountant provides incorrect tax advice, resulting in a significant and avoidable liability to HMRC including penalties and interest.

Defective property survey

A surveyor fails to identify serious structural defects in a property, leading the buyer to proceed with a purchase they would otherwise have abandoned.

Pension & investment mis-selling

A financial adviser recommends high-risk products to a client with a low-risk profile, resulting in substantial and unrecoverable investment losses.

Conveyancing errors

A solicitor fails to check title, advise on easements, or register charges correctly — leaving the client exposed to significant property disputes or financial losses.

Design & construction failures

An architect or engineer produces negligent plans or supervision, resulting in structural problems, planning refusals, or costly remedial works.

How we pursue your claim

Free case assessment

We review the facts, identify the professional's potential breach, and give you an honest opinion on the merits and likely value of your claim — at no cost to you.

Expert evidence

We instruct an independent expert in the relevant profession to assess whether the standard of care fell below what was reasonable — a crucial foundation for any claim.

Pre-action protocol

We follow the Professional Negligence Pre-Action Protocol — sending a detailed Letter of Claim to the professional and their insurers, giving them the opportunity to respond and settle.

Negotiation & mediation

The majority of professional negligence claims are resolved at this stage. We negotiate firmly on your behalf to secure the maximum possible settlement without the need for trial.

Court proceedings

Where settlement is not achievable, we issue and pursue proceedings through the County Court or High Court, presenting a robust case supported by expert testimony.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if I have a professional negligence claim?

If a professional you relied upon made an error or gave poor advice that caused you financial loss, you may have a claim. Common signs include discovering a solicitor missed a deadline, a survey that failed to flag a serious defect, or investment advice that was clearly unsuitable for your circumstances. The best first step is a free consultation with our solicitors to assess the merits of your situation.

Can I claim against my own solicitor?

Yes. Solicitor negligence claims are among the most common types of professional negligence. All solicitors are required to hold professional indemnity insurance, meaning there is generally a solvent insurer to meet any valid claim. We regularly act against other law firms and their insurers on behalf of affected clients.

What if the professional has retired or the firm has closed?

Professional indemnity insurance typically remains in place after a firm closes through “run-off” cover. For solicitors, the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the SRA Compensation Fund may also provide a route to recovery. We can advise on the available options depending on the profession and circumstances.

Does the professional need to have acted dishonestly?

No. Professional negligence does not require dishonesty or deliberate wrongdoing. A genuine mistake, oversight, or failure to apply the correct standard of skill and care is sufficient to found a claim, provided it caused you financial loss.

How long does a professional negligence claim take?

Timescales vary depending on complexity and whether the matter settles or proceeds to trial. Many claims are resolved within 12–18 months through negotiation following the pre-action protocol. More complex cases proceeding to trial may take 2–3 years. We provide realistic timescale estimates at the outset and keep you informed at every stage.

Think a professional let you down?

Free initial consultation — no win, no fee options available on eligible claims.