Review the professional’s role
The retainer or engagement letter helps establish what work was agreed. A poor outcome alone does not show that the professional fell below the required standard.
Business Disputes
Professional Negligence
If professional advice or work has caused a financial loss, you may need an independent review of what went wrong. We can discuss the instructions, the alleged failure and whether a claim merits further investigation.
Understanding your next steps
How we can help
Assess cause and loss
We consider what should have happened, what actually happened and whether the difference caused a recoverable loss. Expert evidence may be needed, depending on the work involved.
Follow the appropriate process
Professional negligence claims usually require information and correspondence before proceedings. Some professions and types of claim have separate procedures. A complaint route may also be relevant.
A clear way forward
What happens next
What to have ready
Provide the engagement letter, advice, relevant file papers, complaint correspondence and evidence of loss. Include dates when the problem happened and when you became aware of it.
Your next step
Contact us for an initial discussion about the type of professional and the loss alleged. We can confirm whether we can act and what an initial assessment would cover.
Planning ahead
Fees and timescales
01 / Fees
What the costs cover
The volume of papers and need for expert evidence can make an initial investigation substantial. We explain the proposed work, our fee basis, VAT and likely report costs before starting. Court proceedings and the risk of paying another party’s costs require a separate discussion.
02 / Timescales
Timing and deadlines
Claim deadlines require careful checking. A professional’s investigation or complaint procedure does not automatically stop time running. Tell us about any approaching date or existing proceedings.
Read our published Price Guide, then contact us to confirm the work you need and the costs involved.
View Price GuideUseful to know
Your questions, answered
Does a bad result prove negligence?
No. The agreed work, standard of care, causation and loss all need assessment. A professional is not necessarily liable simply because an outcome was disappointing.
Must I complain to the professional first?
A complaint may help, but the appropriate pre-action process and legal deadline must also be considered. We can discuss how the routes fit together.
Will I need another professional’s opinion?
Possibly. Independent expert evidence can be needed on the standard of work or the loss. We discuss the likely role and cost before commissioning it.
Can you assess advice from any profession?
We first check the nature of the work, expertise needed and any conflict of interest. Some matters require a different specialist or procedure.
General information for England and Wales. Contact us for advice about your circumstances.
SJS Solicitors · Balham