Liam O'Connell is a partner and Head of our Commercial Regulatory & Disputes Group, encompassing our Insurance & Reinsurance Group.
Liam joined the Firm in 1990 as an articled clerk and qualified in 1992 into the firm’s Insurance & Reinsurance Group, where he handled a wide variety of professional indemnity claims for the insurers of insurance brokers, accountants, surveyors, solicitors and actuaries. Liam also defended over 100 members’ agents at Lloyd’s in the Lloyd’s Names litigation.
Liam was appointed as Senior Legal Adviser at Sedgwick Group Plc, a major international insurance broking company, in 1995, where he dealt with a wide variety of contentious and non-contentious insurance issues within the Legal and Advisory Department of Sedgwick.
In 1997, Liam rejoined CMS Cameron McKenna and became a partner in 2001. In 2007, Liam was appointed as the head of the Insurance & Reinsurance Group, in 2008 was appointed as Head of the firm's Dispute Resolution Group and in 2010 was appointed as Head of the Commercial Regulatory & Disputes Group. Liam sits on the firm’s governing Board, which is responsible for the strategic direction of the firm.
Liam specialises in policy coverage analysis and domestic and international dispute resolution. Liam advises international insurance brokers and their errors and omissions insurers in respect of major multi-party and international disputes.
Liam is recognised as a leader in his field in Chambers and Legal 500 and is one of the co-authors of the leading English textbook 'Insurance Broking Practice and the Law', the definitive reference source for those who need to understand the legal and practice issues facing insurance brokers in today’s market place.
Liam provides tailored training to major insurance broking houses on risk management and his work in this area for one international broker was awarded 'Client Care Programme of the Year' in 2001 by The Lawyer magazine. Liam speaks annually at the Firm’s 'Know Your Risk' seminar series, commenting upon decisions impacting upon insurance brokers and their errors and omissions insurers.
Education:
Kent University, 1988, First class honours in Public Administration and Management.
College of Law, 1990, Distinction Law Society Finals.