Has Your Business Been Impacted by Covid-19? You May Be Entitled to an Insurance Pay-Out.
Only 43,027 claims have been paid out by insurers, of 370,000 UK business interruption insurance policyholders.
*According to data published by the FCA in March 2023.
It's not too late to pursue your business interruption insurance claim.
The legal position has developed since the FCA’s original test case in 2020, and Covid-19 Business Interruption claims which were previously declined by insurers, or put on hold, may now be valid.
Making a claim
Our Policyholder Disputes team are leading experts in Covid-19 litigation, backed by the full resources of the UK’s largest litigation-only law firm, with 80 partners and over 250 qualified litigators. We are well-known for handling the largest and most complex disputes, including many ground-breaking actions against insurers, banks and other financial institutions.
Over the past three years lawyers within our Policyholder Disputes team have advised hundreds of policyholders of all sizes and across all industry sectors, in relation to their Covid-19 business interruption claims.
If your business has suffered interruption following Covid-19, the Stewarts Covid Claims Service offers you the opportunity to receive:
- Legal advice and representation on your insurance claim from Stewarts, the UK’s largest litigation-only law firm; and
-
Expert forensic accountancy input on the value of your claim.
An estimated 370,000 policyholders in the UK may be affected
However, data published by the FCA in March 2023 shows that, over two years on from the conclusion of the FCA's test case, only 43,027 claims have been paid by insurers.
If you think you may have a claim...
1
Upload your policy
2
Free policy assessment
3
Comprehensive support
Stewarts is the UK's largest litigation-only law firm, specialising in Covid-19 business interruption claims. We'll offer end-to-end support for your claim, including input from a forensic accountant on the value of your loss.
Our Covid Claims Service uniquely offers businesses the combined services of the UK’s largest litigation-only law firm, alongside forensic accountancy input on your claim.
Businesses will require a policy containing a ‘non damage’ clause, typically titled:
- Notifiable Disease
-
Infectious Disease
-
Prevention of Access (non damage)
-
Non-Damage Denial of Access
-
Action of Competent Authorities
-
Loss of Attraction
We are insurance coverage specialists and lead the way in Covid-19 business interruption insurance litigation
Following our team’s recent success at the Commercial Court in London International Exhibition Centre v RSA, the Stewarts Covid Claims Service will initially be focused on pursuing claims for policyholders who have “at the premises” disease clauses in their policies, but any business who believes they have a valid business interruption claim which has not yet been paid by their insurer is invited to contact us.
Check your eligibility to claim now
Our successes so far
A very significant number of businesses have been severely impacted by Covid-19.
Our team has been at the forefront of recovering business interruption losses for clients from their insurers.
Individuals from our team have taken the lead in many key test cases since the original FCA test case, including:
- Policyholders v China Taiping
-
Stonegate v MS Amlin
-
London International Exhibition Centre v RSA
-
Liberty Retail Limited v Liberty Mutual
-
Bath Racecourse & Others v Liberty Mutual
We are leading experts in all types of business interruption dispute.
Frequently asked questions
Who is eligible?
Eligible claimants will have suffered business interruption from Covid-19 between 2020 and 2022.
Your policy will need to include a ‘non damage’ business interruption clause, typically titled:
• “Notifiable Disease”
• “Infectious Disease”
• ‘Prevention of Access (non damage)”
• ‘Non-Damage Denial of Access”
• “Action of Competent Authorities”
• “Loss of Attraction”
The Stewarts Covid Claims Service will initially be focused on pursuing claims for businesses who have “at the premises” clauses in their policies. However, any business who believes they have a valid business interruption claim which has not yet been paid by their insurer is invited to contact the firm via the portal.
Why choose Stewarts to represent you in your claim?
What has happened in the litigation against insurers so far?
The UK government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic included some of the most extreme restrictions to be placed on UK businesses in modern times. Despite various forms of government financial support, businesses in all sectors, but particularly in hospitality, events, and retail, suffered existential losses as a result of a total or partial inability to trade for extended periods in 2020 and 2021.
Following insurers’ refusal to pay claims submitted under relevant business interruption policies, the Financial Conduct Authority launched a test case against eight insurers, with a representative sample of 21 policy wordings included.
In January 2021, the Supreme Court established conclusively that a majority of the policy wordings under consideration were indeed capable of responding to Covid-19 business interruption losses.
At the time of launching its legal action, the FCA estimated that around 370,000 policyholders were identified as holding policies that may be affected by the outcome of the test case. However, the most recent data published by the FCA in March 2023 shows that, over two years on from the conclusion of the test case, only 43,027 claims have been paid by insurers.
Subject to the terms of each insurance policy, it is expected that there are still many thousands of policyholders who are entitled to compensation for their business interruption losses from their insurers as a result of the pandemic.
What if my insurer has denied my claim?
Since March 2020, a series of key test cases has clarified and extended the scope and application of business interruption cover.
As a result, many businesses who had previously been informed that they did not have cover may in fact have significant payments available to them under their insurance policies.
There are also many claims which remain unresolved in respect of the correct amount payable under the policy, with disagreements arising over the length of the applicable indemnity period, the correct application of savings and trends clauses, and aggregation of losses caused by multiple government restrictions and/or at multiple premises.
Policyholders should now revisit their insurance policies to see if they have cover for business interruption losses. We can assist you in considering the issues and the scope of cover that could be available under your policy.
What if I haven't made a claim yet?
About Stewarts
Stewarts is a law firm like no other. We specalise in high-value and complex disputes and our track record of success for our clients has helped us become the UK's largest litigation-only law firm, with more than 400 staff including 80 partners.
We have acted in some of the most high-profile and ground breaking commercial litigation cases in the UK, including significant actions brought against Mastercard, RBS and Tesco.
Aaron Le Marquer
Head of Policyholder Disputes at Stewarts
Although the FCA estimated that around 370,000 policyholders held policies affected by the test case which commenced in 2020, the latest data from insurers shows that only around 40,000 claims have been paid so far. Cases that we have pursued against insurers since then have further extended the scope of coverage available to policyholders. Our Covid Claims Service is intended to assist businesses who have received no compensation from insurers in respect of the Covid lockdowns to find out if they might have a valid claim. Policyholders whose business interruption losses remain uncompensated should review their policy documents and get in touch with us, to find out whether they may now have a valid claim to pursue.
News
Restaurant Online
High Court ruling could lead to ‘hundreds of thousands more’ Covid insurance claims
Global Legal Post
High Court backs policyholders in latest business interruption test case
Stewarts