Running your own business? Have you thought about legal protection?

Defending legal disputes can often be a stressful and expensive experience. The cost of defending your company’s legal rights is increasing, with few companies able to afford the luxury of an in-house solicitor. Although the potential cost of a claim is unknown, even small claims can run to thousands of pounds, which doesn’t take into account the time and stress caused.

This is where Towergate Professional Risks’ Legal expenses insurance can help. Unlike conventional insurance, legal expenses does not make a direct payment for a claim. Instead, the insurance covers the legal costs involved in either pursuing or defending a claim.

What are the significant features of the policy?

Towergate Professional Risks’ legal expenses insurance policy will provide you with a panel of solicitors and legal specialists who will represent you in any insured incident. They include experts in the field of taxation and will ensure that you receive the best representation in any insured dispute which you may encounter.

(1) Property protection

A company’s premises, whether owned or leased, are essential to the smooth running of the business. Financial loss could result from someone else’s negligence or a deliberate attempt to damage or trespass on your property. legal action to obtain compensation or an injunction can prove expensive and the outcome is often uncertain. So, it is important to feel you have access to the necessary expertise to protect your legal rights.

(2) Tax protection

The complexities of the tax system can prove a minefield for any company, and the introduction of self-assessment has not helped the situation. Any kind of tax disputes can prove costly and being involved in a Full or aspect enquiry can be enormously stressful. In addition, stricter enforcement of National Insurance contribution is also likely to see a rise in related problems. If one of these situations arises, we will arrange for an accountant to represent you in the event of an investigation, and pay any related accountants’ fees and legal costs.

The VAT system in this country is well established and yet many problems still arise following assessment by HM Revenue & Customs every year. If you disagree with a VAT assessment, we will pay the cost of representing your company in an appeal to a VAT tribunal.

(3) Bodily injury

Most employers are well aware that accidents at work can happen, no matter how careful you are. We will pursue the legal rights of any director, officer or employee of you company following an event which causes their death or bodily injury.

(4) Statutory licence

Various therapists do require a licence from local councils to trade, although the policy does not help with licence application, it will provide representations to the registration authority as well as appeals to any court of tribunal to protect the licence should the policyholder suffer financial loss without an appeal being made. The cover also includes appeals against suspension, revocation or refusal to renew an insured’s legislation.

(5) Contract disputes

Legal expenses insurance will help in the negotiation for the policyholder’s legal rights in a contractual dispute arising from that agreement or that alleged agreement which has been entered into by or on behalf of the policyholder for the purchase, hire, sale or provision of goods or of services.

(6) Breach of environmental obligations

The policy will protect you for the defence costs following an allegation by the local authority relating to recycling and disposal of business waste (e.g. computers, chemical or electrical equipments)

(7) Energy performance of buildings directive

Protection for the cost of defending legal proceedings arising from a breach of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.

Find out more about the policy features and its exclusions, or alternatively contact us and we will be happy to guide you.