Bill Perry

Bill has practised in (re)insurance since the 1980s. He has widespread experience, predominantly in the property and casualty markets, both direct and reinsurance. He is an acknowledged expert in the field of art and High Net Worth insurance.

He advises on aspects of (re)insurance law ranging from writing fine art policy portfolios to advising, litigating and arbitrating both nationally and internationally. His experience includes film finance, brokers’ duties and agency authority, valuation issues and coverage advice relating to all types of policy (including life). Bill deals with insurance and reinsurance issues.

He also has substantial experience in commercial litigation and dispute resolution, mainly of an international nature, including, as examples, back-to-back ICC arbitrations involving commodity transactions between companies in three jurisdictions and the law of two others.

He also has a long-standing contentious trust and probate practice, acting in high value international trust and probate disputes for beneficiaries and trustees. He has been a charitable trustee and a pension scheme trustee for many years.

He has been involved in a long-running competition law matter involving the Competition Commission/Competition & Markets Authority, the Payment Systems Regulator and the DTI/DBEIS for a national federation of many thousands of businesses. His role in acting for this client over more than 15 years also includes interpretation, drafting and advice upon enforcement of its rules (including conduct rules), on which he has also advised others over many years.

Bill is qualified as an arbitrator and a mediator, and has been appointed in international insurance arbitrations.

Bill is a Past President of the IADC (President 2011-12; Board Member 2007-13). He was Senior Advisory Chair (2013-14) Committees, Chair of Nominating Committee 2016 and Director of IADC’s 2017 International Corporate Counsel College. He is a Member of the Business Litigation, Insurance and Reinsurance and International Committees (Chair of International 2005-07).

He was President of Insuralex, the Global Insurance Lawyers Group (President 2012-14, Vice-President 2010-12). He was also Chairman of the Association of Insurance and Reinsurance Service Providers (2014 -18) (whose members provide services to the (re)insurance market, such as accountants, actuaries, auditors, claims handlers, compliance advisers, risk managers, run-off managers and solicitors, across three continents).

Bill is a member of the ADTA.

Hall v Maritek Bahamas Ltd [2015] UKPC 23, [2015] All ER (D) 217 (Privy Council) - Offer and acceptance in contract law.

Labrouche v Frey & Others [2012] 1 WLR 3160 (C.A.) - Obligation of Judge to hear both sides orally.

AGF Insurance v Lexington Insurance [2009] UKHL 40 (H. of L./S.C.) - Back-to-back reinsurance.

(AGF Insurance Ltd v Lexington Insurance Co [2007] Lloyd’s Rep IR 604 (1st Instance); [2008] Lloyd’s Rep IR 510 and [2008] 1 All ER (Comm) 1085 (C.A.))

Callaghan & Anor v Thompson [2000] Lloyd’s Rep IR 125 - Requirements for affirmation of insurance policy.

Callaghan & Anor v Dominion Insurance and Others [1997] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 541 - Insurance claim limitation period start.

Armitage v Nurse [1997] 3 WLR 1046 - Exculpation clauses for trustees.

Aetna Reinsurance Co (UK) Ltd v Central Reinsurance Corp [1996] LRLR 165 - Inspection as bar to summary judgment.

Vural v Security Archives (1990) 60 P & C R; 258 Ch D - The first of the two primary cases cited by the Law Commission in its March 2009 Report “Reforming Insurance Contract Law”.

Englander & Another v Berger and Others [1990] Ch 118 - A Jewish Zavah is an effective English law Will.

Halvanon Insurance Ltd. v Jewett Duchesne (International) Ltd. FT CLR 28/4/87 (FT 20/3/87) - Use of expert evidence.

Rabin & Others v Gerson Berger Association Limited & Others [1986] 1 All ER 374 (C.A.) - Extrinsic evidence in construction of charitable trust deed.

Berger & Others v Raymond Sun Ltd & Others [1984] 1 WLR 625 - Similar fact evidence.

SNW Commodities v Falik [1984] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 224 - Dealers’ rights to make cash calls on traders’ positions.

Wilson Smithett & Cope Ltd v Shirlett & Tudor Estates Ltd FT 19/2/83 - Margin calls on futures trades.

(And in the press: e.g. In Re Clarke, L’Estrange & Ors v Prus; ‘The Mandrill’.)

Chambers

• “…focuses on assisting clients facing issues disputes between insurers and insured and arbitrations”.
• “…conducts both insurance and reinsurance cases, and is a recognised specialist in fine art insurance. According to sources, he is " a charming, hugely impressive lawyer who is able to cut through to the core of very complex matters. "”.
• “Bill Perry’s contentious claims expertise encompasses a particular specialism in fine art insurance”.

Legal 500

• “superb”
• “responsive and pragmatic”
• “extremely professional”
• “a consummate operator in the field of reinsurance”

Who’s Who Legal

• Rated for Insurance and Reinsurance and for Product Liability Defence

Citywealth Leaders List:

• Rated for contentious trust work

Thompson Reuters’ “Superlawyers”

• Rated a ‘Superlawyer’ in Insurance and one of the top 100 lawyers in London during the period that it was published in England.