Dawn specialises in professional risks and has over 20 years experience of dealing with claims involving a range of professionals, including solicitors, barristers, licensed conveyancers, accountants, architects, brokers, surveyors, medical practitioners, dentists, directors and officers, veterinary surgeons and alternative practitioners. Her particular area of expertise is in areas involving solicitors and she has acted in a number of leading cases in the Courts.
Dawn is experienced in advising on policy coverage disputes and claims notification issues, including matters involving fraud or dishonesty. She advises in relation to professional conduct issues and can represent individuals in relation to disciplinary proceedings.
Dawn is also trained in mediation and is highly experienced in resolving claims through Alternative Dispute Resolution.

Background

Dawn studied Law at Durham University and then at the Inns of Court School of Law, before qualifying as a barrister. Having completed her initial training in London, Dawn practised as a barrister on the Northern Circuit for three years dealing with a variety of contentious work.
She subsequently become an in house Counsel within the energy and transport sectors, where she had responsibility for handling a wide spectrum of commercial and civil litigation.
Dawn then moved into private practice and additionally qualified as a solicitor in 1989. She was a partner for many years with the national law firm Beachcroft LLP, where for a period she ran the London Professional Risks Group and was also involved in running the clinical negligence department.

Recent cases include the following:

• Representing a firm of solicitors in Cable and Wireless v Various Defendants, described in the legal press as the largest piece of litigation to hit the courts in recent years
• Advising various law firms in relation to issues involving the notification of claims to their professional indemnity insurers
• Advising a firm of solicitors in relation to policy coverage issues involving a number of insurers and quantum of £100m.
• Advising a disappointed beneficiary where the testator’s solicitors had failed to implement his wishes
• Advising in a case where the barrister instructed gave allegedly incorrect advice in relation to the outcome of high value litigation
• Advising a company director whose accountant had failed to prepare proper returns to the Revenue resulting in the insolvency of the company
• Advising an individual who had cosmetic dentistry which turned out to be defective
• Advising in a case where both the barrister and solicitors acting had failed to draw up the Court Order correctly when acting in matrimonial proceedings for ancillary relief
• Acting for the freeholders and leaseholders in a substantial construction dispute involving a block of flats in the North of England
• Advising a partner in a law firm whose professional indemnity insurers were threatening to withdraw cover in respect of a claim
• Acting for an individual whose solicitors had failed to register title when acting in the purchase of a property
• Representing an individual whose solicitors had failed to give appropriate advice in relation to a serious personal injury sustained in an accident outside the jurisdiction
• Advising in relation to a substantial multi party mortgage fraud
• Advising a solicitor in relation to disciplinary proceedings
• Advising a company director who was given inadequate advice in relation to his tax affairs causing substantial losses

Dawn acts for both Claimants and Defendants and is therefore able to take an objective view of the merits of individual cases. She has a very high success rate in acting for both Claimants and Defendants, as well as for individuals seeking guidance on policy issues arising from their professional indemnity insurance arrangements.
Dawn is flexible and approachable in discussing charging rates and is prepared to assess the merits of individual cases before taking a matter on. In appropriate cases, Dawn is prepared to act under Conditional Fee Agreements (‘no win, no fee’).
Dawn is a member of the Professional Negligence Lawyers Association.

Dawn joined Watmores in May 2009.   Email: dmullins@watmores.co.uk