FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is Six Clerks?
Six Clerks is a trading name of Six Clerks Insurance Services Limited, which is an Appointed Representative of Miller Insurance Services LLP.
It is a managing general agency (MGA) created in 2013 to provide primary professional indemnity insurance to new and established law firms in England and Wales with between 1 and 4 partners. It provides direct access to participating insurer(s) with a financial strength rating of at least A (Standard & Poor’s) or equivalent. Six Clerks does not provide a broker service or any advisory services. We provide information on the policy that is offered but not advice or recommendations. You will need to make your own choice as to the suitability of the insurance policy, and you will be responsible for deciding how you proceed.
What is a managing general agent (MGA)?
An MGA is an entity that underwrites insurance risks and owes its primary duties to one or more insurance companies, Lloyd’s syndicate or other insurance capacity provider. An MGA is an underwriting agency that is given significant authority to underwrite and bind coverage on behalf of the insurer(s) it represents, but does not carry any of the actual insurance risk itself. An MGA is not a broker and acts as an agent of insurers, not insureds.
Who will the insurance be placed with?
The insurance will be placed with insurer(s) listed by the SRA as participating insurer(s). Co-insurance arrangements are permitted under SRA Indemnity Insurance rules (clause 2.5 of the participating insurers’ agreement). The insurer(s) all have a financial strength rating of at least A (Standard & Poor’s) or equivalent and the extent of their participation will be shown in quotes and policy documentation.
Why buy PII from Six Clerks?
Six Clerks is the only professional indemnity insurance provider to focus exclusively on the needs of new and established law firms with 1–4 partners.
CLIENT SERVICE
All clients and prospective clients are allocated a dedicated client service manager to provide guidance throughout the renewal process. Once a policy is in place the client service manager is available to provide specialist advice on any PII or related insurance matter throughout the course of the policy period.
KEEPING COSTS DOWN
As a Managing General Agent we have the ability to choose which capacity providers we work with. This gives us the freedom to only work with insurers who have a financial strength rating of at least A (Standard & Poors) or equivalent and who share our dedication to provide 1 - 4 partner firms with competitive premiums.
CLAIMS EXPERTISE
It is not until a claim arises that the support of a claims service can be fully appreciated and tested. Six Clerks claims are dealt with by a specialist team of solicitors' PII claims managers and lawyers and our clients value the swift response times, regular and thorough communications and, above all else, the expert advice they receive.
SECURITY & STABILITY
We are backed by participating insurer(s) with significant experience in the solicitors professional indemnity insurance market and will only use insurer(s) with a financial strength rating* of at least A (Standard and Poor’s) or equivalent. Whilst other insurers have come and gone, Six Clerks has continued to provide stability and build long-lasting relationships.
*Financial strength ratings are statistical ratings not guarantees.
How do I apply?
Simply register your details via our LOGIN / REGISTER PAGE and we’ll send you an email with a link to the online proposal form. Alternatively you can email your existing completed proposal form and claims record to [email protected]
Will all firms get a quote?
Not every firm. Six Clerks only offers quotations to firms with 1 to 4 partners in England and Wales and only to firms that meet the underwriting criteria set by our insurer(s). If your application meets the underwriting criteria, you will be sent a quotation once we / insurers have considered your application in detail.
What does it mean if my proposal is referred?
This is common and means that there are certain aspects of your application that we will need to consider in detail and / or that we will need further information. If further information is required specific details will be requested. Being referred is not the same as being declined.
What does it mean if my proposal is declined?
This means that your responses do not meet the pre-defined underwriting criteria of Six Clerks. It does not mean that you have been refused insurance.
If I am declined by Six Clerks, will I be prevented from obtaining quotes from other insurers?
No. Every insurer follows its own underwriting criteria and calculates its premiums accordingly. If you are declined by Six Clerks, you will be provided with a PDF copy of your completed online proposal form, which you may be able to use for applications to other insurers.
Can start-ups apply?
Start-up firms with 1-4 partners are welcome to apply but in addition to a proposal form we will need the following:
- Business plan
- Cash-flow forecast
- Curriculum Vitaes for all principals
- As a general rule we also require that at least one of the principals has five years’ post-qualification experience.
Do Lexcel and CQS members get a discount?
The quality that these accreditation schemes represent is reflected favourably within the underwriting criteria. Each firm will, however, be underwritten according to its individual circumstances and there are no guarantees of getting a quote.
How do I notify a claim?
Six Clerks clients will receive information detailing how claims should be notified and a notification form with their policy. Alternatively, this information can be found on the claims page of our website.
Does Six Clerks provide excess layer cover?
Six Clerks only provides primary PII cover for solicitor firms with between 1 and 4 partners.
If you have between 1 and 4 partners but require both primary and excess layer cover you will have an option in the proposal form where you can ask Miller Insurance Services LLP to obtain excess layer terms on your behalf. Six Clerks will then consider your primary cover and Miller Insurance Services LLP will consider your excess layer cover. Six Clerks is a trading name of Six Clerks Insurance Services Limited, which is an Appointed Representative of Miller Insurance Services LLP.
Can my broker get me a Six Clerks quote?
No. Six Clerks does not accept submissions from brokers.