Simon Laird
Partner and Global Head of Insurance
Simon leads our insurance team at RPC, sits on the board and leads our Balanced Task Force that leads on firmwide I&D initiatives. He is an expert in advising on onshore and offshore commercial disputes, and works for a wide variety of clients in the insurance sector. He is a member of the Insurance Association of Claims Professionals.
“Insurance is what makes the world go around”
“Insurance is what makes the world go around. It quietly underpins western economies and touches many daily events and news items. We are privileged to work with many of the biggest global players in this market.
I specialise in insurance and professional practices. My role is a global one that includes our Asia insurance team. I am also Chair of Global Access, which is a network of law firms with leading insurance practices across the globe, so I regularly attend global conferences.
Essentially, my role is about client management. I’m here to help clients solve their problems, and take a big interest in where clients are going, their ambitions for the future, and identifying new services and business lines we can support them with.
We’re here to connect people in the market, be that connecting clients with the right lawyer for the job, or making sure we mesh our brilliant legal capabilities with our clients' commercial needs.
This job is all about making myself available. I support others running day-to-day relationships, and enjoy the face-to-face engagement. I’m approachable, commercial, and get things done.”
Directory quotes
"Simon Laird maintains a notable professional negligence practice focusing on the representation of financial sector clients, with experience handling cross-border matters." - Chambers UK 2023
Ranked – Chambers UK 2022
"Simon Laird maintains a notable professional negligence practice focusing on the representation of financial sector clients, with experience handling cross-border matters." - Chambers UK 2022
Recommended - The Legal 500 UK 2022
Simon Laird maintains a notable professional negligence practice focusing on the representation of financial sector clients, with experience handling cross-border matters. - Chambers UK 2021
Recommended - The Legal 500 UK 2021
A "good, practical and commercial lawyer." - Chambers UK 2019
Simon Laird "delivers sensible, commercial, pragmatic advice to insurers and has a good way about him." - Chambers UK 2018
Sources praise his pragmatic approach, saying: "He cuts to the chase in trying to resolve any issues." - Chambers UK 2017
Simon Laird gains considerable praise from interviewees, one of whom notes: "He's an incredibly bright lawyer and has got a very good commercial mind, which really does assist us." He is widely commended for his knowledge of the financial services sector and is reportedly "very specialised, but very much on top of his subject." - Chambers UK 2017
Also recommended are the "brilliant" Simon Greenley and Simon Laird. - The Legal 500 UK 2016
Recommended - The Legal 500 UK 2015
Peers regard him as "commercial, with good relationships with his clients." Clients say: "He would be my preferred solicitor to defend IFA matters." - Chambers UK 2015
Recommended - The Legal 500 UK 2014
"Very strong on financial services" and someone they are "happy to use on high-value claims." - Chambers UK 2014
Memberships
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Expertise sectors
Insurance & Reinsurance, Professional Practices, Brokers / MGAs, Insurance (Claims), Lloyd’s, Reinsurers, Brokers, Errors & Omissions, Claims Handling, Professional Risks
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