Herbert Smith Freehills has further strengthened its Disputes Practice in London, after hiring Will Glassey to join its partnership. This will enable the firm to further bolster its successful solicitors’ professional indemnity and regulatory practice, as well as its professional negligence offering more broadly. 

Will joins Herbert Smith Freehills from Mayer Brown, where he was Head of Insurance Disputes in London and Global co-Head of Insurance. Before moving to Mayer Brown in 2000, he was an associate in legacy Herbert Smith's Disputes team in London. 

Lauded by directories as "outstanding" and as being "unrivalled in intellectual firepower", Will has carved out a very successful career. His practice is focused on defending negligence claims against solicitors, barristers, pensions actuaries and property professionals.

The subject matter of the claims he defends is diverse, but he has a particular focus on claims arising from transactions, including corporate, commercial, real estate and finance transactions, and he has extensive experience in claims arising from pensions and tax issues.

In addition, Will represents professional firms and individual professionals in regulatory investigations and disciplinary proceedings: he has handled matters before the Solicitors Regulation Authority, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, the ICAEW, the Serious Fraud Office, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the FCA, and the Takeover Panel. He also advises insurers on policy coverage issues arising in claims against professionals, and represents insurers and reinsurers in reinsurance coverage disputes.

He has acted on many complex cases including most recently: Raffeisen Bank International AG v Asia Coal Energy Ventures Ltd & Ashurst; Civil Aviation Authority v Jet2.Com Ltd; and Briggs v Clay.

Commenting on his appointment, Global Head of Insurance Disputes Paul Lewis said: "We are delighted to be welcoming back Will to our Disputes team in London, which will enable us to further strengthen our successful solicitors’ professional indemnity  and  regulatory practice. Will is a leading name in this area and a trusted adviser to many firms and individuals."

Will added: "I am grateful for the many opportunities I have had at Mayer Brown, and I am thrilled to be re-joining the talented disputes team at Herbert Smith Freehills and its excellent Insurance Disputes practice. This move presents an exciting new opportunity to further strengthen their market-leading team. “