Chris Ives

Chris is a partner at SDV Fenchurch, with over 25 years of experience of advising corporate policyholders in relation to complex coverage claims.

Chris leads the Financial Institutions UK sector group and has significant experience of advising insureds, in particular in relation to transactional liability (M&A/W&I), civil liability, and D&O claims in arbitrations and Court proceedings.

Prior to joining SDV Fenchurch in 2024, he worked for several leading international firms where he gained experience of acting on behalf of policyholders, insurers and intermediaries.  

Chris is a regular speaker at the firm’s Coverage Symposium events and delivers training to claims advocacy teams and policyholders on a range of coverage issues (e.g. loss in respect of warranty claims, coverage issues for Financial Institutions, limitation)

Chris has significant amount of experience at SDV Fenchurch and previous firms of acting for PE insureds in relation to high value buy-side W&I claims in a range of sectors such as manufacturing, retail, IT, energy etc. Chris’ preferred approach is to work alongside the broker and deal team and press for resolution without the need to arbitrate/litigate.

He regularly advises clients in relation to coverage following large scale data breaches, including pension trustees, retailers and a global travel services provider. His practice also encompasses advising construction sector clients in relation to claims on CAR/PI/LDI policies, has experience of drafting the insurance provisions in construction contracts and regularly delivers training on topics such as co-insurance or major decisions (e.g. Sky v Riverstone). At prior firms, Chris advised an LDI insurer on their complex claims, which provides perspective on an insurer’s view of a coverage dispute.

Chris has advised in relation to countless property damage/BI coverage disputes involving fires, escape of water, Covid related claims (including an institutional landlord who was reportedly the only insured to successfully claim) and the owner of a Biomass plant in relation to a +£50m DSU claim.

Chris provides tailored non-contentious lender due diligence reporting to a number of development finance and real estate finance funders.

Chris has also acted for international insurance brokers in relation to E&O claims and has also advised a wide range of clients on other financial services disputes, including advising a Middle East based bank in respect of a USD5bn fraudulent trading claim in Abu Dhabi.