Frank Maher

Frank advises law firms on professional regulation and, professional indemnity insurance.

• Frank advises law firms on professional indemnity and liability matters, managing claims, risk mitigation, and insurance coverage issues, and providing guidance on complex professional responsibilities and regulatory compliance.
• He acts for firms on disputes with insurers, and has a particular niche in advising on successor practice issues arising from law firm mergers and acquisitions, and firm closures, including several high profile examples.

Frank advises law firms on professional indemnity and liability matters, managing claims, risk mitigation, and insurance issues.

• Represented a law firm on multiple insurance coverage disputes, arbitrations and mediations with different insurers in respect of hundreds of claims by investors in failed development schemes valued at between £50m and £150m.
• Advised a law firm on a dispute with insurers declining to cover a £75m claim.
• Advised a law firm on insurance coverage issues, including block notification to insurers, arising from potential multimillion-pound claims over failed buyer-funded development schemes.
• Advised a law firm on insurance coverage issues following discovery of a rogue partner.
• Advised an Australian insurer of law firms on governance and claims management.
• Advised insurance broker on block notification of circumstances to insurers of possible commission claims following the decision in Johnson v FirstRand Bank.
• Advice to law firm on mitigating risks and insurance in high value Court of Protection appointments.

Frank advises on professional regulation and discipline matters, representing individuals and firms in investigations, hearings, and enforcement proceedings.

• Represented a partner in a US law firm on regulatory aspects of ‘MeToo’ allegations.
• Advised US law firm on regulatory aspects of placing a US partner in the UK in conjunction with other Keystone lawyers advising on tax, immigration and employment.
• Advice to several leading law firms including insurance practices and others on regulatory compliance for conduct of litigation following the decision in Mazur v Charles Russell Speechleys.
• Represented law firm on successful conclusion to SRA investigation into allegations of serious accounting breaches.
• Advice to leading law firm on conflicts and professional regulatory compliance following confidentiality breach arising from ‘sting’ operation.
• Review of leading international firm’s engagement letters, including advice on limiting liability.

Frank advises on anti-money laundering and data protection compliance, assisting clients with regulatory adherence, risk assessments, policy implementation, and handling sensitive information in line with legal and industry requirements.

• Audit of many leading UK and US based law firms under regulation 21 of The Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017. Ad hoc support to a wide variety of law firms on anti-money laundering and financial crime compliance issues.
• Advice to FTSE 100 property developer on ad hoc anti-money laundering and related issues.
• Drafting firmwide risk assessment.

Frank advises law firms, their insurers, and other professions on anti-money laundering compliance, professional regulation, professional indemnity insurance coverage disputes, ABS authorisation, partnership issues, conduct and discipline, conflicts, data protection, and privacy.

• Frank advises law firms on professional indemnity and liability matters, managing claims, risk mitigation, and insurance issues, and providing guidance on complex professional responsibilities and regulatory compliance.
• Represented a law firm on multiple insurance coverage disputes, arbitrations and mediations with different insurers in respect of hundreds of claims by investors in failed development schemes valued at between £50m and £150m.
• Advised a law firm on a dispute with insurers declining to cover a £75m claim.
• Advised a law firm on insurance coverage issues, including block notification to insurers, arising from potential multimillion-pound claims over failed buyer-funded development schemes.
• Advised an Australian insurer of law firms on governance and claims management.

Recognised by Chambers UK for Professional Negligence and Professional Discipline 2025–2027

Recognised by The Legal 500 as a Leading Individual in Professional Negligence 2025– 2027

Recognised by The Legal 500 for Insurance litigation: for policyholders 2027

Chambers UK Top-ranked Individual for Professional Negligence (Liverpool and surrounds) and Professional Discipline 2024

Association of Partnership Practitioners (and former committee member 2010–2016)

The (US) Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers (and former Director)

AMLP Forum (The Association of Financial Crime Prevention Professionals)

Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers

Co-author of Risk Management in Law Firms: Strategies for Safeguarding the Future (International Bar Association, 2014)

Co-author of The Compliance Calendar Toolkit for Law Firms (Ark Group, 2014)

Risk and Compliance for Law Firms in a Changed World (Ark Group, 2011)

Co-author of The Money Laundering Reporting Officer’s Handbook (Legalease, 2004)