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UK

Jonathan Watmough

Partner

England & Wales

020 3319 3700

jonathan.watmough@keystonelaw.co.uk

Jonathan specialises in resolving professional negligence claims and has done so for over 20 years. In that time, he has acted on claims against a wide range of professionals including solicitors, accountants, insurance brokers, financial advisers, surveyors, structural engineers, project managers, estate agents, health & safety consultants, and IT consultants.

Having previously defended such claims for professional indemnity insurers, Jonathan now acts exclusively for claimants and uninsured defendants, both in relation to claims and any policy disputes arising from them.

Due to his background experience, and because he acts for both claimants and defendants, Jonathan possesses a rare appreciation of the issues and pitfalls that arise in professional negligence claims. This enables him to provide his clients with intelligent solutions, aimed at resolving claims as favourably and efficiently as possible.

Expertise

Jonathan advises and represents clients in professional negligence claims against a wide range of professionals, including solicitors, barristers, insurance brokers, accountants, auditors, surveyors, architects, project managers, and structural engineers

Experience

  • Acted in a £32m claim against solicitors following the failure of the CVA of a well-known fashion house.
  • Acted in a £2.4m claim against accountants following an audit that failed to report fraud by a managing director.
  • Acted in a £2.1m claim against insurance brokers following a hotel fire and the declining of insurance cover.
  • Acted in a £160,000 claim against financial advisers following the loss of income and capital expected from a private investment portfolio.
  • Acted in a £350,000 claim against surveyors arising from a failure to correctly value residential property.
  • Acted in a £10.4m claim against project managers following the redevelopment of an exclusive country house hotel.
  • Acted in a £3m claim against structural engineers following the demolition of property after a gas explosion and fire.
  • Acted in a £650,000 claim against auditors who failed to discover theft and cheque fraud committed by a dishonest accounts clerk.
  • Acted in a £75,000 claim against conveyancing solicitors whose errors delayed the sale of an exclusive London flat.
  • Acted in a £1m claim against health & safety consultants following the mortality of a minor at prestigious office premises.
  • Acted in a £850,000 claim against insurance brokers in connection with advice on business interruption insurance which failed to provide sufficient cover.
  • Acted in a £1.8m claim against solicitors in relation to the mis-drafting of a commercial lease for a golf course.
  • Acted in a £500,000 claim against accountants arising from the unlawful distribution of estate monies under a lasting power of attorney.
  • Acted in a £1.5m claim against financial advisers, solicitors and accountants in relation to erroneous pension advice about the Lifetime Allowance.
  • Acted in a £180,000 claim against litigation solicitors who failed to obtain the appropriate charge for securing a judgment debt.
  • Acted in a £1.85m claim against conveyancing solicitors where legal difficulties arose following the purchase of development land.
  • Acted in a £50,000 claim against insurance brokers who failed to disclose material information about the policyholder’s commercial operations.
  • Acted in a £3m claim against solicitors and surveyors in connection with the re-financing arrangements for a coastal holiday park.
  • Acted in a £95,000 claim against solicitors and counsel after court proceedings were issued despite being time-barred.
  • Acted in a £10.5m professional negligence claim against accountants and solicitors in connection with the loss of tax relief available on an investment made under the Enterprise Investment Scheme.
  • Acted in a £650,000 professional negligence claim against insurance brokers arising from the misrepresentation of material facts about commercial laundry premises damaged by fire.
  • Acted in a £250,000 professional negligence claim against a financial adviser (in administration) and its professional indemnity insurers under the Third Parties (Rights against Insurers) Act 2010, in connection with erroneous pension investment advice.
  • Acted in a £155,000 professional negligence claim against an agronomist after erroneous advice as to crop rotation and the application of insecticide resulted in the failure of a carrot crop.
  • Acted in a £70,000 professional negligence claim against building contractors in connection with passive fire stopping installations at a residential care home facility.
  • Acted in a £150,000 professional negligence claim against conveyancing solicitors arising from a boundary dispute following infill residential development.

Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.

Recognition

Recognised by The Legal 500 for Professional Negligence 2016–2027

Recognised by Chambers UK for Professional Negligence Band 1 2025–2026

Recognised by Chambers UK for Professional Negligence 2018–2024

Member of the Professional Negligence Lawyers Association

“Jonathan Watmough: Very balanced in his approach and opinions. Always well prepared when there are documents to be read. Very good at listening and understanding before seeking to be understood themselves. Explains things in layman's terms.”

The Legal 500 2027

Jonathan qualified as a solicitor in 2003. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2017, he worked at the following firms:

  • Womble Bond Dickinson (UK)
  • Mills & Reeve
  • DAC Beachcroft

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