The SRA Handbook is no longer in effect. It was replaced by the SRA Standards and Regulations on 25 November 2019.

SRA Handbook

Firms in default

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Version 1 of the Handbook was published on 16/09/2011. For more information, please click 'History' Above

Part 4: Firms in default

Rule 13: Eligibility of firms in default

13.1

At any time during the period of default a firm in default is entitled to be admitted to the ARP and to be issued with an ARP policy in accordance with Rule 13.2, subject to the provisions of this Rule 13.

13.2

A firm in default is entitled to be admitted to the ARP if:

(a)

it was an eligible firm at the start of the period of default;

(b)

had it been admitted to the ARP at the start of the period of default, its admission at that time would not have rendered it ineligible to be admitted to the ARP for any part of any subsequent indemnity period in which it was in fact admitted to the ARP;

(c)

it has applied to join the ARP in accordance with Rule 10;

(d)

the firm discharges in full the ARP default premium calculated for the whole of the indemnity period or indemnity periods for which cover is sought within 30 days of such premium being notified to it by the ARP manager or such longer period as the Council may allow;

(e)

the firm will be subject to and comply with Rules 10.3 (other than Rule 10.3(a)) and 11.2.

Commentary:

If a firm fails to make an application to the ARP at the start of an indemnity period, and does not have any other policy of qualifying insurance in force for that indemnity period, it may still be eligible to be issued with an ARP policy provided that it meets all of the requirements of Rule 13.2. However, each principal of the firm will have committed a disciplinary offence, and the firm and each principal of that firm will be liable to pay the ARP default premium under any ARP policy issued.

13.3

An ARP policy issued under this Rule may afford cover retrospectively from the start of the period of default until the earlier of:

(a)

the end of the then current indemnity period; or

(b)

the date on which the firm in default would have ceased to be an eligible firm, ignoring for these purposes any failure to pay the ARP premium or the ARP default premium; or

(c)

the date on which, had the firm in default been admitted to the ARP at the start of the period of default, its being covered by the ARP from that time would have first caused it to have been ineligible to be admitted to the ARP for any part of any subsequent indemnity period in which it was in fact admitted to the ARP.

13.4

A run-off firm shall be entitled at any time following the date on which it first becomes a run-off firm to be admitted to the ARP and to be issued with an ARP run-off policy, subject to the following conditions:

(a)

the run-off firm has made an application to join the ARP in manner provided by Rule 10.5 stating on the proposal form that it is a run-off firm and giving the date from which cover under an ARP run-off policy is sought;

(b)

the ARP run-off premium is discharged in full within thirty days of such premium being notified by the ARP manager to the firm or such longer period as the Council may allow; and

(c)

the firm, and any person who is a principal of that firm, will be subject to and comply with Rule 10.3(c).

Commentary:

A run-off firm will be eligible to be issued with an ARP policy if it meets all of the requirements of Rule 13.4. However, each principal of the firm will have committed a disciplinary offence for failing to make an application to the ARP for run-off cover in accordance with Rule 5.2, and the firm and each principal of the firm will be required to pay the ARP run-off premium under any ARP run-off policy issued.

13.5

An ARP run-off policy shall provide run-off cover to a run-off firm retrospectively from the date on which it became a run-off firm until the end of the day immediately prior to the sixth anniversary of:

(a)

the start of the indemnity period in which it became a run-off firm; or

(b)

if applicable, the start of the last indemnity period, prior to it becoming a run-off firm, in which it both ceased to be an eligible firm and was a firm in default and continued as such until the date on which it became a run-off firm,

whichever is the earlier.

Commentary:

Run-off firms which are issued with an ARP run-off policy obtain six years' run-off cover either from the start of the indemnity period in which their practice ceased, or the date on which they ceased to be eligible to apply for an ARP policy while practising uninsured.

13.6

Rule 12.6 shall apply so as to enable the Council to extend the period in Rule 13.3(b) for which a firm in default may be issued with an ARP policy.

Commentary:

It is envisaged that this power would be exercised only in exceptional circumstances.

13.7

Any firm that has been admitted to the ARP under Rule 13.1 shall for the purposes of computing its continuing eligibility to remain in the ARP be deemed to have been admitted to the ARP at start of the period of default and to have remained continuously in the ARP until the end of the indemnity period current at the date of its application.

13.8

Rule 15.2 shall not apply to a firm which has under Rule 13 been admitted to the ARP and which has been issued with an ARP policy or an ARP run-off policy, the liability of the firm and of any person who is a principal of that firm being limited in those circumstances to the excess payable under the terms of the policy.

Commentary:

If a firm is eligible to be issued with an ARP policy under Rule 13.1, or an ARP run-off policy under Rule 13.4 then, provided that it complies with the relevant requirements under Rule 13 and is issued with an ARP policy or an ARP run-off policy, the firm and the principals of that firm will be required to pay to the ARP manager only the relevant premium and the excess in the event of any claim.

Rule 14: Firms which fail to apply to the ARP

14.1

A firm in default which is entitled to be admitted to the ARP and to be issued with an ARP policy in accordance with Rule 13.1 but which does not make an application to join the ARP shall, notwithstanding, be liable, together with any person who is a principal of that firm, to pay to the Society an amount equivalent to the ARP default premium calculated for the whole of the period of default.

14.2

A firm in default which is entitled to be admitted to the ARP and to be issued with an ARP run-off policy in accordance with Rules 13.4 and 13.5 but which does not make an application to join the ARP shall, notwithstanding, be liable, together with any person who is a principal of that firm, to pay to the Society an amount equivalent to the ARP run-off premium calculated for the whole of the period equivalent to that which would be provided by an ARP run-off policy in accordance with Rule 13.5, or, if shorter and if it can be ascertained, the period of default.

14.3

Any amount payable in accordance with Rules 14.1 or 14.2 shall be determined by the ARP manager on the basis of such assumption as to the firm's gross fees and other matters as the ARP manager shall in its absolute discretion determine, and may be reviewed from time to time by the ARP manager in its absolute discretion on the basis of any further information provided to it. Any such amount paid under Rule 14.1 or 14.2 shall be deducted from any amount payable pursuant to Rule 15.2. The ARP manager may and is hereby authorised to recover all sums due under Rules 14.1 or 14.2 on behalf of the Society.

Commentary:

If a firm fails to make an application to the ARP, but carries on practice without having obtained qualifying insurance, each principal in that firm will have committed a disciplinary offence. The same is true if a run-off firm fails to apply to be issued with an ARP run-off policy. In each case, that firm, and each principal in that firm, will also be liable under these Rules to:

  • pay an amount to the Society equivalent to the ARP default premium calculated for the whole of the period of default; and
  • reimburse to the Society in full under Rule 15 the amount of any claim (together with defence costs) made against the firm and relating to the period when it did not have qualifying insurance in force, less any amount due under this Rule.

Rule 15: Arrangements in relation to uninsured firms

15.1

The ARP manager on behalf of the Society shall make arrangements with qualifying insurers to cover any claim against:

(a)

a firm in default; and

(b)

a run-off firm

including any defence costs relating to a claim, in like manner and to the like extent as the claim and the defence costs would have been covered had that firm during the period of default been in the ARP and been issued with an ARP policy and/or, as the case may require, an ARP run-off policy.

15.2

Subject to Rule 13.8, Rule 14.1 and Rule 14.2, the Society on behalf of qualifying insurers shall be entitled to recover from each and every principal in the firm in default during the period of default all amounts paid in or towards the discharge of a claim and defence costs pursuant to Rule 15 together with interest thereon at Barclays Bank Plc base rate plus three per cent from the date when such amounts were respectively paid. The ARP manager may and is hereby authorised to recover all sums due under this Rule on behalf of the Society.

15.3

A firm shall not be deemed to have been admitted to the ARP or to be covered in accordance with Rule 15 solely by virtue of the fact that the ARP manager may conduct or settle any claim made against that firm under the terms of any agreement between the Society and any qualifying insurer.

Commentary:

If a firm fails to make an application to the ARP, but carries on practice without having obtained qualifying insurance, each principal in that firm will have committed a disciplinary offence. The same is true if a run-off firm fails to apply to be issued with an ARP run-off policy. In each case, that firm, and each principal in that firm, will also be liable under these Rules to:

  • reimburse to the Society in full the amount paid pursuant to Rule 15.1 in respect of any claim (together with defence costs) made against the firm and relating to the period when it did not have qualifying insurance in force, less any amount due under Rule 14 (where applicable); and
  • pay an amount under Rule 14 (where applicable) to the Society equivalent to the ARP default premium calculated for the whole of the period of default.

However, if a firm in these circumstances is eligible under Rule 13.1 to be issued with an ARP policy, then, provided that it complies with Rule 13.1 and is issued with an ARP policy, the liability of the firm and the principals of that firm will be limited, from that point on, to the ARP default premium and the excess payable under the terms of the ARP policy.