Oliver Saunders

Partner

Oliver delivers a great client service: he is responsive, pragmatic and efficient

— Chambers & Partners 2026

About

Oliver Saunders advises on complex re/insurance coverage issues and regularly acts for re/insurers in mediation, arbitration and Commercial Court litigation. His experience spans most classes of direct insurance (including on the Bermuda Form) together with both facultative and treaty reinsurance (in both the live and run off sectors). He has previously undertaken a secondment to a leading Lloyd's Syndicate, advising the Claims Department on issues arising across all lines of London market business.

Professional QualificationsSolicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales

EXPERIENCE

A selection of Oliver's recent experience includes:

Successfully defending a leading London Market insurer in relation to Covid-19 business interruption losses in both the Commercial Court and then again in the Court of Appeal. Reported decisions: Bellini (N/E) Ltd trading as Bellini v Brit UW Limited [2023] EWHC 1545 (Comm) and [2024] EWCA Civ 435.
Advising a market leading Lloyd’s aviation re/insurer in relation to its Russia/Ukraine conflict exposures in the UK, US and Ireland (both Contingent and Operator exposures). Reported decision: AerCap Ireland Capital Designated Activity Company and Ors. v PJSC Insurance Company Universalna and Ors [2024] EWHC 1365 (Comm).
Acting on behalf of a market of global reinsurers in arbitration proceedings brought by a State-Owed Credit Agency concerning the insolvency of a Hong Kong headquartered cruise and resort business.
Defending a Continental Company Insurer in a Bermuda Form arbitration following an oil spill on the west coast of the US.
Advising a Continental Company Reinsurer in relation to Life and PA losses arising from the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Advising a plethora of insurers in relation to their potential inwards exposures to Covid-19 non-damage business interruption claims, including as a committee member of the Property Insurance Claims Group (a sub-group of the Lloyd's Market Association).
Actively defending reinsurers in relation to significant Covid-19 claims presented to CAT XL, Per Risk and Stop Loss treaties covering the following classes of business: (i) property; (ii) contingency; and (iii) travel.
Advising a Continental Company Reinsurer in connection with a GBP35mn+ claim brought by it against a Retrocessionaire concerning underlying UK retail business losses.
Regular advisor to re/insurers in the global trade credit and political risk market, including in an advisory capacity regarding policy wordings.
Advising a Continental Company Reinsurer in relation to potentially significant exposures to underlying Middle Eastern motor business.
Drafting policy wordings (and associated documents subject to SAMA compliance) on behalf of reinsurers in relation to (fronted) policy wordings concerning the NEOM construction project in Saudi Arabia.
Regular advisor to insurers in connection with claims brought by well-known athletes and HNW individuals under disability income policies and similar insurance products.
Acted on a GBP60m arbitration concerning a Contractors’ All Risks insurance policy in relation to the construction of one of Europe’s largest infrastructure projects of the past decade.
Defending a Bermudan headquartered run-off specialist against a Part 8 claim commenced following the acquisition of Lloyd's Syndicate 1110 in respect of alleged liabilities concerning earlier Years of Account. Reported decision: Prosight Global, Inc. v Randall & Quilter II Holdings Limited, Randall & Quilter Underwriting Management Holdings Limited [2021] EWHC 228 (Comm).
Defending a Lloyd’s reinsurance broker against an approx. GBP20m claim. Reported decision: Equitas v Walsham Bros. [2013] EWHC 3264 (Comm).