Cover for the legal costs of defending your business, employment disputes, tax investigations, contract disagreements and more, including access to a 24/7 legal helpline.
Cover for the legal costs of defending your business, employment disputes, tax investigations, contract disagreements and more, including access to a 24/7 legal helpline.
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Legal expenses insurance covers the cost of defending or pursuing a legal dispute, solicitors’ fees, court costs and expert witness fees, for situations your other business insurance doesn’t touch, such as employment disputes or a tax investigation.
Winning a case doesn’t always mean you recover your costs. Even successful claims and defences can leave you paying your own legal fees, which is exactly what this cover is for.
Legal expenses insurance can include:
Employment tribunal defenceHMRC tax investigationsContract disputesDebt recoveryPersonal injury claims you bringData protection disputes
Public Liability
Covers claims if your business injures a customer or damages their property.
Employers’ Liability
A legal requirement once you employ staff, covering workplace injury claims.
Professional Indemnity
Covers claims that your advice or design was negligent and caused a loss.
Business Contents
Protects equipment, stock and fixtures against fire, theft and damage.
Cyber Insurance
Covers the cost of a cyber attack or data breach, including lost trading time.
What does legal expenses insurance actually cover?
What does legal expenses insurance actually cover?
Cover is built around specific situations, not general legal advice, here’s what typically triggers a payout.
Cover is built around specific situations, not general legal advice, here’s what typically triggers a payout.
| Situation | What triggers it | What’s covered |
|---|---|---|
Employment tribunal | A current or former employee brings a claim against you | Representation and legal costs at the tribunal |
Tax investigation | HMRC opens an enquiry into your tax affairs | Accountant and solicitor fees defending the enquiry |
Contract dispute | A customer or supplier breaches a written contract | Solicitors’ fees to pursue or defend the dispute |
Debt recovery | A customer won’t pay an invoice you’re owed | Legal costs of recovering what you’re owed |
Top Tip
Legal expenses insurance usually only covers disputes that arise after your policy starts, a dispute that’s already brewing before you buy cover typically won’t be included.
What could a legal dispute cost you?
What could a legal dispute cost you?
Legal costs mount fast, whether you’re defending a claim or chasing one, and you can pay your own fees even if you win.
Legal costs mount fast, whether you’re defending a claim or chasing one, and you can pay your own fees even if you win.
Employment tribunal
A former employee brings an unfair dismissal claim.
Typical cost
£5,000-£30,000
Tax investigation
HMRC opens a full enquiry into your accounts.
Typical cost
£3,000-£20,000
Contract dispute
A customer breaches a written contract with you.
Typical cost
£5,000-£50,000
A customer refuses to pay a significant invoice.
Typical cost
£1,000-£10,000
There’s no fixed price. It depends on your business size, number of employees, industry and the level of cover you choose, it’s usually one of the cheaper additions to a business policy.
Number of employees
More staff means more potential employment disputes, so premiums rise with headcount.
Legal helpline access
24/7 advice access is usually included as standard rather than adding much to the price.
Your industry
Sectors with more contracts and regulation, like construction, are rated differently to others.
Business structure
Sole traders, partnerships and limited companies are rated slightly differently.
Level of cover
Higher claim limits and a wider range of covered disputes cost more.
Claims history
A clean claims record helps keep premiums down at renewal.
How to get legal expenses insurance
How to get legal expenses insurance
Getting legal expenses insurance takes four steps: tell us about your business, choose your level of cover, compare specialist insurers, then get covered, often the same day.
Getting legal expenses insurance takes four steps: tell us about your business, choose your level of cover, compare specialist insurers, then get covered, often the same day.
Tell us about your business
Your size, industry and number of staff.
Choose your level of cover
The disputes and claim limits that matter to you.
We compare specialist insurers
We search our panel of 20+ UK insurers.
Get covered and protected
Receive your documents, usually the same day.
UK-based specialist advisersAccess to specialist insurersNo obligation, just expert helpTrusted by thousands of businesses across the UK
Trusted by thousands of businesses across the UK
From everyday business insurance to complex specialist cover, our customers trust Insurance Revolution to find the right protection and provide expert support when it matters.
From everyday business insurance to complex specialist cover, our customers trust Insurance Revolution to find the right protection and provide expert support when it matters.
Legal expenses guides
Legal expenses guides
Practical advice on cover, disputes and making a claim.
Practical advice on cover, disputes and making a claim.
What Is Commercial Combined Insurance? A Guide for Businesses
Commercial Combined Insurance is a flexible policy that bundles multiple types of business cover into one package. Instead of managing several standalone policies, businesses can protect key risks under a single contract.
Customising Commercial Combined Insurance: How to Build the Right Package for Your Business
Businesses often require protection across multiple risks, but managing individual policies for each one can lead to complexity, duplication, or gaps in cover. Commercial combined insurance offers an efficient way to group essential protections into one package that suits the specific needs of the business.
Commercial Combined vs Individual Policies: Which Option Saves You Time & Money?
For UK businesses juggling multiple risks, insurance cover can quickly become complex. Whether you’re managing buildings, stock, staff or public interactions, the decision between commercial combined insurance and standalone policies could influence both your protection and your budget.
Who Needs Commercial Combined Insurance? From Retailers to Manufacturers & Contractors
Many UK businesses operate across diverse environments with varying risks. From physical assets to liability exposures, these risks can be complex and interrelated. Commercial combined insurance offers a practical way to manage multiple areas of cover under one policy.
Legal expenses insurance FAQs
Legal expenses insurance FAQs
Straight answers on cover, cost, tribunals and tax investigations.
Straight answers on cover, cost, tribunals and tax investigations.
Legal expenses insurance covers the cost of defending or pursuing a legal dispute, including solicitors’ fees, court costs and expert witness fees, for situations like employment disputes, tax investigations and contract disagreements.
Still have questions?
Our advisers are here to help you find the right solution.
