Herbert Smith Freehills has guided the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to victory in a High Court dispute over whether the COVID-19 pandemic should trigger payouts under business interruption insurance policies.

London’s High Court found in favour of the FCA which brought the case on behalf of insurance policyholders. According to HSF partner and global insurance disputes head Paul Lewis, who advised the FCA on the matter, the victory gives policyholders more guidance as to how their business interruption insurance wordings should operate in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.