Give yourself plenty of time to sort out professional indemnity insurance for the coming year, as underwriters are driving a hard bargain under the current economic circumstances. Simon Lovat offers a broker’s view

Despite nearly every news report, public policy announcement and price increase being preceded by the words “due to the credit crunch” – almost to the point of monotony – it is nonetheless the case that the recent global economic downturn has had, and will continue to have, a major impact on law firms – particularly those that engage in commercial practice.