Gareth Pickup

Gareth joined Markel Law in November 2024 to become Head of Liability Claims in the Civil Litigation department, having gained more than a decade of professional indemnity and public liability insurance experience at leading insurance law firms.

Gareth specialises in handling and defending a wide range of high value, complex and multi-party construction, property damage and product liability claims. They typically involve contract disputes, fires, escapes of water and subsidence which arise from defective design and / or workmanship issues.

Gareth also has extensive experience of handling and supervising subrogated recovery claims, ranging from low value volume claims up to the highest value complex matters. Gareth is well versed in handling subrogated recovery claims on first party property claims, as well as third party liability recovery claims.

Gareth regularly advises on complex policy coverage matters, typically involving late notification, the duty of fair presentation / misrepresentation and the application of policy terms generally – including any litigation that ensues from a declinature and / or voidance decision. He also advises insurers on the obligations arising out of the Third Parties (Rights Against Insurers) Act 2010. Gareth also undertakes non-contentious work including providing a collateral warranty review and negotiation service.

Gareth also has significant experience of all forms of ADR. With an ever-increasing emphasis on parties engaging in ADR, Gareth is a keen advocate of ADR at the appropriate time in cases and he regularly attends without prejudice meetings or mediations to explore the most cost-effective commercial resolutions for his clients.