Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Europe

Hold a Negligent Professional to Account for the Damage They Caused

When a lawyer, accountant, surveyor or other professional falls below the standard their work required, the loss can be severe — and proving it is demanding. We match you, free of charge, with a specialist who handles professional negligence claims in the relevant country and can tell you whether yours is worth pursuing.

  • 155+ legal services, 14 practice areas
  • Lawyers across the EU & EEA
  • No fee to get matched

No commitment. No hidden fees.

Get matched with a lawyer

Tell us about your situation and receive a free, confidential case review.

Free & confidential. No obligation to hire.


14
Legal practice categories
155+
Specialised legal services
24–48h
Average first response
€0
Cost to get matched

Who this is for

When the advice you paid for turns out to be wrong, the consequences can be severe

Professional negligence law lets you seek compensation when a professional — a lawyer, accountant, architect, surveyor, tax adviser, financial adviser, engineer or medical professional — fails to meet the standard of care their profession requires and you suffer loss as a result. These claims are demanding: you must show that a duty of care was owed, that the professional fell below the standard a reasonably competent peer would have met, and that this failure directly caused measurable loss. The standard itself, and the way these claims are handled, vary across European countries, and limitation periods are often short. Because professionals are usually insured, claims are frequently defended vigorously. We match you, free of charge, with a lawyer who handles professional negligence claims in the relevant jurisdiction and can assess whether yours is worth pursuing.


Why these claims are hard

Negligence claims rarely fail for lack of a loss.
They fail because the standard and the causation are hard to prove.

Professionals and their insurers rarely admit fault — and limitation periods can run out while you are still seeking explanations.

01

The wrong advice already cost you

A missed tax deadline, a badly drafted contract, a survey that failed to flag structural problems. By the time the mistake is discovered, the loss has usually already happened — and proving it fell below the required standard is the real challenge.

02

A professional who will not admit fault

Professionals and their insurers rarely concede negligence easily. You will need evidence of the standard that applied and how it was breached, which usually means expert opinion and a carefully built case from the outset.

03

Time running out

Limitation periods for negligence claims are often strict and can run from the date of the negligent act, not the date you noticed the damage. Delaying while you seek explanations can quietly extinguish a claim that was otherwise winnable.


What you get

A professional negligence lawyer who actually works your case

We only match you with lawyers who handle negligence claims against professionals regularly in the relevant country.

Honest merits assessment

Your lawyer reviews the advice, the documents and the loss to tell you plainly whether a claim meets the legal test for negligence — duty, breach, causation and loss — before you commit to pursuing it.

Expert evidence arranged

Negligence claims usually require an expert to confirm the applicable standard of care and how it was breached. Your lawyer identifies and instructs the right expert to support your case.

Early negotiation with insurers

Most professionals carry professional indemnity insurance, and many claims settle without trial. Your lawyer presents the claim in a way that engages the insurer constructively and maximises the chance of an early settlement.

Litigation and settlement strategy

If the claim is contested, you are represented by a lawyer who has built the case from the beginning and can take it to trial or negotiate a settlement from a position of strength.


Coverage

Professional negligence lawyers across Europe

The standard of care and the rules for negligence claims are set nationally, so the right lawyer practises in the country whose law governs the professional’s work. We match cases across the following countries and beyond:

SpainPortugalGermanyFranceItalyNetherlandsBelgiumIrelandAustriaPolandGreeceSweden+ more EU / EEA countries

Frequently asked

Professional negligence — common questions

What is professional negligence?

A claim that a professional — such as a lawyer, accountant, surveyor, architect or financial adviser — failed to meet the standard of care their profession requires, causing you financial loss. Not every mistake is negligence; the failure must fall below what a reasonably competent peer would have done.

How do I know if I have a claim?

You generally need to show a duty of care was owed, the standard was breached, and that breach caused measurable loss. Because this assessment is fact-sensitive and country-specific, the most reliable way is to have a specialist lawyer review the advice and the loss.

Is there a time limit for bringing a claim?

Yes, and it varies by country. Limitation periods can be short and may run from the date of the negligent act rather than when you discovered the loss, so it is important to seek advice as soon as you suspect a problem.

Will I be suing the professional personally?

Usually the claim is met by their professional indemnity insurer, which is often why claims are defended. This means claims are pursued seriously but can frequently be settled once a strong case is presented.

Do I need an expert to prove negligence?

In most cases, yes. An expert in the relevant profession is typically needed to confirm the standard of care that applied and how it was breached. Your lawyer will arrange this as part of building the case.

How much does a professional negligence claim cost?

Costs depend on the value and complexity of the claim and whether expert evidence and litigation are needed. We match you free of charge and with no obligation, and your lawyer should explain the funding options and likely costs before work begins.


Free case review

Find out whether your negligence claim is worth pursuing

Tell us what went wrong and the loss you suffered, and we’ll match you, free of charge, with a lawyer who handles professional negligence claims in the relevant country.