I refer to your article ‘Quinn could reopen in UK’ (see [2010] Gazette, 22 April, 2). You assert that the Law Society has advised solicitors currently insured with Quinn ‘... not to take any action’.

This is inaccurate. In our statement dated Friday 16 April we said two things: ‘This means that those firms who are currently insured by Quinn for the purposes of the relevant SRA rules can continue to rely on that insurance. There is no need to replace Quinn insurance policies at the present time.’

We went on in the same letter to also state: ‘Members will also wish to consider whether changing insurers prior to renewal is appropriate and in their best interest. This is a decision that can only be taken by individual firms on a specific case-by-case basis, but in making their decision our view is that they should bear in mind carefully the advice from the regulators.’

The Society is therefore not advising solicitors that they should not take any action. Rather, we note that there is no obligation to seek new insurance cover, but that firms should consider carefully whether they think it in their interests to seek alternative cover.

Desmond Hudson, Chief executive, Law Society