Zurich Professional has maintained its position for the second year running as the largest underwriter for solicitors renewing their professional indemnity policies, according to estimates for this year's cover.

Figures from the assigned risks pool (ARP) estimating this year's cover suggest that Zurich has increased its share of the total cover in the market from 21% to 25.4%.

The insurer of the second largest tranche of the market remains The St Paul, with an estimated 18% as against 20.3% actually insured last year.

QBE covered the third largest tranche with an estimated 16.5% of the market, effectively the same amount it insured last year.

The ARP has estimated that the total cover for this year is valued at 266 million.

David Coughlan, Head of Zurich Professional, said: 'I'm delighted that more firms have decided to insure with Zurich Professional and that for a second year running 95% of our customers said they would recommend us to fellow solicitors for professional indemnity cover.'

Of the 24 qualifying insurers this year, seven are estimated not to have written any cover.

Last year there were 27 qualifying insurers, of whom three did not write any cover.

Jeremy Fleming