Andrew Bardot
Secretary and executive officer
International Group of P&I Clubs
As executive officer of International Group of P&I Clubs since 2006, Andrew Bardot is secretary of a body that insures 90% of the world’s oceangoing fleet. One private practitioner describes him as ‘one of the top private practitioners looking at things from the other side of the fence. After 25 years in private practice, he provides a very good perspective’.
He works alongside one lawyer – Pauline Marchand – who specialises in environment and pollution matters. ‘We don’t get involved in claims handling – that’s always dealt with by the individual clubs,’ Bardot says, explaining that he enjoys co-ordinating the activities of the 13 clubs in an industry that is truly global. This includes the formulation and development of group policies, operation of IG’s claims (ranging from $8m to approx $7bn), pooling and reinsurance arrangements. Annual legal spend can run into hundreds of thousands of dollars per year, and this very much depends on cases. For example, IG has just emerged from a three-year competition investigation by the European Commission on which Hogan Lovells provided external advice.
The IG does not have a formal panel but works with a global group of lawyers on a range of reinsurance and regulatory issues. In the UK these include Reed Smith’s Andrew Taylor and Ince & Co’s Colin de la Rue. Bardot says: ‘We have long-term relationships with these firms and agreed rates. We are happy with the service they deliver. What is important for us is the continuity of the engagement and the intimate understanding that the lawyers have of our system.’
Law firms used: Hogan Lovells, Ince & Co, Reed Smith
2006-present: Secretary and executive officer, International Group of P&I Clubs
1978–2005: Solicitor, Bentleys, Stokes and Lowless