Henry Dony Associates

We set the stables on fire by mistake.

A homeowner accidentally set fire to their stables, resulting in extensive damage. Sam painstakingly formulated and validated the claim, maximising the contents claim and negotiating the reconstruction of the buildings. He also agreed cash settlements for vegetation and outbuildings and dealt with solicitors regarding a negligence claim from an uninsured neighbour.

The flooding closed our nightclub.

Damaged drains caused foul water to flood the basement of a nightclub. The resulting property damage forced the venue to close, creating a substantial loss of profits claim. Sam worked with both the Freeholder and nightclub owner to resolve inaccuracies in the policies, investigate the source of the damage, mitigate the loss and manage the reinstatement. The aim throughout was to get the nightclub reopened and profitable again as quickly as possible

The fire destroyed an historic office building.

A fire spread from a ground-floor shop through an old timber-framed office block occupied by a law firm. The building was almost completely destroyed. Underinsurance became a significant issue, particularly because some of the building’s distinctive materials were obsolete and therefore difficult to value and replace. The reinstatement was further complicated by the need to retrieve highly sensitive, legally classified records from within the wreckage. Sam worked with architects, engineers and surveyors, to formulate the claim and achieve an out-of-court settlement which delighted his clients.

The insurer accused us of deceiving them.

Supercars parked on a tradesman’s driveway raised the loss adjuster’s suspicions during a claim for stolen jewellery and designer watches. Loss adjusters alleged that Sam’s client had deceived the insurer about their business dealings. Following a recorded interview, insurers sought to avoid liability and void the policy. Sam examined the allegations and evidence in forensic detail. He rebutted every allegation made against his client, who was exonerated, and the claim was paid in full.

We needed to reinstate an historic building without disrupting medical practices.

An 18th-century Grade II listed building in the Howard de Walden estate in London’s Marylebone housed several medical practices. Water had leaked through many storeys, damaging the building and the businesses operating within it. Sam represented both the Landlord and the medical practices, working with specialist contractors and building professionals to manage the reinstatement while keeping disruption to the private clinics and their sterile environments to a minimum.

The property had been turned into a cannabis farm.

Police discovered a cannabis farm in a let property in a smart area of suburban London. Plants had been grown in every room apart from the kitchen and bathroom. The property had suffered extensive malicious damage, including damage to floors, ceiling voids and electrics. The loss adjuster sought to avoid liability following a detailed investigation into the tenant vetting process. Sam examined the issues in detail and secured acceptance of liability. He then negotiated the Loss of Rent claim and a reinstatement settlement that was a number of times greater than his client had expected.

The fire damaged specialist equipment and our customers’ property.

A fire spread to a photographic studio specialising in high-end fashion. The claim involved specialist photographic and IT equipment, contents, customers’ fashionwear and props. There was also an important question about the extent of Sam’s client’s contractual liability towards its customers. Sam interpreted the relevant client contracts, established the extent of his client’s liability and negotiated the resulting Good In Trust claim.

The insurer’s settlement wasn’t nearly enough.

Storm winds blew the roof off a loft dormer, exposing the house to the elements. Sam’s client was unhappy with the amount their insurers had paid and asked Sam to review the claim. He negotiated a claim worth more than 15 times the insurance company’s original settlement.

We were robbed after being attacked in our own home.

Four masked men lay in wait for Sam’s clients as they returned home. The clients were savagely beaten before the attackers stole a large amount of jewellery. This was a particularly traumatic claim. Sam’s empathy and patience were as important as his forensic attention to detail when formulating and negotiating the high-value jewellery claim. His approach was greatly appreciated by his clients.