Partner

Zoe Burge

Office Managing Partner

Bristol, United Kingdom

London, United Kingdom

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Languages

English
French

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Zoe Burge is a Partner and Solicitor Advocate in the Insurance & Reinsurance Group of CMS UK. She is very experienced in commercial disputes work and moved from London to Bristol in 2012 to manage our Bristol team of insurance lawyers. She is alsoCMS’s Bristol Office Managing Partner.

Zoe has defended a wide range of complex professional indemnity disputes, but has particular experience of claims against solicitors and insurance intermediaries. She regularly advises and represents law firms and individuals on professional conduct issues and regulatory reporting obligations. Zoe also advises Insurers on high profile and complex policy coverage issues.

Zoe has her Higher Rights of Audience in Civil Advocacy and is a contributor to “Solicitors’ Claims: A Practical Guide” published by Sweet & Maxwell and contributed to ‘Insurance Broking Practice and the Law’.

Zoe is ranked as a Leading Partner by Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners for Professional Indemnity.

Relevant experience

The professional indemnity insurers of Jirehouse in connection with its defence of a claim arising from the fraud and dishonest practices of Stephen David Jones, at first instance and in the Court of Appeal: Discovery Land Company, LLC and others v AXIS Speciality Europe SE [2023] EWHC 779 (Comm) / [2025] EWHC 1334 (Ch)⎯ Complex insurance coverage advice to the professional indemnity insurers of a firm of insolvent solicitors, following the high-profile collapse of its bulk claims business and intervention by the SRA.
An insurance broker from allegations of negligence in connection with the placement of property damage cover: Hamsard One Thousand and Forty-Three Limited v AE Insurance Brokers Limited [2022] EWCA Civ 1169.
Ashley Hurst of Osborne Clarke in disciplinary proceedings before the SDT relating to SLAAPs (20.12.25) and on appeal.
In the successful defence of a multi-party high value claim against a firm relating to complex private client and tax issues.
Insurers on coverage and monitoring in respect of a USD 40m breach of trust claim in Jersey arising out of claims by investors in a highly complicated off-shore property investment structure.
Large scale commercial disputes including: FTI Consulting Ltd in its defence of an USD 800m claim brought by Dar Al Arkan and Bank Alkhair and acting for the Liquidators of BCCI in their landmark claim against the Bank of England for misfeasance in public office.

Publications

Contributor to “Solicitors’ Claims: A Practical Guide”, published with Sweet & Maxwell in October 2013
Contributor to the market publication “Insurance Broking Practice and the Law”

Education

1999 – LPC, College of Law, Chester
1998 – LLB (Hons), University of Birmingham

sectors

Insurance Insurance Regulatory Financial Institutions Insurance Corporate Professional Negligence Insurance Brokers Solicitors

Insights

Global Reach

UK Pay Gap Report 2024