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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 

Insights by Zoe

High Court overturns “unfair” SDT decision

03 Mar 2026 10 min read

Taiwo v Homelets of Bath Ltd: High Court warning on false AI-generated authorities and lawyer risk

14 Jan 2026 8 min read

Artificial intelligence in litigation practice post Ayinde and Mazur: what law firm leaders must do now

18 Dec 2025 10 min read

A new era for litigation teams following Mazur & Stuart v Charles Russell Speechlys LLP [2025] EWHC 2341 (KB)

15 Oct 2025 9 min read
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