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Legal expenses insurance

Being right isn't free .

Cover for the legal costs of pursuing or defending a business dispute, plus a 24-hour legal helpline.

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Provided byMarkel

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Online quote and buy, provided by Markel. No obligation.

What you get

  • A few questionsWhat your business does, your turnover, how many people work there
  • Your price on screenIncluding Insurance Premium Tax at 12%
  • Documents by emailDocuments and the 24-hour legal advice helpline number
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IGotCover introduces you to Markel. Markel runs the quote, sells the policy and underwrites it.

Fast, easy online quote in 90 seconds

It covers contract disputes, tax investigations including IR35, employment claims and Health and Safety investigations, up to £100,000 a claim. A 24-hour solicitors' helpline is included.

Subject to the policy terms, exclusions, your excess and the insurer's underwriting.

  1. A dispute startsA client won't pay, HMRC opens an enquiry, a former employee files a claim
  2. You need a solicitorEither to pursue it or to defend yourself
  3. The costs mountLegal fees run whether or not you are in the right
  4. The policy respondsLegal costs and expenses, up to £100,000 a claim

Who is it for?

Typically suitable for businesses that could end up in a dispute with a client, a supplier, an employee or HMRC. It is the cover people wish they had bought once the first letter arrives.

Usually a fit

  • Anyone who invoices clients and has ever been paid late
  • Contractors inside or outside IR35 who could face an HMRC enquiry
  • Businesses with employees or former employees
  • Anyone who could face a Health and Safety investigation after an incident
  • Sole traders who want a solicitor on the end of a phone without paying by the hour

What it doesn't do

  • A client says your work cost them money. That's professional indemnity
  • Injury to the public or damage to their property. That's public liability
  • Contracts not governed by UK law

Cover, limits and exclusions are set by the policy wording. Read the documents before you buy.

Why businesses buy it

  • Legal fees do not care who is right

    Defending an unfounded employment claim or answering an HMRC enquiry costs money from the first hour, win or lose.

  • It funds chasing money you are owed

    Contract disputes include recovering debts from clients. For a small business that is often the most used part of the cover.

  • The helpline gets used more than the policy

    24-hour access to qualified solicitors for any business legal question, at no extra cost, tends to be the part customers actually notice.

What to be aware of

  • Cover varies by trade and occupation. Check the summary of cover that comes with your quote.
  • An excess may apply depending on the cover you choose.
  • The limit is up to £100,000 a claim, subject to £1m in total for all claims in a policy period.
  • It is not the same as professional indemnity. That covers claims that your work cost a client money.
  • Fines and penalties are not covered by any policy.
  • Cover levels and exclusions vary by policy. Read the policy documents before you buy.

What the cover runs to

Legal expenses has a single limit rather than a range to choose from, so here is what that limit actually means and what comes with it.

  • Up to £100,000 a claim

    The most the policy pays towards the legal costs and expenses of any one covered dispute.

  • £1m in total per policy period

    An aggregate cap across every claim made in the same 12 months. Worth knowing if you are in more than one dispute.

  • 24-hour legal advice helpline

    Qualified solicitors, any business legal question, included at no additional cost. Available from the day cover starts.

  • Cover varies by trade

    What is included depends on your occupation. The summary of cover issued with your quote is the document that matters.

What it covers

  • Contract disputes, including recovering debts owed to you by clients.
  • Tax investigations, including IR35 enquiries.
  • Employment disputes with employees and former employees.
  • Health and Safety Executive investigations.
  • Criminal defence and attending a police interview under caution on a business matter.
  • Jury service attendance.

What it costs

Starting price

from£6a month

Available only for certain trades and business profiles. Individual premiums may be higher.

Up to £100,000 of legal expenses cover

Markel's indicative quotes, cover bundled
  • IT contractor, £116k turnover: £22.40 a month
  • Business consultant, £101k turnover: £28.17 a month

Markel's published price. The monthly figure is an average equivalent monthly of the annual premium. A higher first payment applies and individual premiums vary. Source: Markel Direct, September 2026. Markel's basis for the £6 figure is a business consultant taking £100,000 of legal expenses cover. Only available for certain trades and risk profiles.

Every price in the quote includes Insurance Premium Tax at 12%.

An adviser on the phone holding a notepad

How it works in practice

An illustrative example, not a real claim. Names and figures are invented to show the mechanics.

Jo, 36Freelance business consultant, limited company, no employees.
The situation

A client accepts the final report, then goes quiet on a £14,000 invoice. Six months of chasing gets nowhere, and separately HMRC opens an enquiry into Jo's IR35 status on an earlier contract.

What it meant

Assuming the claim falls within the scope of cover, the policy may fund solicitors to pursue the unpaid invoice and to represent her through the HMRC enquiry. Jo runs her business instead of funding two legal fights out of cash flow.

  • Limit£100k a claim
  • Aggregate£1m a year

Whether and how much a policy pays depends on the policy terms, the excess and the circumstances of the claim.

Who you're dealing with

Two parties, and it's worth knowing which is which.

  • Introduces you to MarkelIGotCover

    A trading name of Caspian Assured Ltd, authorised and regulated by the FCA. We explain the cover and point you to Markel's quote.

  • MarkelSells and underwrites the policyMarkel Direct

    The quote journey you're taken to, the policy you buy and the insurer named on your certificate. Markel Direct is a trading name of Markel International Insurance Company Limited. Claims are handled by Markel.

Protecting the people the business relies on

Legal expenses covers the cost of a dispute. Business protection covers what happens if you or a key person can't work at all.

  • Directors

    Relevant life insurance

    Life cover for a director, paid for by the business.

    Explore
  • Key people

    Key person insurance

    A lump sum to the business if someone it depends on dies or is seriously ill.

    Explore
  • Ownership

    Shareholder protection

    Funds for the other owners to buy a shareholder's stake.

    Explore
  • Staff

    Employee benefits

    Cover arranged across your staff rather than one at a time.

    Explore

These are separate products, not part of the quote above. Advice is provided by IGotCover advisers. Cover is subject to eligibility, underwriting and the policy terms.

Common questions

Something not covered here? Email us at [email protected].

How is this different from professional indemnity?

Professional indemnity responds when a client says your work or advice cost them money. Legal expenses responds when your business is in a dispute: a contract disagreement, an HMRC enquiry, an employment tribunal. They cover different things and most businesses hold both.

Can I use it to chase a client who won't pay?

Contract disputes include recovering debts owed to you by clients, so yes, subject to the policy terms and the usual tests the insurer applies before funding a case.

Does it cover an IR35 enquiry?

Tax investigations including IR35 are listed in the cover. Check the summary of cover issued with your quote, because what is included varies by occupation.

Do the prices include tax?

Yes. Every price you see includes Insurance Premium Tax at 12%. The price you pay depends on your business, your turnover and the insurer's underwriting.

Get your legal cover sorted today.

A few questions, your price, then documents by email. No obligation to buy.

Questions for us? Email [email protected]. Help with the quote itself is Markel's team on 0800 640 6600.

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Quote journey provided by Markel.

This page is information only and not personal advice. IGotCover is a trading name of Caspian Assured Ltd, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA reference [FRN]). Registered in England and Wales, company number 07011592. Registered office: Tower 12, Level 2, Bridge Street, Spinningfields, Manchester M3 3BZ. IGotCover introduces customers to Markel for this product. It does not provide advice or a personal recommendation, and does not recommend a level of cover. You choose the cover and limits that suit your business.

The online quote-and-buy journey is provided by Markel. Markel Direct is a trading name of Markel International Insurance Company Limited, authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority. Policies are underwritten by Markel International Insurance Company Limited. Prices include Insurance Premium Tax at 12%. Cover levels, limits and exclusions vary by policy and are subject to eligibility and underwriting. Read the policy documents before you buy. Last reviewed 14 September 2026.

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