News Releases

LONDON--Aug 9, 2012--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ACE Group today launched a dedicated UK helpline and website, offering professional legal advice free of charge to its directors and officers (D&O) and employment practices liability (EPL) insurance customers, as it continues to strengthen its UK liability insurance proposition.

In an increasingly complex and fast-changing legal and regulatory environment, in which staff disputes and employment-related issues can cause significant disruption for an organisation and its people, the helpline is designed to prevent claims developing and to reduce the time and cost spent managing them when they do. ACE will make the helpline and website available to all individual and business customers that currently have an ACE D&O or EPL policy in place.

ACE is partnering with Gateley, the top 50 national law firm, to ensure that clients have easy access to a team of qualified and experienced solicitors via the helpline. Gateley solicitors can advise on the legal aspects and considerations surrounding D&O and EPL regulation, both before and during a claim. Use of the service and the advice provided is optional and has no effect on a client’s policy.

Simon Million, UK & Ireland D&O Manager for ACE, comments: “ACE believes prevention is better than cure. By providing concise and practical guidance on day-to-day legal issues, our helpline offers clients proactive support in advance of any claim. The service is designed to help our clients better mitigate disputes and manage the often significant expense of defending claims. Uniquely, all advice given is non-obligatory, so it is up to the client whether or not they choose to implement it.”

Sarah Garth, Employment Partner at Gateley, comments: "UK employment law has become increasingly complex. The number of employment tribunal claims has risen by 60 per cent over the last six years alone. This affects companies of all sizes and Gateley offers the expertise and insight to help businesses limit their risk exposure and reduce claims. Our team of experienced practitioners prides itself on offering advice, which is clear and commercially-focused.”

The complimentary Legal Advice Helpline is available within the UK on 0845 250 8585, between 8.30am-5.30pm GMT Monday to Friday.

Additional information can be found on the website: www.acegateleyuk.com

About ACE:

The ACE Group is one of the world’s largest multiline property and casualty insurers. With operations in 53 countries, ACE provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. ACE Limited, the parent company of the ACE Group, is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: ACE) and is a component of the S&P 500 index.

ACE UK & Ireland’s five regions are:

∙ Ireland (Dublin and Belfast) ∙ Scotland (Glasgow) ∙ The North (Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle) ∙ Midlands (Birmingham) ∙ London and South East (London, Maidstone, Reading, Watford)

Additional information can be found at: www.acegroup.com/uk

About Gateley:

Gateley is a top 50, national UK law firm with 150 partners and more than 400 fee earners. It operates from offices in Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Leicester, London, Manchester, Nottingham, and Dubai. It has specialist teams covering all aspects of legal services, including corporate, banking, real estate and development, technology and renewables, social housing, construction, employment, pensions, dispute resolution, shipping & transport as well as private client services.

The firm was named 'Best Legal Adviser' in the 2011 Legal Week Client Satisfaction Report, which surveyed more than 1,000 senior in-house lawyers. Gateley topped the score for personal/partner relationships and beat benchmarks on commercial and legal advice as well as service delivery.

The firm has won over 35 awards in the past three years including Best Regional Law Firm at the Legal Business Awards and was voted 2011 Corporate Law Firm of the Year at the Insider Dealmakers Awards. The Manchester employment department was voted Employment Team of the Year at the Manchester Legal Awards 2012.

For further details on the firm please visit www.gateleyuk.com or follow us on Twitterwww.Twitter.com/GateleyLLP

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