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Based on reviews of all products
What is Commercial Legal Protection?
Business owners can face a variety of issues that unduly challenge the day-to-day running of the business. From employment and contract disputes to property damage and debt recovery, these issues can become a drain on your valuable time and the cost to manage them can quickly escalate. Commercial Legal Protection is an extra layer of security which would look to provide expert legal support to resolve such situations and minimise your financial burden. This can be added to your Business Insurance policy as an optional extra for just £41.
What's covered by Commercial Legal Protection?
All policyholders have unlimited access to our 24-hour Legal helpline by dialling 0800 954 2394. Advice is provided by legal business experts for any commercial problems affecting your business. Many issues are resolved without the need for legal proceedings. However, if matters are not resolved amicably, we will help cover the legal representation costs and expenses up to £100,000. Cover can be provided for:
Employment disputes & employment compensation awards
If a claim is raised against you by a past, present or prospective employee
What’s covered?
- Costs and expenses of defending your legal rights prior to the issue of legal proceedings in a court or tribunal
- Disputes over employment contracts
- Employee dismissals
- Allegations of statutory rights breeches
Contract disputes
If a contract dispute is preventing you from being paid for your goods or services
What’s covered?
- Costs and expenses arising from the negotiation of your legal rights under the agreement.
- Defence or pursuit of a claim for the hire, sale, purchase or provision of your goods or services
Things you should know:
- The amount in dispute must exceed £250
Debt recovery
If you need to recover payments owed by a client after selling or providing your goods or services
What’s covered?
- Negotiations for your legal rights to recover money and interest due
Things you should know:
- The debt must exceed £250
Property protection
If your property is damaged or you are experiencing any issues relating to property interference or infringement
What’s covered?
- Physical damage to your property
- Nuisance or trespass
- Tenancy disputes
Things you should know:
- Landlord disputes only relate to business premises leased or rented by the policyholder
Tax protection
If you find yourself facing a tax enquiry or dispute
What’s covered?
- Full and aspect tax enquiries
- Tax intervention enquiries
- Regulatory compliance disputes
- VAT assessments
Things you should know:
- A £2000 limit and £200 excess applies for each Aspect Enquiry or Tax Intervention Enquiry.
Bodily injury
Following an event which causes you an injury or leads to your death
What’s covered?
- Bodily injury
- Death of the policyholder
Disability discrimination disputes and compensation awards
If your business finds itself in the centre of a disability dispute with a member of the public
What’s covered?
- Legal costs
- Compensation awards
Things you should know:
- A £25,000 limit applies per claim
Social media defamation
If an Internet user makes offensive comments about you or your business on a social media website
What’s covered?
- Writing to the website to request removal of comments
- Writing to the comment author (if known) to request removal of their comments
Call us now to get a quote: 0333 035 9524
Commercial Legal Protection case studies

Employment disputes & employment compensation awards
Our policyholder had a small company with a number of employees. One of these employees resigned but later filed a constructive dismissal claim due to the employee being pregnant at the time.
The policyholder wanted to use Commercial Legal Protection expenses to help with the claim being made against her.
The insurer was not only able to help the policyholder, but also get the constructive dismissal charge removed altogether.
Social media defamation
Our policyholder moved a client’s work forwards by two days and then received abusive threats and text messages, along with a smear campaign on social media. This led to the damaging of his reputation.
The insurer sent two letters to the client and social media platform regarding the matter, explaining the position and implications, and the smear campaign stopped.


Contract dispute
Our policyholder had started to complete some work converting a garage, utility room, and kitchen for a client.
Work had to be halted for Christmas/Covid; however, when invoices were sent, the client refused to pay as they wanted the building regulation approval certificate which they were told they would receive once work had been completed.
The insurer was able to reach a settlement on behalf of the customer for £10,000 which the customer was very happy with.
Things you should know
- Legal costs covered up to £100,000 per year. Commercial Legal Protection is subject to inner limits on certain benefits, and these will be outlined in your policy wording.
- Please do not ask for help from a solicitor or accountant before your claim has been agreed. If you do, we will not pay the costs involved.
- Debt recovery and contract disputes only apply where the value is greater than £250.
- Commercial Legal Protection is available as an optional separate policy, which can only be purchased with your business insurance policy.
- The policy is provided by Arc Legal Assistance.
For further details please see your Policy wording document (pdf - 203kb)
How to make a claim
Call the Legal Advice Service
As soon as you’re aware of a legal issue that you may require help with, please call the Legal Advice Service on 0800 954 2394. Giving them a ring may help avoid the need to seek costly legal advice, and it’s possible you could reach a resolution without resorting to litigation.
Complete your claim form
We will send you a claim form which you must complete with all relevant information and return to us promptly. Alternatively, you can complete your form online.
If in doubt as to whether a matter is a notifiable claim or circumstance, contact the Legal Advice Service.
Cover will not apply in the instance that the claim is reported to us more than 180 days after the date the insured person should have known about the insured incident, or 45 days after for insured incidents relating to identity fraud.