Brunel PI Brokers has appointed Ayse Baker as director and head of risk management and claims. In the new role, Baker will lead the firm’s risk management and claims proposition for professional services clients across the UK.
Baker joins Brunel from Wren Insurance Association, where she worked as divisional director and head of contracts. During her time there, she supported architectural studios on risk management, contractual risk reviews and professional indemnity matters.
Before joining Wren, Baker worked as a solicitor at Caytons Law, where she specialised in claims and contract support for professional services businesses. She has also developed particular expertise advising AJ100 architectural practices on complex risk and insurance issues.
Strengthening Brunel’s specialist team
Brunel PI Brokers was launched in January 2024 as a specialist professional indemnity brokerage within Brunel Group. The business is led by managing director Jon Filer and retail broking director Sam Scott.
The brokerage was established as an alternative for UK SME and mid-corporate professional indemnity clients as the market began moving away from the hard-market conditions seen previously.
Brunel PI Brokers operates from Brunel Group’s Bristol head office as well as its London office. Baker’s appointment adds further legal and risk management expertise as the brokerage continues to develop its specialist team.
In her new position, Baker will oversee a team and work directly with clients to identify, mitigate and manage professional risks. She will also provide strategic support throughout the claims process.
Baker brings specialist architectural risk expertise
Baker’s experience working with AJ100 practices is particularly relevant to her new position. AJ100 represents some of the UK’s largest and most established architectural firms, which can face complex professional indemnity and contractual risks.
Architectural professional indemnity exposures have become increasingly complex, including issues connected with building safety and fire safety remediation obligations following the Building Safety Act. Larger architectural practices can also have more complicated contractual arrangements and higher insurance limits than smaller firms.
Baker’s combination of legal experience in professional negligence and insurance-market knowledge could support clients in reviewing contractual wording and managing potential risks before they develop into claims.
For Brunel PI Brokers, which remains in the early stages of its development, the appointment adds specialist expertise in a technically demanding area of the professional indemnity market.
The impact of Baker’s appointment on new business within the architectural sector, as well as on services provided to existing clients, is likely to become clearer through future renewal cycles.
