ABSTRACT
This chapter explains how professional consultants are engaged and examines whether a consultant is qualified and experienced. It shows what insurances a professional consultant needs and reviews the nature of disputes. Professionals are either individual sole practitioners or in a consultancy firm or company as principals, partners, directors or staff. Professional indemnity insurance is sought to ensure sufficient funds to meet any client’s loss due to breach of contract or negligence; it removes the danger to the personal assets of the partners. A professional body may offer a service of providing the names of their members who are suitably qualified and experienced in a particular type of professional work. In some instances the professional body will have accredited a particular academic or vocational qualification. Professional firms will have an internal complaints procedure which will be taken by someone other than the party complained about.
