Mirjam Schorr

Mirjam advises insurers and reinsurers on policy coverage, exclusions, aggregation issues, and drafting bespoke policies under English and German law, in high-value coverage disputes and cross-border arbitrations.

• Represented reinsurers in a multimillion-dollar coverage arbitration relating to business interruption losses caused by the Covid-19 lockdown.
• Acted for reinsurers in concurrent litigation and arbitration in South Africa over funds held in trust by an insolvent reinsured.
• Represented various excess insurers in a coverage dispute related to the withdrawal of metal-on-metal hip implants, and monitoring of underlying tort litigation in various US and European jurisdictions to advise insurers on potential exposure.
• Advised excess insurers in coverage dispute related to the withdrawal of allegedly defective knee implants.
• Successfully defended London Market insurers in coverage dispute in the German courts at first instance and appeal.
• Frequently advises on policy exclusions and aggregation issues.
• Drafted bespoke K&R policy under German law.
• Reviewed German law environmental liability wordings and drafted ancillary documentation.

Mirjam advises manufacturers and suppliers on product liability disputes, defending against allegations of defective design or manufacture, managing multi-jurisdictional litigation, arbitration, and consumer claims across the UK, Germany, and international markets.

• Defended the supplier and manufacturer of composite beams for high voltage direct current thyristor valves against allegations of supply of defective goods in a multimillion-pound dispute.
• Acted for the manufacturer of tyre recycling machinery in arbitration proceedings involving allegations of defective design and/or manufacture following a fire which destroyed the UAE recycling plant.
• Negotiated on behalf of a manufacturer of pressure relief valves in claims arising from the manufacture of allegedly defective valves resulting in a multitude of water leaks across the UK.
• Acted for the manufacturer of bearings following a helicopter crash involving several fatalities.
• Represented the manufacturer of plumbing equipment in a multitude of consumer claims.
• Represented the supplier of allegedly defective automotive parts in pre-action mediation with the car manufacturer.
• Defended manufacturers of solar panels in fire claims.
• Acted for a German manufacturer of wind turbines in UK litigation.
• Acted for German manufacturers of mesh implants in English group litigation.
• Defended a manufacturer of intra-ocular lenses in a multitude of English cases and acted as monitoring counsel for other jurisdictions.

Mirjam advises on German law issues for cross-border clients, acting in English or German, supporting businesses, insurers, and manufacturers on contracts, compliance, joint ventures, insurance policies, and consumer-facing obligations in Germany.

• Being dual-qualified in Germany and England and with a cross-border practice, Mirjam typically advises on German law issues in English, and English law questions in German.
• Acts for German, Swiss and Austrian manufacturers and other commercial entities in the English courts, reporting to the client and taking instructions in German and advising on the differences in law and procedure in England and Germany.
• Permanent German law counsel to a travel company, assisting in the setup of business in Germany, including drafting consumer terms, advice on marketing, and liaising with the Travel Guarantee Fund.
• Advised an English construction company on a German law joint venture agreement.
• Drafted and advised on numerous German law insurance policies (liability, K&R and property/BI policies).
• Advised corporates on compliance with local laws of product labels ahead of product launches in Germany.

Recommended by The Legal 500 for Product Liability (YEAR)

Co-authored the chapter on product liability claims in the third edition of Insurance Disputes (edited by the Right Honourable Lord Mance, Iain Goldrein QC and Professor Robert Merkin)