Andrew Rigney KC > Crown Office Chambers > London, England > Barrister Profile
Crown Office Chambers Offices
2 CROWN OFFICE ROW, TEMPLE
LONDON
EC4Y 7HJ
England
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Andrew Rigney KC
Position
Andrew Rigney QC has an extensive domestic and international practice, which encompasses a wide range of civil and commercial work. He specialises in large-scale disputes arising out of very substantial projects involving complex factual and technical evidence, leading large multi-disciplinary (and often multi-national) teams of lawyers and experts.
Andrew’s areas of expertise include (i) construction and engineering disputes (both in the TCC and in domestic and international arbitration) including, amongst other things, large infrastructure projects, ports, shipbuilding, a number of international airports, the de-commissioning of a nuclear power station, a naval base, a co-location headquarters for the Ministry of Defence, hotels, roads, rail, process plants, water treatment plants, de-salination plants, sewerage plants, (ii) energy and natural resources (both onshore and offshore) including waste energy plants, CHP and the largest renewables plant of its kind in the world (iii) international arbitration (iv) insurance and reinsurance (v) professional indemnity work (in particular engineers, architects, surveyors, solicitors and accountants) (vi) property damage and (vii) commercial litigation including sale of goods, financial instruments, aviation leasing agreements and product liability.
He is familiar with a wide range of standard forms (including JCT, ICE, NEC, FIDIC, IChemE, PPC, TPC, ACE, RIBA etc) and PFI contracts, and a wide range of arbitral rules (ICC, LCIA, UNCITRAL, EDF and LMAA etc); and he has acted in relation to claims concerning projects in the United States, the Caribbean, Russia, Central and Eastern Europe, the Indian sub-continent, Africa, Turkey, Hong Kong and the Middle East (including the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia) as well as in the United Kingdom.
So far as coverage work is concerned, he has wide experience of disputes involving CAR/EAR policies (including, in particular, the operation of DE and LEG clauses (and clauses based on them)) and Public Liability, Product Liability and Employers’ Liability policies (including Business Interruption); and he has acted in relation to some of the largest domestic and international losses. He has advised in relation to the effect of COVID-19 in the context of a number of worldwide Business Interruption and Material Damage wordings, and was instructed by Zurich in the FCA coronavirus test case (FCA v Arch et al), a landmark insurance claim to determine whether certain non-damage BI wordings provide cover in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. The first instance judgment of Flaux LJ and Butcher J is at [2020] EWHC 2448 (Comm) and [2020] Lloyds Rep IR 527, and the judgment of the Supreme Court is at [2021] UKSC 1.
Andrew also has substantial experience of conflicts of laws and jurisdictional challenges (including cases involving the Brussels Regulation and Rome Regulations), and of civil law systems in the Middle East, including issues of Egyptian, UAE, Qatari, Kuwaiti, Saudi and Omani law.
Career
Called 1992; Gray’s Inn (Uthwatt Scholar).
Memberships
- Commercial Bar Association
- Technology and Construction Bar Association (former Committee member)
- Society of Construction Law
- Society of Construction Law (Gulf)
- London Common Law and Commercial Bar Association
- Professional Negligence Bar Association
- LCIA
Education
Hulme Grammar School, Oldham; Christ’s College, Cambridge; City University (MA Cantab; Diploma in Law, Distinction).
Lawyer Rankings
London Bar > Construction
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 1Andrew Rigney KC – Crown Office Chambers ‘Andrew’s intellectual strength goes without saying. But in addition, Andrew is a superb advocate with his quiet understated style belying a razor-sharp cross-examiner. He has turned a judge 180 degrees to his way of thinking on a number of occasions with persuasive but straightforward and very well-constructed arguments. Lastly, he is without any doubt the most client and solicitor-friendly KC at the construction Bar.’
With ‘strength in depth’, Crown Office Chambers tackles a broad spectrum of construction disputes, including construction-related professional negligence and insurance claims. In Sky, Mace & Prater v Riverstone Managing Agency and others, Andrew Rigney KC acted for the insurers in a substantial claim tied to defects and damages to the roof of Sky’s headquarters and studios in Osterley. Michael Curtis KC and Michele De Gregorio represent Simply Construct in the case of Toppan Holdings Ltd & Abbey Healthcare (Mill Hill) Ltd v Simply Construct (UK) Ltd, concerning alleged fire safety defects at a London care home, and have secured permission to appeal to the Supreme Court – at issue is if a collateral warranty is a construction contract within the meaning of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996; if it is not, the adjudicator who heard the case did not have jurisdiction.
London Bar > International arbitration: counsel
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 2Andrew Rigney KC –Crown Office Chambers ‘Andrew’s contributions to the team are always invaluable – impressive intelligence and exceptional oral advocacy skills. His ability to present complex legal arguments in a clear and concise manner is truly impressive. His willingness to go above and beyond to ensure a positive outcome does not go unnoticed.’
Crown Office Chambers continues to build a solid international arbitration practice, with a particular geographical focus in the Middle East and Asia. Andrew Rigney KC has an enviable track record of acting in international large scale, high-value arbitrations, most notably in the construction, infrastructure and energy sectors. Anna Laney KCis often instructed as sole counsel on several disputes in the GCC and is the senior junior behind Crispin Winser KC in a complex high-value dispute in Oman. Richard Sage established a strong international arbitration practice with recent work highlights involving the construction of power plants, hydroelectric stations and wind farms.
London Bar > Energy
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 2Andrew Rigney KC – Crown Office Chambers ‘User-friendly, sharp and creative, Andrew sees things that others don’t, and his work ethic is second to none.’
London Bar > Insurance and reinsurance
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 1Andrew Rigney KC –Crown Office Chambers ‘Very hard working and not afraid to roll up his sleeves. He is excellent with clients and provides practical and commercial advice, always having the client’s objectives in mind. Really at the top of his game.’
Crown Office Chambers handles most aspects of contentious claims and coverage issues in the London Market and its members are well-known for insurance work in areas including construction, property damage and professional liability. Members of the set have varied strengths and handle a broad practice with silks including Isabel Hitching KC, which one client describes as ‘extremely astute, very careful and conscientious,‘ was involved in University of Exeter v Allianz Insurance Plc, representing the insurer which was seeking a declaration that it was right to reject a claim arising out of the controlled detonation of a World War 2-era bomb discovered on land adjacent to student residencies. Andrew Rigney KC has a well established practice in insurance which encompasses domestic and international work, and has been involved in a wide range of important insurance cases including those arising out of Grenfell and Covid-19 lockdowns. Ben Quiney KC advises and litigates on all insurance related disputes, including policy disputes and recovery claims, while Frederick Simpson and Andrew Brown are notable juniors in the set.
London Bar > Professional negligence
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 2Andrew Rigney KC –Crown Office Chambers ‘Exceptional advocacy which is very clear, concise and persuasive. Very nice manner and easy to work with, reliable and available.’
Middle East: The English Bar > Construction
(Leading silks)Ranked: Tier 1Andrew Rigney KC – Crown Office Chambers ‘Andrew is a forceful advocate. He is always well-prepared and engages with clients very well, he makes them feel fully heard, even during a hearing. He is excellent in cross-examination.’
Boasting a strong track record in international disputes, Crown Office Chambers’ key strengths lie in construction and engineering arbitration across the Middle East. Key members of the set include Andrew Rigney KC, full-time arbitrator Roger Ter Haar KC, and Crispin Winser KC, the latter pair enjoy a strong reputation in energy and infrastructure arbitration. Anna Laney’s broad caseload encompasses airport, residential, and stadium developments.