Rachael O'Hagan > The Chambers of Alexander Nissen KC > London, England > Barrister Profile
Keating Chambers Offices
Keating Chambers
15 ESSEX STREET
LONDON
WC2R 3AA
England
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Rachael O'Hagan
Position
Recently described as: ”an extremely bright and effective advocate, and a real hit with clients”; “very intellectual, she gets to the heart of a dispute quickly and is very engaging”; and an “unflappable” barrister “who understands the issues straightaway”. Rachael specialises in high-value construction, engineering, technology, infrastructure, nuclear/energy along with professional negligence and insurance claims related to these sectors. She also acts in procurement disputes. She is instructed as a junior and in her own right, including acting as sole advocate in international arbitrations. Her clients are domestic and international, and she has experience in the English Courts and also representing parties under various international arbitral rules, including: ICC, LCIA, DIFC-LCIA, UNCITRAL and DIAC.
Rachael is recommended in leading UK and Global directories, including for her work in construction, professional negligence and international arbitration. She was nominated for International Arbitration Junior of the year at the 2019 Legal 500 UK Awards. She is recognised as a Future Leader in the WWL Global Guide.
Rachael advises clients on all forms of commercial dispute resolution and has represented clients in mediations (including under the Court Scheme), adjudications and disputes under the Railway Industry Dispute Rules. She has been appointed as the legal nominee on a Dispute Advisory Board and is also a TECBAR Adjudicator. Rachael has also represented a Corporate Core Participant as part of the Grenfell Inquiry.
Rachael has contributed to various construction legal texts, including: two chapters of Keating on Construction Contracts (11th Edition); and writing a Chapter for “Construction Law, Costs and Contemporary Developments: Drawing the Threads Together – A Festschrift for Lord Justice Jackson”, Edited by Julian Bailey.
Career
TECBAR Adjudicator 2020
TECBAR Committee Member – (ongoing appointment)
Keating Chambers, Barrister 2019 –
39 Essex Street, Barrister 2009 – 2019
Called to the Bar 2006
Languages
French
Memberships
Society of Construction Law
TECBAR
COMBAR
Education
Bar Vocational Course, Nottingham Law School (Very Competent): 2005-2006
LLB, Law with French, Birmingham University (2.1 (Hons)): 2001-2005
Diplôme d’Etudes Juridiques Françaises, L’Université de Limoges: 2003-2004
Lawyer Rankings
London Bar > Construction
(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 2Rachael O’Hagan – Keating Chambers ‘Rachael is collaborative but also clear and directive; a flexible advocate who adapts her style as required for the circumstances. As an advocate, she builds rapport with the tribunal, the witnesses and even the other side.’
London Bar > Public procurement
(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 3Rachael O’Hagan – Keating Chambers ‘A diligent and bright junior.’
Keating Chambers is ‘very strong in public procurement‘. Charles Banner KC acts as longstanding counsel to Transport for London on ongoing procurement issues arising from construction work taking place on a London Underground station. The ‘ferociously bright‘ Fionnuala McCredie KC is highly regarded for representing interested parties and contracting authorities in contentious procurement mandates. Sarah Hannaford KC and Simon Taylor continue to act for HS2 Limited in Siemens v HS2, an ongoing case concerning the award of the contract for rolling stock used for HS2. The ‘thorough and conscientious‘ Rachael O’Hagan and James Frampton both have excellent track records in appearing in high-profile procurement challenges.
London Bar > International arbitration: counsel
(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 3Rachael O’Hagan –Keating Chambers ‘Rachael is a joy to work with. She is extremely personable, has good instincts and is superb on her feet.’
‘Leading chambers for construction and energy disputes’, Keating Chambers houses barristers ‘at the top of their game with strong technical ability’ and offers comprehensive expertise across a wide range of sectors and across multiple rulesets. Thanks to an array of international members, most notably in the Middle East, Hong Kong, Singapore and South Africa, the set has an impressive international presence demonstrated by global instructions. Senior silk Veronique Buehrlen KC is currently instructed on several high-profile energy arbitrations, both in relation to renewables and oil and gas. At the junior end Rachael O’Hagan often acts as sole counsel going up against silks in high-value arbitrations with particular ability in the construction and infrastructure sectors. William Webb KC and Paul Buckingham KC bolstered the senior end of the set having joined the silk ranks in March 2023, the latter with particular expertise in complex technical disputes as a former engineer in the oil and gas industry.
London Bar > Professional negligence
(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 5Rachael O’Hagan –Keating Chambers ‘Easy to work with; thorough and conscientious.’