Andrew Bruce > Serle Court > London, England > Barrister Profile
Serle Court Offices
6 NEW SQUARE, LINCOLN'S INN
LONDON
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Andrew Bruce
Position
Andrew has a commercial and chancery practice with a particular focus on property-related work. He is regarded as one of the leading senior juniors in real estate litigation and has been described as “an exceptional talent in the property sphere”. In addition, Andrew has a noted art law practice and is highly-rated for professional negligence work, acting for both claimants and defendants, in matters ranging from high-profile claims in respect of Old Master Paintings to claims against architects in respect of residential developments and claims against solicitors relating to international corporate transactions. Andrew also regularly acts in high-value commercial litigation and is a “skilful advocate” who is “effective in digging under the surface to uncover the real issues”.
Andrew has sat as a (part-time) Deputy District Judge since 2004 and as a (part-time) Judge of the First-Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) since 2008. In 2019 Andrew was appointed to the Pool of Arbitrators for the Court of Arbitration for Art (CAfA) in The Hague.
Career
Called to the Bar in 1992 (Harmsworth Exhibitioner and Benefactors’ Scholar of the Middle Temple). Joined Serle Court from 3 Paper Buildings, Temple in 1999. Appointed Deputy District Judge in 2004 and Judge of the First-Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) (Land Registration) in 2008. In 2019 Andrew was appointed to the pool of arbitrators of the Court of Arbitration for Art in The Hague.
Memberships
Property Bar Association (Committee member 2003-09); Chancery Bar Association; Professional Negligence Bar Association; Art Lawyers Association.
Education
Colfe’s School, London; Episcopal High School, Alexandria, VA US; Jesus College, Oxford (1990 MA Jurisprudence).
Leisure
Honorary Legal adviser at Swanley CAB (2001-2012). Past captain of Leigh Cricket Club. Married with three daughters.
Lawyer Rankings
London Bar > Property litigation
(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 2Andrew Bruce – Serle Court ‘Articulate, stern but not aggressive, and very persuasive in his arguments.’
At Serle Court, recent instructions for the property litigation team include Andrew Bruce acting for various mortgagees in West One Loan Ltd v Anton Palmer, concerning the cancellation of the defendant’s mental health crisis moratorium. In another matter, Rupert Reed KC represented the widow of King Fahd of Saudi Arabia before the High Court in Asturion Foundation v HH Princess Al Jawharah bint Ibrahim al Ibrahim, a longrunning dispute over the validity of a will gifting the London residence of the late King to the widow, involving complex points of Liechtenstein, Saudi, Islamic and English law. The High Court dismissed the foundation’s claims and ruled that the formal validity of the transfer was ultimately a matter of English law. The junior end of the group has been bolstered by the arrivals of Michael Walsh and Jonathan Upton in 2023 and 2024 respectively.
London Bar > Art and cultural property
(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 1Andrew Bruce –Serle Court ‘Andrew’s a go-to barrister for knotty legal issues. His great legal mind coupled with his clear and precise analysis is his main strength.’