Charles Dougherty KC KC > 2 Temple Gardens > London, England > Barrister Profile
2 Temple Gardens Offices
TEMPLE
LONDON
EC4Y 9AY
England
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Charles Dougherty KC KC
Position
Charles specialises in commercial law, in particular commercial fraud, professional negligence, product liability, group litigation, private international law (including travel) and insurance. Recent cases include: Various Eateries v Allianz [2024] 2 All ER 414 (Covid business interruption); Diesel Emissions Litigation; Roberts v SSAFA [2023] AC 597 (applicable law and contribution); PDVSA v Clyde & Co [2020] Lloyd’s Rep. F.C. 580 (arbitration, trusts and proceeds of crime); Brazil v Durant [2016] AC 297 (backwards tracing); Mitsui Sumitomo v MOPC [2016] AC 1488 (Liability under Riot (Damages) Act 1886 following August 2011 riots); Schubert Murphy v Law Society [2018] PNLR 4 (whether duty of care owed by Law Society).
Career
BA, BCL (Oxon). Called 1997 (Middle Temple); Silk 2013. Called to the Bar of the BVI and ad hoc to the Bar of Nevis. Prior to joining chambers, Charles was a management consultant and a law lecturer.
Publications:
Professional Negligence and Liability, Informa, contributor.
European Civil Practice, Sweet & Maxwell (2nd ed.), assistant editor.
Languages
French, German, Swedish.
Memberships
Commercial Bar Association (COMBAR); Professional Negligence Bar Association (PNBA).
Lawyer Rankings
London Bar > Product liability
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 1Charles Dougherty KC –2 Temple Gardens ‘Charles is a highly intelligent persuasive advocate. He can explain the most difficult legal concepts to a tribunal with a rare ease and calm. He is rightly sought after.’
Recommended for expertise in matters with multi-jurisdictional elements, 2 Temple Gardens’ capabilities include experience in the medical devices, engineering, electrical and automotive products segments, with members frequently advising on a variety of topics, such as legal and contractual liability, reputational risk, and insurance coverage. Charles Dougherty KC and Anna Hughes are amongst the various set members handling tens of thousands of diesel emission claims, while Neil Moody KC‘s recent work highlights include acting in relation to a defective Slush Puppie machine that allegedly started a serious fire, which included complex issues of jurisdiction. Instructed on behalf of a manufacturer of breast implants in an international matter regarding allegations that the implants caused a rare form of blood cancer in patients, Alistair Mackenzie is a name to note for work with cross-border elements and product recalls.
London Bar > Group litigation
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 1Charles Dougherty KC – 2 Temple Gardens ‘Charles is a highly skilled, intelligent, and astute advocate with an impressive ability to marshal large volumes of complex evidence into clear and concise legal arguments. He provides commercial and pragmatic advice in a way that is easy for clients to digest and he is extremely approachable.’
2 Temple Gardens is recommended for strength in private international and administrative law, with the set’s focus areas encompassing product liability and personal injury claims, as well as healthcare and environment-related litigation. Charles Dougherty KC remains busy being instructed in both Diesel emission claims and in relation to the fire at Grenfell Tower. Acting for Colombian claimants, Marie Louise Kinsler KC pursued an environmental damages claim against a British company arising from a crude oil spill which caused pollution of watercourses. Alistair Mackenzie acts for hundreds of Liverpool FC supporters seeking damages for physical and psychological injuries out of the chaos at the Champions League final in Paris in 2022 in which Liverpool fans suffered physical and psychological injuries, allegedly due to safety failures culminating with the French police using tear gas and pepper spray.
London Bar > Insurance and reinsurance
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 1Charles Dougherty KC –2 Temple Gardens ‘Charles is an eloquent and calm advocate who has a clear voice in the court room.’
The insurance practice at 2 Temple Gardens handles a plethora of insurance and reinsurance cases, from all aspects of non-marine insurance and reinsurance disputes, to scope of indemnity, non-disclosure and aggregation. Members frequently act for and against insurers and deal with all commercial policies, including those covering liability. The set has been involved in the Covid-19 business interruption cases, with Charles Dougherty KC acting in the case of Various Eateries v Allianz which concerned which business interruption losses are covered as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Neil Moody KC ’s expertise extends to construction related litigation, while Lucas Fear-Segal has been involved in several precedent setting international insurance cases, and is regarded for ‘being able to offer comprehensive and clear advice on complex areas of law. Of note, the set also has niche experience in life and health insurance, bloodstock insurance and terrorism insurance. Kate Legh and James Partridge are names to watch.
London Bar > Professional negligence
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 2Charles Dougherty KC –2 Temple Gardens ‘He has a deep understanding of professional negligence law and is a well-prepared advocate.’
2 Temple Gardens has experience bringing and defending claims against a variety of professional such as surveyors, architects, solicitors, and construction professionals. Charles Dougherty KC successfully represented a silk against allegations of negligence and costs fraud. Led by Dougherty, Timothy Killen is instructed to act for a large retail group in the Middle East in a claim against insurance brokers for business interruption losses arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic. Doré Green regularly handles professional liability cases arising within the construction sector; he recently acted in the case of London Borough of Hillingdon v Paradigm Homes and Others, which concerned the development and fire safety strategy of Packet Boat House.
London Bar > Personal injury
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 1Charles Dougherty KC – 2 Temple Gardens ‘An exceptional barrister with specialist expertise in conflict of laws.’
London Bar > Fraud: civil
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 2Charles Dougherty KC –2 Temple Gardens ‘A powerful and persuasive advocate in court. A barrister who combines authority and personal charm.‘
London Bar > Commercial litigation
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 2Charles Dougherty KC –2 Temple Gardens ‘One of the very biggest names at the commercial Bar. You really can do no better than Charles.’
Middle East: The English Bar > Commercial
(Leading silks)Ranked: Tier 2Charles Dougherty KC – 2 Temple Gardens ‘One of the very finest senior silks for commercial, insurance and civil fraud work. A real expert in disputes with a cross-border element. An advocate with an exceptionally attractive and persuasive style.’
Clients praise 2 Temple Gardens as a ‘fantastic set’ and point out its expertise in ‘professional indemnity and insurance/reinsurance issues’. The set is active in the DIFC where Charles Dougherty KC recently led Timothy Killen in Lals Holding v Emirates Insurance and SIACI Insurance Brokers, the first business interruption insurance case of its type in the jurisdiction. The team also covers work in the ADGM recently, such as in Global Aerospace Underwriting Managers Ltd and Ors v Global Private Investments Ltd where Doughty KC led Lucas Fear-Segal in a diminution in value claim.