Crown Office Chambers advises on professional negligence cases across a broad range of sectors including legal, insurance, IT and financial services. The set has members involved in the Grenfell Tower civil litigation, Andrew Rigney KC leads the team representing Rydon, the main design and build contractor, in relation to several claims, alongside Michael Harper and Toby Chandler. Ivor Collett acts for the defendant solicitors in Kagbara and others v Leigh Day, a case in which Nigerians who secured damages from Shell in an English court after leaks from an oil pipeline allege that the proceeds of their settlement were mishandled by the solicitors. Carlo Taczalski represents the defendant brokers in CPH Holdings v Generali v Aon UK Limited, a high value claim that centres around the arrangement of appropriate insurance cover. Henk Soede joined from Deka Chambers in 2024.
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Profile
Position
Has a busy practice specialising in commercial, construction and engineering, insurance and professional negligence matters, and particularly cases which straddle those various specialisms. He is praised for his meticulous drafting, and forceful cross-examination and advocacy and is often in court. His recent and current cases including: acting for a broker against a leading law firm which had provided negligent advice on the structure of a newly developed insurance product; defending a Spanish lawyer in English proceedings where he was said to have negligently advised on and conducted a US arbitration for $300m; acting for accountants in an allegedly valuable claim relating to the conduct of an HMRC fraud / COP9 enquiry; two cases in the High Court of Antigua and Barbuda in relation to a large energy contract concluded with the government, and a further case on appeal from Antigua to the Privy Council in relation to a further contract to supply power. In addition to litigation, Carlo advises on and appears in arbitrations, adjudications and mediations, and is a TECBAR accredited Adjudicator; he has also recently conducted a (very successful) adjudication under the professional negligence pilot adjudication scheme.
Career
Called 2010, Middle Inn.
Languages
English, Polish.
Memberships
CLCBAR, COMBAR, PIBA, TECBAR
Education
Downing College, Cambridge. Cambridge University (2009-10 BPP – BVC).
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Clerks are efficient and easy to deal with. Rob Frankish and Lauren Whiston have been particularly helpful.'
- 'Steve Purse is impeccable in terms of both service and relationship ;he knows what we need and ensures that we get it.'
- ''Steve Purse is excellent and always finds a way to find someone when needed.'
- 'The clerking team are excellent - Steve Purse is one of the best in the business and does an unparalleled job in getting us the right team for the case. Joe Shepherd and Lauren Whiston have both been great in supporting Steve in recent years.'
- 'The clerks are strong, particularly Steve Purse, who really looks after solicitors and makes sure to deliver the right barrister for them and their client, and the new senior clerk, James Wilkinson.'
- 'Crown Office Chambers is one of the go to sets for professional indemnity work. Their silks are well respected and they have great depth of juniors.'
- 'Crown Office Chambers is rightly regarded at the top of professional negligence.'
- 'Crown Office is a top-tier construction and professional negligence set.'