Barrister Profile

Profile

Colin Edelman QC specialises in high value complex commercial disputes with an emphasis on insurance, reinsurance, professional indemnity and energy. He has been involved in a number of high profile matters affecting the London and international insurance markets, including disputes arising out of most of the major natural disasters and financial collapses of the last decade. Colin has written and lectured extensively on issues affecting the insurance and reinsurance market. In 2008 he was authorised to sit as Deputy High Court Judge (Queen’s Bench Division) and in 2007 was appointed Director of Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund Ltd, of which he is currently a deputy chairman.  Colin was voted the Chambers UK 2010 'Insurance Silk of the Year'. This was the second time he has been recognised for his accomplishments in this field. He first won the Award in 2007 and has been regularly shortlisted.

Arbitration/Mediation

As well as acting as an advocate in arbitrations, Colin now also regularly sits as an arbitrator in insurance, reinsurance and other commercial arbitrations. He has advised and assisted solicitors in the mediation of cases. Colin has acted as a mediator in insurance and professional negligence disputes and has a good record of achieving a settlement between the parties through the use of innovative approaches to the mediation process. He has also acted as a neutral evaluator.

Recommendations

Colin Edelman QC is showered with praise for being an "exceedingly bright and wonderfully persuasive" advocate with "excellent cross-examination skills." Greatly respected by the judiciary, he brings "clear thinking" to cases, examples of which include instructions relating to the fall of Lehman Brothers and the Madoff fraud case. Most notably, he acted for Zurich in the toxic sofas litigation. - Insurance, Chambers UK (2012)

Colin Edelman QC is "first class" and "one of the bright stars of the international arbitration circuit." His core area of expertise lies in insurance and reinsurance disputes. - International Arbitration: Arbitrators, Chambers UK (2012)

Colin Edelman QC is a standout name in professional negligence. Solicitors lined up to praise him as a "master strategist," with one saying he has "probably the finest mind that I've ever worked with." "A crisp and clear advocate," Edelman is known for his exemplary work on insurance coverage disputes. - Professional Negligence, Chambers UK (2012)

Colin Edelman QC is a ‘favourite “go-to” QC’ in this area; ‘an exceptionally strong advocate’, he ‘cuts straight to the issues’. - Insurance & Reinsurance, Legal 500 (2011)

He has an outstanding insurance practice, and is regarded by solicitors as a strong all-rounder who is “masterful at strategy, brilliant in meetings and a provider of extremely clear advice – when Colin speaks, the court listens.” - Insurance, Chambers UK (2011)

Colin Edelman QC is "perhaps the foremost insurance silk" with "the knack of explaining very complex issues in engagingly simple terms". - Insurance, Legal 500 (2010)

"Fantastically clever and incisive", "his skill lies in his ability to master a very complicated brief and present it in a common-sense manner which is entirely understandable to the court" - Insurance, Chambers and Partners  

"One of the market's high-flyers. He wins plaudits for his excellent judgement and for his knack of predicting outcomes" - Insurance, Chambers & Partners

 "Receives more solicitor recommendations than any other barrister in this field. His advice is said to be 'first-rate: always to the point and never unnecessarily complicated'" - Insurance & Reinsurance, Legal 500

Appointments

2011 - Appointed to the insurance panel of the Centre for Justice

2008 - Authorised to sit as Deputy High Court Judge (QBD)

2007 - Re-elected Head of Chambers
Appointed Director of Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund Ltd

2003 - Elected Bencher of Middle Temple

2002 - Elected Head of Chambers

1996 - Appointed Recorder

1995 - Appointed Queen's Counsel

1993 - Appointed Assistant Recorder

1979 - Tenant of Devereux Chambers

1977 - Called to the Bar

Publications

Editor of "The Law of Reinsurance" (OUP, 2005) and is a contributor to "Insurance Disputes" (LLP, 2003). Has frequently presented papers at seminars on insurance, reinsurance and professional negligence topics.

Professional Membership

Member of Commercial Bar Association, London Common Law and Commercial Bar Association, Midland Circuit and Middle Temple.

For Middle Temple, has engaged in Advocacy Training programmes which have encompassed training students, pupils, new practitioners and new trainers during residential and non-residential weekend programmes and evening workshops.

Recent Reported Cases

These include:

• Teal Assurance Company Limited v W.R. Berkley Insurance (Europe) & Aspen Insurance UK Ltd [2011] Lloyd’s Rep IR 285, [2011] EWCA Civ 1570
• Axa Corporate Solutions SA v National Westminster Bank Plc & Marsh Ltd [2011] Lloyd’s Rep IR 438
• Durham v BAI (Run Off) Ltd; Edwards v Excess Insurance Co Ltd; (1) Akzo Nobel UK Ltd (2) Amec Plc v Excess Insurance Co Ltd [2009] Lloyd’s Rep IR 295, [2011] Lloyd’s Rep IR 1 1
• Horwood v Land of Leather & Zurich Insurance [2010] Lloyd's Rep IR 453
• Mopani Copper Mines plc v Millennium Underwriting Ltd [2009] Lloyd's Rep IR 158
• Bedfordshire Police Authority v Constable [2009] Lloyd's Rep IR 39, [2009] EWCA Civ 64 601
• Outokumpu Stainless Steel v Axa Global Risks (UK) [2008] Lloyd's Rep IR 147
• Tesco Stores Ltd v David Constable [2008] Lloyd's Rep IR 302, 636
• Gater v NAK Naftogaz [2007] 1 Lloyd's Rep 522, [2008] 2 Lloyd's Rep. 295, [2008] 1 Lloyd's Rep 479
• Brit v Grant Thornton [2006] Lloyd's Rep IR 487, [2007] Lloyd's Rep IR 343, [2008] Lloyd's Rep IR
• CGU International Insurance v Astrazeneca [2007] 1 Lloyd's Rep 142
•  Pearson Education v CPL [2007] BLR 324
• Hewden Tower Cranes v Wolffkran [2007] 2 Lloyd's Rep 138
• Rendall v Combined Insurance [2006] Lloyd's Rep IR 732
• ING v R+V Versicherung [2006] Lloyd's Rep IR 653
• King v Brandywine [2005] Lloyd's Rep IR 509
• R+V Versicherung v Risk Insurance & Reinsurance Solutions [2005] EWHC 2586 (Comm), [2006] Lloyd's Rep IR 253, [2006] EWHC (Comm) 42, 1458, 1705, [2006] EWCA 314, 1234, [2007] EWHC 79 (Comm)

Education

1973-1976 Clare College, Cambridge. Law Tripos 1 - 2:1, Law Tripos 2 - First