Rory Cochrane joined the Bar following six years as a solicitor advocate in the dispute resolution division of Herbert Smith Freehills. He has particular expertise in banking litigation (including FCA enforcement proceedings), insurance and reinsurance, and international commercial litigation and arbitration.
Since coming to the Bar, Rory has appeared many times in the High Court, County Court, and arbitral tribunals. Rory has assisted on two of The Lawyer’s Top 20 cases of 2015 and 2016 (the Cattles litigation and the Construction Industry Vetting Group Information litigation).
Rory contributed to the 2015 edition of MacGillvray on Insurance Law (Sweet & Maxwell), Chapter 13 (Conflict of Laws) and was a Teaching Fellow in Private International Law at University College London (2013 to 2017).
Noted for his handling of commercial disputes in the telecoms sector, as well as regulatory matters relating to the Electronic Communications Code (ECC). He benefits from a wealth of prior experience gathered as a solicitor advocate at a prominent international firm. "He has encyclopaedic knowledge of the Code." - Telecommunications, Chambers UK Bar 2022.
Ranked as a Leading Junior - IT and Telecoms, Legal 500 2022.
"He is wonderful, and someone who can do it all in telecoms - commercial work, regulatory work, cases relating to land etc. He is a really strong all-rounder." Acted for BT in 24Seven Communications Limited v British Telecommunications PLC. The case concerned 24Seven’s alleged creation of AIT (Artificial Inflation of Traffic) under BT’s industry-wide Standard Interconnect Agreement and the contractual consequences that follow from that. - Telecommunications, Chambers UK Bar 2021
‘He has a specific expertise in the field of so-called "multi-site agreements" and the application of the Electronic Communications Code to those.’ - IT and Telecommunications (Excluding Regulatory), Legal 500 2021
Highlighted as an up-and-coming junior."He is helpful, amenable and clear in his advice." "Rory is very bright and has a very positive attitude. Clients really like him and he is both pleasant and charming." - Telecommunications, Chambers UK Bar 2020
Rory has developed a practice at the Bar in commercial disputes in banking and finance, insurance and reinsurance, stockbroking, aviation and energy industries. He has particular experience in arbitration, which makes up a significant part of his practice.
His recent instructions include:
Rory is regularly instructed in insolvency matters in the High Court and County Court, and has frequently appeared in the Companies Court winding up list on winding up petitions. Recent instructions include:
Rory' experience as a solicitor encompassed litigation in the High Court and Court of Appeal, as well as ICC and LCIA arbitrations. His practice focussed on large cross-border insolvencies, financial services misselling claims, and competition disputes in telecommunications and other regulated industries.
His experience as a solicitor includes:
Rory has extensive experience as a solicitor in acting for financial institutions in relation to a range of disputes, in particular in FCA/PRA regulatory disputes, and recently completed a secondment in the contentious financial regulation group at Linklaters LLP.
Since coming to the Bar, Rory has appeared in the County Court on a number of mortgage possession hearings (for borrower and lender), and in the High Court in applications for relief from forfeiture including:
His experience as a solicitor includes:
Rory has recently published an article on conflict of laws issues in European capital markets in the Journal of International Banking and Financial Law.
Rory has considerable experience in telecommunications and IT disputes, particularly in regulatory and competition telecommunications matters (particularly working with experts in relation to telecommunications cost modelling issues). Since coming to the Bar, he has also been instructed regularly in a number of disputes relating to telecommunications apparatus under the Communications Code.
Recent instructions include:
His experience as a solicitor includes:
Rory has presented a number of seminars with Graham Read QC on trends and issues in telecommunications and competition litigation.
Rory has considerable experience in international arbitration both as a solicitor and at the bar, complemented by academic experience as a Teaching Fellow in Conflict of Laws at University College London (2013 to 2017). He has most recently been instructed as junior counsel (led by Andrew Burns QC) on an LCIA arbitration arising out of a partnership dispute in Russia and England (instructed by Duane Morris).
Examples of matters Rory has worked on as a solicitor include:
Rory is developing a practice at the Bar in insurance and reinsurance. Rory has appeared in many County Court trials for insurers on a wide range of matters. He also recently assisted Richard Harrison in obtaining an anti-suit injunction in the Commercial Court in support of arbitration.
He has recently presented seminars to leading insurance firms on matters including stockbrokers’ negligence, the Insurance Act 2015, and the Late Payment of Insurance Claims provisions. Rory also contributed to the 13th edition of MacGillvray on Insurance Law (2015, Sweet & Maxwell), Chapter 13 (Conflict of Laws).
He has experience as a solicitor in acting for insurers in general insurance matters including business interruption and life assurance. He also spent 6 months in an Insurance and Corporate Risk division as a trainee solicitor and was exposed to a range of general insurance disputes.
At Herbert Smith Freehills, Rory also acted in a confidential arbitration on behalf of a large insurance group in respect of losses arising out of a stock-lending programme, and while on secondment to a major private bank, advised on issues arising out of the sales of a whole of life assurance policy.
Rory has advised as a solicitor in relation to professional negligence issues in particular in defending solicitor’s negligence claims, negligent advice in the banking industry and in relation to IT contracts.
Recent cases include:
His experience as a solicitor includes:
Rory has presented to leading City firms in relation to insurance broker’s negligence, and the Insurance Act 2015. He is also a member of the Professional Negligence Bar Association.
Rory has considerable experience advising on private international law issues in the context of cross-border disputes, obtained both at the Bar and as a solicitor-advocate with Herbert Smith Freehills. In addition, Rory was a Teaching Fellow in Conflict of Laws at University College London from 2013 to 2017, and has recently published an article on conflict of laws issues in European capital markets in the Journal of International Banking and Financial Law.
Rory has considerable experience in financial mis-selling cases, particularly in the context of FCA regulatory enforcement action. Rory recently completed a secondment in the contentious financial regulation group at Linklaters LLP. While a solicitor with Herbert Smith Freehills, Rory advised on over 100 mis-selling claims arising out an asset-backed life assurance bond, and acted for Coutts in a high-profile mis-selling dispute in the High Court (settled at trial). Rory was also seconded to RBS Legal for 10 months.
Rory is regularly instructed on mis-selling claims for borrowers against finance brokers and/or banks.
Rory has advised as a solicitor a number of disputes in energy and mining. Examples of matters Rory has worked on include:
Call:
Teaching Fellow, Conflict of Laws - University College London (2013 to 2017)
Master of Laws - University of Melbourne (2006)
Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Arts – University of Western Australia (2004)
COMBAR (former Junior COMBAR Committee member)
Chancery Bar Association
Competition Law Association
Insolvency Lawyers Association
British Insurance Law Association