Richard Harrison

• Recommendations

  Ranked as a Leading Junior - Insurance, Chambers UK 2025 & Legal 500 2025. 

  "Richard is very responsive and easy to work with. He is a very senior junior." - Insurance, Chambers UK 2025

  "Richard crafts the most beautifully judged written submissions. He is highly resourceful and inventive in his legal thinking." - Insurance, Chambers UK 2025

  A senior junior whose practice encompasses significant international insurance and reinsurance disputes arising in all manner of industries. Harrison regularly handles complex arbitrations. "Richard is responsive and extremely knowledgeable on the topic." "He has a thorough grasp of the detail without losing the big picture." - Insurance, Chambers UK 2022. 

  "Richard is very familiar with his subject areas, thorough and into the detail, personable, and a pleasure to work with." - Insurance and Reinsurance, Legal 500 2022. 

  Ranked as a Leading Junior - Professional Negligence, Legal 500 2022. 

  "He's forensically excellent, lovely to deal with and knows his stuff." "Always willing to engage and dig into the detail." "He's particularly good at driving cases forward." Acted in the final Supreme Court appeal in the long-running dispute between UKI Insurance and R&S Pilling, trading as Phoenix Engineering. The appeal considered whether the UK's compulsory motor insurance regime applied to vehicles being repaired off-road and whether this was affected by EU law - Insurance, Chambers UK Bar 2021

  "Approachable and user-friendly, tailored advice, with impressive drafting skills." - Insurance and Reinsurance, Legal 500 2021

  ‘He is very knowledgeable and a skilled advocate.’ - Professional Negligence, Legal 500 2020

  "He has tremendous legal common sense and a thorough grasp of the detail without losing the bigger picture." "An excellent advocate." Led by Colin Edelman QC in R&S Pilling (t/a Phoenix Engineering) v UK Insurance Limited, a Supreme Court appeal concerning what constitutes the 'use' of a motor vehicle for the purposes of determining the liability of motor insurers for damage to third-party property. - Insurance, Chambers UK Bar 2020

  "Extremely solutions-focused, a creative thinker, and has in-depth knowledge of insurance." - Insurance and Reinsurance, Legal 500 2020

  "A very smooth advocate. He's very good at dealing with clients." "He has tremendous legal common sense and a thorough grasp of the detail without losing the big picture." - Insurance, Chambers UK Bar 2019

  ‘Very user friendly.’ - Professional Negligence, Legal 500 2019

  ‘A highly regarded senior junior with a focus on insurance and reinsurance practice.’ -  Insurance and Reinsurance, Legal 500 2019

  "Has tremendous legal common sense and demonstrates a thorough grasp of the detail without losing sight of the big picture." "Richard Harrison has wide-ranging insurance knowledge and is hugely efficient." Defended Enterprise Insurance in a dispute involving the alleged repudiation of a claims management agreement. - Insurance & Reinsurance, Chambers UK 2018

  "A practical, sensible and proactive junior with standing in the field." -  Insurance and Reinsurance, Legal 500 2017

  "Highly rated." - Professional Negligence, Legal 500 2017

  "Simply superb. He gives clear, focused advice and is a pleasure to work with." "Extremely sensible, very commercial, very measured and easy to deal with, he knows his insurance and reinsurance inside and out."  Defended Enterprise Insurance against allegations of repudiation of a claims management agreement concerning 12,000 third-party insurance claims. - Insurance, Chambers UK 2016

  "Immersed in (re)insurance jurisprudence and market practice - at the top of his game" - Insurance, Legal 500 2016

  "He provides a deep level of knowledge" - Professional Negligence, Legal 500 2016

  Has an almost wholly insurance and reinsurance-centred practice and handles cases with significant multi-jurisdictional aspects. He has received instructions from Hong Kong, Germany and Iceland amongst other places. "Incredibly bright, hard-working, thoughtful and reliable." Acted in the Rathbone Brothers case, which concerned over £100 million in liability coverage disputes. - Insurance, Chambers UK 2016

  "He is brilliant, thorough, incisive and strategic – you want him on your team." - Insurance and Reinsurance, Legal 500 2015

  "Exceptional." - Professional Negligence, Legal 500 2015

  Maintains a highly focused insurance and reinsurance practice, and is adept at handling the more technical cases. His work is increasingly international in scope, and he receives instructions directly from Hong Kong, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands, among a number of countries and territories. "He's an exceptionally charming individual. He backs that up with also having a really impressive grasp of the issues and the ability to think laterally about the problems one encounters." Represents an insured professional trustee who is facing a claim in excess of £100 million brought by a number of beneficiaries of the Jack Walker Trust who allege mismanagement of the trust's assets. - Insurance, Chambers UK 2015

  "Exceptionally capable and very impressive." - Insurance and Reinsurance, Legal 500 2014

  "Very experienced and focussed." - Professional Negligence, Legal 500 2014

  Praised for his ability to handle an extensive range of insurance and reinsurance matters. "He has an incisive mind and often manages to bring a different view to issues he is asked to advise on". "Very intelligent, and has a wealth of knowledge on insurance-related matters. He is very approachable, which makes for excellent collaboration". - Chambers UK 2014

  "Is the kind of barrister who is always willing to go the extra mile. As well as being technically superb, he is approachable and pleasant to work with." He has experience as both counsel and arbitrator in a wide variety of insurance and reinsurance disputes. - Chambers UK 2013

  "Combines technical capability with being very user-friendly; a modern-day senior junior" - Insurance and Reinsurance, Legal 500

  "Provides clear, concise and practical advice" and "gets top marks for judgement, balance and application" - Insurance and Reinsurance, Legal 500

  "Expresses sound and reliable opinions and brings bright and innovative ideas to a case" - Insurance and Reinsurance, Chambers UK

  "Very succinctly sums up matters in a fair way to the court" - Insurance and Reinsurance, Legal 500

Expertise

• Insurance & Reinsurance

  Richard is ranked as a leading junior for Insurance and Reinsurance in both Chambers UK ("He has tremendous legal common sense and a thorough grasp of the detail without losing the bigger picture." "An excellent advocate.") and Legal 500 ('Extremely solutions-focused, a creative thinker, and has in-depth knowledge of insurance).” Richard was named Insurance Junior of the Year at the prestigious 2019 Chambers Bar Awards, based on research for the Chambers UK 2020 edition, an award he has also held previously. 

  Richard has over two decades of experience in advising on and arbitrating/litigating disputes in the insurance and reinsurance fields (including Bermuda Form).

  Richard’s experience covers all aspects of insurance and reinsurance, including notification, aggregation, avoidance and fraud, advising re FCA regulation, wordings, TOBAs, binding authorities and claims management contracts, compliance and strategic advice concerning the Insurance Act 2015. He has acted in many high-profile claims, including claims arising from the 9/11 Attacks, the Lehman Brothers Collapse, Californian Wildfires, Grenfell Tower, Not-Petya Global Cyber Attack, major Aircraft Grounding claims and the Covid-19 Pandemic.

  Richard regularly vets insurance portfolios and wordings for blue-chip clients, including many FTSE100 and FTSE250 companies.

  Richard’s notable reported cases include Tesco Stores v D.A. Constable and Rathbone Brothers v Novae in the Court of Appeal and EL Trigger in the Supreme Court. He returned to the Supreme Court in Phoenix Engineering v UK Insurance [2019] UKSC 16. He is currently leading the junior team of counsel acting for the Financial Conduct Authority in the Covid-19 test claim brought against 8 leading insurers, which is a contender for the most important piece of insurance litigation in over a decade – see news article. 

  Richard also acts an arbitrator in insurance and reinsurance disputes and is on the ARIAS panel of arbitrators.

  Recent work includes:

  • Covid-19 business interruption claims involving a major high street retailers, commercial property owners and leisure industry businesses
  • Major global aircraft grounding claim (aircraft grounding coverage)
  • Grenfell Tower claims
  • Bermuda form arbitration re national product liability of major US manufacturer
  • 9/11 WTC reinsurance arbitrations (JELC excess of loss contracts)
  • Guernsey offshore trust management company, Commercial Court professional indemnity coverage claim   
  • British Airways Heathrow data centre outage 2017 (business interruption claim)
  • British Steel blast furnace claim (property and business interruption insurance)
  • NotPetya Ukrainian cyber-attack 2017 (business interruption/cyber insurance)
  • Icelandic bank/Tchenguiz claim (professional indemnity insurance)
  • South Korean toxic humidifier disinfectant death and injury claims (product liability insurance)
  • Petrobras corruption scandal - New York class action (professional indemnity insurance)
  • Major weapon systems claim (export credit insurance)
  • Liability of professional trustees in Guernsey and Jersey (professional indemnity and D&O insurance)
  • World Trade Center aggregation/coverage arbitrations (excess of loss reinsurance)
  • Antisuit injunction for excess of loss insurers against US wood products manufacturer (US umbrella liability insurance)
  • Failure of Enterprise Zone, EBT and film financing tax schemes (professional liability insurance)
  • Satellite fuel leak claim (in-orbit and revenue insurance)
  • Mis-selling of financial products (Hong Kong banks - professional liability insurance)
  • Californian wildfires (whole account reinsurance)
  • Class actions against Canadian auditors (excess of loss reinsurance)
  • Legal expenses insurance disputes, including security for costs (before and after the event insurance)
  • Pension scheme/trustee liability (trustee liability insurance) 
  • Collapse of VW/Audi dealership showrooms (professional indemnity insurance)
  • Asbestos property and injury claims (public and employers’ liability insurance)
  • Advising on bespoke merger and acquisition policies
  • Contractors all risks defects liability insurance (including DE/LEG clauses)
  • Professional indemnity coverage disputes for medical professionals

  Notable cases include:

  • Financial Conduct Authority v Arch Insurance (UK) Ltd and Ors [2020] EWHC 2448 (Comm) - Richard led the junior counsel team at the first instance of this test case, which sought to clarify whether a variety of insurance policy wordings cover business interruption losses resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and public health measures taken by UK authorities in response to the pandemic from March 2020. The test case focused on the application of Denial of Access and Notifiable Disease extensions to pandemic related losses (The judgment went on to be appealed in The Supreme Court The Financial Conduct Authority v Arch and Others [2021] UKSC 1).
  • Phoenix Engineering v UK Insurance [2019] UKSC 16 – Supreme Court appeal determining whether the UK’s compulsory motor insurance regime applied to vehicles being repaired off-road and whether this was affected by European Union law. The decision resolved a key dividing line between compulsory motor insurance and property/non-motor liability insurance.
  • Catlin v Weyerhaeuser [2018] EWHC 3609 (Comm) - successful pursuit of antisuit injunction against reinsured.
  • C&S Associates UK Ltd v Enterprise Insurance Company Plc [2015] EWHC 3757 (Comm) – representing insurers in Commercial Court claim arising from termination of a claims handling delegated authority agreement.
  • Rathbone Brothers Plc v Novae Corporate Underwriting & Ors [2014] EWCA Civ 1464 (Comm) - representing the professional trustee in a dispute concerning the coverage of professional indemnity policies (and related D&O policies) for the defence of a clam for over £100m, based on allegations of mis-management of the assets of an offshore trust.
  • ARB International Baillie [2013] EWHC 2060 (Comm) - representing the former managing director of a reinsurance broker in the successful defence a claim alleging the negligent negotiation of commission entitlements under binding authorities, quota share treaties and excess of loss policies, after a mid-term change of broker.
  • Re Californian Wildfires (2012) - acting for successful reinsured syndicate in an arbitration arising from the Californian wildfires of 2007 involving Whole Account Reinsurances on Joint Excess of Loss Committee terms in Benfield form. Coverage of Elemental/Non-Elemental losses event aggregation.
  • Akzo Nobel UK Ltd & AMEC PLC v Excess Insurance Co (2012) (Supreme Court) – Lead Case in the “EL Trigger litigation”,  representing Akzo Nobel and AMEC ("the employers' camp") in this appeal, which established that employers' liability insurance written on an "injury sustained" basis responds to mesothelioma claims on an exposure/causation basis.
  • Re Lehman Brothers (2011) - advising insurers re aggregation of claims arising out of the sale of structured derivative products issued by Lehman Brothers' entities.
  • Re a Premiership Footballer (2011) - advising insurers re coverage for alleged career-ending injury.
  • Re a Hong Kong Investment Manager (anon) (2011) - Advising re defence of Hong Kong proceedings alleging trading of geared share accumulators in excess of discretionary investment authority.
  • Re Irish Banks (2011) – advising insurers as to coverage for claims arising out of the Irish banking crisis.
  • Southern Rock Insurance v Claims Manager (anon) (2011) - pursuing claims for negligent claims handling relating to c.50,000 claims handled by claims management operation for insurer over a period of 3 years. Claims pursued in reliance on sampling and actuarial modelling.
  • Re a Firm (anon) (2010) - advising professional indemnity insurers as to coverage for multiple claims against a solicitors’ firm arising out of alleged negligent tax advice concerning tax avoidance schemes reliant on employee benefit trusts.
  • Re a Firm (anon) (2010) – advising professional indemnity insurers as to coverage for multiple claims against a solicitors’ firm arising out of misappropriation of client funds and property.
  • Re a Firm (anon) (2010) – representing solicitors’ firm in a mediated settlement of claims between an ATE insurer, the firm and the firm’s professional indemnity insurer, arising out of unsuccessful group litigation and associated claims.
  • Re a Construction Company (anon) (2010) – advising professional indemnity insurers as to coverage for claims against a main contractor in relation to a major city office block project.
  • Re a Middle Eastern Development Project (anon) (2010) – advising credit note issuer as to coverage provided by credit insurance following debt restructuring of state-backed major infrastructure project.
  • HDI-Gerling Industrie Versicherung v Vitodurum Reinsurance (2008) - pursuing declaratory proceedings on behalf of retrocessionaires of local policies issued pursuant to a global commercial liability program, giving rise to disputes as to jurisdiction, applicable law, limitation, scope of cover and allocation of loss settlements.
  • Tesco Stores v D A Constable & Others (2008) - defending underwriters against claims arising out of the collapse of the "Tesco Tunnel" at Gerrards Cross, which resulted in the closure of the main line railway for 2 months. The Court of Appeal found that Tesco's public liability policy did not cover liability arising under a deed entered into by Tesco, the contractual extensions to the policy being construed to cover only contractual transfers of tort liabilities and, possibly, liabilities co-extensive with tort.
  • Outokumpu Stainless Limited v AXA & Others (2007) – successfully defending underwriters in Commercial Court action brought against insurers for losses arising from radioactive contamination and the disposal of radioactive materials from a Sheffield steel plant.
  • Kajima Engineering v Volumetric & Others (2007) - advising underwriters in respect of claims arising out of the proposed demolition of the Caspar II development in Leeds, the product of an innovative modular housing project completed in June 2000 for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
  • Munich Re v G Inc (2006) - advising underwriters re coverage and conflict of law issues arising out of claims under a US jewellers block policy).
  • Reliance National v Danone (2006) - advising underwriters re coverage and follow settlements).
  • Cable & Wireless and Pender Insurance v. Willis (UK) Ltd & 16 others (2006) - defending Willis Group companies in action brought by the Cable & Wireless group arising out of the activities of 5 former Cable & Wireless employees and a former Willis Group employee in and about the running of the Cable & Wireless' captive insurer, Pender Insurance. Claims include breach of fiduciary duty and dishonest assistance in breaches of fiduciary duty in relation to various reinsurance transactions entered into by the C&W captive. Pursuit of related contribution proceedings against Cable & Wireless.
  • TAG v Winterthur & O's (2005) - advising solicitors’ professional indemnity insurers re claims notifications received.
  • C v. D (2005) - commercial court arbitration application to determine succession of the liabilities of the former Yugoslavian state reinsurer (JZO) arising under the claimant's reinsurance treaty.
  • Zurich International (Bermuda) Ltd v. X (2004) (anon reinsurer) - acting for Zurich (Bermuda) in an arbitration to determine very substantial liabilities under various reinsurance treaties. Issues of avoidance and breach of warranty, incorporation of underwriting guidelines, limitation, proof of claims, reinsured's record keeping duties, recovery of US declaratory judgment expenses.
  • Generali v. Wellington Underwriting & Others (2004) - facultative reinsurance recovery action re loss to a gas turbine power station in Mexico.
  • Turegum Insurance Company v. I (anon reinsurer) (2004), Home & Overseas Insurance v. S (anon reinsurer)  - various reinsurance arbitrations for Eagle Star Group companies, raising issues of conflict of laws, avoidance, breach of warranty, construction of terms, terms implied by custom and practice, limitation, proof of claims, reinsured's record keeping duties and inspection rights, in the context of reinsurance run-off. Related arbitration applications in the commercial court.
  • Eagle Star Insurance v. J N Cresswell & Others [2003] EWHC 2224 (Comm) - construction of claims co-operation clause in reinsurance covers.
  • London Market Reinsurers (anon) v. Russian Insurer (anon) (2002-3) – advising reinsurers re coverage and follow settlements in relation to 8 figure reinsurance loss arising out of an explosion at a Russian aluminium works.
  • Turegum Insurance Company v. D (anon reinsurer) (2003), City of London Insurance Company v. D (anon reinsurer)(2003), City of London Insurance Company v. M (2003) - reinsurance arbitrations for Eagle Star Group companies arising from reinsurers in run-off. Related arbitration applications in the commercial court.
  • Former Directors of Equitable Life v. anon insurer (2002) - arbitration arising out of the Equitable Life litigation to resolve D&O coverage issues.

• Commercial Litigation and Disputes

  Involvement in many aspects of commercial litigation and advisory work including arbitration and ADR.

  Recent cases include:

  • Southern Rock Insurance v Claims Manager (anon) (2011) - pursuing claims arising out of claims handling agreement relating to 50,000 motor-related insurance claims
  • Ideal Software v ACE Fire & Security (2010) – defending claim made against security firm for losses arising out of a warehouse theft
  • Kent County Council v DNA (2010) – defending manufacturer of lighting components alleged to have caused multiple fires
  • Laser & Light v House of Famuir v ASAH Medico (2006) - defending claim brought against cosmetic laser manufacturer
  • Richardson & Richardson v Hyams v Mitchell (2006) - defending directors of former kitchen retail chain and internet supplier UK Appliances/Pennybee of Wimbledon against allegations of dishonest assistance in the insolvent company's alleged breach of debenture
  • Former Shareholders of British Contractors Plant Limited v. Listria Limited (2004) - HC claim arising out of business purchase agreement
  • Grove v. American Express Services Europe Ltd (2003) - claim establishing effect of section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act on international credit card transactions - settled prior to Court of Appeal hearing. The OFT subsequently pursued a test case raising the same point to the House of Lords
  • Hamra & O's v. Donovan & O's (2002) - jurisdictional dispute regarding ownership of bonds
  • Re a Local Authority (2002) - advising a local authority in relation to a proposed termination of a multi-million pound service contract & related "Best Value" and European tendering requirements
  • Re Bridewell Group plc (2002) - dispute arising out of business purchase agreement)
  • Re Medran Developments (2002) - dispute arising out of business purchase agreement
  • Platt & O's v. LUL [2001] 20 EG 227 - defending loss of profits claim for derogation from grant in commercial lease - Hussey v. Eels [1990] 2 QB 227 successfully distinguished
  • Tesi SRL v. Lloyd Lifestyle (2001) - claim by Italian motorcycle equipment manufacturers for breach of contract against UK distributor, following distributor's decision to switch manufacturer

• Professional Negligence

  Richard has been ranked as leading junior by The Legal 500 for several years in professional negligence, where he is described as being ‘very knowledgeable and a skilled advocate.’

  Experienced in professional negligence claims involving the insurance sector, legal services, the financial sector, the construction industry, valuers (commercial and residential), accountants and auditors.

  Recent cases include (see above for insurance related claims):

  • ARB International v Baillie [2013] EWHC 2060 (Comm) – representing the former managing director of a reinsurance broker in the successful defence of a claim alleging the negligent negotiation of commission entitlements under binding authorities, quota share treaties and excess of loss policies, after a mid-term change of broker. 
  • Defending numerous commercial and residential valuation claims, including landmark properties
  • Southern Rock Insurance v Claims Manager (anon) (2011) - pursuing claims for negligent claims handling in respect of a portfolio of 50,000 motor-related insurance claims
  • Mis-selling of investment products, including CDO’s and gear-down accumulators etc. (various)
  • Frank v Smith-Caradoc (2010) - defending allegations of negligence made against architects, arising out of an extensive refurbishment project
  • Barrow in Furness Borough Council v Interserve (2006) - defending building maintenance contractors against claims brought by Barrow for indemnity and contribution in respect of fatality and injury claims arising out of the Barrow in Furness legionnaires' disease outbreak and advising in respect of related insurance disputes
  • Lloyd's Syndicate 1087 v RPC (2006) - acting for underwriters in proceedings alleging negligent handling of a subsidence claim brought under a buildings policy
  • X v Y (2006) - acting for underwriters in proceedings alleging negligent adjustments and defence of claims under a public liability policy
  • A v B (2005) T&CC - defending claim against main contractor arising out of negligent staircase design for twin office block developments
  • Woolfall Plc & Capital Developments Inc v. The Rosling Partnership (2004) / Capital Developments Inc v. Rosling Partnership (2004) - defending claims against solicitors for breach of undertakings in relation to the procurement of letters of credit; associated arbitration against solicitors' professional indemnity insurers
  • Vine Developments v. Clarke Willmott & Clarke (2003) - pursuing claim by developer against solicitors for negligent drafting of contracts for the sale of residential units
  • Niece v. Grant Thornton (2003) - pursuing claim for losses arising out of alleged negligent advice concerning taxation of capital gains on sale of company shares
  • CR King v. Hattencrest (2003) - defending insurance broker's negligence claim arising out of policy cancellations
  • RLHIA v. STW (2002) - defending £6m claim for accountants' negligence, including alleged breaches of whistle-blowing duties

• Fraud

  Richard Harrison offers expertise in handling fraud in the context of insurance claims, including coverage issues arising from fraudulent activities and the effect of fraudulent conduct in course of pursuing insurance claims.

Latest from Richard

• News

  • Devereux Nominated in Multiple Categories in Legal 500 Bar Awards 2023
  • FCA Test Case Judgment Handed Down
  • FCA business interruption test case hearing begins today
  • Colin Edelman QC and Richard Harrison act for the FCA in the Covid-19 business interruption test case which was issued today
  • Devereux wins Tax Set of the Year and Richard Harrison wins Insurance Junior of the Year at the 2019 Chambers UK Bar Awards

• Articles

  • Recent developments in Covid-19 Business Interruption litigation