Rob Hammond

Areas of expertise

• Commercial dispute resolution

  Commercial dispute resolution

  Rob’s principal focus is on commercial disputes. Building on previous experience, he takes particular interest in cases involving civil fraud and dishonesty. Recent work includes:

  • Led by David Lewis QC for a fund manager in pre-action phase of a multi-million pound LCIA arbitration against private bank, involving issues of fraud alongside contractual claims.
  • Acting with Paul Strelitz in civil fraud proceedings in the High Court, involving claims for an account of profits, recission and damages;
  • Working for Nigel Jones QC and Laurence Page in the “SKAT” litigation, concerning the Danish Revenue’s civil fraud claim for c.£2bn against numerous defendants (see summary here);
  • Instructed from pleadings to trial in a commercial multi-track claim, concerning breach of a share purchase agreement, amongst other heads of claim;
  • Successfully obtaining strike out and costs in a claim for contractual commission;
  • Successfully resisting an application to set aside default judgment in a commercial invoices dispute;
  • Advising on the merits of defending a multi-track sale of goods claim involving the interpretation and implication of terms, loss of a chance and causation;
  • Drafting defence to a contractual and statutory claim concerning the supply of goods and services to a consumer;
  • Assisting David Lewis QC in a multimillion-pound unfair prejudice trial (Re Cintep Development Limited [2020] EWHC 3210 (Ch));
  • Advising on the merits of defending a contractual agency claim concerning principles of “effective cause”, contractual formation and restitutionary liability;
  • Drafting advice for a senior member of chambers in a multimillion-AED fraud claim, engaging choice of law and jurisdiction issues; and,
  • Assisting in advising a litigation funder on a potential claim against a listed fund manager.
• Professional liability

  Professional liability

  Rob has experience and interest in all aspects of professional liability. Prior to joining the bar, he was part of a team advising on an auditor’s negligence claim following a substantial fraud at a FTSE 250 company. He is a contributor to CMS Cameron McKenna’s Insurance Broking Practice and the Law, and his recent work includes:

  • Obtaining set aside of default judgment against a solicitors’ firm;
  • Representing claimants at multiple trials of negligence claims against conveyancing solicitors, raising issues concerning the construction of retainers, the scope and standard of solicitors’ duties, and “loss of a chance” principles;
  • Defending two clients in trial against a claim for unpaid solicitors’ invoices, engaging issues of negligence;
  • Drafting a reply in a professional negligence claim made against conveyancing solicitors;
  • Advising on the prospects of a vicarious liability claim against a private hospital, before and after Barclays Bank Plc. v. Various Claimants;
  • Drafting a defence for a senior member of chambers in a financial advisor’s negligence case; and
  • Advising for a senior member of chambers on the impact of unfair terms legislation on solicitors’ negligence claims, arising from ground rent clauses.
• Construction & engineering

  Construction & engineering

  In line with Gatehouse Chambers’s strong construction practice, Rob has a keen interest in construction and engineering disputes. His recent work includes:

  • Led by Michael Wheater in connection with applications to stay proceedings and seek extensions of time for service of a High Court construction claim;
  • Successfully resisting a Pt.18 application in the High Court for better particulars, in respect of a construction and professional negligence claim;
  • Successfully resisting an 8-part interim application made shortly before trial in multi-track construction dispute;
  • Instructed in set-aside of default judgment entered against construction professional in respect of a claim in negligence;
  • Advising on liability for costs arising from extensions of time related to Covid-19, granted under a JCT Standard Building Contract 2016 for works totalling c.£3m;
  • Drafting an adjudication notice for a JCT Minor Works dispute;
  • Producing advice for a member of chambers on a liability cap under an architect’s professional indemnity policy; and
  • Drafting advice for a member of chambers on the effect of early termination of a collateral contract to a JCT Minor Works agreement.
• Insolvency & restructuring

  Insolvency & restructuring

  Rob’s growing experience in insolvency matters complements his broader commercial practice. Before joining Gatehouse Chambers, Rob was involved in the defence of a long-running directors’ disqualification investigation, following a high-profile corporate insolvency. Recent work includes:

  • Successfully appearing on behalf of a liquidator in applications to increase its remuneration;
  • Successfully appearing in respect of multiple bankruptcy and winding up petitions;
  • Instructed by a non-ministerial Governmental department in relation to the disqualification of the trustee/directors of Kids Company (See [2021] EWHC 175 (Ch));
  • Instructed to appear at CMC in respect of multi-party directors’ disqualification proceedings;
  • Obtaining costs following a final charging order adjourned due to the Respondent’s personal bankruptcy;
  • Drafting skeleton for a member of chambers defending against non-party costs orders sought from the director of an insolvent company; and
  • Producing advice for a member of chambers in a case of directors’ misfeasance, fraudulent and wrongful trading, and limitation.