Property Damage
Alex enjoys claims of a technical nature, frequently involving extensive expert evidence. He has a broad experience of litigation arising out of damage caused to property, and he has a particular interest in fire and flood claims.
In 2018 Alex was instructed (led by Paul Reed QC) by the owner of a substantial property in Lancashire which was damaged by a fire causing losses of £5m. The claim against the property insurers was compromised in 2019 following the issue of TCC proceedings and a mediation.
From 2012 to 2015 Alex was instructed (with Roger ter Haar QC) in the litigation arising from a catastrophic flood at the Greenwich Millennium Village in London. The trial was heard over five weeks in the TCC in summer 2013. Alex was also instructed in the appeal pursued in front of the Court of Appeal in relation to indemnity clauses.
From 2008 to 2010, Alex was instructed by Total UK Limited in relation to the Buncefield incident. He advised and appeared in around 40 of the high value property damage claims, which proceeded in the TCC and the Commercial Court, both alone and led by senior counsel. These claims ranged in value from £500,000 to many millions, and all were successfully compromised before trial.
In the last few years, Alex has advised on / appeared in cases involving:
- A fire at a leading London restaurant.
- A dispute as to electrical works at Hammersmith Underground station.
- A fire caused by hot works at a school.
- A claim for the pollution of a fishing lake by a water company.
- A flood arising from the poor maintenance of drainage gullies by a local council.
- Issues of public nuisance arising out of a fire at a restaurant in Bury St Edmunds.
- The collapse of residential property in the course of demolition works.
- The failure of a cofferdam in the course of development at a sewage works.
- Subsidence caused to four properties by excavation in the course of a development on a Welsh hillside.
Over the last few years, Alex has given in-house seminars in relation to:
- Concurrent delay.
- Damage to property caused by tree-roots.
- Indemnity clauses.
- Withholding notices.
Selected Cases
View full profile »Articles
- Alexander Macpherson represents insurers in tranche of claims considering underpayment of issue fees in NIHL claims
- Bussey v Anglia Heating Limited: Important Court of Appeal decision on asbestos claims
News
- David Platt QC and Alexander Macpherson receive judgment from Court of Appeal in Goldscheider v Royal Opera House
- Crown Office Chambers feature in three of The Lawyer’s Top 20 cases of 2019
Events
Qualifications
- Astbury Scholar, Middle Temple
- Diploma in Law, City University
- English Literature, Oriel College, Oxford
Memberships
- PIBA
- PNBA
- TECBAR
Recommendations
“He’s really good – the quality of his drafting is excellent.”
Chambers & Partners 2020
“He’s a very, very good advocate.”
Chambers & Partners 2020
“He has an impressively deep understanding of areas stretching beyond asbestos diseases, offering enviable expertise in cases involving noise-induced hearing loss and hand-arm vibration syndrome.”
Chambers & Partners 2020
“He excels in cases involving challenging quantum issues and contested expert evidence.“
Legal 500 2020
“His practice encompasses the full range of conditions caused by work.”
Legal 500 2018
“His advice is very thorough and practical.”
Legal 500 2017
“Particularly experienced in defending fraudulent PI claims.”
Legal 500 2017
“He provides very good response times, and is clear and to-the-point.”
Legal 500 2017
“He is thorough, calm, professional and has a great attention to detail. He’s a very good courtroom advocate.”
Chambers & Partners 2016
“He has a detailed, yet pragmatic approach.”
Legal 500 2016
“He is very good on his feet and solicitors have every confidence in him.”
Legal 500 2015