Hamish is a highly regarded junior with a broad commercial practice and particular specialisms in insurance/re-insurance, professional negligence, product liability, and civil fraud disputes. He is regularly instructed in high-value, complex disputes, appearing both as sole counsel and as part of a larger legal team in the Commercial Court, the Chancery Division, the TCC, and the Court of Appeal.
Hamish is ranked in the Legal 500 as a rising star in Professional Negligence and Insurance & Reinsurance, where he is described as “exceptional for his level” and “a pleasure to work with”.
Hamish has quickly established himself as a go-to trial junior on hard-fought commercial cases, having already appeared in seven High Court trials and once in the Court of Appeal. These include:
- Clarendon v Zurich [2025] EWHC 267 (Comm) successfully representing the claimant policyholder in a strike out/summary judgment application arising from a £10m insurance coverage dispute (led by Ben Quiney KC).
- Norman Hay v Marsh [2025] EWCA Civ 58, appearing in the Court of Appeal regarding the correct test for causation in professional negligence claims brought against insurance brokers (led by Daniel Shapiro KC).
- Groen & Ors v Heath [2024] EWHC 1654 (Ch): successfully representing a group of angel investors in a civil fraud claim against the founder of a tech start up business (led by Jason Evans-Tovey).
- Finsbury Foods v Axis [2023] EWHC 1559 (Comm), successfully defending W&I insurers in a breach of warranty claim arising out of the £25m acquisition of a bakery business (led by Daniel Shapiro KC).
- Hamsard v AE [2024] EWHC 262 (Comm), successfully representing a firm of insurance brokers in an £8m claim brought by a manufacturing company following its property insurers’ avoidance of the policy (led by Daniel Shapiro KC).
Hamish originally read English at the University of Oxford, where he graduated with a First-Class degree. After turning to law, he gained a Distinction in every subject on the GDL and was graded Outstanding on the BPTC. He has been awarded a number of prizes and scholarships, including the Crowther Shield for public speaking and the Tancred scholarship from Lincoln’s Inn.
View full profile »Awards
- Buchanan Prize for outstanding performance on the BPTC (Lincoln’s Inn, 2020)
- Advocacy Scholarship (BPP, 2019)
- Tancred Scholarship (Lincoln’s Inn, 2019)
- Winner, the Crowther Shield for public speaking (Lincoln’s Inn, 2019)
- Winner, the Crown Office Mooting Competition (2018)
- The Janet Quigley Prize for Middle English studies (Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, 2016)
News
- Our second six pupils are now accepting instructions
- Hamish Fraser and Colleen Cumbers recognised in the Pro Bono Recognition List 2026
Articles
- Forever Chemicals: Litigation, Liability and Insurance Coverage
- Waiver of disclosure under the Insurance Act 2015
Blogs
Events
- Crown Office Chambers at The National Pupillage Fair 2024
- Crown Office Chambers Pupillage Open Evening
Qualifications
- BPTC (Outstanding), BPP
- GDL (Distinction), City University
- English Language & Literature (First Class), University of Oxford
Recommendations
“Hamish is exceptional for his level. The quality of his advice, written work, and advocacy is well beyond his years. He is a pleasure to work with and not afraid to offer his views even when he is being led by Leading Counsel. He doesn’t have any weaknesses.”
Legal 500, 2026
“He is hardworking, dedicated and works well under pressure.”
Legal 500, 2025
“Excellent drafting. Thoughtful. Highly intelligent. Well ahead of his years in terms of drafting, research and views.”
Legal 500, 2025
