Hamish has developed a successful practice across Chambers’ core areas, particularly in commercial disputes, insurance, professional negligence, inquests and inquiries, property damage, and product liability.
He is ranked in the Legal 500 as a rising star in Professional Negligence and Insurance & Reinsurance, where he is described as “well ahead of his years in terms of drafting, research and views”.
Recent highlights and examples of Hamish’s work include:
- David Wood Baking (UK) Limited v QBE & Ors (Comm): representing the policyholder in a c£100m insurance coverage dispute arising out of a substantial fire at a commercial premises. The matter proceeded on an expedited basis and settled shortly before trial (led by Daniel Shapiro KC).
- Groen & Ors v Heath [2024] EWHC 1654 (Ch): representing the claimant group of angel investors in a complex, investment-related civil fraud claim. Following a 13-day trial, it was successfully proved that the claimants had been induced by a number of fraudulent misrepresentations to invest in a tech start-up promising innovative marketing software (led by Jason Evans-Tovey).
- Finsbury Food Group Plc v Axis Corporate Capital UK Ltd [2023] EWHC 1559 (Comm). Commercial Court trial representing the successful defendant W&I insurers who underwrote the £20m acquisition of a food manufacturing business. The buyer of the business claimed under the W&I policy on the basis of alleged breaches of a number of warranties under the share purchase agreement. The defendant insurers succeeded on every issue after a two-week trial (led by Daniel Shapiro KC).
- Hamsard One Thousand and Forty-Three Ltd v AE Insurance Brokers Ltd [2024] EWHC 262 (Comm). Commercial Court trial successfully representing a firm of insurance brokers alleged to have negligently failed to arrange an appropriate scope of cover and to disclose material facts such that the insurer avoided the policy for non-disclosure and misrepresentation. The claim was rejected and the Claimant’s director was found to have “constructed an account which bears little resemblance to reality” in order to support the case (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 »Events
- Crown Office Chambers at The National Pupillage Fair 2024
- Crown Office Chambers Pupillage Open Evening
News
- Jason Evans-Tovey and Hamish Fraser successful in civil fraud claim in the Chancery Division
- Daniel Shapiro KC and Hamish Fraser act for the successful Defendant in a Commercial Court trial
Articles
- Defending W&I claims: strategic themes illustrated in Finsbury Foods v Axis & Ors
- ClientEarth v Shell: High Court refuses permission for novel climate change action to be brought by ClientEarth against the directors of Shell Plc
Qualifications
- BPTC (Outstanding), BPP
- GDL (Distinction), City University
- English Language & Literature (First Class), University of Oxford,
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)
Recommendations
“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