Hamish Fraser

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.

Recent highlights and examples of Hamish’s work include:

• 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).
• Norman Hay plc v Marsh Ltd [2024] EWHC 1039 (Comm). Strike out application concerning the correct test for causation in professional negligence claims brought against insurance brokers. Appeal outstanding (led by Daniel Shapiro KC).

These examples are indicative of the breadth of Hamish’s experience, which means he is well-equipped to advise across a wide range of legal issues and also to adapt his style of advocacy to suit a diverse range of tribunals.

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.

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

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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)