International Arbitration
In addition to appearing as an advocate for parties in arbitrations, Isabel is regularly instructed as an arbitrator in both domestic and international arbitrations in construction and engineering, insurance and commercial disputes.
Recent matters include acting as sole arbitrator to determine a motor insurance coverage dispute arising out of the catastrophic injury of a minor. Isabel was appointed jointly by the parties following her appearance in the leading case of Carroll v (1) Michael Taylor (2) Michael Doyle (3) Emms Taxis Limited (4) QBE Insurance (Europe) Limited [2020] EWHC 153 (QB), where Isabel successfully defeated a multi-million pound claim against motor insurers by a passenger who suffered catastrophic injury following his abandonment by a criminal taxi driver.
Current matters include acting as President of an ICC arbitration (co-arbitrators are Lord Nicholas Wilson and Martin Bowdery KC) in relation to a dispute arising out of the construction of a power plant in Southern Africa.
Isabel also acts as an adjudicator (through the TECBAR scheme) and accepts appointments to Dispute Resolution Boards.
She is a member of the LCIA and, as the General Editor of Emden on Construction Law oversees the chapters on Arbitration and Adjudication and authors the chapter on Alternative Dispute Resolution.
Selected Cases
View full profile »News
- Members of Crown Office Chambers recognised as Market Leaders in Who’s Who Legal
- Supreme Court decision in Mixed Injury test cases – Hassam (and another) v Rabot (and another)
Articles
- Isabel Hitching KC secures unanimous Court of Appeal dismissal of appeal in World War II bomb damage coverage case.
- Courts have the power to order compulsory ADR – Churchill v Merthyr Tydfil CBC [2023] EWCA Civ 1416. Decision considered by Isabel Hitching KC member of the Civil Procedure Rule Committee.
Events
- Isabel Hitching KC to speak at King’s College London International Construction Arbitration Conference 2023
- The application of war exclusions – BILA Virtual Lecture
Qualifications
- MA (First Class), Christ Church, Oxford
- BCL, Christ Church, Oxford
- Open Scholar, Open Exhibitioner, Radcliffe Exhibitioner and Dixon Scholar Christ Church, Oxford
- Lord Justice Sachs Scholarship, Middle Temple
- Queen Mother Scholarship, Middle Temple
- Inns of Court Studentship
- Former non-stipendiary lecturer in law Christ Church Oxford
- Accredited Adjudicator (TecBar)
- Accredited Arbitrator (LCIA)
Memberships
- Civil Procedure Rule Committee
- Professional Negligence Bar Association
- Commercial Bar Association
- London Common Law & Commercial Bar Association
- Society of Construction Law (and past committee member)
- Technology & Construction Bar Association (and past committee member)
- Joint editor of Emden’s Construction Law
- London Court of International Arbitration
- Former member of Attorney General’s Treasury Panel. Continues to act for government as silk.
- Past member of Bar Standards Board Equality & Diversity Committee
- Past member and vice-chair of Bar Standards Board Qualifications Committee
- Past member of Bar Council and Bar Council International Committee
Recommendations
“Isabel is a thoughtful and highly strategic KC. Two steps ahead of anyone else – she is an excellent advocate.”…”A great team player, working with us as instructing solicitors and with the clients as needed. She is increasingly respected by the judiciary. She brings an intellectual rigour and attention to detail.”
Legal 500, 2025
“Isabel is everything you want from a silk. Her mind is just razor-sharp, she will spot things in huge mounds of paperwork and see a relevance in them to then map it all through.”… “She is particularly good in cases that are a bit novel and different.”
Chambers & Partners, 2024
‘Isabel has an innate ability to drill down to the main points and weed out irrelevant issues, from which instructing solicitors can then draw up a strong strategic approach which usually gets us to where the client wants to be.’
Legal 500, 2024
“Isabel is extremely astute, very careful and conscientious and always has a clear plan of action in terms of approach to the issues and getting the best out of the case for the client. She manages expectations in relation to delivering work and solicitors know exactly where they stand.”
Legal 500, 2024
“She is very knowledgeable of the construction sector, excellent with clients and a very persuasive advocate in court or arbitration.”
(Chambers & Partners, 2022)
“She always has a good grasp and understanding of the case, and is a confident and persuasive advocate.”
(Legal 500, 2022)
“Industrious, meticulous and convincing … always has a good grasp of the case, and is a confident and persuasive advocate”
Legal 500, 2022
“Very sensitive to the needs of the client, and adopts a realistic and commercial view in order to achieve the best result.”
(Legal 500, 2021)
“A standout barrister at the construction Bar.”
(Legal 500, 2021)
“She is clear and concise as an advocate, with the ability to see the bigger picture in disputes.”
(Chambers & Partners, 2021)
“Boasts a tally of appearances in important and high-value construction cases… She has a chess grand master’s great grasp of strategy.”
(Chambers & Partners 2020)
“She has a chess grand master’s great grasp of strategy.”
(Chambers & Partners, 2020)
