Isabel Hitching is a specialist in commercial, construction and engineering, and related insurance, professional negligence and property damage fields.
Isabel is known for combining intellectual rigour with a team working and commercial approach, identifying an effective strategy to achieve the best for her clients whether at trial or in mediation and negotiation.
Isabel undertakes frequent trial work in the High Court and is regularly instructed in adjudications and arbitrations. She is known for her ability to analyse and marshal vast disclosure and work effectively with multi-disciplinary teams of experts.
Prior to taking silk Isabel was the most senior commercial/construction specialist on the Attorney General’s panel and acted for the government in a large number of high value (up to £300m), factually complex and politically sensitive disputes. Isabel continues to act for the government as Queen’s Counsel as well as for insurers and private clients.
With her academic background as a lecturer at Christ Church, Oxford, Isabel is frequently instructed in cases raising novel or complex points of law. She has been involved in a number of test cases at first instance as well as in the Court of Appeal, the House of Lords, Supreme Court and European Court of Justice, including the first case to be decided in the Supreme Court on adjudication. She is currently instructed as the leader on a number of ‘portfolio’ test cases for insurers and the government.
Isabel is also instructed as both an arbitrator and an adjudicator in insurance, commercial and construction matters.
View full profile »News
- Carroll v Taylor – Court of Appeal rejects appeal ‘bound to fail’
- Crown Office Chambers ranked in Chambers Global 2021 for Construction
Articles
- Covid-19 and the Construction Industry: Emden Editor’s Letter 26 May 2020 by Isabel Hitching QC
- Recent Developments in Interpretation of Contracts: a welcome message of certainty in a time of change
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
- Previously non-stipendiary lecturer in law Christ Church Oxford
Memberships
- Member of the Civil Procedure Rule Committee
- Member of Bar Council International Committee with special focus on South East Asia
- 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
- 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
Recommendations
“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)
“She has a chess grand master’s great grasp of strategy.”
(Chambers & Partners, 2020)
“She has an awesome intellect and always examines issues from all angles.”
(Legal 500)
“A superb tactician, who is masterly with the game plan.”
(Legal 500)
“An extremely competent tactician who provides very strong strategy.”
(Legal 500)
“A specialist in construction, with regular High Court appearances.”
(Legal 500)
“A highly intelligent and practical barrister.”
(Chambers & Partners)