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Roger ter Haar KC

Call 1974 • KC 1992

“He is very experienced, hugely well known and hugely well respected. He has a massive following globally.”
(Chambers & Partners)

Roger’s practice as an international arbitrator covers Construction, Engineering, Insurance, re-insurance, Energy, Shipbuilding and Professional Negligence.

In June 2020 he decided to limit the number of new instructions in which he would act as counsel in order to concentrate on work as an arbitrator. During a career spanning over 40 years as an advocate, he appeared as leading counsel in many cases in these areas before trial and appellate courts and arbitral tribunals, including a number of high-value international arbitrations in London, Paris, Geneva, Muscat, Dubai, Qatar, Hong Kong, Singapore, Perth, New York and Washington D.C., and included claims where the amounts at stake were in billions of dollars.

He has vast expertise in the areas of major infrastructure works, Energy (including notable experience in respect of wind farm and Oil & Gas disputes), contracts for the sale of oil, claims related to waste disposal plants and claims relating to contracts for the construction and maintenance of power stations, including, in once case, a combined power station and desalination plant. He has experience of price disputes including price escalation and indexation issues in respect of power and rail projects.

Additionally, his experience covers allegations of negligence against financial service advisors, insurance brokers, underwriting agents, doctors, solicitors, barristers, surveyors and valuers, architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, patent agents, educational psychologists, teachers and others.

Roger’s appointments include presiding arbitrator, tribunal member and sole arbitrator, principally (though by no means exclusively) in ICC, LCIA, DIAC and SIAC. Arbitral seats have included London, Dubai, Doha, Riyadh, Oman, Singapore, and the Caribbean. His appointments have involved a wide variety of governing laws, including the laws of England, Hong Kong, Australia, and India as well as Sharia law.

His common law expertise is complemented by a wide experience of civil law systems, including UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt and the Philippines.

Roger’s International practice spans the globe. He has acted in or advised in respect of or arbitrated disputes arising from projects in: Afghanistan, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei, Bulgaria, China, Cyprus, Dubai, Egypt, Eire, Hong Kong, Gibraltar, India, Indonesia, India, Isle of Man, Israel, Jersey, Kuwait, Libya, Oman, Panama, Pakistan, the Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sudan, Taiwan, Tanzania, the USA, Venezuela and, of course, in the UK.

Roger is a member of the HKIAC Panel of Arbitrators, the Panel of KCAB International Arbitrators, the ADGM Arbitration Centre Panel of Arbitrators and of the FIDIC President’s List of Adjudicators. Additionally, he formerly sat as a Chairman of a Lloyd’s Disciplinary Committee.

He sits as a Deputy High Court Judge in the Technology and Construction Court, Administrative Court and the King’s Bench Division of the English High Court of Justice.

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News


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Events


Qualifications


  • Felsted
  • Magdalen College, Oxford
  • BA Jurisprudence 1973
  • Became Bencher of Inner Temple 1993
  • (1995-1999: Chairman, Inner Temple Estates Committee)

Memberships


  • Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre Panel of Arbitrators (2013)
  • The Korean Commercial Arbitration Board Panel of International Arbitrators (2013)
  • Chairman, Inner Temple Estates Committee (1995 – 1999)
  • Former Chairman Lloyds Disciplinary Committee

Recommendations


“Roger is very self-sufficient. He’s very good at just getting a job and getting stuck in, which makes it very easy to work with him.”… “Roger is very focused on merit and very, very clever.”

Chambers & Partners, 2024

‘One of the most experienced and sharpest minds at the construction Bar. He is bright, insightful, tactically astute and gets up to speed on the most complex factual and technical issues quickly.’

Legal 500, 2024

“Roger ter Haar’s advocacy and ability to deal with the unforseen, thinking on his feet, are really an object lesson in the art.”

Chambers & Partners, 2023

‘Excellent advocate and superb presentation in a very subtle way including his cross examination skills.’

Legal 500, 2023

“He is very experienced, hugely well known and hugely well respected. He has a massive following globally.”

Chambers & Partners, 2022

“His key strength is his eagle-eye attention to detail, packaged with his extensive years of experience that elevates him to a status of a true specialist in his field. Arbitrators and judges listen attentively when he speaks.”

Legal 500, 2022

“Very intelligent and accessible, he is liked by his solicitors and lay clients – a great guy.”

Legal 500 EMEA, 2021

“He offers a good mix of commercial and construction expertise in addition to being very strong on his feet. He’s just a pro in a courtroom.”; “He is consistently excellent to deal with.”

Chambers & Partners, 2021

“He is one of the finest cross-examiners practising at the English Bar.”; “Remains at the top of his game – conducted himself at hearings with a poise and eloquence that few others possess in my experience.”; “Hardworking and always a pleasure to deal with, he is more inclined to be one of the team than many senior barristers.”; “Has an ability to cut through and focus on the important issues. Hard-working and always a pleasure to deal with.”

Legal 500, 2021

“His instincts in understanding how to present disputed issues to a tribunal are brilliant. “

Legal 500 EMEA, 2020

“Has a wealth of experience, and is an impressive advocate who can quickly get the measure of a witness or tribunal.”

Legal 500, 2020

“An impressive advocate who can quickly get the measure of a witness or tribunal and tailor his cross-examination accordingly.”

Legal 500, 2020


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