A.I.: The External Force Changing The Legal Landscape
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The below article has been adapted from a presentation given by Andrew Goddard KC (with assistance from Laura Hussey) at […]
30th May 2023
"A creative thinker."
"He's very easy to work with and very responsive - nothing is too much trouble"
Chambers and Partners
Andrew Goddard KC specialises in the law of commercial obligations, professional negligence and international arbitration, particularly in the context of disputes concerning major construction and engineering contracts and IT projects. He has had much involvement in infrastructure, telecoms and energy disputes, and has acted for main contractors, sub-contractors, professionals and employers, including national and foreign Governments.
Andrew has experience of PPP and PFI projects in the UK and various Commonwealth jurisdictions, and is a director of the Caribbean Procurement Institute. He has also acted as counsel for core participants in public inquiries in the UK and Caribbean.
Andrew is “a creative thinker” and “very analytical” (Chambers and Partners), he is strategic in his approach to the prosecution and resolution of disputes. He believes that the process can be improved by increased party collaboration, where sensible to do so, and early identification of the real issues, thereby improving the client’s overall experience and, crucially, outcomes. His expertise in international commercial arbitration stems from appearing in numerous disputes referred to arbitration under the auspices of the ICC, the HKIAC, the LCIA and the LMAA. He also has experience of investor-state disputes proceeding before the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).
Related areas of law in which he has detailed knowledge and experience include ship construction and conversion, insurance and performance bonds. He is also experienced in judicial review and issues relating to public procurement.
He is an accredited civil and commercial mediator, and has been appointed as arbitrator, adjudicator, legal assessor, and legal expert in various disputes. He has also been admitted on an ad hoc basis to the Bars of Hong Kong, Trinidad and Tobago, and Tanzania.
Andrew is listed as a leading silk in Construction and International Arbitration by The Legal 500, the Chambers UK Bar Guide, The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific, the Chambers Asia-Pacific Guide, the Chambers Global Guide and Who’s Who Legal.
“He is strategically excellent.”
Construction, Chambers and Partners
Andrew has represented a large number of employers, Governments, contractors, sub-contractors and consultants on many cases, both domestic and international, concerning numerous types of building and civil engineering projects.
Andrew has wide experience acting for contractors on domestic and international disputes arising out of the design and construction of, among others, power plants and waste water treatment plants. Examples of his work include:
Andrew has represented, among others, governments and contractors on disputes arising from road, rail and infrastructure projects. His experience includes:
In the professional negligence field Andrew has acted for claimants, defendants and their indemnity insurers in relation to claims brought against a wide range of professionals including solicitors, architects and construction professionals. Examples include:
Instructed by foreign Government in respect of the procurement and construction of several Island-class patrol vessels. The vessels are based on the Royal Navy‘s River-class patrol vessels, are 90 m (295 ft) long, and have 80 man crews plus accommodation for 40 troops. They are designed to perform a range of Economic Exclusion Zone (EEZ) management, special operations and maritime law enforcement tasks.
Andrew gained significant experience as a junior, and then as leading counsel, over several years in a massive international dispute arising out of a contract for the conversion of a bulk carrier into a dynamically positioned pipe-laying vessel. The claims, arbitrated in London, raised numerous issues of contractual interpretation, fraud, proof and quantification of loss, and currency of award (with successive appeals to the High Court) Sembawang Corporation v Pacific Ocean Shipbuilding [2004] EWHC 2743 (Comm); [2004] App. LR 11.
Andrew has recently instructed by a foreign shipyard to advise on issues of contractual interpretation, including termination provisions of marine contract, and institution of arbitration proceedings under LMAA arbitration clause.
Andrew has also provided advice in respect of the redevelopment of a dry dock in UAE.
Andrew acted as Leading Counsel for the principal participant in a major Public Inquiry into the construction industry in Trinidad and Tobago. The Inquiry, chaired by an English QC, lasted for over a year and involved allegations of corruption in the public procurement decisions of a State-Owned Enterprise.
The Inquiry spawned two significant Judicial Reviews in the High Court of Trinidad and Tobago leading to findings of apparent bias on the part of two members of the Inquiry panel and a landmark decision on the immunity of Counsel appearing at a Public Inquiry.
Andrew is currently acting for one of the principal Core Participants in the on-going UK Public Inquiry into the fire at Grenfell Tower in north London in June 2017.
Andrew acted on behalf of a foreign investor arbitrating claims pursuant to bilateral investment treaty (BIT) proceeding before the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).
“Andrew is incredibly bright and hard working and an absolute pleasure to work with. His written advocacy is better than almost anyone else’s. His oral advocacy is also extremely strong.”
Construction, Energy & Infrastructure, The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2023
“Andrew is able to grasp complex factual and scientific matters with ease, and he is a pleasure to work with.”
“He got up to speed really quickly and was calm and measured in his arguments.”
“Andrew is an absolute star at the strategy.”
Construction, Chambers UK Bar 2023
“Andrew Goddard is intelligent, commercially astute and a real fighter. He will go the extra mile for his clients.”
“He is a very good advocate.”
International Arbitration: Chambers UK Bar 2023
“Andrew did an absolutely fantastic job. He is creative and an absolute star in strategy and not just black-letter law.”
International Arbitration, Chambers Asia Pacific 2023
“Andrew is a very experienced construction barrister. His opinions are thorough and easy to understand, his advocacy is extremely effective, and his strategy is effective and pragmatic.”
Construction, The Legal 500 2023
“Top notch cross-examination and advocacy skills. Very hard working with good attention to details. Excellent in developing case strategy and easy to work with.”
International Arbitration: Counsel, The Legal 500 2023
“He understands the construction industry and brings a very pragmatic approach to his advice and advocacy.”
Construction, Energy and Infrastructure, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2022
“He has a good grasp of the legal and technical issues in the case. He is also approachable and user- friendly.”
“He rolls his sleeves up and gets into the detail.”
International Arbitration: Chambers UK Bar 2022
“Thorough and decisive with a good eye for detail. A good strategist.”
Construction, The Legal 500 2022
“A top barrister who is not just excellent in the law, but offers broader advice on strategy and good ideas on alternative approaches.”
International Arbitration, The Legal 500 2022
“Extremely bright, hardworking and a pleasure to deal with.”
Construction, Energy and Infrastructure, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2021
“He’s one of the best silks at the construction Bar,” “he’s extraordinarily intelligent, he really rolls his sleeves up to get into the detail, and the degree to which he has specialised knowledge of construction disputes is a real strength.”
International Arbitration – The Bar, Chambers Asia-Pacific 2021
“Extremely effective.”
International Arbitration, Chambers UK Bar 2021
“A persuasive and seasoned advocate particularly at cross-examination, he is capable of delivering submissions with complicated arguments in a way that is convincing yet easy to understand.”
International Arbitration, The Legal 500 2021
“A very experienced construction barrister. His opinions are thorough and easy to understand. His advocacy is extremely modern and effective.”
Construction, The Legal 500 2021
The above are a selection of recent client endorsements from the leading legal directories, both UK and internationally. For a complete list of endorsements, please contact the practice management team at Atkin Chambers.