Caspar Ramsay


Call: 2021

“Caspar Ramsay is an up-and-coming junior who is both technically skilled and pragmatic. He is highly approachable and gives clear advice."


A client

Caspar has a broad commercial litigation and arbitration practice, with a particular focus on highly technical construction, engineering and infrastructure, energy and utilities, and technology disputes.

Caspar is experienced in high-value international arbitration and High Court proceedings led by silks.  Recent instructions include: a c.100m USD major infrastructure dispute under Kuwaiti law and ICC Arbitration Rules; a c.100m USD arbitration concerning a contract for the sale and purchase of oil and gas products under DIAC Arbitration Rules; and a c.£150m domestic multi-party dispute concerning fire safety defects.

He also frequently acts as sole counsel in High Court claims.  For example, Caspar’s recent instructions include: appearing in a High Court claim concerning alleged defects in a professional football pitch; and acting in a Technology and Construction Court claim to liquidated damages arising from defective solar panels.

His work has involved a broad range of bespoke and standard form contracts including JCT, NEC, FIDIC and ACE standard forms, and he has gained experience at all stages of arbitration, litigation and adjudication.

CONSTRUCTION, ENGINEERING AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Caspar has acted in a range of technically complex disputes.  He has gained particular experience in claims for cladding and fire-stopping issues discovered since the Grenfell Tower tragedy.  He is familiar with all standard forms as well as bespoke contracts.  Recent work includes:

  • Acting as junior counsel in a c.100m multi-party dispute concerning remediation contribution orders under the Building Safety Act 2022 and other issues arising under the recently developed building safety regime.
  • Acting as junior counsel in a c.100m major infrastructure dispute under Kuwaiti law and ICC Arbitration Rules.
  • Acting in a c.22m claim in respect of defects in the design and installation of a prominent Manchester apartment block adopting a novel form of modular construction.
  • Acting as junior counsel in c.£12m High Court proceedings concerning fire safety defects in a multistorey student accommodation block.
  • Acting as junior counsel in c.£8m High Court proceedings dispute concerning fire safety defects in three multistorey residential and commercial blocks.
  • Acting as junior counsel in a c.£2m claim concerning fire safety and waterproofing defects in a multistorey residential block.
  • Appearing as sole counsel in the High Court defending an application for an injunction in a c.£1m dispute concerning the design and construction of a football pitch.
  • Advising in a c.£20m dispute concerning fire safety defects in two multi-use blocks.
  • As sole counsel, advising, drafting pre-action correspondence and a mediation position statement in a c.£8m multiparty dispute concerning fire safety defects in multistorey residential blocks.
  • As sole counsel, preparing an adjudication referral in a residential construction project under a JCT standard form contract.
  • In a claim for fire safety defects by a contractor against subcontractors in a PFI project, drafting an advice on limitation and the merits of the claim.
  • In a dispute involving a PFI contract for the maintenance of a hospital, drafting an advice on contractual interpretation.
  • Drafting an advice on reasonable settlement parameters in a dispute concerning fire safety in the maintenance of a hospital.
  • Drafting an advice on limitation and procedural issues with an accompanying particulars of claim in multiparty proceedings relating to defective cladding in student accommodation blocks.
  • Drafting an advice for an employer on the merits of a claim against nine potential defendants for fire safety defects in a care home.
  • Assisting in drafting an advice on the construction of an insurance policy and quantum of a claim involving subsidence of a warehouse.
  • Drafting an advice on termination clauses in an amended NEC3 contract for the decontamination of a site.
  • Drafting particulars of claim in a multiparty residential party wall dispute.
  • Drafting an advice on the merits of a claim against an insurer and under a conditional bond arising out of a project on a water treatment plant.

ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Caspar’s energy and natural resources experience includes:

  • As junior counsel, acting in a c.100m USD dispute concerning a contract for the sale and purchase of oil and gas products.
  • As sole counsel, acting in a claim for liquidated damages incurred in respect of defective solar panels.
  • Drafting an advice on the contractual interpretation of a joint venture agreement for the construction and maintenance of electrical infrastructure and the transmission of energy.
  • Providing research for a senior junior in Chambers in an insurance claim concerning the design and installation of biomass gasification CHP technology.
  • Drafting advice on the merits of a claim concerning the construction of an offshore wind farm.

ARBITRATION

Caspar has developed experience in a number of international arbitrations, including:

  • Acting in a c.100m USD arbitration concerning a contract for the sale and purchase of oil and gas products under DIAC Arbitration Rules, including responding to a jurisdictional challenge.
  • Acting as junior counsel in a c.100m dispute concerning termination, delay, disruption and variations in the context of a major infrastructure contract under Kuwaiti law and ICC Arbitration Rules.
  • Working with a King’s Counsel in Chambers in a civil fraud claim under DIFC-LCIA Rules, providing research relating to the evidential basis of fraud allegations, the effect of express terms to the effect that warranties were agreed upon due and careful inquiry, and restraint of trade.

ADJUDICATION

Caspar has acted in a number of adjudications, including final account and ‘smash and grab’ payment disputes, as well as in enforcement proceedings.  His recent adjudications include:

  • Successfully acting for a football club in an adjudication concerning the defective construction of a professional standard football pitch.
  • Successfully acting for a contractor in response to a claim for liquidated damages and, in a subsequent adjudication, claiming for extensions of time and revised sectional completion dates.
  • Successfully acting for a contractor in a final account dispute arising from the construction of a hotel in Reykjavik, Iceland.

GENERAL COMMERCIAL LITIGATION

Caspar has experience in a range of commercial disputes, including:

  • As sole counsel, advising a global professional services company on procedural issues raised in the early stages of litigation.
  • Acting for the claimant in proceedings concerning the proper interpretation of a sale of goods contract.
  • Assisting King’s Counsel in Chambers with legal research on state immunity from enforcement action.
  • Assisting in research for an insurance claim, providing research outputs relating to whether an engineer had guaranteed the accuracy of its drawings and whether the information represented in a notification under a policy gave rise to an estoppel from contradicting that information in a later claim.
  • Drafting an advice on settlement offers, involving issues of maintenance and champerty.
  • Drafting skeleton arguments for various interim applications, including for the adjournment of a trial, extended disclosure and summary judgement and/or strike out.

QUALIFICATIONS AND AWARDS

City, University of London
2020-2021 BVS (Distinction)

  • Prince of Wales Scholarship awarded by Gray’s Inn
  • City Law School Scholarship for Academic Excellence

2019-2020 GDL (Distinction)

  • The Frances Moran Scholarship awarded by Gray’s Inn
  • GDL Scholarship awarded by The City Law School
  • 11 KBW Prize for finishing top of his year in Public Law, with a mark of 100%

Jesus College, University of Cambridge
2019 MPhil in Political Thought and Intellectual History

2015-18 BA Hons in Politics and International Relations (Double First)

  • The Keller Prize awarded by Jesus College to five graduating students for exceptional academic performance across their undergraduate studies
  • Malthus Prize awarded by Jesus College for finishing top of his year in Part IIA Human, Social and Political Sciences
  • Theology and Religious Studies Prize awarded by Jesus College for finishing top of his year in Part I Theology and Religious Studies
  • Two Scholarships awarded by Jesus College
  • Exhibition awarded by Jesus College

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Caspar frequently acts on a pro bono basis for claimants in discrimination claims under the Equality Act 2010.

Caspar speaks conversational Spanish and Portuguese.