“A very gifted advocate - Fantastic at cross-examination. His trial preparation is absolutely meticulous.”
Neil took a double first class honours degree in Law from Christ's College, Cambridge University in 1986, and was then called to the Bar in 1987. He began practice at 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square in 1988, specialising in commercial law and public and EU law. He moved to Brick Court Chambers in 1994, where he now specialises in all types of commercial litigation and arbitrations. Neil won Legal Week’s Advocate of the Year Award for 2019, and in the same year was also nominated as Chambers & Partners’ 2019 Commercial Litigation QC of the Year. He was awarded Legal 500’s International Arbitration QC of the Year for 2015.
Neil took a double first class honours degree in Law from Christ's College, Cambridge University in 1986, and was then called to the Bar in 1987. He began practice at 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square in 1988, specialising in commercial law and public and EU law. He moved to Brick Court Chambers in 1994, where he now specialises in all types of commercial litigation and arbitrations. Neil won Legal Week’s Advocate of the Year Award for 2019, and in the same year was also nominated as Chambers & Partners’ 2019 Commercial Litigation QC of the Year. He was awarded Legal 500’s International Arbitration QC of the Year for 2015.
Neil is an extremely versatile advocate and at any one time he has a very wide ranging caseload of commercial disputes at both first instance and appellate level, as well as by way of international arbitrations. This versatility, allied to an extremely high win-rate, is demonstrated by the fact that he consistently appears each year in no fewer than 6 separate categories of expertise in both the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners Guides to the leading barristers (Commercial Litigation; Insurance and Reinsurance; Banking & Finance; International Arbitration; Aviation and Professional Negligence).
In particular, much of Neil’s time is now occupied by international oligarch disputes, both in the High Court, in overseas jurisdictions (such as the BVI and Gibraltar) and in international arbitrations, in relation to disputes worth as much as US$47 billion (he is currently acting for respectively Russian, Chinese, Ukranian, Georgian and Indian business oligarchs). Most recently, in SCM Financial Overseas v Raga [2018] EWHC 1008 (comm), Neil acted for Raga in upholding a $1 billion dollar arbitration award and defeating a challenge under section 68 of the Arbitration Act 1996. The arbitration concerned the sale by Raga Establishment Limited of the privatised Ukrainian telecoms company, Ukrtelecom, to SCM, a company controlled by Ukrainian oligarch Rinat Akhmetov.
Neil frequently acts as Leading Counsel and as an arbitrator in a wide variety of international commercial arbitration disputes, including LCIA, ICC and Hague arbitrations.
Neil acted as Leading Counsel for the successful appellants (AGF) in the landmark case of WASA and AGF v. Lexington [2009] UKHL 40, being the very last case decided by the House of Lords (before the establishment of the new Supreme Court).
Using his strategic and cross-examination skills practised at the commercial bar, Neil also now acts in high profile competition law cases, most recently acting for the successful Claimants, iiyama, in its follow-on damages claim before Morgan J (in the Chancery Division) concerning LCD screens, defeating Samsung and LG’s strike out /summary judgment applications, despite the fact that just one day earlier Mann J (also in the Chancery Division) had struck out similar claims in the cathode-ray tube (CRT) sector: [2016] EWHC 1980 (Ch). Neil then subsequently represented iiyama in its successful Court of Appeal hearing: [2018] EWCA Civ 220. Neil’s legal background means that when a public or EU law point arises in the context of a commercial dispute, he is very comfortable in dealing with all aspects of such a dispute.
In September 2009 Neil was appointed as one of 70 Crown Court part time Judges (Recorder, Crime, SE Circuit) out of 1,000 applicants for the post. He spends 3 weeks each year in this role.
Neil is also called as a Barrister to the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (British Virgin Islands) and also to the Supreme Court of Gibraltar. Neil has conducted cases at both first instance and appellate level in both jurisdictions.
Commercial Litigation
Neil Calver QC has a wide ranging domestic and international commercial litigation practice which sees him acting in a wide range of highly complex financial and commercial disputes. These cases require hard work, strategic skill, commerciality and fearless cross-examination skill from Leading Counsel and Neil is known for these attributes, as the legal directories repeatedly stress:
Neil’s typical workload can be seen from the sample of current and recent high profile commercial disputes in which he has been instructed as Leading Counsel which follow:
In particular, in the past 5 years, much of Neil’s time has been occupied by Russian Oligarch arbitrations, a number of which (above) are ongoing. One of these concerned the largest claim ever to be arbitrated in the UK, involving a dispute over contracts worth some US$47 billion.
Such is Neil’s reputation that he has also acted for well-known celebrities of the day in their commercial disputes – such as Sir Elton John in his widely publicised professional negligence litigation against his former auditors, PriceWaterhouse Coopers: John v PWC [2002] EWCA Civ 899 (CA) and [2002] 1 WLR 953 and for Dieter Bock, the German industrialist arising out of a number of commercial disputes with Tiny Rowland, for example: Rowland v Bock [2002] 4 All ER 370 - to the wealthiest men in the world.
As well as maintaining his busy practice as Leading Counsel, Neil frequently sits as an international commercial arbitrator. For example, he recently sat on a Hague arbitration panel involving an international commercial contract dispute; and he recently published an Award as the QC Chairman on an arbitration panel with Sir Simon Tuckey and Sir Gordon Langley in relation to an international commercial satellite dispute.
Commercial Arbitration
As an Advocate
** In October 2015 Neil was awarded Legal 500's International Arbitration Silk of the Year for 2015 **
Neil has a flourishing International and Commercial Arbitration Practice, which is demonstrated by the fact that he won Legal Week’s Advocate of the Year Award for 2019, and in the same year was also nominated as Chambers & Partners’ 2019 Commercial Litigation QC of the Year. He was awarded Legal 500’s International Arbitration QC of the Year for 2015. This bears witness to the fact that Neil is now instructed as Leading Counsel in the most high profile and complex international commercial disputes of the day. Most commercial disputes in London are now arbitrated rather than litigated and Neil is the go to advocate for such cases:
"One of the go-to silks of his generation"
- Legal 500
"A barrister with a “fantastic legal brain” and “the ability to run rings round the other side."
- Chambers & Partners
Neil is equally at home with an LCIA arbitration, a Bermuda Form arbitration or an ICC arbitration, having acted as an advocate and an arbitrator in all such types of arbitration.
An illustration of the type of high quality arbitral work which Neil has undertaken in the last 18 months is as follows:
As an Arbitrator
Neil also regularly sits as an arbitrator in international arbitrations, including LCIA, ICC and PCA Hague arbitrations.
Recent arbitrations where Neil sat as QC chairman include a 3 man arbitration panel (together with Adrian Mecz and Richard Youell) in respect of disputes between underwriters and the coverholder arising under various binding authority agreements. The London market arbitration hearing took place over 5 days. Neil was instructed by Addleshaw Goddard.
Neil acted as co-arbitrator in a London market arbitration with Bruce Harris in respect of a dispute arising under a sale agreement, in circumstances where there was a change in control of ownership of the company (2016).
Two further recent arbitrations which concluded with awards include Neil acting as the QC Chairman arbitrator on a commercial arbitral Panel with 2 market men (John Emney and Trevor Clegg) in respect of a London market reinsurance dispute and Neil acting as co-arbitrator together with Andrew Lydiard QC in relation to an international reinsurance arbitration.
Neil recently sat as a member of the 3 person panel in an International PCA Arbitration held at the Peace Palace in the Hague, with a very prestigious panel: Prof Hans Van Houtte and Isabelle Michoux, both renowned international arbitrators, which concerned a dispute under an International Agreement relating to carbon emission reduction credits, again arising out of a hydro-electric plants in Vietnam;
Neil also recently published an Award as the QC Chairman on an LCIA arbitration panel with Sir Simon Tuckey and Sir Gordon Langley in relation to an international satellite dispute.
Insurance and reinsurance law
Neil has extensive experience as a trial/arbitral advocate and as an appellate advocate in all areas of insurance litigation, including complex liability, property, contingency, professional indemnity, fidelity, contractors' all risk, and financial guarantee insurance disputes. He has acted in all of the contested arbitral disputes concerning Original Insured Loss warranty Clauses in the past 5 years (of which there have been four), and he is currently acting in a fifth.
Neil is also frequently instructed in Bermuda form arbitrations, both as an arbitrator and as Leading Counsel.
Indeed, Neil also frequently sits as an arbitrator in relation to insurance and reinsurance disputes.
Neil’s recent cases include:
Eastcap v Aon (a Commercial Court Trial before Burton J): The case concerned a contract under which Eastcap was to introduce Aon to major potential customers, including government officials, in Romania, in order that Aon should be appointed to a panel of reinsurance brokers on a compulsory insurance scheme for private households, designed to provide cover against the very high risk of earthquakes and other natural catastrophes in Romania. Eastcap claimed £20m. The case settled after Neil had cross-examined the Eastcap witnesses for 3 days, alleging bribery of public officials in Romania.
Acting for the successful insurers in an avoidance case for material non-disclosure before Carr J: Brit v F&B Trenchless [2015] EWHC 2237 (Comm). This is likely to be the last major policy avoidance case brought by Insurers (material non disclosure and misrepresentation). This is the first time an avoidance case has been won by insurers in the Commercial Court in several years.
Acted for reinsurers in four connected arbitrations arising out of property damage and delay in start up claims by an insured in Brazil. This consists of both ICC and LCIA arbitrations.
Currently acting for the owner of an offshore oil storage platform which collapsed in the North Sea in respect of its construction all risks (“CAR”) insurance claim worth $1 billion: Single Buoy Moorings v Zurich Insurance and others [CL 2015-000536].
Recently represented the successful insurance broker in a negligence action (before Blair J) brought against it arising out of the placing of material damage and business interruption cover: Eurokey v Giles Insurance Brokers [2014] EWHC 2989 (Comm).
Recently represented a well known insurance company in a complex LCIA insurance arbitration (before Sir Simon Tuckey, Sir Gordon Langley and William Rowley QC) arising out of a pharmaceutical patent infringement by the insured which resulted in a damages award in the US of $1.6 billion. The case settled satisfactorily on day 3 of the arbitration.
Recently acting for the successful Reinsurers in a high-profile insurance market arbitration (with a panel comprising a QC Chairman and two insurance market practitioners), which concerned the construction of an Original Insured Market Loss Warranty, contained in a Marine Offshore Non-Elemental ILW excess of loss reinsurance policy. The claim involved very substantial third-party liability losses arising out of a notorious man-made disaster and the issue of construction concerned the circumstances in which it was open to the parties to depart from the industry loss figure stated in the specified source. This is the fourth leading insurance case concerning the proper construction of Original Insured Market Loss Warranties in excess of loss insurance/reinsurance polices in which Neil has recently been involved.
Neil has in recent years acted in numerous liability insurance and liability reinsurance actions. Just by way of example:
Recently acting for the insurer Tokio Marine in respect of a dispute concerning the Thai Floods in the Autumn of 2011 under a facultative excess of loss reinsurance contract, covering property damage and business interruption losses incurred by Tesco plc and its subsidiaries worldwide. The case settled after a first instance decision in Tokyo Marine’s favour.
Recently successfully representing Equitas in an arbitration concerning the reallocation of losses and alleged refunds owed to it arising out of the subsequent determination that an Original Market loss Warranty threshold had not in fact been reached.
Recently acting for Aspen in respect of a product liability and public liability claims under a combined contractors’ liability insurance. The case concerns liability and damage insurance claims in respect of the defective installation of roofs on a condominium which blew off in gales in Scotland. Neil came in at the appellate stage and the appeal was allowed in part: Aspen v Adana [2015] EWCA Civ 176 (CA).
Recently acted for insurers at trial in the Commercial Court (Eder J) in respect of a coverage issues concerning construction all risks and third party liability insurance risks: Beazley v Al Ahleia.
Recently acted in two cases for Infrassure (one an arbitration held in Norway, the other an action in the commercial court) both of which concerned issues under the WELCAR policy wording. One was an arbitration, the other a High Court action (the latter being a dispute concerning coverage under construction all risks insurance and reinsurance policies arising out of the construction of a defective gas pipeline project off Taiwan).
Recently acted for the successful insurers in a major insurance market arbitration (Gavin Kealey QC and 2 market men) arising out of the events of 9/11 under the insurer’s Non-Airport Public Liability/Excess Liability insurance policy.
Recently acted for an insurer in a major US products/work hazard liability insurance US class action claim which was settled at a mediation just prior to the arbitration. This concerned an international insurance company’s avoidance of a global products/work hazard liability insurance (NY jurisdiction) for material non-disclosure/misrepresentation in relation to a very substantial class action in the US.
Neil has acted in many of the leading insurance cases of the past decade. The following cases illustrate the diversity of his insurance practice: acting in Aspen v Pectel [2008] EWHC 2804 (comm) for the successful insurers, Aspen, who avoided liability under a property policy by reason of the late notification of a claim (the most recent and leading case on the breach of a condition precedent to liability): acting shortly thereafter for the successful insurers, Brit, in a further case [Loyaltrend v Brit [2010] EWHC 425 (Comm)] concerning when a policy will fail to respond by reason of failure to give timely notice of a claim; acting for the successful Defendant in BP v GE Frankona [2003] 1 Lloyds Rep 537 (concerning the time when declarations had to be made under an offshore fac/oblig construction all risks open cover; Sphere Drake v Orion [2001] 1 LLR 1, in which acting together with Jonathan Sumption QC, they persuaded the Court of Appeal to make new law concerning when the perjury of a witness may be imputed to a party who called the witness to give evidence, arising in the context of the run-off of an insurance pool; Eastern European Shipbuilding, a market-wide insurance arbitration between numerous underwriters at Lloyds following the collapse of communism and the break up of former Yugoslavia; AIG v QBE [2001] 2 Lloyds Rep 268, a leading case on whether a jurisdiction clause in an underlying insurance policy is incorporated into a reinsurance contract by reason of "as original" wording; Euler Hermes v Apple Corps [2004] EWHC 1584 (Comm), in which Neil acted for Apple Corps in relation to a dispute under a trade indemnity insurance policy; Syndicate 1242 v Morgan Read & Sharman Ltd [2003] Lloyds Rep IR 412, a case concerning whether the claimant, Syndicate 1242 at Lloyd's, had granted a binding authority to the defendants, Lloyd's brokers, to write travel insurance business for the general public in the UK; NLA v Bowers [1999] 1 Lloyds Rep 109, which remains one of the leading authorities concerning the application of the House of Lords' decision in West Bromwichand the permissible use of factual matrix material in construing a Lloyd's slip policy; Murphy v Young[1997] 1 Lloyds Rep 236, still one of the leading cases on when insurers, funding litigation, can be made liable for the costs of the action.
Neil also frequently acts for and against insurance brokers in negligence actions, having most recently successfully defended Giles Insurance Brokers in case referred to above; but also for Syndicate 957 in its negligence action against Aon arising out of the placement of quota share protection, as well as for Equitas in its successful action against its brokers, Horace Holman: Equitas v Horace Holman [2007] EWHC 903 (Comm). Indeed, Neil has been the counsel of choice for Equitas in a wide variety of insurance disputes and reinsurance disputes in recent years, in particular in actions against brokers for the recovery of sums owed pursuant to the Reconstruction and Renewal Assignment at Lloyds.
Neil has acted extensively in numerous high profile reinsurance disputes in recent years, both in London market arbitrations and in court proceedings, including some of the leading reinsurance cases of the past decade. He frequently acts for and against Lloyds' insurers and reinsurers as well as the corporate reinsurance market in disputes concerning, by way of example, quota share reinsurances, surplus treaty reinsurances, hull all risks reinsurances and war risks reinsurances (having recently acted for War Risks Reinsurers in a large-scale, complex market arbitration concerning theft of aircraft in a foreign jurisdiction, as well as having recently acted for War Risks Reinsurers in two separate arbitral disputes concerning the theft of helicopters in Colombia). He also regularly acts in reinsurance broking disputes.
The strength of his reinsurance practice is demonstrated by the fact that he successfully represented AGF (against Jonathan Sumption QC) in the landmark reinsurance case of Wasa and AGF v Lexington, which was the last case heard by the House of Lords before it became the UK's Supreme Court. This was probably the most important Reinsurance case for a decade, concerning as it did back to back reinsurance and the effect of Vesta v Butcher.
Neil successfully acted as Leading Counsel in an international reinsurance arbitration (together with Michael Crane QC) for a Lloyds' syndicate in first case to determine the meaning of the Original Insured Marine Market Loss Warranty ("OIMMLW") wording in a Lloyd's policy; case arose out of 9/11 World Trade Centre terrorist attack.
Neil also recently acted for a Lloyd's syndicate in a major market dispute arising under marine excess of loss reinsurances as a result of the events of 9/11. He has also very recently acted in market reinsurance disputes arising out of losses caused by Hurricane Katrina.
Some other notably high profile reinsurance court cases in which Neil has acted in recent years (other than arbitrations) include Bonner v Cox [2004] EWHC 2963 (Comm), a multi-party reinsurance trial concerning "writing against" excess of loss reinsurers under the Aon 77 Energy cover; Cottrell v General Cologne Re [2004] EWHC 2402 (Comm), a dispute arising out of the cession under a quota share reinsurance of a large quantity of US D&O high tech and dot com risks following the decline of the US equities markets in the late 1990s; Wurttembergische v The Home Insurance Company [1999] Lloyds Rep IR 397 and [1997] LRLR 86, in which a series of complex disputes were determined by the Court arising out of a Reinsurance Pool Treaty.
Banking and Finance
Neil has acted as Counsel of choice for a number of different Russian oligarchs in their high profile banking/financial services disputes brought in this country both by way of arbitration and by way of High Court action (for example, Spinnaker Global v Starling Holding). These cases typically concern difficult questions of construction under a complex network of Commercial Loan Notes and Trust Deeds, as well as requiring a range of important tactical and strategic decisions. Recent cases include:
Neil frequently acts as Leading Counsel in high profile banking litigation. For example, he recently acted for various hedge funds in connection with the “haircut” imposed upon them by the Irish Government during the Irish Banking crisis (Satinland v Irish Nationwide BS).
As well as acting as Leading Counsel in litigation in this field, Neil frequently advises major financial institutions on complicated merger and transfer deals, as well as startegy generally in relation to investigation by regulatory authorities. Some recent examples of such cases include:
Neil also frequently acts in high profile international financial fraud trials, perhaps the most publicised in recent years being the case in which he acted for HSBC in its successful defence to claims of breach of contract and fiduciary duty from various investors, as a result of a fraud perpetrated on the investors by Michael Brown, a Liberal Party donor, using HSBC accounts. This long running litigation required a good deal of strategic thought, and this saw Neil acting on behalf of HSBC in successfully obtaining freezing orders, third party disclosure orders and Norwich Pharmacal relief. The claim against HSBC failed at trial.
Aviation law
Neil has a specialist practice in Aviation law, and acts in many of the major aviation market disputes. He also frequently sits as an aviation arbitrator (see above).
By way of illustration of the depth of Neil’s aviation practice, Neil has recently acted:
Professional Negligence
Over many years, Neil has represented a wide variety of clients in professional negligence cases, ranging from surveyors and valuers to insurance brokers. He has acted in many such reported cases, including, by way of example:
Recently represented the successful insurance broker in a negligence action (before Blair J) brought against it arising out of the placing of material damage and business interruption cover: Eurokey v Giles Insurance Brokers [2014] EWHC 2989 (Comm).
Acting for HSBC in highly publicised negligence action brought by investors (including the then Chairman of Manchester United) who were defrauded by Mr. Michael Brown via accounts opened with HSBC.
Acting for Brewin Dolphin in relation to negligence actions brought against them arising out of the notorious split capital investment trust advice.
And most recently successfully acting for an insurance broker in defending a claim of professional negligence at a commercial court trial: Eurokey v Giles Insurance Brokers [2014] EWHC 2989 (Comm).
Sports and Media/Entertainment law
Neil also has a specialist Sports law practice, having frequently acted in recent years in Formula One disputes and football disputes. Neil first acted for the Williams Formula 1 team in their dispute with their Chief Engineer, Adrian Newey, when he announced that he wished to leave Williams to take up a similar role at McLaren. This raised issues concerning the law of confidentiality, restraint of trade and other delicate contractual issues. Williams successfully enforced a 2 year period of "gardening leave" for Mr. Newey, thereby safeguarding the trade secrets of the Williams car and engine. Thereafter, Neil has continued to act for Williams in a wide variety of Formula 1 sporting disputes, has acted for Cosworth, the Formula 1 engine suppliers, and he has also acted for McLaren and others in relation to racing disputes. Neil also has extensive experience of legal disputes in the world of professional football and has recently acted for, amongst others, Reebok in a major sponsorship dispute with Liverpool Football Club, and for Cargiant in a sponsorship dispute with Queen's Park Rangers Football Club.
So far as Neil's media and entertainment law practice is concerned, Neil frequently acts for high profile popular musicians and some of his best known cases include acting for Sir Elton John in his professional negligence action against PricewaterhouseCoopers [2002] EWCA Civ 899; for Michael Bolton in his copyright infringement dispute with EMI and for Chris De Burgh in his copyright and contractual dispute with Tring Records.
EU Competition law and EU technical subject-matter areas
Neil is currently acting for the Claimants (iiyama) in a competition damages claim against Samsung and LG Displays in the Chancery Division arising out of an unlawful cartel concerning LCD screens. Neil successfully defeated a strike out application before Morgan J just 2 days after a near-identical claim was struck out by Mann J concerning the same client, not represented by Neil: see Iiyama v Samsung [2016] EWHC 1980 (Ch). Neil then subsequently represented iiyama in its successful Court of Appeal hearing: [2018] EWCA Civ 220.This important judgment concerns the question of whether losses suffered as a result of indirect sales into the EU at inflated prices by reason of a worldwide cartel are recoverable under Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. The court held that they arguable are so recoverable.
Neil has recently advised on the effect of the EU Directive concerning Life Assurance in the context of pension transfers.
He has also recently acted in an number of high profile EU pharmaceutical claims, including obtaining an injunction (Mr. Justice Lewison) on behalf of Intecare Direct Limited, a pharmacy and homecare services provider, against the pharmaceutical company, Aventis Pharma Limited (trading as Sanofi-Aventis), ordering Aventis to continue supplies to Intecare pending a further hearing in the matter. The basis of the application was that, prima facie, Aventis was in a dominant position in the relevant market for the medicine in question (Copaxone used for multiple sclerosis patients) and was abusing that position in refusing to deal with Intecare, a customer for some time already, as well as in pressurising hospitals/patients not to deal with Intecare. After a contested hearing and argument concerning Article 82 of the Treaty and section 18 of the Competition Act, Lewison J granted a mandatory injunction compelling Aventis to continue to supply Intecare with the drug.
Neil is comfortable acting in EU law cases which require quick mastery of technical subject matter. For example, he recently acted for Intel Corporation in its major High Court litigation against VIA technologies in relation to a challenge by VIA against Intel's refusal to license VIA with its technology patents under Article 81(1) and 82 of the Treaty. This required quick mastery by him of highly sophisticated computer technology systems (in particular microprocessors and chipsets) and the application of the law to those systems (including intellectual property law, as well as EU law principles).
Neil is also used to acting successfully for the underdog against the regulators. For example, he acted (in Woolcombers v Yorkshire Water) in a case in which the largest woolcombing business in the UK challenged under EU law (alleging an abuse of a dominant position) Yorkshire Water's charging structure for the treatment of trade effluent in the wool sector, which again required the marshalling of complex expert economic evidence. The case was settled after Woolcombers successfully resisted Yorkshire Water's application for summary judgment.
EU and Public law
In his first 7 years at the Bar he became one of the leading juniors in European and Public law and appeared on several occasions during that period before the House of Lords. In particular, Neil played a prominent role in the well-known "Sunday trading" litigation, successfully acting as the advocate for local authorities before the Court of Appeal, House of Lords and European Court of Justice in just his first three years of practice at the Bar. The Sunday Trading litigation raised difficult question of both public and EU law, and led to Neil appearing in the landmark case concerning free movement of goods, namely Council of City of Stoke-on-Trent v B&Q Plc [1993] AC 900; Norwich CC v B&Q [1993] AC 900 (2nd hearing) in which the European Court of Justice, and then the House of Lords, upheld the ban on Sunday trading, which led to a change in the law.
Neil frequently acts in EU/Public law cases. Some of his most high profile cases over the year include:
In R (Birmingham and Solihull Taxi Association) v Birmingham International Airport Limited(judgment 28/7/09) [2009] EWHC 1913, Wyn Williams J had to consider whether Neil's client, the Airport Authority, in terminating the licence of Birmingham and Solihull Taxi Association (BASTA) (represented by James Goudie QC) to provide taxi services from the Airport taxi rank pursuant to a commercial contract negotiated between them was nonetheless subject to public law duties not to act for an improper purpose and to consult BASTA prior to termination of the licence. The Court held that the Airport Authority was in principle amenable to judicial review but was not a body which had a duty to comply with the principles of transparency under the EU Treaty, with the majority of the Airport Authority's shares being held by private companies. The Court also held that on the facts, there was no evidence that the Airport Authority had acted for an improper purpose, nor that it had failed adequately to consult with BASTA. The claim was accordingly successfully dismissed. This case - concerning as it does the granting of a mandatory injunction in an EU context - attracted a lot of attention in the legal press.
Neil acted recently for the Dairy Farmers of Great Britain in resisting EU and public law challenges by members to milk purchasing tie-in agreements.
Neil successfully acted on behalf of Kirkless MBC in another landmark public law case in the House of Lords, successfully arguing that a local authority should not have to give an undertaking in damages as the price of obtaining an interim injunction, in enforcing the Sunday trading criminal legislation: Kirklees MBC v Wickes [1993] AC 227.
Neil also successfully acted for Wrekin District Council in another high-profile case before the European Court in defeating the challenge under EU law to the local authority's concessionary bus pass scheme, which was limited to men over 65 years and women over 60 years: Atkins v Wrekin DC [1996] All ER (EC) 719 and [1997] ICR 75.
Neil's success in resisting the challenge to the ban on Sunday trading under EU law, also led to him acting for a large number of local authorities in cases concerning challenges to local authorities' charter markets rights, both under domestic and EU law. No such challenges succeeded.
During this time, Neil also acquired a great deal of experience in defending public law challenges to resolutions of local authority committees, on both procedural and substantive grounds in the High Court.
Indeed, Neil has acted in a very wide range of public law cases, especially on behalf of local authorities over the years.
In particular, he successfully representing Lincoln BC and Luton BC in the Court of Appeal (R v Lincoln City Council ex parte King and Another; R v Luton BC ex parte Mirza) in resisting the challenge to the local authority's decision only to licence as hackney carriages in its borough London style black cabs, which led to a challenge on both domestic and EU grounds.
Neil successfully argued the first case in which the courts agreed to order that individual members of an unincorporated association should be liable, jointly and severally, for the costs of a failed public law challenge: R v Darlington Borough Council ex parte The Association of Darlington Taxi Owners, The Times, 21 January 1994.
Neil successfully acted for Wellingborough Council in a case before the decision court which laid down the criteria for what constitutes a "reasonable excuse" when accused of committing an offence under the noise nuisance legislation: Wellingborough BC v Gordon [1991] JPL 874.
Neil has also frequently acted on behalf of the National Farmer's Union, and, in Hood v NFU, succeeded in defeating a high-profile negligence action brought by a number of farmers in respect of the legal advice given by the NFU concerning the time limits for challenging a government decision concerning milk quotas.
Neil also acted in a public challenge to the Law Society's disciplinary powers in R v Law Society ex parte Ingman Foods [1997] 2 All ER 666.
For a 5 year period Neil was on the Government's VAT panel of chosen counsel and acted for the Government in successfully resisting a number of challenges concerning the levying of VAT, including Manchester & Salford Hospital Saturday Fund v Customs and Excise Commissioners [1999] STC 649 (QBD); London & general Insurance Co Ltd v Commissioners of Customs and Excise [1998] V&DR 191.
Commercial Arbitration
As an Advocate
** In October 2015 Neil was awarded Legal 500's International Arbitration Silk of the Year for 2015 **
Neil has a flourishing International and Commercial Arbitration Practice, which is demonstrated by the fact that he won Legal Week’s Advocate of the Year Award for 2019, and in the same year was also nominated as Chambers & Partners’ 2019 Commercial Litigation QC of the Year. He was awarded Legal 500’s International Arbitration QC of the Year for 2015. This bears witness to the fact that Neil is now instructed as Leading Counsel in the most high profile and complex international commercial disputes of the day. Most commercial disputes in London are now arbitrated rather than litigated and Neil is the go to advocate for such cases:
"One of the go-to silks of his generation"
- Legal 500
"A barrister with a “fantastic legal brain” and “the ability to run rings round the other side."
- Chambers & Partners
Neil is equally at home with an LCIA arbitration, a Bermuda Form arbitration or an ICC arbitration, having acted as an advocate and an arbitrator in all such types of arbitration.
An illustration of the type of high quality arbitral work which Neil has undertaken in the last 18 months is as follows:
Neil was recently profiled by Newton Arbitration in its renowned “Profiles in Law” series as a Leader in the field of arbitration; the link to the profile is attached here.
Some of Neil Calver QC’s recently reported cases
Neil Calver QC has a strong focus on insurance and reinsurance claims, and possesses considerable experience at trial and appellate level. (Who's Who Legal - UK Bar: Insurance & Reinsurance 2020)
"Super bright and a great technical barrister," who is "perfect for the more complex matters." (Chambers & Partners 2020)
"He is really lovely to work with - very user-friendly and client-focused. He is also very good on his feet and is very smart." (Chambers & Partners UK & Global 2020)
"A very gifted advocate - very tenacious and extremely thorough and meticulous in his preparation. A very effective leader." "Fantastic at cross-examination. His trial preparation is absolutely meticulous." (Chambers & Partners 2020)
"A very effective operator who is diligent and delivers his advice in a very measured way." "Very bright, understated and works very quickly. He also has very good judgement." (Chambers & Partners 2020)
"Very solid." (Chambers & Partners 2020)
"He has a very calm and very assured manner but builds his case solidly and clearly." "A great strategist." (Chambers & Partners UK & Global 2020)
"Brings a lot to a case and is very capable." "He's very user-friendly, and he delivers advice in a clear and client-friendly manner." (Chambers & Partners UK & Global 2020)
"He is very impressive." (Legal 500 2020)
"Excellent technical advice and analysis." (Legal 500 2020)
"Very user friendly and good to work with." (Legal 500 2020)
"He is meticulously prepared and very persuasive." (Legal 500 2020)
"Astute and thorough in the conduct of a complex international case." (Legal 500 2020)
"Excellent to work with." (Legal 500 2020)
"A formidable lawyer with a great and well-deserved reputation." (Chambers & Partners 2019)
"He provides incisive and clear advice, his judgement is always sound and he gives an honest view as to the prospects of a case." (Chambers & Partners 2019)
"He's charming but ruthless, and he brings something different to the party." "Neil is a formidable advocate who delivers tremendous arguments. Added to this, his grasp of the detail is very impressive." (Chambers & Partners UK & Global 2019)
"A persuasive advocate with real expertise in the international insurance and reinsurance field." "Very commercial and very clever. He is bright, hard-working and also very good with clients." (Chambers & Partners 2019)
"He is extremely bright and has good judgement." (Chambers & Partners 2019)
"A persuasive advocate." "He's in complete command of the details of a case and has excellent judgment." "He is excellent on his feet and has an exceptional forensic eye." (Chambers & Partners 2019)
"Very strong; a brilliant barrister." (Legal 500 2018-19)
"Ticks all the boxes, he is a very effective and persuasive advocate." (Legal 500 2018-19)
"Takes the fight to the opponents with not a word wasted." (Legal 500 2018-19)
"His preparation is second to none." (Legal 500 2018-19)
"His submissions are clear, well focused and highly effective." (Legal 500 2018-19)
"Excellent." (Legal 500 2018-19)
Neil Calver QC is “a standout name” in the insurance field according to sources who note, “He has a great eye for detail and is a thorough cross-examiner.” (Who's Who Legal - UK Bar: Insurance & Reinsurance 2018)
"An accomplished lawyer, who is very confident and very good on paper." (Chambers & Partners 2018)
"A man who can turn his hand to anything, he has excellent strategic insight, great speed of turnaround, and a very down-to-earth approach." "He is creative, collaborative, clever and a good advocate." (Chambers & Partners 2018)
"Offers phenomenal attention to detail, meticulous preparation and excellent strategic insight. He has an easy manner and the ability to think on his feet." (Chambers & Partners 2018)
"Incredibly courteous, very clever and concise in his advice." "He is a persuasive advocate with real expertise in the international insurance and reinsurance field." (Chambers & Partners 2018)
"He is a consummate arbitrator." (Chambers & Partners 2018)
"He has the best strategic insight of anyone and a speedy turnaround. He is a nice person to deal with. Very user-friendly and down-to-earth." (Chambers & Partners 2018)
"A tenacious cross-examiner and trial strategist, who knows how to appeal to a judge." (Legal 500 2017)
"Very good on paper and in trial, where he knows how to play the court and the judge." (Legal 500 2017)
"An excellent silk." (Legal 500 2017)
"Gives advice on complex issues in a straightforward and uncomplicated manner." (Legal 500 2017)
"Neil Calver QC is “a very good all-round advocate – tough, clever and very hard to fluster.”" (Who's Who Legal - UK Bar: Insurance & Reinsurance 2017)
"Very pleasant and very sensible." "He inspires confidence in his clients." (Chambers & Partners 2017)
"He has a great mind, particularly for insurance. He is also very personable and great to work with." (Chambers & Partners 2017)
"He is very commercial, very clever and can be relied upon to give advice on complex issues in a straightforward and uncomplicated manner. He is also very good with clients and good at assessing the merits of a case and coming up with tactical litigation strategies." (Chambers & Partners 2017)
"Very commercial and client-friendly." "He's a robust performer and a good advocate who is really good fun as well, which is important if you're working on something stressful." (Chambers & Partners 2017)
"He is a great mind, and very personable. On paper, and with clients, he's really good." "A quality all-rounder." (Chambers & Partners 2017)
"He is amazing with clients, spots killer points early on and is a great strategist." "He is an attractive advocate." (Chambers & Partners 2017)
"One of the go-to silks of his generation." (Legal 500 2016)
"Extremely sharp and stylish; the iron fist in a velvet glove." (Legal 500 2016)
"He provides compelling advocacy and thorough preparation." (Legal 500 2016)
"A winner who quickly identifies the key points in a case and cuts through the detail." (Legal 500 2016)
"Intelligent, charming and ruthless when necessary." (Legal 500 2016)
"Extremely commercially aware. He is a very user-friendly barrister, who tries to understand the business needs of the client and where the client wants to get to." "Very bright, very incisive in his analysis and a very good advocate." (Chambers & Partners 2016)
“Well regarded by peers, Calver maintains a reputation for his expertise in aviation insurance matters. He is frequently involved in international arbitrations representing the interests of insurers.” (Chambers & Partners 2015)
“A brilliant lawyer who is an automatic choice for insurance work.” (Chambers & Partners 2015)
“A barrister praised by sources for the quality of his cross-examination, who is a great team player and "a challenging opponent for anyone." He has a broad practice with particular strengths in insurance, banking and aviation.” (Chambers & Partners 2015)
“He has a good rapport with the court. He is respectful and formal but conversational as well. He's always commercially minded and sensible.” (Chambers & Partners 2015)
“A bright and user-friendly advocate whom sources praise as a "strong all-rounder." His expertise encompasses insurance and reinsurance, banking and finance, and aviation law, and he also has a strong arbitration practice.” (Chambers & Partners 2015)
"Super-good with clients, he wins their confidence very quickly." "He has always been very much a hands-on silk, and he gives very good commercial, strategic advice." (Chambers & Partners 2015)
“A real authority within the Commercial Bar who is often involved in complex international insurance matters. He frequently appears in arbitrations, either sitting as arbitrator or representing clients.” (Chambers & Partners 2015)
"He is bright and hard-working, and can be relied upon to give advice on complex issues in a straightforward and uncomplicated manner." (Chambers & Partners 2015)
“Praised by peers for his impressive knowledge of the arbitration field and his track record in high-value disputes. Recent arbitrations he has handled include a metals dispute, a product liability case and a marine insurance matter. He is instructed as counsel and also sits as arbitrator.” (Chambers & Partners 2015)
‘Insightful and very good at strategic work.’ (Legal 500, 2015)
‘A highly recommended interlocutory and trial advocate with admirable cross-examination skills.’ (Legal 500, 2015)
‘A persuasive advocate with genuine expertise in the international insurance arena.’ (Legal 500, 2015)
‘A superb intellect.’ (Legal 500, 2015)
‘Very well versed in aviation law.’ (Legal 500, 2015)
“An extremely good advocate, who prepares very thoroughly indeed for trial.” (The Legal 500 2014)
“A real all-rounder who can turn his hand to any dispute in any sector.” (The Legal 500 2014)
“Superb; a real brain, an astute advocate, very responsive and user friendly.” (The Legal 500 2014)
“An excellent advocate, who quickly spots the key points in a case.” (The Legal 500 2014)
“Intelligent, charming and ruthless when necessary.” (The Legal 500 2014)
“Always thoroughly prepared and gets results.” (The Legal 500 2014)
"A persuasive advocate, who has real expertise in the international insurance field." "He's tremendous and very clever." (Chambers & Partners 2014)
"Neil is a staunch advocate and a good listener. He has an easy manner with no airs and graces, but there is plenty of steel there - and he is of course no intellectual slouch. He has a strong sense of ownership of the case, which gives clients confidence." (Chambers & Partners 2014)
"Strategically impressive and a fine team player." (Chambers & Partners 2014)
"He is an excellent, fighting advocate who is extremely good with clients and is good as part of a team." (Chambers & Partners 2014)
"Clients who experience Neil Calver QC ‘never want to go elsewhere', thanks to his ‘first-rate written and oral advocacy' (The Legal 500 2012)
"Neil Calver QC's ‘ability to cut through detail and grasp complex issues is first rate'." (The Legal 500 2012)
"‘Superb strategist' Neil Calver QC is ‘quick to spot issues' " (The Legal 500 2012)
"Neil Calver QC 'can be relied upon to advise on complex issues in a straightforward and uncomplicated manner'." (The Legal 500 2012)
"Interviewees describe Neil Calver QC as "phenomenally bright." They add: "He has a very light and engaging manner and clearly puts a great deal of thought and planning into his work." " (Chambers & Partners 2013)
"The "strategically impressive" Neil Calver QC continues to be a popular choice for banking instructions, where his commercial advice and strong client-handling skills are much in demand." (Chambers & Partners 2013)
"Neil Calver QC is regarded as "an extremely practical" silk, who is blessed with good judgement." (Chambers & Partners 2013)
"The "brilliantly succinct, incredibly bright and highly personable" Neil Calver QC is considered "beautiful to listen to."" (Chambers & Partners 2012)
" 'Clients just love' Neil Calver QC because he is "a team player who combines strong advocacy with robust, commercially astute and user-friendly advice." (Chambers & Partners 2012)
""Very sound all-rounder" Neil Calver QC frequently advises on coverage matters in the aviation sphere. He also represents clients in arbitration matters and is known for his "good judgement and sensible advice." " (Chambers & Partners 2012)
"Clients of the ‘clear, thorough and practical’ Neil Calver QC ‘know they are getting exceptional-quality advice’" (Legal 500 2011)
"Neil Calver QC is ‘very good with clients and also a strong advocate and tactician’." (Legal 500 2011)
"The ‘top-notch’ Neil Calver QC is ‘hardworking and very approachable’ and particularly strong in insurance and reinsurance matters." (Legal 500 2011)
"He delivers the goods" (Legal 500 2011)
"The "brilliantly succinct, incredibly bright and highly personable" Neil Calver QC is considered "beautiful to listen to." (Chambers & Partners 2012)
"Neil Calver QC has developed an excellent practice in insurance law, being recently engaged in a major case concerning the theft of aircraft flown into Iran. He advised Global Aerospace and other insurers." (Chambers & Partners 2012)
"Neil Calver QC is developing an excellent reputation for banking work alongside his formidable commercial practice. "Popular with both clients and instructing solicitors," he is frequently called upon for his "commercial, easily comprehensible" advice." (Chambers & Partners 2012)
" 'Clients just love' Neil Calver QC because he is "a team player who combines strong advocacy with robust, commercially astute and user-friendly advice." He has remained particularly busy of late advising on commercial banking litigation." (Chambers & Partners 2012)
"One of the go-to silks of his generation" (Legal 500 2009)
"Neil Calver QC is considered 'one of the best junior silks at the Bar.'" (Chambers & Partners 2010)
"Neil Calver QC is ‘just fantastic'" (Legal 500 2010)
"Sources are full of praise for his 'intellectually sound analysis and extremely impressive advocacy.'"(Chambers & Partners 2011)
"The 'charming and effective' Neil Calver QC is known for his 'elegant, succinct opinions, commerciality and dedication to his work.'" (Chambers & Partners 2011)
"Tough and thorough yet accessible to clients" (Chambers & Partners 2011)
"A favourite of clients and highly regarded thanks to his ‘manifest capabilities'" (Chambers & Partners 2010)
"Interviewees are particularly impressed by "his ability to get a complex argument over clearly, accurately and elegantly."" (Chambers & Partners 2010)
""Very approachable and a man who provides intellectually sound analysis," Neil Calver QC is another of the set's big players." (Chambers & Partners 2010)
