CEDR Arbitrator
Chris McArdle
Chris McArdle
CEDR Panel member since 2017
Summary
Chris is a successful Chartered Engineer, Project Manager and Company Director. He has over 30 years’ experience of electrical, electronic, micro-electronic and software design.
He is an acknowledged expert in all aspects of high volume product manufacture (contracts, industrial design, materials, design methods, testing, distribution, and outsourcing). He has extensive experience of forensic engineering of software, electronic & electrical systems. He has experience of the management of high-value, multi-disciplinary, international technical projects, forming and directing international joint-venture companies and experience of Far-East high-volume electronic manufacturing and outsourcing.
He is qualified and extensively experienced as an Expert Witness in the UK, Europe and USA and is a qualified and experienced International Arbitrator and Mediator, having published over 200 Awards as sole arbitrator. In short, he has a unique combination of high-level business, technical and dispute resolution skills.
Education
Bachelor of Science, BSc (hons). Computer Engineering.
Master Degree in Business Administration, MBA.
Doctor of Philosophy, PhD. Microelectronics.
Diploma in Arbitration.Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
Arbitration Pupillage. Worshipful Company of Arbitrators Pupillage Scheme
Professional Qualifications
- Charter Engineer
- Fellow of The Institution of Engineering Technology (formerly IEE)
- IET President's List (Arbitration, Mediation, Expert Witness)
- Member of Institute of Directors
- Freeman of The City of London
Legal
- Member (Past Chairman) of The Academy of Experts
- Qualified Commercial Meditor (QDR)
- Fellow of Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
- CIArb Presidential Panel (Mediation)
- British Marine Federation, Accredited Mediator
- Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Arbitrators
- Member of London Court of International Arbitration
Chris is a past Chairman of the Academy of Experts. He is a Court Member and manages the Pupillage Scheme of the Worshipful Company of Arbitrators. His other recent pro-bono activity includes: Member of the Electronics Leadership Council and Electronics Innovations and Growth Teams (Government Advisors on the UK Electronics Industry), Member of the IET Information Technology Sector Panel, Chair of TechUK Electronic Design and Innovation Group, Member of Semiconductor Businesses Association Executive Committee, Executive Committee Member of Asia Pacific Electronics Businesses Association and Pacific Rim Electronic Businesses Association.
Case List
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Type & Venue of Case |
Brief Description |
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Expert Witness Cases |
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Alleged Breach of Contract (UK Courts) |
Expert witness assignment in a dispute regarding the design and implementation of a smart-card based security system and supporting IT infrastructure. (CPSL versus GB Electronics). |
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Alleged Negligence in Design (UK Courts) |
Technical testimony and court appearance at the High Court in London regarding alleged negligence in the design of a microcontroller based high-volume security product. |
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Alleged IP / Antitrust Action (USA Courts) |
Technical reports and briefing of large (40+ lawyers) international legal team regarding IT equipment and memory architectures. (Rambus versus Micron) |
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Alleged Breach of Contract (UK Courts) |
Expert witness assignment regarding the design and implementation of an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) for use in a helicopter launched sonobuoy. (Ultra Electronics versus Rood Technology versus ST Microelectronics) |
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Alleged Breach of Contract (UK Courts) |
Expert witness assignment involving forensic engineering, product testing and expert report on the design of a medical electronics (electro-mechanical) product. (Sharpaway versus Morgan Instruments) |
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Patent Dispute (European Patent Court) |
Expert witness assignment regarding patent dispute over the interface between microcontrollers and peripheral devices in electronic games consoles. |
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Alleged Breach of Contract (UK Courts) |
Single joint expert in case involving a distributed, database-driven control system using smart cards. (AC Controls versus BBC) |
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Alleged Breach of Contract (UK Courts) |
Expert witness assignment relating to alleged negligence in the design of microcontroller and ASIC electronics of a piece of very high volume domestic utility metering equipment. |
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Alleged Breach of Contract (3 cases) (International Arbitration and UK Courts) |
Expert witness assignment in relation to the design and installation of electronic systems in trains, involving forensic engineering, reliability analysis and environmental testing of the electronic equipment. |
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Alleged Breach of Contract (International Arbitration) |
Expert witness assignment involving technical and commercial expert opinion in case involving the design of a Video Codec for high volume consumer applications. (ON2 Technology versus Beijing E World) |
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Insurance Dispute (UK Courts) |
Expert witness assignment involving forensic engineering in case regarding alleged damage by storm and mains supply fluctuations to computer-controlled factory machines in a materials packaging plant. |
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Antitrust and Patent Disputes (Multiple related cases) (USA and European Courts and Patent Offices) |
Expert witness for semiconductor manufacturers Hynix, Samsung, Micron, and Nanya in a series of interrelated cases in multiple jurisdictions. Analysis of DRAM patents and delivery of multiple expert reports, depositions and courtroom testimony analysing the market effects of patent enforcement on the Information Technology and Embedded Electronics industries and the specific costs of various design, manufacturing and test techniques for high-volume semiconductors. |
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Insurance Dispute (UK Courts) |
Expert witness assignment in relation to smoke damage and replacement costs of IT equipment due to alleged negligence in the design and installation of an Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) system in a computer server suite |
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Alleged breach of contract (International Arbitration) |
Expert witness assignment involving forensic engineering and expert opinion regarding Fax transmission technology in relation to an international supply contract. Testimony concerning whether a particular Fax had been sent and received. |
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Alleged Negligence in the Design of a Power Station Control System (District Court of Berlin) |
Expert witness assignment involving forensic engineering and expert opinion in relation to computer-based control systems following a power station explosion in the former Soviet Union. |
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Alleged breach of contract (UK Courts) |
Expert witness assignment in relation to architecture, system-design and installation of a multi-server, multi-site, fault-tolerant computer system in a mission-critical banking application. |
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Alleged breach of contract (UK Courts) |
Expert witness assignment in relation to alleged negligence in the design and layout of printed circuit boards for an automotive engine-management application in racing cars. |
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Alleged breach of contract (pre-action) |
Expert report in relation to architecture, design and manufacture of radio-frequency modems for use in a wide-area RF broadband system. |
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Alleged VAT Fraud (UK Courts) |
Expert witness assignment and forensic investigation of Fax transmissions relating to a case of alleged VAT fraud to establish if several faxes originated from the same machine. |
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Insurance Dispute (UK Courts) |
Expert witness assignment, forensic engineering and opinion on possible damage allegedly caused to computer equipment by a power surge at a computer repair facility. |
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Alleged breach of contract (International Arbitration) |
Appointed by the arbitrator as Assessor to give technical opinion and independent report. Arbitration related to the design, manufacture and supply of electronic transducers and transmitters used in industrial applications. |
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Alleged breach of contract (Spanish Courts) |
Expert witness assignment related to the cancellation of a manufacturing contract for electronic learning aids in a Chinese sub-contract manufacturing plant. (KARCE Electronic Toys Ltd vs Catalana de Investigacion y Desarrollo de Electronica SRL) |
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Shipping insurance dispute. (Maritime Courts & International Arbitration) |
Expert witness assignment involving forensic engineering, testing and opinion on electronic systems active in controlling the container ship Safmarin Agulhas when it ran aground and broke up off South Africa. |
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Patent Dispute |
Expert witness assignment involving investigation of Patents in relation to specific aspects of domestic Hi Fi systems.
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Insurance Dispute |
Expert witness assignment involving valuation of computer equipment involved in an accidental damage incident. |
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Alleged IP theft by ex-employees (UK Courts) |
Single Joint Expert. Investigation and report on alleged similarities between electronic systems used in industrial welding equipment. |
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Alleged IP theft by ex-employees (UK Courts) |
Expert witness assignment involving investigation, testing and opinion on electronic systems used in a perimeter security systems. |
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Alleged breach of contract (Israeli Courts) |
Expert witness assignment involving investigation and forensic engineering related to alleged breaches of specification in satellite TV systems installed in Israel. |
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Insurance Dispute (UK Courts) |
Investigation, forensic engineering and opinion on circumstances of an alleged control system malfunction leading to the serious injury of an equipment operator. |
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ITC investigation (USA International Trade Commission) |
Review of published material and printed circuit layouts in relation to an investigation of integrated circuit packaging. |
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Operation Osmium. Alleged terrorist support activities in UK. (UK Courts) |
Expert witness assignment involving investigation, forensic engineering and opinion related to the design and manufacture of electronic circuit boards and embedded software allegedly used for terrorist purposes. |
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Lockerbie bombing (Scottish Courts) |
Appeal of Abdelbaset ali Mohmed al-Megrahi. Investigation, forensic engineering and opinion on electronic equipment allegedly used in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie. |
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Alleged breach of contract (UK Courts) |
Expert witness assignment involving investigation of alleged negligence in the design of automated control equipment in utilities plants. |
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Alleged breach of contract (UK Courts) |
Expert witness assignment involving investigation of alleged failures in an electronic web-based vehicle and plant tracking and mapping system installed at a major London airport. |
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Alleged breach of contract (UK Courts) |
Expert witness assignment investigating alleged defects in the design and installation of an audio-visual system. |
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Alleged breach of contract (Scottish Courts) |
Expert witness assignment involving investigation of alleged faulty battery charging equipment supplied to power electro-mechanical lifting aids for the elderly. |
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Alleged breach of anti-pollution laws (UK Courts) |
Expert witness assignment involving investigation and forensic engineering of possible control & monitoring system malfunctions during a pollution incident at a sewage treatment plant. |
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Alleged breach of contract (UK Courts) |
Expert witness assignment involving investigation, product testing and expert report relating to alleged malfunctions in a GPS/Cellular based child-tracking system. |
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Alleged breach of copyright (UK Courts) |
Expert witness assignment involving analysis of source code and design documentation related to alleged copying and reverse engineering of a commercial software system. |
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Alleged breach of company law (UK Courts) |
Expert witness assignment involving analysis of counterfeit electronic products containing PIC microcontroller and associated software. |
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Patent Dispute (UK Courts) |
Expert witness assignment in IP dispute related to flash memory products |
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Alleged breach of contract (UK Courts) |
Expert witness assignment in relation to alleged malfunction of networked computer printers
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Dispute relating to a CPO (Upper Tribunal. Land Chamber. UK) |
Expert witness assignment in relation to identifying the requirements of premises in which to perform electronics manufacturing in relation to a Compulsory Purchase Order. |
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Alleged breach of contract (UK Courts) |
Expert witness and forensic engineering assignment in relation to alleged defects in the design of automated vending machines.
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Alleged breach of contract (UK Courts) |
Expert witness assignment in relation to alleged defects in a software development using SAGE accounting and CRM systems in a clinical waste company |
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Alleged breach of contract (UK Courts) |
Expert witness assignment in relation to alleged defects in the design of a DGPS navigation system for shipping in UK waters |
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Alleged breach of contract (UK Courts) |
Expert witness assignment in relation to alleged defects in the development of a software system for hedge-fund trading |
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Alleged breach of contract (International Arbitration) |
Expert Witness assignment in relation to alleged defects in a web based software system for airline bookings |
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Alleged breach of contract (International Arbitration) |
Expert Witness assignment in relation to alleged defects in hardware and software in an active towed-array sonar system installed on navy frigates. (Government of Pakistan v Thales) |
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Alleged breach of contract (German Courts) |
Expert witness assignment involving investigation of alleged failures in an electronic, web-based vehicle and plant tracking and mapping system installed at a major European airport. |
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Alleged breach of contract (UK Courts) |
Expert witness assignment relating to alleged poor performance of a Storage Area Network (SAN) in a large outsourced IT system |
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Alleged breach of contract (UK Courts) |
Pre-action investigation of safety and performance of a large electronic advertising display adjacent to a major motorway |
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Alleged breach of contract (Hong Kong Courts) |
Expert witness assignment in relation to electronic systems in a large construction project. |
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Patent Dispute (UK & USA Courts) |
Pre-action investigation in relation to a high-volume consumer electromechanical device |
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Alleged breach of contract. (UK Courts) |
Expert Witness assignment in relation to the design and installation of an electronic trading and risk-management system. |
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Alleged breach of contract (UK Courts) |
Expert witness assignment in relation to alleged design and maintenance faults in an outdoor electronic advertising display |
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Alleged Antitrust (European Courts) |
Expert witness assignment in relation to electronic integrated circuits in smartcards |
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Intellectual Property Case (Hong Kong Courts) |
Expert witness assignment in relation to alleged IP infringement in consumer TV equipment |
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Mediation Cases as Mediator |
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Mediation: Dispute between construction company and property developer |
Mediator in dispute related to quality of building work. Case settled.(Central London County Court) |
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Mediation: Partnership dispute in medical practice |
Mediator in dispute between partners in a GP practice. Case settled. (Central London County Court) |
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Mediation: Dispute between glazing company and sales representative |
Mediator in dispute related to sales-commission payments. Case settled. (Central London County Court) |
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Mediation: Dispute between construction company and client |
Mediator in dispute related to quality of building work. Case settled. (Central London County Court) |
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Mediation: Dispute between contractor and client |
Mediator in dispute related to payments made by an allegedly frail elderly lady. Case settled. Colchester County Court |
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Mediation: Dispute between landscaping contractor and client |
Mediator in a construction-related dispute. Case settled. Southend County Court |
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Mediation: Dispute between landlord and commercial tenant |
Mediator in dispute related to dilapidation of leased commercial retail property. Case settled. High Court of Justice. Queen’s Bench |
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Mediation: Dispute between building contractor and client |
Mediator in dispute related to quality of building work. Basildon County Court |
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Mediation: Dispute between doctor and medical practice |
Mediator in dispute related to contract between doctor and medical practice. Case settled. Southend County Court |
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Mediation: Dispute between building contractor and client |
Mediator in dispute related to quality of building work. Southend County Court |
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Mediation: Dispute between commercial tenant and landlord |
Mediator in dispute related to dilapidation of commercial factory premises. Case settled. Southend County Court |
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Mediation: Dispute between building contractor and client |
Mediator in dispute related to the building of a conservatory. Case settled. Southend County Court |
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Mediation: Dispute between car dealership and customer |
Mediator in dispute related to the quality of a car. Case settled. Cambridge County Court |
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Mediation: Dispute between building contractor and client |
Mediator in dispute related to a building Contract. Case settled. Bury St Edmunds County Court |
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Mediation: Dispute between building materials supplier and customer |
Mediator in dispute between a major builders merchant and customer in relation to quantities and quality of delivered materials. Central London County Court |
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Mediation: Dispute between building contractor and client |
Mediator in dispute between building contractor and client in relation to a cellar conversion. Case settled. Central London County Court |
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Mediation: Dispute between office fitting contractor and client |
Mediator in dispute relating to refitting of an office building. Mediation cancelled prior to meeting. Cambridge County Court |
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Mediation: Boundary dispute |
Mediator in boundary dispute between neighbours. Case settled subject to minor boundary work. Southend County Court |
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Mediation: Banking dispute |
Mediator in dispute related to identity fraud and misuse of bank accounts. Mayor’s & City of London Court |
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Mediation: Professional Negligence |
Mediator in dispute relating to alleged professional negligence by a law firm. Case settled. Mayor’s & City of London Court |
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Mediation: IT Dispute |
Observer in high-value Information Technology dispute relating to alleged misuse of sensitive data. Case settled ICC Rules |
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Mediation: Maritime Dispute
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Mediator in dispute involving a vessel sinking on the River Thames |
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Arbitration Cases as Arbitrator |
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Alleged breach of contract (International Arbitration) |
Appointed as Assessor to Arbitrator (Neil Kaplan QC) to give technical opinion and independent report. Arbitration related to the design, manufacture and supply of electronic transducers and transmitters used in industrial applications. (Stockholm Chamber of Commerce) |
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Alleged breach of Contract (International Arbitration) |
Pupil arbitrator under the supervision of Dr Robert Gaitskell QC. Dispute relating to the jurisdiction of the tribunal. (ICC) |
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Alleged breach of Contract (International Arbitration) |
Pupil arbitrator under the supervision of Dr Robert Gaitskell QC. Dispute relating to the construction of a manufacturing plant in Africa. (ICC) |
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Alleged breach of Contract (UK arbitration under RICS rules) |
Pupil arbitrator under the supervision of Dr Robert Gaitskell QC. Dispute relating to the construction of a very large composite panel roof. (RICS) |
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Alleged breach of Contract (International Arbitration) |
Pupil arbitrator under the supervision of Dr Robert Gaitskell QC. Costs hearing relating to an international construction dispute. (ICC) |
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Alleged breach of Contract/Duty (Domestic Arbitrations) |
Sole Arbitrator. Over 70 Arbitrations under the CEDR/RECC Arbitration Scheme Disputes related to design and installation of renewable energy systems. |
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Alleged breach of Contract (Domestic Arbitration) |
Sole Arbitrator. Over 120 Arbitrations under the CEDR/ABTA Arbitration Scheme Disputes related to the provision of a holidays & travel. |
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Alleged breach of Contract (Domestic Arbitration) |
Sole Arbitrator. Over 8 Arbitrations under the FAS Arbitration Scheme Disputes related to the provision of funeral services. |
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Alleged breach of Contract (Domestic Arbitration) |
Sole Arbitrator. Over 30 Arbitrations under the CEDR/CIGA and TGAS Arbitration Schemes Disputes related to domestic construction. |