Adrian Hughes KC

Adrian's commercial practice includes international arbitration and litigation in the Commercial Court in London and before foreign courts, often involving jurisdiction and conflicts issues.

Experience includes:

• Acting for a major international telecommunications organisation based in Paris in a Commercial Court dispute with a pipe laying company, arising from the laying of the world's longest sub-sea fibre optic telecommunications pipeline between Singapore and India.  The case involved court jurisdiction challenges both in London and in Singapore.
• Acting for a major Chinese bank in relation to a series of London arbitrations concerning refund guarantees for ship building contracts.
• Acting for an Australian mining company in ICC Singapore arbitration proceedings arising from mining operations in Indonesia and involving pricing issues for long term contracts.
• Acting for a joint venture partner in connection with a share warranty dispute before the courts in Hong Kong and China arising from a large scale joint venture investment in the agricultural sector in China.
• Acting in three large international arbitrations on behalf of the world's leading manufacturer of military flight training equipment (based in the United States) against the UK government, the most recent of which, conducted under LCIA rules, involved a claim for damages for breach of a government procurement contract for the design and supply of both hardware and software for aviation maintenance trainers.
• Acting for a Chinese shipyard in an LCIA arbitration arising from a dispute with a Polish seller over the sale of engineering equipment.
• Representing a Chinese cocoa trader in FCC arbitration proceedings in London.
• Representing a Malaysian buyer in a GAFTA arbitration and Commercial Court proceedings with an Australian seller of grain.
• Representing a Ukrainian company in ICC proceedings in a dispute arising from the sale of aluminium.
• Acting for a French international hotel chain in a LCIA arbitration involving claims under hotel chain franchise and consultancy agreements.
• Acting for a large charitable institution in relation to agency commission claims brought by a fine art dealer in connection with the purchase of three world-renowned paintings.

Adrian's construction and engineering practice is closely allied to his commercial work.  His international practice largely involves international arbitration of major infrastructure and energy projects.  Further examples of his caseload are listed under the practice area relating to International Arbitration.  His domestic work involves large scale disputes in the Technology and Construction Court, and associated appeal proceedings, often arising from PFI, PPP or NEC partnering contracts and covering a wide range of sectors including highways, rail, hospitals, education and utilities.  He is also very experienced in the conduct and enforcement of adjudications.

Experience includes:

• Representing a Chinese state owned power company in ICC London proceedings arising from the construction of the world's largest power and desalination plant in Saudi Arabia.
• Representing a Korean contractor in LCIA London proceedings arising from the construction of an Ethylene Vinyl Acetate plant in Saudi Arabia.
• Acting for a marine works contractor in connection with an ICC arbitration in Singapore arising from the construction of a desalination plant in Algeria.
• Acting for the employer in a $US2 billion dispute in the Dubai International Arbitration Centre arising from a landmark construction project in Dubai.
• Acting for and advising the UK Government (Highways Agency) in a series of disputes arising from Term Contracts for Highways Maintenance (based on the NEC3 form of contract).
• Advising a major building contractor in its dispute with a City Council arising from a major public sector housing Framework Agreement.
• Leading the team acting for local authorities in the UK in relation to a string of adjudication and court disputes arising from PFI projects for the construction and operation of schools.
• Acting for the contractor and professional advisers in a series of reported TCC cases brought by a high net worth individual arising from the development of a historic estate in Herefordshire.
• Acting for a major rail company in the UK in relation to adjudications arising from PPP term maintenance contracts for the London underground.
• Acting for the joint venture main contractor in a £100m arbitration claim arising from the construction of an underground rail extension involving complex engineering issues, delay analysis and sustainability of global claims.
• Acting in the Court of Appeal for the insurer in subrogated proceedings arising from a fire claim.
• Acting for a national supermarket chain in a multi-million pound facilities management claim brought by the contractor in connection with their contract to provide services to 370 supermarkets.
• Acting for the joint venture contractor in claims arising from PFI Hospitals contracts.
• Acting for the joint venture contractor in arbitration proceedings relating to substructure works for a major national river crossing project.

Adrian has a long-established international arbitration practice in, and connected with, Asia and the Far East.  In particular, this involves acting for clients from China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Korea.

He occupies a unique position at the English Bar in relation to his work in China. Originally stemming from his running of the Lord Chancellor's Training Scheme for Chinese Lawyers in London, he has developed a relationship with many of the main law firms in China and regularly conducts advisory and advocacy work upon direct instruction from Chinese law firms.  He chairs the Bar Council's China Committee.

He also acts as expert witness on English Law issues and was the first barrister to appear in this capacity in Chinese commercial court proceedings in the landmark case of Hua An v Lehman in the Shanghai High Court.

Recent Asia-related international arbitrations have involved a number of major cases instructed by Chinese and Korean contractors, arising from their work on power and infrastructure projects in North Africa and the Middle East, as well as high value arbitrations for Asian clients in Hong Kong, Singapore and London.

Cases have included:

• Representing a Chinese state owned power company in ICC London proceedings arising from the construction of the world's largest power and desalination plant in Saudi Arabia.
• Representing a Chinese state owned power company in LCIA London proceedings arising from the construction of a desalination and power plant in Iraq.
• Representing a major Chinese bank in LCIA and LMAA arbitration proceedings arising from refund guarantees supporting a series of ship building contracts.
• Representing a Chinese shipyard in a ship building arbitration in London (LCIA) in a dispute with a Polish company arising from over 30 contracts together with enforcement proceedings arising from the successful award.
• Acting for a Chinese investor in an ICC arbitration concerning a joint venture project in a copper mine in Spain.
• Acting for a Chinese manufacturer in a CIETAC arbitration concerning a dispute over intellectual property rights.
• Acting for a Chinese contractor in its claim for delay and disruption costs arising from an extensive housing refurbishment contract for the Hong Kong government (Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre).

Adrian has substantial experience in IT disputes. His work includes disputes arising from hardware and software contracts and licensing agreements. He regularly acts for employers, suppliers and designers in providing advice during the course of projects and in representing clients in court and arbitration proceedings.

Experience includes:

• Acting for a high profile national football club against a designer/supplier in relation to a contract for a new computerised ticketing system for the club; case gave rise to issues of contract interpretation, fitness for purpose and performance.
• Acting for a leading company providing integrated networks in an action brought by a software designer and supplier in the Birmingham TCC in connection with the design and provision of a state of the art data management system.
• Acting in two large international arbitrations which involved issues as to the extent to which the employer could develop the software specification during the course of the project.
• Acting for contractor in relation to contract for the design and supply of automated car production system involving complex software issues.
• Acting for licensee in an international dispute over alleged breaches of a software licensing and distribution agreement.
• Instructed by IT supplier in relation to a dispute over a contract for the provision of online learning for an educational provider.  Also acting for the employer in a dispute with designer and supplier of computerised administration and information database for a national teachers association.
• Acting for the designer and supplier in claim for damages for termination of software contract for digital television access equipment.

Adrian maintains a wide-ranging and substantial professional liability practice.  He acts for and against accountants, auditors, valuers, architects, engineers and surveyors and IT professionals.

Experience includes:

• Acting for the developer in professional negligence claims against engineer and architect arising from a façade collapse during an iconic reconstruction project in Bradford City Centre.  The case involved complex liability and causation issues, together with previously untested damages and valuation issues.
• Acting on behalf of a well-known architect in long running adjudication and multiple court proceedings arising from the design and redevelopment of a historic estate in Herefordshire.
• Acting for structural engineers in relation to the design and foundations of a large warehouse in the Port of Tilbury in London, involving technical design issues as well as the extent of the duty to supervise construction.
• Acting for one of the professional defendants in a widely publicised matter concerning a local authority leisure centre in Hackney, London.  The dispute arose from a £20m claim by the local authority for damages arising from the design and construction of a landmark leisure centre.
• Representing valuers in a £40m negligence claim arising from Enterprise Zone Trust investments which raised complex issues of reliance and existence of loss.
• Acting for the employer against architects in relation to a large riverside housing development in the north east of England.
• Acting for investigative accountants in connection with a report prepared for company investors, involving issues of performance, reliance and quantum.

A strong part of Adrian's construction and commercial practice relates to the energy sector. This work ranges from his international arbitration cases relating to power and process plants, and mining contracts, to a domestic caseload relating in particular to the commercial and engineering aspects of projects for renewable energy.  He leads an international initiative between the UK and Azerbaijan aimed at the development of energy arbitration work, chairing the newly formed bilateral association BALA (British Azerbaijani Law Association).

Experience includes:

• Acting for a Dutch company specialising in converting waste gas to energy in their dispute with the employer arising from a pioneering waste gas to energy plant in south-east England
• Acting for the German claimant company in relation to commercial issues relating to the development of its biogas business including licensing and distribution in the context of ongoing proceedings in the Chancery Division.
• Acting for an Australian mining company in ICC Singapore arbitration proceedings arising from mining operations in Indonesia and involving pricing issues for long term contracts.
• Representing a Chinese state owned power company in ICC London proceedings arising from the construction of a power plant in Saudi Arabia.
• Representing a Korean contractor in LCIA London proceedings arising from the construction of an Ethylene Vinyl Acetate plant in Saudi Arabia.
• Representing the Bahraini marine works contractor in connection with an ICC arbitration in Singapore arising from the construction of a power and desalination plant in Algeria.
• Representing a Chinese state owned power company in LCIA London proceedings arising from the construction of a power and desalination plant in Iraq.

Adrian has many years of experience in resolving international disputes, ranging from sitting as judge or arbitrator to chairing dispute boards and acting as mediator or in other forms of ADR.

He regularly sits as arbitrator in both international and domestic cases either ad hoc or appointed by institutions. He has a specialist knowledge of arbitration and dispute resolution in China and sits on several panels in China including CIETAC, SHIAC and CCPIT (Mediation Panel).
Current and recent international arbitral appointments include:

• ICC Paris appointment (2017) as Chair of a tribunal with seat in Doha for a high value dispute arising from a construction project in Qatar.
• LCIA appointment (2017) to a three person tribunal with seat in London involving an extensive dispute arising from the construction of a nuclear power plant in the Middle East.
• KLRCA appointment (2017) to a three person tribunal with seat in Kuala Lumpur for a dispute arising from a power purchase agreement for a plant located in East Malaysia.
• ICC Paris appointment (2017) to a three person tribunal with seat in Sierra Leone for a dispute arising from a highways project in that country.
• LCIA appointment (2017) to a three person tribunal with seat in London for a dispute arising from the termination of a major IT project affected by sanctions.
• ICC Asia appointment (2016) to a three person tribunal seated in Singapore arising from a dispute between Malaysian and French parties over a construction project in Kuala Lumpur. Main evidential hearing held in Singapore in April 2016. Final award issued October 2016.
• ICC Paris appointment to a three person tribunal for seated in Warsaw arising from a highways construction project/joint venture dispute in Poland, subject to Polish law. Three hearings held in Warsaw. Final award issued August 2016.
• Shanghai International Arbitration Centre appointment to a three person tribunal seated in Shanghai for an IP dispute between US and Chinese parties. Main evidential hearing in Shanghai December 2017.
• CIETAC Beijing appointment as Chairman of a three person tribunal for a high value dispute arising from the construction of a warehouse complex in Wuhan, in central China.
• ICC Asia appointment as sole arbitrator in an international sales dispute between suppliers of oil slurry feed pumps and main contractor for an oil and gas project in Asia. The dispute involved issues of interpretation of trade terms, practice under INCOTERMS 2000 and claims for breach of contract.
• June 2015 – member of the panel of arbitrators under the Host Broadcasting Agreement for the First European Games (Baku 2015) in Azerbaijan.

He has conducted many domestic arbitrations as sole arbitrator particularly arising from construction disputes and Lloyds’ insurance disputes.

Dispute Boards

He also chairs and acts as a member of Dispute Boards for international construction and infrastructure projects. He recently chaired a Dispute Adjudication Board for a North Sea Gas FPSO project which included the resolution of a number of disputes under a FIDIC based rapid adjudication process.

Mediation

He qualified as a mediator with CEDR in 1999. Since then he has been involved in many mediations as counsel and as mediator, mainly in the fields of construction and commercial law, both domestic and international.

He is a member of RESOLEX and in particular of its Construction Contracts Mediators panel.

Significant recent cases as Mediator have included:

• Mediator in a large claim involving the construction of a Caribbean airport. Multi party mediation also involving EU as funding authority.
• Mediator in a groundworks dispute arising from a large construction project in Belfast.

Adjudication

He is a TECBAR qualified adjudicator in which capacity he has the benefit of his longstanding experience as counsel in many TCC adjudication related court cases and adjudications.