Andrew Hutcheon
Partner

Andrew Hutcheon joined Watson Farley & Williams in 1990. Andrew specialises in commercial and financial litigation and international arbitration in the offshore oil & gas, energy, natural resources and shipping sectors.

Andrew’s experience in the offshore oil & gas and energy areas covers construction, drilling and service agreement disputes, as well as wider industry disputes such as judicial review in relation to the UK Gas and Electricity Marketing Authority and bilateral investment treaty disputes. Andrew’s shipping experience covers shipbuilding, MoA, valuations, charterparty and other dry shipping disputes including competition law related disputes. In the natural resources field Andrew has recent disputes experience in areas of  commodities trading, trade finance and mining investment disputes.

Andrew has represented major corporations such as JP Morgan, Teekay, Vivendi and Norsk Hydro in international arbitrations and London High Court proceedings.

Andrew is familiar with taking decisions on funded dispute work and has conducted litigation for claimants with part funded ATE cover and on conditional fee arrangements.

Andrew is recommended in the latest edition of Legal 500 UK, where he is described as a “sophisticated and tenacious litigator” who “leads by example”, is “quick to grasp the client’s commercial priorities” and is “incredibly knowledgeable about international trade and navigates multi-jurisdictional complexities with ease”.

Andrew’s recent experience includes:

• Representing MRI on a successful appeal to the English Commercial Court and the Court of Appeal in relation to an award made by a London Metal Exchange (LME) arbitration tribunal on a US$10m case concerning a copper concentrates contract.
• Acting on behalf of administrators (Ernst & Young) of International Consolidated Metals Ltd in relation to a professional negligence High Court claim against former administrators arising from the pre-pack sale of a polymetallic mine in South America.
• Acting for Rabobank International in relation to disputes arising out of the infamous Qingdao warehousing fraud.
• Acting for the supplier in an LCIA arbitration in relation to a long term coal supply agreement to a power station.
• Advising Norwegian bondholders in relation to the enforcement of mortgages over offshore supply vessels and advising in relation to issues concerning the ownership of on-board equipment.
• Acting on behalf of a Chinese shipowner in relation to an appeal from an LMAA arbitration award relating to speed and consumption warranties.
• Acting on behalf of major oil trading company, Vitol, in a Commercial Court claim concerning the implementation and operation of a large prepayment facility as part of a long term supply agreement for Nigerian crude from a new field.
• Successfully representing Teekay LNG in proceedings before the Commercial Court in relation to an LNG joint venture, and subsequently bringing proceedings to enforce a share pledge to satisfy the claim.
• Defending Zeus Petroleum Ltd, an international oil and gas exploration business, in relation to a US$12m High Court claim brought by a drilling and rig management company under a letter of commitment for the provision of a semi submersible rig in the North Sea.
• Defending a rig bareboat charterer in London arbitration in relation to unpaid hire and sanctions issues concerning the rig.
• Acting for a rig owner in LCIA arbitration relating to unpaid hire and “damage to the hole” provisions in the rig charterparty.
• Acting for Teekay Hummingbird in a High Court claim relating to disputed fees in a FEED agreement.

• University of Sydney (LLB)
• Tulane University (LLM – Admiralty)

• “Disputes in the energy & natural resources sector”, Financier Worldwide.
• Marine Money Geneva Forum.

• Law Society of England and Wales
• London Solicitors Litigation Association (LSLA)
• London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA)
• London Shipping Law Centre (LSLC)

• Joined Watson Farley & Williams in 1990