Overview
Andrew specialises in dispute resolution in the fields of real estate, corporate and commercial disputes, and the duties of professionals. He is a former Chair of the Bar of England and Wales.
Andrew has depth and breadth of expertise as an advocate and adviser. He appears in courts and tribunals at all levels. He acts as an arbitrator, legal expert and legal assessor, including in statutory arbitrations. He has public inquiry experience, and has appeared before UK Parliamentary committees. He has also been involved in many mediations and other forms of dispute resolution, and understands the different needs and demands of the alternatives to litigation.
Andrew’s main areas of practice are all types of property-related disputes; company/joint venture disputes; commercial and investment disputes; and claims involving professionals and service providers.
He is known for his strong focus on clients’ commercial aims and interests, and the commercial context in which his assistance is sought. His approach is flexible, but will often involve early in-depth analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, risks and opportunities involved in the situation; assisting in formulating an appropriate strategy; supporting dispute resolution in the most suitable way (including negotiation, mediation, arbitration and litigation); and providing timely and incisive advice on key issues arising in a dispute or potential transaction.
His caseload covers a wide range of business sectors, particularly property investment and development, loan and equity finance, hotel and leisure, retail, transport, infrastructure, utilities, auctioneers, agency, care homes, housing, education, UK and international trade and distribution, telecoms and IT. His leisure experience includes statutory arbitrations under the Pubs Code. He advises and acts for clients in both the UK and internationally, and has acted as an expert witness on English law and as an examiner under letters of request to the English courts.
Video/Audio
To watch Andrew's talk titled 'How will the judicial approach to forfeiture change once the temporary Coronavirus measure is lifted?' for the White Paper's Annual Commercial Property Leases Conference, please visit their website here.
To see video footage of Andrew's contributions to UK Parliamentary Select Committee hearings click here (House of Commons Committee on Standards, 19 April 2016), here (House of Lords Constitution Committee, 23 November 2016; from 10:54:20), here (House of Commons Justice Committee, 12 June 2018) and here (House of Commons Justice Committee, 23 October 2018).
To listen to his interview with the Chicago-based Legal Talk Network (September 2018), click here and to listen to his interview with Joshua Rozenberg on BBC Radio 4’s Law in Action on 12 June 2018, please click here.
To see video footage of Andrew's contribution to a European Parliamentary Group seminar in June 2011 on "European Union Property Law - Rights and Wrongs", click here (from around 1:43:40).
Appointments and Awards
- UK legal profession representative on the CCBE Deontology Committee (the committee of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe dealing with lawyers’ ethics and professional rules), 2022-.
- Recorder (Crime).
- Queen's/King's Counsel Selection Panel Member, 2020-2022.
- Chair of the Bar Council of England & Wales, 2018.
- Elected member of the Bar Council from 2005 to 2016; Vice-Chair, 2017. Formerly Chair, Ethics Committee; Vice-Chair, Law Reform and Access to the Bar Committees.
- Bencher of Lincoln’s Inn.
- Inns of Court Scholar.
- Wigglesworth, Wolfson and Hardwicke Scholar of Lincoln's Inn.
- Trinity College, Cambridge Whittaker Scholarship.
- Trustee of The Industry and Parliament Trust, a charity which seeks to develop mutual understanding between the UK Parliament and the worlds of business and commerce.
- Trustee of The Conservation Volunteers, a charity which works across the UK connecting people and green spaces.
Terms of Business and Other Information for Clients
The areas of practice in which Andrew most commonly provides legal services, and the legal services that he most commonly provides, are outlined above. These include acting as an advocate, providing legal advice, and drafting documents in connection with disputes.
The chambers Terms of Business page (here) provides general information on Andrew’s fees and terms of business for instructions from solicitors and other legal professionals (listed here). His standard terms for those instructions are the Standard Contractual Terms for the Supply of Legal Services By Barristers to Authorised Persons 2020. He usually charges on the basis of the time spent at his applicable hourly rate or an agreed fixed fee, as explained on that page. Expenses may be charged in addition. Each piece of work in relation to a case is charged for separately, and he reserves the right to require that fees for specific tasks are agreed separately. He also reserves the right to require payment of his fees before he accepts any particular instructions.
For instructions from non-legal professionals and others who are entitled to instruct barristers under the Licensed Access Scheme (explained here), and for instructions directly from clients (under the Public Access Scheme), Andrew has different terms of business, which depend on the nature and circumstances of the instructions.
His usual basis of charging under the Licensed Access Scheme is the same as for instructions from solicitors (see above).
His usual basis of charging under the Public Access Scheme is a fixed fee, paid in advance before he accepts the instructions. Each piece of work in relation to a case is charged for separately. Expenses may be charged in addition. Fees will include VAT where applicable. If you are considering instructing Andrew under the Public Access Scheme, please read the Public Access Guidance for Lay Clients on the BSB's website.
For all types of instructions, other pricing models may be available by separate negotiation in individual cases.
Professional, licensed access and public access clients may contact chambers to obtain an estimate or quotation for Andrew’s legal services, as explained here.
If you wish to appoint Andrew as an arbitrator or adjudicator, please contact the clerks for further information. Contact details are set out on the Contact page.
Factors affecting the price for Andrew’s services include his availability, the availability of the client or relevant third parties, the complexity of the case, the amount at stake, the types of issue involved, the importance of the case, the urgency of the case, the amount of information that needs to be reviewed or considered (including the number of documents), the need for additional information or documents, the approach taken by any other parties in the case, the amount of any travel and additional expenses involved, court delays and waiting times, and changes in information or circumstances.
Factors affecting how long it will take for Andrew to complete any work that he is asked to carry out include his availability, the availability of the client or relevant third parties, the time needed to carry out the work, the complexity of the task or the case, the types of issue involved, the urgency of the case, the amount of information that needs to be reviewed or considered (including the number of documents), the need for additional information or documents, the approach taken by any other parties in the case, court delays and waiting times, any ethical issues that may arise, and changes in information or circumstances.
Andrew Walker KC is regulated by the Bar Standards Board.