Peter Ratcliffe

Call 1998; BA (Hons) (first class); MA (Nottingham); Diplock Scholar (Middle Temple)
Email: pdratcliffe@3vb.com

Peter Ratcliffe specialises in commercial litigation and arbitration, particularly in the fields of banking and finance, insurance and reinsurance, commercial fraud, professional liability, and media and entertainment. He was named ‘Insurance Junior of the Year' at the Chambers & Partners Bar Awards, 2010.



Practice Areas

Peter's practice covers the full range of general commercial litigation, as well as more specialist areas referred to individually below. A substantial part of his work is in complex and heavy litigation, often with cross-border and jurisdictional elements. Recently, he was junior counsel in the Supreme Court in NML v Argentina, the leading English case on the recognition of foreign judgments against states; he acted for the Algosaibi family in the AHAB/Al Sanea global banking and fraud litigation; he advised Citigroup on the English law aspects of its New York dispute with Terra Firma over the acquisition of EMI; he acted for the captive insurer of a major UK pharmaceutical company in reinsurance disputes relating to large-scale US product liability litigation; and he acted for the judgment creditor in the extensive international enforcement actions in Kensington v Congo.

A significant part of Peter's practice is in arbitration. Recently he has appeared or advised in LCIA, Bermuda Form and ad hoc arbitrations in investment banking, trade finance, insurance, and reinsurance disputes.

In the banking and financial markets field, Peter advises and acts in cases involving investment banks, hedge funds and other financial institutions and advisers in the investment banking/capital markets and retail sectors. His recent work includes a number of significant cases arising out of the credit crunch. He has extensive experience of international financial litigation.

Peter has been a leading junior in the insurance and reinsurance fields for many years, advising and acting for and against domestic and international insurers, reinsurers and brokers. He has been involved in many of the high profile market disputes of recent years, including the Standard Life FI/PI litigation; the PI/fraud litigation arising out of the collapse of the Erinacious property group; PA spiral litigation; BP v Aon (on-shore/off-shore construction open cover); Bonner v Cox (the ‘Aon 77' energy open cover) and the film finance litigation.

Peter's commercial fraud expertise covers all aspects of complex, international commercial frauds, including tracing stolen assets, restraints on the disposal of assets, receiverships, and domestic and international actions involving fraud, conspiracy, breach of fiduciary duty, knowing receipt and dishonest assistance, and domestic and cross-border actions to enforce judgments and awards.

In the professional liability field, Peter has appeared in a number of the leading cases concerning the professional duties of insurance brokers (including Standard Life v Aon and BP v Aon). He also has particular experience of cases involving investment and financial advisers, lawyers, property valuers and fine art auctioneers.

Peter also has extensive experience in the media and entertainment field, particularly in cases involving the music, film and broadcasting and advertising industries.

What the directories say

Peter is recommended by Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners as a leading practitioner in the fields of insurance and reinsurance, professional liability and media and entertainment. Comments include:

"Having landed the ‘Insurance Junior of the Year award at the Chambers Bar Awards 2010, the ‘stunningly bright and charming' Peter Ratcliffe continues to go from strength to strength ..." (2012)

"Peter Ratcliffe is an outstanding junior at the set ..." (2011)

"Peter Ratcliffe comes particularly recommended by clients for being thorough, clever and good on his feet" (2011)

"... ‘forward-thinking, bright and absolutely thorough' ... ‘He can talk in a down-to-earth manner and spots issues many miss." (2010)

"... hard-working, bright and practical ..." (2010)

"... ‘has an unassuming exterior and pays huge attention to the case.' He is ‘an extremely thoughtful, methodical and hard-working junior'." (2010)

"... a ‘formidable junior'." (2009)

"...dedicated and commercial" (2009)

"... creative and clever without being diverted into technical cul-de-sacs." (2008)

"He receives praise for ‘exuding a level of confidence you don't expect from a junior,' and for ‘getting the job done with no hint of the ivory towers approach,' instructing solicitors also like him for his cerebral but user-friendly' approach. He is excellent on detail, thorough and hard-working'." (2008)

Awards and Scholarships

Nottingham University Exhibitioner (1988)
British Academy Studentship (1990)
Diplock Scholar (Middle Temple) (1998)

Professional Memberships

COMBAR, LCIA, ICC (UK), British Insurance Law Association

Languages

French (working knowledge)