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Richard Mattick

Of Counsel

London +44 20 7067 2023

  • About
  • Representative Matters
  • Credentials
  • About

    Richard Mattick advises and represents clients in connection with the resolution of disputes in a variety of fields, with particular emphasis on insurance and contractual disputes, as well as acting for clients in relation to export controls matters. Chambers Global (2021) notes "he is highly responsive, has a deep understanding of the UK insurance business and is always pleasant to work with." In addition, clients describe Richard as a ''detailed and thoughtful lawyer." Another said: "He's really knowledgeable regarding insurance law and has a lot of experience" (Chambers UK 2021).

    Richard has extensive experience of acting for policyholders in English Court proceedings and London arbitrations in the insurance coverage field, including handling the first two successful challenges to solvent schemes of arrangement. He also advises extensively on insurance issues, including advising on policy wordings, where he uses his extensive experience of litigating wordings.

    He has handled significant litigation on a number of topics before the English courts, including contractual disputes and product liability cases, proceedings involving complex jurisdictional issues, intellectual property actions and proceedings against directors and shareholders. He has also handled administrative law proceedings in respect of regulatory issues.

    Richard has represented clients in international arbitrations in London and elsewhere involving a variety of issues and in alternative dispute resolution procedures, where his accreditation as a mediator by CEDR has given him an additional insight into the process. He has also been active in international corporate investigations.

    He is a Solicitor-Advocate (Higher Court Civil Proceedings) and a CEDR-Accredited Mediator. He speaks fluent French, Portuguese and German, having been educated for 9 years at a French school in Portugal, and having read German alongside French at university before switching to Law. Richard has a Diploma in Translation ("DipTrans") from the Chartered Institute of Linguists, obtained in 2017.

    Areas of Expertise

  • Practices and Industries
  • Representative Matters
    • Represented a number of clients including Exxon Mobil Corporation, Goodrich, Goodyear, and Textron in successfully opposing efforts by solvent London Market companies to use so-called "solvent schemes of arrangement" to curtail their coverage obligations to policyholders facing long-tail liabilities, such as asbestos, silica or environmental claims including handling the first two who successful challenges to proposed solvent schemes of arrangements for insurance carriers in the English High Court in the cases of In re The British Aviation Insurance Company Limited (“BAIC”) and In re Sovereign Marine & General Insurance Company Limited (“WFUM”).  
    • Represented Merck in ad hoc London arbitrations against various insurers that produced a disclosed recovery of approximately U.S. $590 million, plus U.S. $45 million in fees and interest, for prescription drug liabilities — reportedly one of the largest commercial awards in Europe in recent years.    
    • Represented the American School of Dubai in proceedings in the Commercial Court against the professional liability insurers of an insolvent former professional adviser, relating to the latter’s negligence in relation to a construction project.
    • Represented members of the Howden group in two sets of proceedings in the Commercial Court in London, challenging the English Court’s Jurisdiction in relation to declaratory proceedings commenced by insurers in London in an attempt to avoid participation in long-running insurance coverage proceedings in the USA.
    • Represented a European petrochemicals company as co-counsel in an ad hoc insurance arbitration against various UK underwriters arising out of property damage and business interruption claims exceeding U.S. $150 million.
    • Advising and representing various corporate clients in disputes with their insurers under Directors' & Officers' liability insurance policies.   

    • Advised clients on policy wording issues arising as a result of the entry into force of the Insurance Act 2015.
    • Represented Goodyear in an insurance coverage arbitration against a Bermuda Excess insurer in London.
    • Acted for Pilkington in product liability insurance coverage litigation before the Commercial Court in London. Acted for Pilkington in an action in the English Commercial Court to recover compensation from its product liability insurers, having previously recovered successfully from its professional indemnity insurers. Case reported as Pilkington v. CGU Insurance.
    • Handled an arbitration-related injunction proceeding before the Commercial Court in London for Owens Corning reported as XL Insurance Ltd v. Owens Corning.
    • Handled various confidential London insurance coverage arbitrations under the Bermuda Form and related policies.
    • Various representations of Bacardi in relation to claims against third parties in product liability-related matters, including the reported case of Bacardi-Martini Beverages Ltd v. Thomas Hardy Packaging Ltd in the English Commercial Court, in which Bacardi recovered damages against a party that had supplied it with CO2 contaminated with benzene.
    • Represented Ryanair in proceedings before the Court of Appeal to stay an investigation by the Office of Fair Trading and contest that Office’s right to carry out an investigation due to time bar.
    • Acted for a financial services company in successful proceedings to prevent the misuse of confidential information by a departing employee and a competitor.
    • Represented a pharmaceutical company in Commercial Court proceedings arising out of the sudden termination of the manufacture of products by a third party contractor.    
    • Represented a major French bank in litigation in the English Commercial Court in connection with an interest rate swap agreement before settling the matter on terms that were highly favorable to our client.
    • Successfully initiated in the English Courts a challenge by the European Low Fares Airlines Association to an EU Regulation.
    • Represented an international multimedia company in the successful recovery of possession of film footage.   
    • Acted for Park Air Systems Limited in successfully recovering monies stolen by the company’s Finance Director.
    • Represented Harley Davidson in various contentious matters.
    • Represented directors and shareholders of Microsulis Limited in successfully opposing unfair prejudice proceedings.
    • Advised a large UK company on significant export controls compliance issues and on disclosures to regulators.
    • Carried out or advised on internal investigations into suspected breaches of export controls rules.
    • Advice to various clients on UK export controls and economic sanctions issues.

    Areas of Expertise

  • Credentials
    Education
    • College of Law, London, 1980
        • Solicitors’ Final Examination, 1980
    • Queens' College Cambridge, M.A., 1983
    • Queens' College Cambridge, B.A., 1979
        • Entrance Scholarship in Modern Languages
    Bar Admissions
    • CEDR Accredited Mediator
    • Higher Courts (Civil Advocacy) Qualification
    • Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales
    Languages
    • French
    • German
    • Portuguese
    Accolades
    • Chambers UK, Insurance - Mainly Policyholders (2012-2021)
    • Chambers Global, Insurance: Mainly Policyholders (2014-2021)  
    • Super Lawyers - London, Civil Litigation (2013)
    • Legal Experts UK (2010)
    • PLC Which Lawyer?
      • Dispute Resolution, England (2008-2012)
      • Insurance, England (2010)
    Memberships and Affiliations
    • Law Society of England and Wales
    • British Insurance Law Association
    • Chartered Institute of Linguists ("MCIL")

    Areas of Expertise

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