Ashurst takes on QC for Co-op retrial

Ashurst has appointed Stuart Catchpole QC of 39 Essex Street to litigate the retrial of the Co-op’s epic case against Fujitsu Services.

Catchpole takes over from Christopher Carr QC of One Essex Court, who was counsel for the Co-op’s successful appeal against Mr Justice Seymour’s outrageous first instance judgment.

Richard Mawrey QC of Henderson Chambers was counsel for the original case until Judge Seymour’s outburst, which claimed that the Co-op’s case had not “benefited from any real legal analysis”, and that the claim was “bordering on the nonsensical”.

The Co-op was successful in appealing Judge Seymour’s judgment and the Court of Appeal ordered a retrial, while also delivering a condemnation of the judge’s “wounding and sarcastic remarks”.

Catchpole took silk in 2002 and has a strong relationship with Ashurst’s team of Chris Vigrass and Jonathan Raynes. He has good experience in construction disputes and government work, including involvement in various public inquiries.

The new head of the Technology and Construction Court Mr Justice Jackson, who succeeds Mr Justice Forbes on 1 September, has been tipped to take on the retrial to avoid a repeat of the embarrassment caused at first instance.