Andrew Beck SC

Andrew Beck S.C. practices in the areas of commercial litigation and judicial review. He specialises in professional negligence, insurance law, EU law (especially procurement and cross-border mergers), and Health Act regulatory proceedings.

In Professional Negligence, he acts in cases concerning all professions except medical. He has acted in a range of construction cases. Other examples include the Supreme Court case of Rosbeg v. LK Shields [2018] 2 I.R. 811, concerning solicitors’ negligence, and AA v. HSBC Custodian v. M & B, one of the principal ‘Madoff Cases’ in which investors sought to recover funds appropriated by Bernard Madoff.

In Insurance Law, Andrew acts in policy construction and coverage cases. Examples include: David Drumm v. AIG Europe, Ace European Group, Aspen Insurance and Liberty Mutual Insurance (acting for all insurers); Catherine Nevin v. Irish Life; and a high-value arbitration concerning COVID-19 business interruption. He has practical industry experience and was employed as a claims negotiator at Hibernian Insurance plc (now Aviva) between 1999-2001.

In EU and Public Procurement Law, Andrew has acted in a range of leading cases. An example is Word Perfect v. Minster for Public Expenditure [2019] IESC 38, regarding the scope of discovery in judicial review heard in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. He also moves applications for Court approval of EU cross-border mergers / insurance portfolio transfer. Andrew has acted for Ireland in the Court of Justice of the European Union. He holds a Masters in European and Comparative Law from Oxford University where he received a first in EU Law and is a member of the Advisory Council of the Irish Centre for European Law in Trinity College Dublin.

In Health Act Regulatory Proceedings, he has acted in a range of judicial reviews and appeals brought by private nursing homes. An example is Sonas Nursing Home v. Chief inspector and HIQA, which resulted in an injunction on the publication of an inspection report for the first time.

Andrew is an accredited member of the Bar Council Faculty of Advanced Advocacy Trainers and, while at the King’s Inns, he won the Bar Council Prize for Advocacy.

Bar Council Advanced Advocacy Committee         

Modelled on international best practice and with strong links to other bar organisations, the Bar Council Advanced Advocacy Committee provides training to barristers in intensive, practical courses. Andrew was one of the earliest members of the committee, is an accredited trainer, and is a regular contributor to the Bar Council’s Advanced Advocacy Courses.

Irish Centre for European Law, Trinity College Dublin

The Irish Centre for European Law is an academic charity based at Trinity College Dublin, founded in 1988 by Mary Robinson. Andrew served as a board member from 2011 to 2021 and is currently a member of the Advisory Council.