Sir Vivian Ramsey

A former member of Keating Chambers, Sir Vivian Ramsey had previously enjoyed a notable earlier career in civil engineering prior to joining chambers in 1981. Gaining a degree in Engineering Science from Oriel College, Oxford, he went on to work with Ove Arup in both London and Libya. Following his move to the Bar, Sir Vivian Ramsey quickly established his expertise in construction and engineering disputes. Showing a particular affinity for international cases, he was soon practising in many parts of the world, including appearances before courts in the Far East and West Indies and arbitrations in four continents

Sir Vivian Ramsey became a Queen’s Counsel in 1992, rapidly consolidating his practice as a global leader, and including appearances in the House of Lords in Lafarge Redland v Shepherd Hill Civil Engineering [2000] BLR 385 and in the Court of Appeal, in AMEC Civil Engineering v Secretary of State for Transport [2005] BLR 227.

Appointed to the High Court Bench in 2005, Sir Vivian Ramsey was voted Construction Silk of the Year by Chambers Directory. He served as Head of Chambers from 2002 until his appointment to the Bench in 2005. He was appointed the Judge in charge of the Technology and Construction Court in 2007. In 2011, he was appointed the Judge in charge of the Estates and Chairman of the Judicial Advisory Group on IT. In 2012, he was appointed the Judge in charge of the implementation of the reforms arising from Sir Rupert Jackson’s Review of Civil Litigation Costs: Final Report. Sir Vivian Ramsey retired from the UK bench in late 2014 and appointed to the new Singapore International Commercial Court (SICC) in early 2015.

He continues as joint editor, with Stephen Furst QC, of the latest edition of Keating on Construction Contracts.