
T: +1 (441) 296-8314
Rod is one of the founding partners of ASW Law. He has over 30 years’ experience of practice as a Barrister and Attorney of Bermuda, and he is a seasoned international arbitration practitioner.
In addition to his extensive commercial advocacy experience, Rod is an Acting Justice of the Supreme Court of Bermuda.
Rod is the Chairman of the Bermuda Insurance Act Appeals Tribunal and a former Chairman of the Investment Business Act Appeals Tribunal (both official regulatory appeal bodies). He is the Chairman of the Insurance Advisory Committee, which advises the Bermuda Government on insurance matters, and a member of the U.S.A. – Bermuda Tax Convention Advisory Committee. Rod is a former President of the Bermuda Bar Association and the former Chairman of the Human Rights Commission.
Rod is ranked by all of the major independent legal directories, with particular prominence in insurance and reinsurance work. He is ranked as an ‘elite thought leader’ by Who’s Who Legal, who describe him as a “top-drawer name in claims involving commercial insurers, brokers and managers.” Chambers and Partners note that he is rated “very highly indeed … incredibly knowledgeable, commercial and really fights for his client”.
Rod heads ASW Law’s Dispute Resolution department, described by the directories as being a “close-knit team who are incredibility efficient and a pleasure to work with” and “well-regarded … lauded for its expertise in a wide array of commercial disputes … with an enviable client roster … demonstrating strength in high-value cross-border cases”.
Rod’s disputes practice extends beyond (re)insurance matters. He has a wealth of experience in disputes concerning:
- Banking, financial services and funds
- Companies, partnerships and employment
- Fraud and asset tracing
- Insolvency and restructuring
- Maritime, shipping and admiralty
- Public law and human rights
- Trusts and estates
Rod’s recent notable work includes Bermuda’s lengthiest trusts dispute trial (over six months in length), also the largest dollar value trial in the history of the Bermuda courts (in the multiple billions of dollars); as well as acting a lead counsel in various trials and appeals on ground-breaking cases leading to the recognition of same-sex relationships in Bermuda.
Rod has acted as an expert witness on Bermuda law in various foreign jurisdictions, courts and tribunals. He is listed in the Euromoney Expert Guide to the World’s Leading Insurance and Reinsurance Lawyers (www.expertguides.com).
Rod is a frequent panel speaker at (re)insurance and arbitration industry conferences.
In addition to English, Rod speaks Spanish, and has working knowledge of French.
- Wong, Wen-Young v. Grand View Private Trust Company Ltd [2021] SC 29; BM SC 45; Bda LR 22; Bda LR 28; [2020] BM SC 50; SC 67; CA 6; Bda LR 29 [2019] SC Bda 37 Com; SC Bda 1 Com; SC 1
- Maclean v. Director of Public Prosecutions [2020] Bda LR 24
- Michael Maclean v. The Director of Public Prosecutions [2020] SC Bda 21 Civ
- S v. L [2019] Bda LR 83; SC Bda 70 Com; SC 62
- Ferguson v. Attorney General; OUTBermuda and Others v. Attorney General [2018] SC Bda 46 Civ; Bda 45 Civ; CA 30
- Godwin and Deroche v. Registrar General and Others [2017] SC Bda 75 Civ
- Winston Godwin v. Preserve Marriage Bermuda Ltd [2017] SC Bda 36 Civ
- Re Estate of D [2016] SC Bda 66 Civ
- Royal Chemie International Ltd v. Barclays Bank plc and Another [2016] SC Bda 69 Com; [2015] SC Bda 91 Com
- Trustee L and Others v. Attorney General and Others [2016] SC Bda 50 Com
- Trustee 1 and Others v. Attorney General and Others [2014] CA Bda 3 Civ
- Trustee L v. Attorney General [2015] SC Bda 41 Com
- Trustee N v. Attorney General [2015] SC Bda 50 Com
- PricewaterhouseCoopers v. Saad Investments Company Ltd and Singularis Holdings Ltd [2014] UKPC 35 and 26; [2013] Bda LR 82; Bda LR 28; SC 27
- Stiftung Salle Modulable and Another v. Butterfield Trust (Bermuda) Ltd [2014] SC Civ Bda 42
- Trustee 1 and Others v. Attorney General and Others [2014] SC Bda 52 Com; SC 14
- In re Highland Crusader Fund II Ltd [2011] Bda LR 50; Bda LR 49
- Alpha Prime Fund Ltd v. Primeo Fund Ltd [2011] Bda LR 51
- Re a Company (No. EC 31586) [2010] Bda LR 77
- Bermuda Cablevision Ltd v. Minister of Energy, Telecommunications and E-Commerce [2010] Bda LR 62; SC 53
- Masri v. Consolidate Contractors International Company and Teyseer Contracting Company WLL [2010] SC 14
- Re Capricorn Trust; Orconsult Ltd v. Blickle et al [2008] Bda LR 41
- Discover Reinsurance Company v. PEG Reinsuance Company Ltd [2007] Bda LR 20
- In re lPOC Capital Partners Ltd [2007] Bda LR 71
- Bermuda Digital Communications Ltd (trading as CellularOne) v. Minister of Telecommunications and E-Commerce [2006] Bda LR 31
- Universal Reinsurance Co. Ltd v. Holden & Co. Inc and Employers OneSource Inc [2006] Bda R 26;
- OAO “CT-Mobile” v. IPOC International Growth Fund Limited [2006] Bda LR 53
- Golden Accumulator Ltd and others v. Bermuda Monetary Authority [2004] Bda LR 67
- Re ICO Global Communications (Holdings) Limited [1999] Bda LR 69
- Starr Excess Liability Insurance Co. Ltd. v. General Reinsurance Corporation [1998] Bda LR 23
Books / Chapters in Books
- The Law of Reinsurance – First Supplement to the Fifth Edition, 2021 (published by Sweet & Maxwell). (Responsible for the Bermuda chapters)
- Comparative Guide to Insurance/Reinsurance, Mondaq (Bermuda Chapter), (2021)
- “Insurance & Reinsurance, Jurisdictional Comparisons” (Bermuda chapter), Thomson Reuters, (2012)
- “International Insurance Law and Regulation” (Bermuda chapter), Oceana Publications (2008)
Presentations
- ‘Insurers and International Claims –Traps for the Unwary’, The International Association of Defense Counsel (2017)
- “Problems that can arise when Captives dispute (or should dispute) claims made by their Parent”, The International Association of Defense Counsel (2017): Captive Insurance Company Claims
- “Peeling the Bermuda Onion, Bermuda Form Policies and Arbitration”, Massachusetts Reinsurance Bar Association (2016)
- “Judicial Review / Appeals of Arbitration Decisions in Bermuda”, ARIAS US (2015)
- “Cross Border Insolvency – Resetting the Limits of Judicial Assistance”, INSOL (2015)
- “A Highlight of Differences Between Bermuda & US Arbitration”, Massachusetts Reinsurance Bar Association (2012)
- “Dispute Resolution, Clauses, Including the Bermuda Form”, Falconbury (2011)
- “Reinsurance Contract Wording and Disputes”, Falconbury (2009)
- “Cross Border Challenges and Opportunities”, American Bar Association (2009)
- “Insurance and Reinsurance in Europe: The Future Challenges”, AIDA Europe Conference (2009)
- “Movements of Insurance Capital”, AIDA Europe (2008)
- “Current Legal Topics”, International Association of Defense Counsel (2007)
- “The Seat of Arbitration”, ARIAS US (2007)
- “Follow the Settlements”, Falconbury Reinsurance Summit (2006)
- “Developments in the Bermuda Market”, International Bar Association (2003)
Publications / Articles
- “Regulation of Insurance and Reinsurance”, Getting the Deal Through – Insurance and Reinsurance
- “International Commercial Litigation and Arbitration in Bermuda”, In Brief
- “A Legal Guide to the Bermuda Insurance Market”, The Review Bermuda Legal Guide
- “International Commercial Litigation and Arbitration in Bermuda”, In Brief
- “International Commercial Arbitration in Bermuda”, Mondaq
- “The Bermuda Insurance and Reinsurance Market” IOFC
- “Captive Insurance Company Claims: Problems That Can Arise When Captives Dispute (Or Should Dispute) Claims Made By Their Parent”, Mondaq
- “September 11 Issues for Bermuda Reinsurers”, In Brief
- Barrister and Attorney, Bermuda (1992)
- Acting Justice (Judge) of the Supreme Court of Bermuda (2012)
- Justice of the Peace, Bermuda
- International Bar Association
- Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb)
- AIDA Reinsurance & Arbitration Society
- International Association of Defence Counsel
- Claims and Litigation Management Alliance
- Restructuring and Insolvency Specialists Association
- INSOL International
- University of Maryland, AS Science (1987)
- University of Buckingham, LL.B. (Honours) Law (1989)
- The College of Law, Solicitors Finals (1991)
- Spanish
- French