John Rushton was born in 1950 in Southport, Merseyside. He was educated at Uppingham School and, after leaving school, volunteered at Starehe Boys’ Centre in Nairobi, Kenya. He later established his professional life in the City of London, where he spent his working career in legal practice and dispute resolution. He was married to Jenny, a physiotherapist, and they had two children, Carolyn and Mark.
Rushton was educated at Uppingham School. He subsequently studied law at Sidney Sussex College, University of Cambridge, obtaining a law degree. Between 1973 and 1975 he completed his articles of clerkship at Freshfields in London and qualified as a solicitor in England.
Rushton began his legal career at Freshfields, where he completed his articles of clerkship between 1973 and 1975 and then joined the litigation department after qualifying as a solicitor. In 1980 he moved to Rowe & Maw, where he developed a practice in construction and engineering law and handled litigation, arbitration and other forms of dispute resolution. His clients included the European Investment Bank, the North East Thames Regional Health Authority and British Steel, as well as clients in the theatre industry. He became an equity partner in 1986, Managing Partner of the firm’s Construction and Engineering Group in 1992, and a member of the firm’s board from 1999 to 2002. Following Rowe & Maw’s combination with Mayer Brown and Platt in 2002, he continued as a partner of Mayer Brown International LLP and retired from the firm in March 2009. He then served as the International Chamber of Commerce’s UK Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution Consultant and continued working as a construction-industry adjudicator. His professional work also included a twenty-year period as retained external legal adviser to the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and service on its Professional Conduct Committee.
Became an equity partner of Rowe & Maw in 1986.
Led Rowe & Maw’s Construction and Engineering Group as Managing Partner from 1992.
Served on the board of Rowe & Maw from 1999 to 2002.
Established a substantial professional practice in construction law, arbitration, litigation and alternative dispute resolution.
Served as the UK Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution Consultant of the International Chamber of Commerce after retiring from Mayer Brown.
Continued professional service as a construction-industry adjudicator after retiring from full-time legal practice.
Served as Master Arbitrator of the Worshipful Company of Arbitrators in 2008–2009.
Rushton was closely involved with the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, serving for more than twenty years as its retained external legal adviser and later contributing to its Professional Conduct Committee. He became a Freeman of the City of London and joined the Worshipful Company of Arbitrators as a Freeman in 1993 and as a Liveryman in 1997. He served on the Company’s Court of Assistants, chaired its charitable trusts, and was elected Junior Warden in 2006 before serving as Master Arbitrator in 2008–2009. His professional affiliations also included the Society of Construction Arbitrators, the Society of Construction Law and ICC UK.
Retained external legal adviser for approximately twenty years and later member of the Professional Conduct Committee.
Chartered Institute of Arbitrators , United Kingdom
Admitted as a Freeman in 1993 and a Liveryman in 1997; served on the Court of Assistants and chaired the Company’s charitable trusts.
Worshipful Company of Arbitrators , United Kingdom
1993
Professional affiliation in construction arbitration.
Society of Construction Arbitrators , United Kingdom
Professional affiliation in construction law.
Society of Construction Law , United Kingdom
Professional affiliation connected with arbitration and alternative dispute resolution.
ICC UK , United Kingdom
Rushton was described by professional colleagues as a modest, generous and selfless man whose work was marked by professionalism, pragmatism, diligence, legal incisiveness and practical common sense. He was remembered as a respected counsellor and a tireless supporter of charitable work.
Quotes from others about the person
Colleagues remembered Rushton as a true gentleman who brought joy to those who knew him. Tributes emphasized his generosity, modesty, professional judgment, practical common sense and continued intellectual sharpness during his final illness.
Rushton was married to Jenny, a physiotherapist. They had two children: Carolyn, who also became a physiotherapist, and Mark, who worked for Macquarie Bank in the City. His professional and civic connections extended through Mayer Brown, the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, the Society of Construction Arbitrators, the Society of Construction Law, ICC UK and the Worshipful Company of Arbitrators.
