Branch Austin McCormick LLP

Dispute Resolution

Partner

Qualified as a Barrister in Feb 1984. Re-qualified as a Solicitor in January 1991. Has been practising as a Solicitor and Partner, conducting Commercial Litigation and International Arbitration cases since 1991. Acted for clients in several reported cases: “The Anclizo (No 2)” (Court of Appeal) (1992) 1 Lloyds Law Reports 558. Curacao Trading Company BV v Harkisandas & Co. (1992) 2 Lloyds Law Reports 186. President of India v Jadranska Slobodna Plovidba (1992) 2 Lloyds Law Reports 274. Re BCCI (no 8) (House of Lords) (1998) A.C. 214. BCCI v Simjee (1997) C.L.C. 135. Metal Distributors (UK) Ltd. v ZCCM Investment Holdings PLC [2005] EWHC 156(Comm). Shashoua v Sharma [2009] EWHC 957 (Comm) Malicorp Ltd. v Egypt [2015] EWHC 361(Comm) Acted for clients in complex and heavy matters including: successfully pursued claim for fraudulently diverted freight collections worth millions of US Dollars owed to a major ship owner, UASC, in several parts of the world; investigated and uncovered fraudulent and rival business set-up using UASC’s customers’ cargo and diverted freight collections; recovered lost freight diversions from and by commencing proceedings against a major bank. successfully securing the claims of an Oil Mining Lease owner against oil producing companies (Cavendish Petroleum v Tusker Resources & others) through LCIA arbitration in a multiparty production sharing dispute and involving recovery and sharing of revenue. successfully pursuing a heavily contested claim for indemnity under hull policy in respect of the loss arising from the sinking of a fire damaged vessel “Regal Sun”. successfully opposed and defended charterers against allegations made in separate LMAA arbitrations that the ports of Dahej and Mangalore (both in India) were unsafe ports for navigation of vessels; both cases involved dealing with allegations of negligent manoeuvring and navigation of vessels. successfully pursued claims for safe discharge and insured value of cargo lost and damaged under fire risks policies from ship (‘M.V. Bagheera’), barges and arising from a large warehouse fire. successfully defended a Chartered Accountant (funded by professional body) against Directors’ Disqualification proceedings commenced by the DTI. successfully defended client in the face of urgent injunction proceedings involving disputed title and ownership in relation to the sale of a jack-up rig (Combifloat Middle East BV v. Essar Projects Limited (2019). Acted for Claimant in commencing, preparing and pursuing a substantial BIT claim against Egypt under UNCITRAL arbitration rules (Bahgat v. Egypt). Accepted appointments as an arbitrator and rendered Final Awards in four arbitrations.

Hindi, Bengali

Solicitor Advocate (Higher Courts Civil), member of the Law Society.

Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London.

Enjoy travelling, photography and cricket.