7 King's Bench Walk

Barrister specialising in marine and non-marine insurance (including Lloyd’s matters), reinsurance, banking, shipping, and in all aspects of commercial law. Recent cases include: Imperio v C.E. Health (Com Ct) 1999 Lloyds IR 571 CA (unreported) (leading authority on limitation in relation to breach of fiduciary duty, in the context of reinsurance brokers); Shinhan v Sea Containers (Com Ct) [2000] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 406 (successful claim against Sea Containers for fraud and negligence in relation to the issue of banking documentation); ‘ABT Rasha’ [2000] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 575 CA (successful claim against insurers for balance of general average liability; Kircaldy v Adrian Walker (Com Ct) 1999 Lloyds IR 410 (successful defence of claim against underwriters in respect of sinking of a floating dry dock); North Atlantic v Bishopsgate (Com Ct) [1998] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 459 (accrual of cause of action under variable excess reeinsurance).

Barrister practising commercial law and corporate litigation. He has particular expertise in contractual disputes, with a focus on financial services (particularly banking and insurance/reinsurance), shipping and international trade. Adam’s practice also takes in commercial fraud, injunctions (including freezing and anti-suit injunctions) and professional negligence. Most of his work has an international element; as such, he is accustomed to dealing with conflict of laws issues.

Adam has a broad practice across all areas of commercial law, including insurance and reinsurance, shipping and shipbuilding, international arbitration, commodities, jurisdiction and conflict of laws, civil fraud, energy and natural resources, professional negligence and aviation. Adam accepts instructions, led and unled, in all of 7KBW’s specialist practice areas. Adam’s current and recent work includes: acting in a circa £100 million professional negligence and civil fraud case relating to class-action style construction proceedings in New Zealand; acting in respect of insurance claims relating to a multi-million pound investigation into wrongful financial trading; acting in respect of a number of substantial fire damage claims concerning fair presentation of risk and breach of policy conditions. Adam has spent time seconded to the insurance litigation departments of a Magic Circle and City law firm. Prior to joining Chambers, Adam qualified as a solicitor at Slaughter and May where he experienced a wide range of corporate and commercial work (including tax) involving a number of FTSE 100 companies and other businesses. As a result of this experience Adam is used to working in teams and understands the needs of instructing solicitors and clients. Adam was also previously the judicial assistant to the President of the Queen’s Bench Division at the Court of Appeal where he experienced a wide range of appellate work and was involved in several high-profile cases. Adam studied law at St John’s College Cambridge, graduating within the top ten of his year with a double first and 11 academic prizes.

Alexander has a broad commercial practice and is recommended as a leading junior in the fields of Commercial Litigation, Energy, Insurance and Reinsurance, International Arbitration, and Shipping. The legal directories describe him as “phenomenally talented and hardworking” and have awarded him “Insurance Junior of the Year” and “Shipping Junior of the Year”. He has considerable experience in complex, large-scale disputes, such as aviation insurance claims arising out of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the US opioids litigation, and the Yme MOPUstor litigation. He has particular expertise in political and war risks disputes. Alexander also has a well-established practice as an advocate in his own right, appearing in particular in the Commercial Court and in arbitration in both trials and interlocutory matters. His experience includes a range of UK and international commercial disputes including those related to professional negligence, banking, commodities, energy, insurance and shipping. Alexander is one of the contributing editors to Carver on Charterparties.

Barrister and Arbitrator specialising in all aspects of international commercial law, including international arbitration (in the UK and abroad, both as advocate and arbitrator), insurance and reinsurance, conflict of laws/jurisdiction disputes, shipping, international sale of goods, oil disputes, professional and commercial negligence. He was named the Chambers Bar Awards Insurance Silk of the Year for 2009 and has been regularly shortlisted ever since. He was named the Legal 500 Awards Shipping Silk of the Year for 2015 and the Chambers Bar Awards Shipping Silk of the Year for 2018. Significant cases as a barrister include: Equitas v Municipal Mutual [2019] EWCA Civ 718 - the application of principles of good faith to a claim under a reinsurance in respect of mesothelioma liabilities; Atlas Navios v Navigators [2018] UKSC 26 – a war risks insurance case in which a vessel was detained when cocaine was discovered strapped to her hull; Clarks v In Focus [2014] EWCA Civ 118 – a financial services case in which res judicata principles precluded subsequent court proceedings for claims in excess of the maximum amount awardable under the FOS jurisdiction; Helmot v Simon [2012] UKPC 5 – a personal injury case upholding the use of a negative discount rate for lump sum awards of damages; Standard Life v Ace [2012] EWHC 104 (Comm), [2012] EWCA Civ 1713 – a pension fund mis-selling case involving a claim for ‘mitigation costs’ under a professional liability policy; Aioi v Heraldglen [2013] EWHC 154 (Comm) – a reinsurance case involving ‘9/11 – one event or two?’; Wasa v Lexington [2009] UKHL 40 – a leading House of Lords case on the nature/scope of ‘back to back’ reinsurance. In addition, he has been involved in countless high-profile international arbitration disputes ranging from Middle East oil concessions, South American political risks and pharmaceutical liabilities to Far Eastern hotels damaged by the Tsunami and banking fraud. Currently involved in Covid-19 insurance and reinsurance disputes. As an arbitrator, he is regularly appointed in all manner of international commercial arbitrations, both institutional (ICC, UNCITRAL and LCIA) and otherwise, and as sole or party-appointed arbitrator or chair. He has considerable experience as an arbitrator not merely in insurance and shipping matters but in commercial disputes more generally. Recent appointments as arbitrator include disputes relating to alleged banking fraud, bribery in relation to large commercial contracts, product liability, gas pricing, oil pollution and the transfer of shares, as well as insurance and shipping disputes by the dozen.

Andrew Wales is well known for insurance and reinsurance, as well as professional negligence, energy and shipping and professional negligence. He is regularly instructed in the most high-profile insurance disputes. He represented two insurers in FCA v. Arch, the Covid business interruption test case. He is currently acting for contingent all risks insurers in the lead claim by an aircraft leasing company for the alleged total loss of $3.5bn of aircraft in Russia. He is also currently involved in property insurance issues relating to Ukrainian properties damaged by Russian missiles and liability insurance issues relating to, amongst others, Carillion, NMC Health and Grenfell Tower. Described as “a strong communicator and excellent strategist” as well as “a brilliant, methodical advocate on his feet”, he is regularly instructed to advise on and argue coverage issues relating to professional indemnity, political risk, trade credit, warranty and indemnity, D&O and POSI policies, especially for banks and financial institutions. He is also involved in several Bermuda form arbitrations, where his work has required familiarity with CDO transactions, private equity investments, offering circulars, IPOs, structured finance and various forms of securitisation.

Andrew is “a creative tactician and strategist” who is “very good at understanding the bigger picture and commercial issues”.  He gives practical advice and takes a no-nonsense approach to achieving his clients’ commercial goals. His practice covers all aspects of commercial litigation and international arbitration. He has deep expertise in civil fraud, as well as in cases to do with international trade, shipping and commodities. Andrew particularly enjoys cases where some sort of urgent interim relief is required.  As sole counsel, he has obtained freezing injunctions of every variety: domestic, worldwide, and proprietary.  He has obtained a Chabra injunctions against non-parties, anti-suit injunctions, Bankers Trust orders and Norwich Pharmacal orders. The directories consistently describe Andrew as a “fearless” advocate.  It is not uncommon for him to appear alone against leading counsel.  He has argued in the High Court and Court of Appeal, as well as under ICC, LCIA, UNCITRAL, HKIAC and LMAA arbitration rules. Having frequently worked with boutique fraud firms, Andrew has an unusual degree of expertise in tracing assets and enforcing awards / judgments. Andrew accepts instructions as sole counsel and as part of a wider team.

Anna has a broad commercial practice, with a particular emphasis on insurance, reinsurance and international arbitration.  She undertakes a broad range of advocacy and advisory work, both on her own and as a junior.  She is regularly involved in high profile cases and has appeared in the Privy Council, Court of Appeal, Commercial Court, county courts and in many international arbitrations (including LMAA, LCIA and ICC). Anna is currently engaged on behalf of members of the All Risks insurance market in Merx Aviation Servicing Limited v Chubb European Group SE and others and other leading cases concerned with the alleged loss of aircraft leased to Russian airlines following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.  Other highlighted cases include: Quadra Commodities SA v XL Insurance Co SE (both at first instance and in the Court of Appeal) concerning the law of insurable interest; Galantis (Respondent) v Alexiou and another (Appellants) (Bahamas) (before the Privy Council) concerning the oppression remedy; Mamancochet Mining Ltd v Aegis Managing Agency Ltd (and others) addressing the impact of US sanctions against Iran; and Aircraft Purchase Fleet Limited v Compagnia Aerea Italiana S.p.A. , concerning the lease of aircraft to the former operator of the Alitalia airline.

Barrister specialising in all aspects of commercial law, particularly insurance and reinsurance, shipping and international trade, the carriage of goods, and private international law.

Barrister specialising in commercial law, shipping, insurance/reinsurance, international carriage of goods by sea/road/air, and conflict of laws.

Charles Priday was the recipient of the Shipping Junior of the Year award at the Chambers UK Bar Awards 2014. He was also nominated for the same award in 2022, and for the Shipping, Commodities and Aviation Junior of the Year in The Legal 500 2022.  He has also been voted one of the top 100 juniors at the UK Bar, out of more than 10,000. Charles specialises in all areas of commercial law, notably shipping, shipbuilding, sale and carriage of goods, insurance, all aspects of international trade including banking, as well as general contractual disputes.    He undertakes advisory work, including advising commercial clients on a direct access basis. He appears as advocate in arbitrations (both domestic and international) and before the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Charles Priday also accepts appointment as arbitrator, particularly in London Maritime Arbitrators Association disputes. Recent cases include The Ocean Prefect [2020] 2 Lloyd's Rep. 654 on the admissibility in arbitrations of Marine Accident Investigation reports; Bilgent v ADM [2020] 1 Lloyd's Rep. 409 on cancellation clauses; Agile v Essar [2018] Lloyd’s Rep. Plus 79 on the NYPE Interclub Agreement.

Charles joined 7KBW on successful completion of his pupillage in September 2023. Charles is developing a busy practice across the breadth of commercial law, including insurance, general commercial disputes, international arbitration, shipping, commodities, and civil fraud. He accepts instructions as sole counsel and as junior counsel in all 7KBW’s specialist areas. Before commencing pupillage, Charles worked as a legal researcher for counsel acting for Ukraine in ongoing litigation before the International Court of Justice. He maintains a keen interest in Public International Law. Charles studied Modern and Medieval Languages at the University of Cambridge, where he achieved a Double First. After graduating, he was awarded the Paul Mellon Fellowship, a fully-funded scholarship for postgraduate study at Yale University. Upon completing his MA degree (which was focused principally on Russian foreign policy), Charles was awarded funding to spend a year as a Visiting Fellow at Yale’s MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies. Having taken the opportunity to explore the legal side of his research interests at Yale, he commenced his formal legal studies at City Law School on his return to the UK.

Charlotte brings a unique commercial background to her cases. A former consultant in the mining industry, Charlotte has first-hand experience of the commercial world. This has given her valuable insight into the inner workings of the commercial sector and the implications of legal disputes. That first-hand experience comes from Charlotte’s pre-law career, advising clients of various sizes (from FTSE 100 to AIM listed companies) on a range of mining exploration projects around the world. As well as working in industry, Charlotte was the assistant editor of an IHS-published coal journal for three years and has worked as part of an in-house legal team for two years. Charlotte has a broad commercial practice across 7KBW’s core areas, with a particular emphasis on general commercial disputes, insurance (including marine insurance), shipping and commodities. This work is supported by Charlotte’s strong academic background, as evidenced by her first-class Geology degree, MPhil in Environment, Society and Development (University of Cambridge) and Certificate in Finance, Accounting and Business (ICAEW). She was awarded a Distinction and ranked 1st in year for her GDL, and 10th in year for her BPTC, out of over 600 candidates. Charlotte’s prior experience makes the technical aspects of a case an enjoyable part of the process, whilst giving her a strong foundation from which to connect with clients. Her current and recent instructions include: acting (led by David Bailey KC) in an international arbitration regarding a €100 million build project for a superyacht; acting (led by Peter MacDonald Eggers KC) for ship owners in an insurance claim worth c.£60 million for the constructive total loss of a vessel; acting (led by Peter MacDonald Eggers KC) for insurers in an appeal concerning the loss of grain stored in Ukrainian warehouses, insured under a marine cargo insurance policy; acting (led by Peter MacDonald Eggers KC) for ship owners in an insurance claim worth c.US$40 million for the total loss of a vessel; acting (led by Richard Waller KC) for international private equity funds in YS GM Marfin II LLC and ors v Muhammad Ali Lakhani and ors [2020] EWHC 2629 (Comm), a US$80 million ship financing fraud claim. Charlotte also appears regularly in the County Court and has acted as sole counsel in a range of general commercial disputes, including a three-party construction claim, and an international carriage of goods dispute.

Clara specialises in all aspects of commercial law, with a particular emphasis on private international law, insurance/reinsurance (including marine insurance), shipping, commodities, aviation and civil fraud. Since joining Chambers in 2014, she has appeared in the Supreme Court (twice), the Court of Appeal and the High Court, as well as in the DIFC Courts and LCIA, SIAC and LMAA arbitration. In 2022, Clara was appointed to the Attorney General’s B Panel of Counsel. Clara is ranked in the directories in multiple practice areas and has been nominated by The Legal 500 as Shipping, Commodities and Aviation Junior of the Year 2023. The directories describe her as “fiercely intelligent, approachable and charming”, “invaluable on a practical/commercial level”; “awesome on her feet” and bringing “a joie de vivre to any case”. Clara has acted in a number of high-profile cases, including Enka v Chubb [2020] UKSC 38 (governing law of arbitration agreements, anti-suit injunctions), described by The Lawyer as “a landmark judgment that is likely to become the leading authority in this area”, and the OW Bunker litigation [2016] UKSC 23 (sale of goods, retention of title clauses), described by Lloyd’s List as “the most spectacular shipping legal imbroglio so far this century”. She is instructed to appear in the Russian aviation insurance mega trial commencing in October 2024. Clara is developing a busy practice as an arbitrator. She has received six appointments to date, including as chair, and welcomes new appointments.

Daniel is a barrister specialising in commercial litigation and arbitration. He has a broad commercial practice with experience in insurance and reinsurance; professional negligence; civil fraud; shipping and general commercial disputes. Daniel has particular experience in insurance and reinsurance. He has been instructed on various disputes in this field (both led and as sole counsel), and spent eight months on secondment at the insurance and reinsurance team of a leading London firm. Daniel’s expertise has been recognised by the Legal 500, which ranks him as a “rising star” in the field of insurance and reinsurance. Much of Daniel’s work has an international dimension, and he has experience of jurisdiction and private international law issues. Daniel is also a fluent Spanish speaker. Examples of Daniel’s recent work include: Yukos Finance BV & Others v Lynch & Others [2019] EWHC 2621: junior counsel in a dispute concerning an alleged conspiracy under Russian law to rig a bankruptcy auction. Resulted in a lengthy Commercial Court trial. Junior counsel in major reinsurance arbitrations concerning coverage for aggregated losses arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic. Sole counsel in a claim for Covid-19 Business Interruption losses in the County Court, applying the High Court and Supreme Court judgments in the FCA Test Case. Various applications in the Commercial Court, including an urgent interim application for the payment of a specified fund into court and an application for summary judgment on a defaulted loan. Before commencing practice, Daniel spent five months working full-time as a Judicial Assistant in the Commercial Court, assisting Judges with a variety of trials and procedural hearings, including sitting as the judicial assistant to Bryan J in the trial of National Bank Trust v Yurov & Others [2020] EWHC 100 (Comm), a fraudulent misappropriation claim brought by a Russian bank against its former directors and shareholders.

Dave Barnard accepts instructions in all of Chambers’ areas of practice, including aviation, insurance and reinsurance, shipping, commodities, civil fraud, and professional negligence. He has a keen interest in shipping and insurance; he became an Associate of the Association of Average Adjusters in 2022, following his completion of exams concerning the Marine Insurance Act 1906 and the Insurance Act 2015. Dave accepts unled instruction, and he has appeared alone in the County Court. He particularly enjoys instructions which seek injunctive or other interlocutory relief; he has previously been involved in obtaining freezing orders, third-party costs orders, and various forms of disclosure orders. Dave’s current and recent instructions include: Commercial Court proceedings concerning aviation insurance. London-seated LMAA arbitration concerning an international sale of commodities for US$20 million. Bermuda form arbitration, applying New York law. Prior to joining Chambers, Dave read law at the University of Nottingham, where he achieved a First, and studied for a year at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver. During his year in Vancouver, Dave acted pro bono for various individual clients in the provincial and criminal courts in British Columbia.

David has a broad commercial practice and is regularly sought after for his expertise in shipping, insurance and arbitration. David has been described in the directories as “a genius” and “a thorough and engaging advocate”. His experience extends to shipbuilding, aviation, energy, charterparties, the carriage of goods, banking, sale and distribution contracts, professional negligence and reinsurance. He has particular expertise in relation to jurisdictional disputes and private international law. High profile cases include leading in Enka v Chubb and The Alexandros T in the Supreme Court and appearing in the West Tankers litigation. He also acted for Lloyds Bank in relation to PPI and for insurers in the £1 billion SBM/MPOUstor dispute. Recent instructions include a substantial energy related dispute, various claims following the COVID-19 pandemic, a long running arbitration concerning a €100 million build project for a superyacht (warranty and damages claims) and a $150,000,000 ($150m) marine insurance dispute following the alleged detention of three vessels in Venezuela. In a recent arbitration David acted for the successful owners in a $200,000,000 dispute relating to a fatal explosion on board a vessel, which killed three people and forced the crew to abandon ship in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

Barrister specialising in all aspects of commercial law, including insurance, reinsurance, sale of goods, carriage of goods, banking, energy; professional negligence. Sample cases: Jones v Congregational and General Insurance [2003] (insurance fraud, construction Access to Justice Act 1999); Nippon Yusen Kubishiki Kaisha v Golden Strait Corporation [2003] (charterparty construction); Neo Investments v Cargil [2001] (practice); John v Wyeth v Cigna [2001] (New York law insurance); Glencore v Metro Trading [1999] (jurisdiction); Skandra v Thames Water [1999] (statutory tort); Yukong v Rendsburg [1998] (piercing the corporate veil); Hewett & Co v Sinclair Roche & Temperley [1997] (solicitors’ undertaking).

David Edwards KC specialises in commercial litigation and arbitration, both as an advocate and as an advisor, in particular in insurance and reinsurance - where he is acknowledged as one of the leading silks at the bar - banking and finance, professional negligence, commercial arbitration and shipping and international trade. A good deal of his work is done in confidential arbitration. His practice is international, and he has substantial experience of working together with foreign lawyers (particularly United States lawyers) and dealing with cases governed by a foreign substantive law (in particular New York law).  He is well known as an expert in Bermuda Form arbitrations and has acted as leading counsel in a number of very high value cases.  He was Chambers & Partners Insurance Silk of the Year in 2013 and has been nominated for the same award on three other occasions. In addition to his practice as an advocate, David Edwards has sat and accepts appointments as sole or as party-appointed arbitrator in ad hoc or institutional (ICC and LCIA) arbitrations. He has also been instructed to give expert evidence on English insurance law for the purposes of foreign proceedings. David Edwards was appointed by the Lord Chief Justice as a Deputy High Court Judge, sitting in the King’s Bench Division, predominantly in the Commercial Court, between 2017 and 2023.

Barrister specialising in commercial law, particularly insurance shipping (including shipbuilding), commodities and international trade. Recent cases include:  Ocean Victory [2017] UKSC 35 (Supreme Court case leading case on safe ports in charterparty, and on insurance); Engelhart CTP (US) LLC v Lloyd’s [2018] EWHC 900 (marine insurance on copper); Re Smith [2018] EWHC 900 (commercial fraud in property development); Rathbone v Novae [2015] Lloyd's Rep. IR 095 (professional indemnity insurance); Republic of Djibouti v Boreh [2016] EWHC 405 (Comm) (fraud alleged in development of Djibouti); Bunge v Kyla [2013] EWCA Civ 734 (total loss of vessel). Frequently acts as arbitrator in LCIA, ICC, LMAA and ad hoc arbitrations.

Douglas is a commercial barrister specialising in arbitration, insurance, civil fraud, commodities, shipping and general commercial disputes. Douglas’ recent led work includes Financial Conduct Authority v Arch Insurance (UK) Ltd and others [2021] UKSC 1, a leapfrog appeal to the Supreme Court concerning insurance cover for business interruption losses arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic; a US$30m claim under an offshore CAR insurance policy; and an LCIA arbitration between two Ukrainian businesspeople involving allegations of fraud and forgery. As sole counsel, Douglas’ recent work includes advising on the effect of US-Iran sanctions on a claim under a marine insurance policy, acting in a multi-million-dollar commodities arbitration, and advising on a breach of warranty claim arising out of the sale of shares in a professional services firm. Before commencing practice, Douglas spent three months as a Judicial Assistant in the Commercial Court where he worked on Avonwick Holdings Ltd v Azitio Holdings Ltd [2020] EWHC 1844 (Comm), a multi-billion-dollar civil fraud claim concerning the sale of a major Ukrainian corporation. Douglas has also spent time on secondment at a Magic Circle law firm working on banking and insurance disputes, and in the shipping department of a leading City firm. Before coming to the Bar, Douglas graduated from the University of Oxford with a First Class degree in Modern Languages. He speaks French, German and Swedish.

Barrister practising across a wide range of areas of commercial law, with particular emphasis on insurance and reinsurance, aviation, professional negligence and civil fraud. Some highlights include: Representing the reinsured in a number of Covid-19 business interruption reinsurance claims Representing trade credit insurers in a US$32 million arbitration claim in Singapore Representing Excess Insurers in a US$34 million Bermuda Form arbitration Dana Petroleum (E&P) Ltd v. Zurich Insurance PLC and Ors, representing the oil and gas company in its £30 million claims against its insurers Deslauriers v Guardian Asset Management Limited in the Privy Council, acting on behalf of the successful Respondent lender, in a case concerning the scope of a lender’s duty to advise borrowers Ardila Investment NV v ENRC NV, a US$285 million SPA dispute involving allegations of fraud Defending aviation liability insurers against a US$30 million claim AB Orlen Lietuva v Aon UK Ltd, a US$100 million professional negligence claim against the insurance brokers

Emma is developing a busy practice across the breadth of commercial law, including insurance, general commercial disputes, international arbitration, shipping, shipbuilding and civil fraud. Her current and recent instructions include being led in a multi-million euro arbitration involving the breach of a yacht construction agreement, being led in a civil fraud dispute concerning an unlawful means conspiracy and acting as sole counsel in an LMAA arbitration involving the constructive total loss of a yacht. Emma accepts instructions as sole counsel and as junior counsel in all of 7KBW’s specialist areas. Before commencing pupillage, Emma worked as a legal researcher at the “Zondo” Commission of Inquiry into State Capture in South Africa. During the year in which she was a member of the legal team, she was seconded to the Chief Evidence Leader. She assisted with drafting heads of argument, conducting legal research, preparation for leading of witnesses and drafting analyses of evidence which formed part of the Chairperson’s final report. She co-authored the chapter on public procurement reform. Emma studied English literature and law at the University of Cape Town, where she was awarded her degree cum laude. In the course of her legal studies in Cape Town, Emma provided pro bono legal services through the university legal aid clinic. Emma then read for a BA with honours in Jurisprudence (with senior status) at the University of Oxford, where she was awarded first class honours and the Norton Rose Fulbright Prize in Constitutional Law.

Barrister specialising in international trade, shipping, carriage of goods, arbitration, and insurance and reinsurance. He also accepts appointment as arbitrator. Recent cases include: The Ocean Victory (2015) EWCA civ 16 (Court of Appeal – total loss: safe port undertaking, effect of bareboat charter on recovery); Thyssen v Marlna Maritime [2005] EWHC 219 (Comm) (resisting application to remit arbitration award on grounds of fraud or public policy; Hollywood 4 and 5 (film finance litigation) 1Lloyd’s Rep IR 905 (CA); Heath Lambert v SCORT [2004] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 495 (placing brokers suing producing brokers for premiums); O’Kane v Jones [2004] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 389 (contribution between co-insurers); Kirlacoulis Lines v CAMAT [2002] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 581 (acting for underwriters seeking rectification of policy); Glencore v Ryan [2002] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 574 (acted for underwriters in a dispute arising from operation of a long-term open cover); Cool Carriers and HSBC [2001] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 22 (jurisdiction dispute in the context of interpleader relief); The Goodpal [2000] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 638 (acted for owners on an appeal from arbitration award, dealing with the duties upon charterers and owners under the employment and agency clause of the NYPE form); Callaghan v Hedges [2000] Lloyd’s Rep; IR 125 (acted for underwriters in a case involving questions of waiver, affirmation, and estoppel in relation to non-disclosure defences); Chapman v Kadirga [1998] Lloyd’s Rep IR 377 (acted for brokers in a case relating to their ability to sue insureds for premiums, and the application of section 53(1) of the Marine Insurance Act).

Insurance and reinsurance: as pupil to Rebecca Sabben-Clare QC, assisted with preparation for an appeal to the Supreme Court in Teal Assurance v WE Berkeley Insurance [2013] UKSC 57, including thoroughly researching the ‘hold harmless’ fiction in insurance law (see article, cited below), and Parliamentary procedure on non-controversial Law Commission Bills; as pupil to Peter MacDonald-Eggers QC, assisted drafting a skeleton argument for an appeal of an arbitration award relating to a claim under a hull and machinery policy; especially involved consideration of the meaning of ‘in the grip of an insured peril’ and the extent of an insured’s obligations under sue and labour clauses; drafted mediation position statement for underwriters on policy validity and coverage defences arising under a crime policy in the context of a claim for losses arising from alleged multi-million pound mortgage frauds against a major UK mortgage lender; drafted skeleton argument for strike out/summary judgment hearing in the County Court on behalf of insurers in defence of a claim by an insured under a directors and officers policy for defence costs; advised a reinsured on potential breach of a claims control clause by reason of an unauthorised settlement, including consideration of issues of waiver by election and estoppel by convention. Commercial: settled points of claim in an arbitration worth $1.5m for breach of a settlement agreement; involved points on jurisdiction/conflicts and agency, in particular duties of undisclosed principals and their agents; advised in a major dispute worth over US$100m on whether there was a binding exclusive distribution agreement between two parties, including issues over what constitutes an ‘agreement to agree’ and the level of detail necessary for a contract to be enforceable; as pupil to Rebecca Sabben-Clare QC, assisted with preparation of advice to a major construction company on liability to their employer arising from alleged breaches (in the form of design defects) of an NEC Engineering and Construction Contract; advised and settled particulars of claim on behalf of a client of a commercial storage facility; involved application of principles of bailment and led to immediate settlement of the claim; advised a Lloyd’s syndicate on whether it had been subject to a fraudulent device by a representative of its insured; assisted Richard Southern QC with research into the necessary ingredients for a valid ‘combination in the tort of conspiracy and the status of a ‘commission agency’ in the English law of agency. Shipping: as pupil to Peter MacDonald-Eggers QC, assisted drafting a skeleton argument for a successful appeal to the High Court in Hyundai Merchant Marine Co Ltd v Americas Bulk Transport [2013] EWHC 470 (Comm), brought under section 67 Arbitration Act 1996. Included issues as to whether pmiies reached consensus and meaning of ‘back-to-back’ in the context of a charterparty; as pupil to Ben Parker, assisted with preparation for an arbitration hearing to decide the entitlement of owners to an indemnity from charterers under either the Inter-Club Agreement or the charterparty in respect of damage to a cargo of cement damaged during loading; as pupil to Rebecca Sabben-Clare QC, assisted with research into whether an engineering consultant owed a duty of care to shipowners following damage to a vessel worth over $1.5m. Included consideration of papers in Spanish language; advised vessel owners whether charterers were permitted to deviate to load additional cargo under terms of an Asbatankvoy charterparty, and whether damages were recoverable for delays (and resulting costs) caused by such deviation; advised slot charterers on viability of their claim against time charterers and head owners for cargo damage, including consideration of unseaworthiness of vessel, sub-bailment on terms of the cargo and contractual terms implied by a prior course of dealing; advised shipowners on unsafe ports, a charterer’s duties of maintenance of a chartered vessel and the loading of unlawful cargoes.

Henry is a commercial barrister specialising in complex disputes. He acts principally for corporate entities in heavy commercial litigation and international arbitration across the following practice areas: commercial disputes, energy, civil fraud, international trade, jurisdiction and procedure, insurance and reinsurance, and financial services. His recent led work includes: Carlyle Aviation Management Limited v Convex Insurance & Ors, acting in 11 Commercial Court claims with a total value of around US$500m concerning the loss of aircraft in Russia, led by Stephen Hofmeyr KC, Michael Holmes KC and Sarah Martin. Consulting Concepts v CPA [2022] EWCA Civ 1699, successfully resisting an appeal against the striking out of a £50m claim, led by Gavin Kealey KC. Stonegate v MS Amlin [2022] EWHC 2548 (Comm); [2023] Bus LR 28, successfully acting for the defendants in a claim for £1.1 billion (one of The Lawyer’s Top 20 Cases of 2022), led by Gavin Kealey KC, Adam Fenton KC and Sushma Ananda. FCA v Arch [2021] AC 649 (SC), the first test case under the Financial Markets Test Case Scheme, led by Gavin Kealey KC, Andrew Wales KC and Sushma Ananda. Lamesa v Cynergy Bank [2021] 2 All ER (Comm) 573 (CA), an appeal about US sanctions, led by Jonathan Crow KC. NIVE v Rembrandt [2020] QB 551 (CA), successfully resisting an appeal in a leading fraud case, led by Gavin Kealey KC. Henry’s work as sole counsel has included acting for the successful City insurance brokers in a trial about a commercial contract, and successfully acting in a major event cancellation dispute concerning a communicable disease extension.

Henry has a broad commercial practice with experience of Chambers’ core areas of expertise, including insurance and reinsurance, shipping, international arbitration, sale of goods and other commercial work. Henry has been instructed in a variety of domestic and international commercial matters, including: a multi-million-dollar insurance arbitration, advising in relation to the US-Iran sanctions regime, a large-scale civil fraud case and a multi-million-dollar dry shipping arbitration. He has also completed secondments at several leading City law firms and appears regularly as sole counsel in the County Court. Henry joined Chambers in September 2018 following the successful completion of his pupillage and accepts instructions in all areas of law practised at 7KBW. Prior to pupillage, he graduated from the University of Oxford with a Double First.

James is highly sought-after as both adviser and advocate across a broad range of commercial specialisms, appearing regularly in both court and arbitration. He has a particularly prominent reputation in the areas of professional negligence, insurance and reinsurance, and commercial arbitration (often with an international element). James has wide experience of advising and acting in relation to all manner of contractual and tortious disputes, including matters relating to energy and natural resources, corporate acquisitions, product liability, international trade, confidentiality and privilege, and conflicts of laws. He has frequently been involved in substantial pieces of litigation and is familiar with the particular demands of large-scale court and arbitration proceedings. James also has significant experience acting in professional disciplinary proceedings, particularly concerning accountants and auditors.

James is a full-time arbitrator, with a practice covering a wide range of international commercial and sporting disputes. James has extensive experience in international commercial arbitrations (whether as sole or co-arbitrator or chairman) under the auspices of the American Arbitration Association (AAA), the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), the Singapore Maritime Academy (SMA) and the Swiss Arbitration Centre (SAC), as well as in ad hoc arbitrations.  He is a member of ICC (Australia), the LCIA, a fellow of the CIArb, a fellow of the Australian Centre for International Arbitration (ACIA), a member of the CIArb’s Presidential Panel, and a chartered arbitrator. His recent appointments in the commercial arena have included disputes in areas such as: commodities and international sale of goods, energy, oil rigs, finance, share sales, corporate fraud, joint ventures, limited liability partnerships, insurance/reinsurance, and international infrastructure projects.  His recent commercial appointments are listed below. James also has had extensive experience in sport arbitrations and is a member of the panel of arbitrators for the Court of Arbitration for Sport (in Lausanne) (CAS) and of Sport Resolutions (SR). His recent appointments in sport arbitrations are listed below.

James has a busy practice spanning all areas of commercial law, including insurance and reinsurance, general commercial disputes, international arbitration, civil fraud, offshore litigation, shipping, company and partnership disputes, and professional negligence. His current and recent instructions as junior counsel include representing the successful insurers in an appeal from the Bahamas to the Privy Council as junior to Jawdat Khurshid KC (McPhee v Colina Insurance Ltd [2023] UKPC 8), a multi-jurisdictional civil fraud case acting for a sovereign wealth fund and in four conjoined appeals before the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal (British Virgin Islands) arising out of a derivative action, led by Jern-Fei Ng KC (Lau Man Sang v King Bun Limited Claim No. BVIHCMAP 2021/0034: judgment in the liability appeal). James has considerable advocacy experience. James recently made the oral submissions in an appeal in the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal, appeared as sole counsel in the High Court in a challenge under section 68 of the Arbitration Act 1996 and appeared in hundreds of small claims while a trainee solicitor in Scotland, prior to transferring to the Bar. James studied law at the University of Edinburgh, where he was the second-most distinguished graduate in his year. James was then awarded a distinction in the MPhil in Law at the University of Oxford. James has also published articles and spoken at conferences on a variety of commercial matters and his research has been cited by the Law Commission. James is also a member of the Bar of the British Virgin Islands.

Barrister specialising in all aspects of commercial litigation and arbitration. Recent work includes a 3-week UNCITRAL arbitration concerning an off-shore drilling dispute worth in excess of US$2bn, acting on behalf of an EU member state in an ICC arbitration worth €5bn concerned with the construction of naval submarines, a breach of confidence claim on behalf of shareholders of a major bank against two ex-Scotland Yard police officers acting as private investigators (Saab v Dangate Consulting Ltd & Ors [2019] EWHC 2602 (Comm), [2019] EWHC 1558 (Comm), [2019] P.N.L.R. 29, [2018] EWHC 546 (Comm)), and an expedited Commercial Court trial on behalf of the Fortune 500 oil and gas conglomerate Apache Corporation: Apache Beryl Ltd v Marathon Oil UK LLC [2017] EWHC 2258 (Comm), [2017] EWHC 2462 (Comm), [2017] EWHC 2504 (Comm). Jason has also recently represented a major insurer in arbitration against a FTSE 100 medical device manufacturer in a $50m coverage claim under an excess layer policy containing Bermuda Form wording.

Jawdat specialises in all aspects of commercial litigation and arbitration, with a particular prominence in insurance and reinsurance disputes, where he has long been acknowledged as a leading practitioner at the bar. As part of a broad commercial litigation and arbitration practice, Jawdat acts as an advocate and as an adviser in a wide range of commercial disputes, many of which are complex and have an international element.  In addition to insurance and reinsurance matters, Jawdat is regularly engaged in matters in the fields of shipping and commodities, commercial fraud, energy and natural resources, banking and finance, and sanctions. Jawdat is currently engaged on behalf of members of the War Risks insurance market in AerCap Ireland Limited v AIG Europe S.A. and Lloyd’s Insurance Company S.A. and in other leading cases concerned with the alleged loss of aircraft and engines leased to Russian airlines following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent imposition of Western sanctions against Russia.  Other current instructions include arbitrations concerned with claims under policies of political violence insurance and trade credit insurance, and with the operation of a container terminal. Recent cases include Quadra Commodities S.A. v XL Insurance Company SE [2023] EWCA Civ 432 (CA) (a case arising out of the Agroinvestgroup fraud concerned with the question whether an insured who had paid the purchase price had an insurable interest in unascertained goods); CRF I Limited v Banco Nacional de Cuba and the Republic of Cuba [2023] EWHC 774 (Comm) (a challenge by the former central bank of Cuba to the jurisdiction of the English Court to determine a creditor’s claim to enforce historic Cuban sovereign debt); McPhee v Colina Insurance Limited [2023] UKPC 8 (PC) (an appeal from the Court of Appeal of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council concerned with the operation of ‘universal life’ insurance policies); Aramco Trading Fujairah FZE v Gulf Petrochem FZC (“The Kronviken”) [2022] EWHC 57 (Comm) (a case arising out of the Gulf Petrochem fraud in which a buyer of fuel oil, who paid against a letter of indemnity in the absence of the bills of lading, obtained a mandatory injunction against the seller); Harcus Sinclair LLP v Your Lawyers Limited [2021] UKSC 32 (SC) (a case before the Supreme Court concerned with the question whether a restriction in a non-disclosure agreement signed in connection with the Volkswagen diesel emissions scandal constituted a solicitor’s undertaking enforceable by the Court pursuant to its inherent supervisory jurisdiction over solicitors).

Arbitrator

Described as “a very impressive barrister”, Jessica has a wide-ranging commercial practice including shipping, shipbuilding, international trade, insurance & reinsurance, professional negligence & regulatory work (auditors). She is regularly instructed in high value disputes involving complex legal and factual issues, often with competing systems of law. She is consistently listed as a leading junior in the directories and has been nominated as junior counsel of the year (shipping, commodities & aviation). Recent work includes: The Court of Appeal decision in National Iranian Oil Co v Crescent Petroleum Co International Ltd [2022] EWHC 2641 (Comm) (Butcher J) and [2023] EWCA Civ 826 (CA). The case concerned the interplay between s.67 & s.73 of the Arbitration Act 1996, including the scope of s.67(4) (that only the first instance judge can grant permission to appeal from a “decision under” s.67);  acting as case leader in a coal commodities dispute; acting as sole counsel in three high-value superyacht disputes, and in a US$25m ship sale & purchase dispute. She regularly appears in Court and in International Arbitration proceedings (ICC, LCIA, LMAA, ARIAS, SIAC, Bermuda Form and ad hoc arbitrations), and has been appointed as an arbitrator by the LCIA and in ad hoc arbitrations.

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John specialises in commercial law, in particular in the following areas: General Commercial Disputes, Insurance/Reinsurance, International Trade, Sale of Goods, Shipping, Carriage of Goods, Arbitration, Agency, Fraud, Professional Negligence (not medical).  He has extensive experience of disputes concerning a wide range of commercial contracts. In the context of those disputes, he has dealt with a wide range of ancillary issues, including the jurisdiction of the court or arbitral tribunal, and various forms of injunctive relief. He has appeared as an advocate in the Court of Appeal, the Commercial Court, the Queen’s Bench and Chancery Divisions and in arbitration. In relation to the practice of which a précis is given below, John has carried out tasks including: advising on merits, advising on evidence, drafting correspondence, drafting statements of case, drafting case management documentation, drafting witness statements, preparation of expert reports, review of disclosure and supervision of disclosure review teams, advice on disclosure (such as scope of searches, specific disclosure etc), identification of documentation for hearing bundles, drafting of skeleton arguments, appearing as advocate (both at interlocutory and final hearings), advising in relation to appeals from awards and judgments, drafting appeal documentation, appearing as advocate at appeal hearings, and advising on enforcement.

Barrister and arbitrator specialising in all fields of commercial law, particularly insurance, banking, professional negligence, shipping, oil and gas, and international trade.

Lord Mance was Deputy President of the Supreme Court. He sat from 1993 to 1999 as a Commercial Judge, was appointed to the Court of Appeal in 1999, and to the House of Lords in 2005 where he spent four years as a Law Lord before becoming a Justice of the Supreme Court on its formation in 2009 and its Deputy President in 2017-2018. Since joining 7 King’s Bench Walk, Lord Mance has been appointed in a wide range of arbitrations (in a majority of cases as sole arbitrator or chair, but also as a wing arbitrator) under ICC, LCIA, UNCITRAL and ICSID Rules and ad hoc in fields including insurance/reinsurance, energy, construction, international trade, joint venture and shareholder agreements and investment. He has wide-reaching experience of international, commercial and European law, having written many judgments in all these areas as both first instance and appellate levels. Lord Mance was until the end of 2022 Chair of the International Law Association as well as Chair of the Conduct Committee of the House of Lords. He is co-chair of the Lord Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Private International Law, and a member of the Judicial Integrity Group (responsible for the Bangalore Principles on Judicial Conduct). He also sits as an appellate judge of the Singapore International Commercial Court and is Chief Justice of the Astana International Financial Centre Court. At the Bar he specialised in commercial law including insurance and reinsurance, professional negligence (particularly of accountants, auditors, brokers and lawyers), banking and international trade. He was a founder director of the Bar Mutual Indemnity Insurance Fund Ltd and chaired various Banking Appeals Tribunals. He also sat as an arbitrator. While on the bench, he sat on the Council of Europe’s Consultative Council of European Judges, becoming its first elected chair from 2000 to 2003. In the House of Lords, he chaired a sub-committee of the European Union Select Committee, scrutinising proposals concerning European law and institutions, and contributing to the Committee’s report on the Treaty of Lisbon 2009. He also led a group working on domestic enforcement of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, and a delegation reporting on the problem of impunity in relation to violence against women in the Congo. From 2010 to 2018 he served on the seven-person panel established by article 255 TFEU to report on candidates’ suitability to serve as Judge or Advocate-General in the European Court of Justice. Lord Mance has good German and reasonable French, having worked in both, and reads (but speaks limited) Spanish.

Joseph Rich joined 7KBW following the completion of his pupillage at Chambers. Joe has particular expertise in international arbitration and large-scale commercial disputes, having spent two years as an employed barrister in the international arbitration group of a leading US law firm prior to joining Chambers. Joe acted as part of the counsel team on high-value arbitrations under ad hoc, LCIA, ICC and UNCITRAL Rules. He specialised in energy and natural resources cases, but also gained experience of mining and construction disputes. During pupillage at 7KBW, Joe worked on cases across Chambers’ practice areas including insurance & reinsurance, shipping and shipbuilding, commodities and civil fraud. In 2021/2022, Joe also spent a year working as a judicial assistant to Lord Justice Males in the Court of Appeal. He assisted with a number of seminal shipping and insurance cases and has significant insight into appellate proceedings as a result. Joe speaks fluent French and Spanish, and can work with documents in Portuguese. He also has some knowledge of Mandarin Chinese.

Josephine Higgs KC has a broad commercial practice with particular expertise in insurance and reinsurance, professional negligence, civil fraud, conflict of laws and jurisdiction, and international arbitration. She is regularly instructed in high value commercial disputes in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, and in domestic and international arbitrations (including ICC, LCIA, ARIAS and Bermuda Form). She frequently acts in matters with an international flavour, often involving conflicts of laws and jurisdictional issues and matters of international commerce. Jo has extensive experience of large-scale, long-running, complex disputes working closely with other counsel, solicitors, clients, factual and expert witnesses. Her ability to work well with others is often cited as one of her particular strengths. Recent cases include: Al Mana v United Fidelity [2023] EWCA Civ 61 (Court of Appeal, jurisdiction challenge); Harcus Sinclair v Your Lawyers [2022] AC 1271 (Supreme Court, restraint of trade and solicitors’ undertakings); the FCA Covid BI test case (acting on behalf of successful policyholders); Patisserie Valerie Holdings v Grant Thornton [2021] EWHC 3022 (Comm) (very high value auditors’ negligence claim); Ardon Maroon Asia Master Fund (Cayman Islands Grand Court and Court of Appeal, shareholder dispute); Simetra Global Assets v Ikon Finance [2019] 4 WLR 112 (civil fraud, successful appeal to Court of Appeal).

Joshua is developing a busy practice and accepts instructions across all areas of commercial law including civil fraud, financial services, international trade, and professional negligence. He understands the commercial environment of the Asia-Pacific region and is fluent in Mandarin Chinese as well as business proficient in Bahasa Malaysia and Bahasa Indonesia. He is also called to the New York State Bar. Joshua’s recent and current instructions include: Acting as part of a team for insurers in relation to a multi-billion-dollar dispute over the insurance of commercial aircraft leased in Russia; Advising insurers, with Richard Waller KC, in relation to a political risk policy over substantial (non-aviation) assets located in Russia; Advising in relation to the replacement of a sole arbitrator (LMAA). Prior to joining Chambers, Joshua was on fellowship at the Yenching Academy of Peking University. His research, on the use of precedent in the Chinese legal system, has been published. Joshua studied law at Trinity College, Cambridge, and the New York University School of Law. He is the recipient of numerous academic prizes and scholarships.

Julia has a broad commercial practice, with a particular emphasis on insurance, civil fraud, professional negligence, jurisdiction / conflict of laws, shipping, and commodities. Current and recent led work includes: Carillion v KPMG (led by Rebecca Sabben-Clare KC, Tim Kenefick and Andrew Fenn); CRF v Cuba (a jurisdiction dispute in relation to a sovereign debt claim, led by Richard Waller KC and Michael Ryan); Compagnie des Grands Hôtels d’Afrique SA v Purdy [2021] EWHC 1031 (QB): a dispute arising from a letter of request which raised issues relating to the privilege against self-incrimination and Article 6 ECHR, led by David Edwards KC; the SKAT litigation: acting for a group of alleged fraud defendants, led by Keir Howie; and a variety of insurance matters, including ABN Amro Bank v RSA [2021] EWHC 442 (Comm) (led by Rebecca Sabben-Clare KC and Benjamin Parker). Julia appears on her own in the High Court and the County Court. Julia’s recent work as sole counsel includes matters relating to business interruption insurance, shipping and commodities. Julia has completed secondments with the insurance & reinsurance team at an international law firm, and at a specialist London shipping firm. She is also a member of the Government’s Junior Junior scheme

Barrister specialising in all aspects of commercial litigation and arbitration, with an emphasis on insurance/reinsurance and shipping.

Marcus specialises in commercial litigation and arbitration and is recognised as a leading junior in the fields of Commercial Litigation, Shipping and Commodities, Insurance and International Arbitration. Marcus is a former winner of “Junior of the Year” for shipping and has been shortlisted for “Junior of the Year” for international arbitration. He is described as “a star performer” and “excellent to work with”. Notable recent cases include SK Shipping v. Capital [2022] 2 All E.R. (Comm) 784 (misrepresentation); Enka Insaat v. Chubb [2020] 1 W.L.R. 4117 (arbitration agreements; described by The Lawyer as “a landmark judgment that is likely to become the leading authority in this area”); Clearlake Shipping v Xiang Da Marine [2019] EWHC 2284 (Comm) (anti-suit injunctions); and The Res Cogitans [2016] A.C. 1034 (sale of goods; described by Lloyd’s List as “the most spectacular shipping legal imbroglio so far this century”). Marcus has acted in a wide variety of cases of different types and sizes, both on his own and as a junior. Before being called to the Bar, Marcus practised as a solicitor specialising in general corporate and commercial disputes. He also accepts appointments as an arbitrator.

QC

Michael Ryan’s practice encompasses cross-border disputes, banking and finance, energy disputes, company litigation, insurance and professional liability. Many of Michael’s cases include allegations of dishonesty and he has extensive experience of commercial fraud. He is familiar with the demands of hard-fought commercial cases and has substantial advocacy experience, having conducted trials, appeals and applications in his own right. He has appeared in the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. Michael has experience of interim applications, including worldwide freezing injunctions, Norwich Pharmacal Applications, Bankers Trust Orders and jurisdictional applications. Cases include: Aercap Ireland v AIG Europe [2023] EWHC 96, US$4.5bn insurance dispute; UBS Switzerland v Kumar [2023] EWHC 2041, freezing orders in banking/fraud dispute; Deposit Guarantee Fund v Bank Frick [2022] EWHC 2221, banking fraud dispute; Natwest Markets Plc v Bilta [2021] EWCA Civ 680, carbon credit trading fraud; VTB Commodities v JSC Antipinksy [2021] EWHC 1758 (Comm), Russian banking fraud dispute; PDVSA Servicios S.A. v Petrosaudi Oil Services Limited [2020] EWHC 2819 (Ch), 1MDB fraud and offshore oil drilling; Apache North Sea Ltd v INEOS FPS Ltd [2020] EWHC 2081 (Comm), North Sea oil dispute; Group Seven Ltd v Notable Services LLP [2020] Ch 129, appeal on dishonest assistance.

Barrister specialising in all aspects of commercial law including insurance and reinsurance; shipping; international trade; sale of goods; professional negligence and private international law.

Peter MacDonald Eggers KC is a “very user-friendly and commercial barrister” who specialises in all aspects of commercial law, with a particular focus on insurance and reinsurance , shipping and transport, energy, commodities and international trade, financial services, professional negligence, and international investment projects. Peter appears before the Commercial Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court and in commercial and international arbitrations. Peter has also appeared before Courts in other jurisdictions. Peter accepts appointments to act as an arbitrator. Peter sat as a Deputy High Court Judge from 2017 to 2023 and is the immediate Past Chair of BILA. He teaches at UCL, KCL and QMUL and is the author, co-author or editor of Good Faith and Insurance Contracts, Deceit: The Lie of the Law, The Vitiation of Contractual Consent, Carver on Charterparties and Chitty on Contracts.

Philip maintains a broad practice encompassing shipping, insurance, civil fraud, and general commercial litigation. He has appeared as sole counsel in the Commercial Court and County Court, as well as being led in the Commercial Court and in arbitration. Current or recent instructions include a US$200m+ shipbuilding arbitration, a US$100m LCIA arbitration arising out of the repudiation of a coal offtake agreement, and a Bermuda Form arbitration arising out of extensive criminal wrongdoing in a prominent US religious organisation, as well as acting as sole counsel in several substantial LMAA shipping disputes. Most recently, Philip has also been extensively involved in advising on the impact, principally in the (re)insurance context, of the sanctions imposed in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Philip is happy to accept instructions, on his own or led, in any commercial dispute.

Ralph acts both led and unled across all areas of commercial law, including international arbitration, wet and dry shipping, insurance, aviation, professional negligence, commercial litigation, sale of goods, jurisdiction and civil procedure and enforcement and contempt proceedings. High-profile recent work includes acting as sole counsel in limitation proceedings concerning the “EVER GIVEN” and the “X-PRESS PEARL” in the Admiralty Court; as part of the counsel team acting for AIG in insurance claims brought by lessors of airliners leased to Russian airlines; and acting (as junior to Michael Holmes KC) in a successful challenge to jurisdiction of claims brought by the Libyan Investment Authority (Libyan Investment Authority v Credit Suisse & others [2021] EWHC 2684 (Comm)). Ralph has been instructed in several major professional services disputes. He was part of the 7KBW team representing KPMG in a variety of matters relating to the collapse of the construction and services firm Carillion, including in KPMG’s successful challenge to a pre-action disclosure application [2020] EWHC 1416 (Comm), in FRC v KPMG (one of The Lawyer’s top 20 cases of 2022), and in KPMG’s defence of a professional negligence claim of in excess of £1 billion. He has a particular interest in Admiralty Court work, having gained practical experience of navigation and seamanship over three years as a member of Cambridge University Royal Naval Unit. He regularly acts in cases which depend on technical questions of expert evidence across a range of disciplines and tribunals, including the Commercial Court, the Technology and Construction Court and the Admiralty Court, as well as arbitrations under institutional rules including the LCIA, ICC and LMAA. Ralph has been appointed to the Attorney-General’s London C Panel of junior counsel to the Crown and in that capacity provides advice and representation to HM Government in a range of commercial and public law matters.

Rebecca has a wide-ranging commercial practice, focussing particularly on insurance/reinsurance, accountants’ liability, international arbitration and general commercial disputes. Rebecca is listed as a leading English silk in the Chambers & Partners UK and Global Directories and the Legal 500 Directory. In 2022, she won Professional Negligence Silk of the Year at the Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 awards. She is shortlisted as Insurance Silk of the Year for this year’s Chambers and Partners awards. The directories describe her as “incredibly bright” and “very talented”, praising her ability as “a fearless advocate…” and recognising that she is “very cool, calm and easy to work with”. She is listed as a leading silk in the fields of commercial dispute resolution, insurance/reinsurance, international arbitration, professional discipline and professional negligence. Current and recent cases include: instructions in relation to Carillion; ABN Amro v RSA (Comm Ct and Court of Appeal: insurance dispute concerning cocoa fraud); Manchester Building Society v. Grant Thornton (Supreme Court: scope of duty); various insurance and reinsurance disputes arising from the Covid-19 pandemic; aviation insurance disputes.

Rebecca has a broad commercial practice, with a particular focus on insurance and reinsurance, jurisdiction and conflicts of laws, commodities, shipping, civil fraud and general commercial disputes. She has been instructed in matters spanning the full range of Chambers’ work and is equally comfortable acting on her own and as part of a team. She has appeared led in the Court of Appeal, Commercial Court, Chancery Division and in international arbitrations and unled in the Commercial Court, Queen’s Bench Division and County Court. Current and recent instructions include acting for a major market insurer in very high-value aviation insurance claims arising out of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, including in a successful joinder application (AerCap Ireland Limited v AIG and Others [2023] EWHC 96 (Comm)); acting as sole counsel for the successful defendant in an application to the High Court under s.67 Arbitration Act (Emirates Shipping Line v Gold Star Line [2023] EWHC 880 (Comm)); appearing in the Court of Appeal in a dispute arising out of an offshore geotechnical contract; acting (as sole counsel) for Lloyd’s syndicates in a claim against an international art dealer under a consignment agreement for the loss of a high-value painting; several high-value reinsurance arbitrations arising from Covid-19; and an appeal to the Commercial Court under s.69 Arbitration Act concerning aggregation for Covid-19 losses under a catastrophe excess of loss reinsurance policy. Rebecca has a particular interest in private international law and has worked on a number of cases involving jurisdictional and choice of law issues. Rebecca accepts instructions, led or unled, in any commercial dispute. In appropriate cases, she is happy to accept pro bono instructions.

A commercial barrister specialising in insurance and reinsurance, international arbitration, civil fraud and shipping. Richard’s ride-ranging insurance practice includes political risk, marine, trade credit, Bermuda form, D&O, Warranty & Indemnity, business interruption, product liability, contingency and offshore construction. He is currently acting for the Lloyd’s war risk market in Aercap v Lloyds Insurance Company (2023) which relates to the failure of Russian airlines to return western-leased aircraft following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, which is the largest case currently before the Commercial Court. Richard’s other Commercial Court cases include: CRF v Republic of Cuba [2023] EWHC 774 (general commercial; assignment; bribery sovereign debt); Brillante Virtuoso [2019] 2 Lloyd’s Rep. 485 (marine insurance; scuttling); Orb ARL v Ruhan [2015] EWHC 262 (civil fraud); Republic of Djibouti v Boreh [2015] EWHC 769 (civil fraud; government officials; corruption; freezing orders); Excalibur v Texas Keystone [2015] EWHC 566 ($1.6 billion oil exploration dispute; banking; joint venture; litigation funding); Kriti Filoxenia [2015] (shipping, arbitration appeal, time charter cancellation) and Crudesky [2012] 2 Lloyd’s Rep. 503 (shipping, Government detention of a tanker in Nigeria). Richard also has a thriving international arbitration practice, both in London and abroad, including the high-profile Opioids insurance claims.

Barrister specialising in commercial litigation and arbitration, including shipping, international trade, energy, professional negligence, insurance and reinsurance. He has represented several FTSE 100 companies in oil related and other disputes. Recent cases include: OMV Petrom v Glencore International ([2015] EWHC 666 (Flaux J.) – measure of damages for deceit and [2014] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 308 (Blair J.) – abuse of process; Synergy Health UK Ltd v CGU Insurance plc [2011] Lloyd’s Rep IR 500 – professional negligence (insurance broker); Dolphin Tanker v Westport Petroleum [2011] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 550 – oil majors approvals clause; Glencore Energy UK Ltd v Transworld Oil Ltd [2010] 1 CLC 284 – oil trading dispute. Much of his practice is in arbitration, including commercial fraud, contracts of affreightment, and commodities.

Richard Sarll is a barrister specialising in commercial and admiralty law, with particular expertise in the shipping and insurance sectors.  His distinctively commercial approach to cases sees him ranked in the legal directories as a Leading Junior, noted in particular for his  "real effort to understand the commercial realities of the business". Richard’s unique combination of professional qualifications adds significant value to a case, having sat exams of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers and the Association of Average Adjusters. Whichever industry is involved, Richard is keen to listen to and absorb the views of the businesspeople instructing him regarding this as instrumental in persuading tribunals of the justice of their position.

Ritin started his career in 1998 as an Associate in the Business Practice Group of Jones Day in its Cleveland office before relocating to India to practice corporate law.  He transitioned to a disputes practice in 2004 when he joined the Chambers of Ashok H. Desai, a Senior Advocate and formerly Attorney General for India. Ritin brings his experience as a corporate lawyer to bear on a variety of commercial and regulatory disputes, including in company, competition, insolvency and telecommunications law.  His practice spans appearances in the Supreme Court of India, the High Court of Delhi, the commercial tribunals situate in Delhi and before arbitral tribunals. Ritin accepts instructions to appear both as counsel and as arbitrator in arbitral disputes, and as an Indian law expert in courts or forums outside India. Ritin has acted as an arbitrator in arbitrations governed by ICC Rules and SIAC Rules, in addition to ad-hoc arbitrations where he has been appointed by the High Court of Delhi.

Amended profile: Sandra is a “reliable and responsive” barrister who has a broad commercial practice with particular focus on insurance and reinsurance, shipping, international trade, energy and international arbitration. Sandra regularly appears as an advocate in Court and in international arbitrations. Sandra has experience acting as sole advocate, with leading counsel and as part of larger legal teams. Recent work includes Covid-19 business interruption insurance disputes, aviation insurance disputes, and a range of charterparty and sale of goods disputes. Many of Sandra’s cases involve jurisdiction issues and interim relief. She particularly enjoys working on these cases and has been instructed to appear in a number of jurisdiction challenge, anti-suit injunction and freezing injunction hearings. She also accepts appointments to act as an arbitrator. She has acted as an arbitrator appointed by the LCIA Court and in ad hoc arbitrations.

Sarah practises in all areas of commercial law, with a particular emphasis on insurance and shipping, and has appeared as sole counsel in the Commercial Court, the former Mercantile Court, the Companies Court and the County Court. The majority of her cases include a jurisdictional and/or foreign law dimension, so she has a detailed understanding of conflicts of law issues, and she is accustomed to working closely with teams of foreign lawyers, most recently in Venezuela, Bulgaria, Greece and the U.S. In the insurance sphere, Sarah has extensive experience of coverage disputes involving questions of construction of insurance and reinsurance contracts, and she has established a significant reputation in total loss claims arising from large-scale marine casualties, including vessel collisions, detentions and appropriation. In recent years, Sarah has also built a substantial practice in very high value Bermuda Form arbitrations arising from U.S. mass tort litigation, frequently involving complex issues relating to proof of the insured’s underlying liability to third party claimants. Sarah has a wide-ranging shipping practice, and her expertise extends across a broad range of sectors, including charterparties, carriage of goods, commodities, shipbuilding, and matters falling within the jurisdiction of the Admiralty Court. She has acted in a large number of LMAA arbitrations, and is also experienced in obtaining urgent injunctive relief from the Commercial Court in support of ongoing arbitrations, including worldwide freezing injunctions and anti-suit injunctions.

Barrister specialising in all areas of commercial law, including insurance, reinsurance, carriage of goods, international trade, shipping, sale of goods, professional negligence and private international law.

Simon is a barrister specialising in commercial law and all aspects of commercial litigation and arbitration, with particular expertise in insurance and reinsurance, shipping, energy and natural resources, professional negligence and general commercial disputes. He has been involved in a large number of high profile commercial cases in the Commercial Court, in the appellate courts and in arbitration.  His work is split evenly between cases in the High Court and those involving arbitration, whether English arbitration, international arbitration (under rules such as ICC or LCIA) or “Bermuda Form” arbitration.

Barrister and Arbitrator specialising in general commercial law disputes, including insurance; reinsurance; international trade and commodities; shipping and carriage of goods; banking and other contractual disputes; professional negligence particularly of solicitors, brokers, surveyors and accountants; arbitration and conflicts of law. Notable cases include acting for the successful insurance brokers in ABN Amro v RSA [2022] 1 Lloyd’s Rep IR 201; acting for the claimants in the Buncefield litigation: Beazley Underwriting v Travelers [2012] Lloyd’s Rep IR 78; Carboex SA v Louis Dreyfus [2013]2 WLR 754; Colour Quest v Total [2009]2 Lloyd’s Rep 1; Dunlop Haywards v Barbon [2010]1 Lloyd’s Rep IR 149 (brokers’ duties); DHL v Erinaceous [2009] EWCA Civ 354 (rectification, joinder); Wasa v Lexington [2010]1 AC 180 (back-to-back nature of insurance and reinsurance); Encia v Canopius [2008] Lloyd’s Rep IR 79 (professional indemnity insurance); Diab v Regent [2007] 1WLR 797 (unaccepted repudiation of policy did not invalidate notification requirements); Limit No.3 v PDV [2005] Lloyd’s Rep IR 522 (forum non conveniens); Paine v Catlins [2005] Lloyd’s Rep IR 655 (fire insurance); Glencore v Alpina [2004]1Lloyd’s Rep 111 (insurance; open cover); Assicurazioni Generali v CGU [2004] Lloyd’s Rep IR 457 CA (‘follow settlements’ in reinsurance); Tradigrain v SlAT [2002]2 Lloyd’s Rep 553 (conflict of laws; Brussels-Lugano conventions articles 8, 12a, 17, 22); The Mass Glory [2002] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 244 (damages in string arbitrations damages for detention); The Happy Day [2002] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 487 (whether despatch payable where no valid NOR given); Chase v Ram [2000] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 418 (jurisdiction forum non conveniens, insurance); Eide v Lowndes Lambert CA [1999] QB 199 (broker’s lien); Boskalis v Mountain CA [1999] QB 674 (marine insurance). Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. Acts as arbitrator in sports and commercial contractual disputes of all kinds

Barrister specialising in general commercial law, including insurance and reinsurance, international trade and sale of goods, banking and finance, public international law of the sea.

Sophie is developing a broad practice across all areas of commercial law, including insurance and reinsurance, shipping and shipbuilding, international arbitration, commodities, jurisdiction and conflict of laws, civil fraud, energy and natural resources, professional negligence and aviation. Sophie accepts instructions in all of 7KBW’s practice areas. Before commencing pupillage, Sophie taught Contract and Tort at the London School of Economics. She was also previously the judicial assistant to Lord Justice Flaux at the Court of Appeal where she experienced a wide range of commercial appellate work. Sophie studied Law at Keble College, Oxford where she achieved a First in Finals and a Distinction on the BCL.

Barrister specialising in shipping, insurance and reinsurance. Shipping work includes bill of lading and charterparty disputes, ship building and ship sales, arrests, salvage, general average. Insurance and reinsurance work includes marine and non-marine insurance, facultative and treaty reinsurance, Lloyd’s, insurance broking. Also handles disputes involving aviation insurance, energy supply, carriage by road and air, sale of goods, trade financing, and professional negligence (brokers, solicitors, accountants). Recent cases include The “Alhani" [2018] EWHC 1495 (Comm); [2018] 2 Lloyd's Rep. 563 (Hague Rules Art. III Rule 8); The "Longchamp" [2017] UKSC 68, [2018] 1 Lloyd's Rep. 1 (York Antwerp Rules, Rule F); Khakshouri v Jimenez [2017] EWHC 3392 (QB) (deceit – loan to football club); The “Brillante Virtuoso” [2016] EWHC 1085 (Comm) (scuttling – owners’ claim struck out);  The "Maersk Neuchatel" [2014] 2 Lloyd's Rep. 377 (general average - charterers' letter of undertaking); Glencore Energy v Cirrus Oil Services [2014] 2 Lloyd's Rep 1 (sale of crude oil); The “Gaz Energy” [2012] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 211 (charterparty – speed and consumption); Air Transworld v Bombardier [2012] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 349 (sale of private jet – exclusion of conditions); PK Air Finance v Chartis Insurance, settled 2010 (aviation insurance); CNA Insurance Co Ltd v Willis Ltd, settled 2009 (reinsurance broking – alleged deceit).  For further detail see www.7kbw.co.uk.  

Stephen Hofmeyr KC is a leading commercial barrister with a wide-ranging international commercial law practice. With a strong sectoral focus across a wide range of practice areas, Stephen’s expertise in commercial law ranges from complex commercial contract disputes, to related company law claims, both for individuals and corporate clients, in particular, shareholder disputes and claims against directors. His relatively unique combination of legal and accounting qualifications has equipped him to specialise in all aspects of commercial law and make him particularly suited to complex disputes. He is due to appear again in the Supreme Court twice in 2023 in appeals in Herculatio Maritime v Gunvor (MV POLAR) and Argentum Exploration Ltd v Silver. He is also involved in dealing with, amongst other matters, more than 80 aviation insurance claims arising out of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, various M&A insurance claims, a Singapore based arbitration concerning the construction of a jack-up rig, a London based arbitration concerning the safety of a container terminal.  He also continues to advise on on-going Business Interruption and M&A insurance claims.

Commercial litigation, insurance and reinsurance and shipping.

A former Head of Chambers, Sir Stephen Tomlinson was in practice as a barrister at 7 King’s Bench Walk from 1975 until 2000, appointed a Queen’s Counsel in 1988. In 2000 he was appointed a High Court Judge in the Queen’s Bench Division where he sat principally in the Commercial Court.  In 2010 he was appointed a Lord Justice of Appeal. At the Bar, Sir Stephen practised in all the major areas of commercial law and international trade, particularly in the fields of shipping, marine insurance, oil and gas exploration, production and trading, commodity trading, international sale of goods, non-marine insurance and reinsurance, banking and professional negligence. Sir Stephen appeared regularly as Counsel in arbitrations heard in the City of London.  In his later career at the Bar he sat regularly as arbitrator in major international commercial disputes, and was the first arbitrator appointed under the auspices of the Electricity Arbitration Association to deal with disputes in the newly privatised electricity generating and supply industry. As a first-instance judge Sir Stephen heard a wide range of commercial disputes in the Commercial Court, but he also sat in the other civil jurisdictions of the Queen’s Bench Division, where the work was sufficiently diverse to include a dispute over the provenance of an egg-clock attributed to Carl Fabergé.  He also presided over criminal trials in the Crown Court. In the Court of Appeal since 2010 his work has covered the full breadth of the Court’s civil jurisdiction. Sir Stephen retired from the Court of Appeal in January 2017 and now accepts appointment as arbitrator.

Sushma has a broad commercial practice with a particular emphasis on insurance and reinsurance, professional negligence, shipping and international trade, and international arbitration. Sushma has been instructed in a wide variety of commercial disputes both as sole counsel and as a junior.  Sushma has appeared in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, Commercial Court, county courts and in many international arbitrations (including LMAA, LCIA, ICC, ARIAS, SIAC and Bermuda Form arbitrations).  She has undertaken advocacy on her own in many of these forums, including successfully appearing against counsel more senior than her.  Sushma also often works as part of a wider counsel team in complex commercial disputes leading to lengthy trials. Sushma’s highlighted cases include the 2020 COVID-19 business interruption test case (at first instance and in the Supreme Court) brought by the FCA against eight insurers, including Ecclesiastical Insurance Office plc and MS Amlin Underwriting Ltd (Sushma’s clients); Ferster v Ferster [2016] EWCA Civ 717, a case concerned with the unambiguous impropriety exception to without prejudice privilege; and Involnert Management v Aprilgrange Limited [2015] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 289, a multi-million euro professional negligence claim in the Commercial Court concerned with the insurance of a super yacht. Sushma was called to the Singapore Bar in February 2015.  She is ranked in the Legal 500 in Insurance & Reinsurance, International Arbitration, Professional Negligence, Shipping and Commodities. In October 2010 Sushma was cited by Legal Week as one of the “Stars at the Bar”. Sushma also accepts arbitration appointments. She has acted as an arbitrator appointed by the LCIA Court.  She is also on the panel of arbitrators for the Lloyd’s Arbitration Scheme, Tiers 1 and 2.

Tim has a broad commercial practice with a particular focus on insurance and reinsurance; commercial fraud; banking and finance, shipping; international trade; energy and natural resources; sale of goods; professional liability and conflict of laws.  Tim accepts instructions as sole counsel or as part of a team.  Time has appeared in the Supreme Court (in the seminal insurance aggregation case, AIG Europe Ltd v Woodman [2017] UKSC 18), the Court of Appeal, the High Court, the Dubai International Financial Centre Court, in numerous arbitrations and before a joint disciplinary tribunal regarding the alleged misconduct of auditors, actuaries and accountants in business.

Barrister specialising in general commercial law, including shipping, sale of goods, insurance and reinsurance, foreign sovereign immunity, banking and professional negligence. Cases include: Pan Atlantic v Pine Top Insurance Co. Ltd [1995] 1 AC 501 (leading modern case on insurance law); Balkanbank v Taher [1995] 1 WLR 1057, 1067 (jurisdiction disputes from worldwide injunctions); Glencore v Portman [1996] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 430 [1997] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 225 (insurance-leading modern case on non-disclosure of loss history); Littrell v USA [1995] 1 WLR 82 (immunity of USA for personal injuries claim); Credit Suisse v SGE [1997] CLC 168 (jurisdiction agreement, Brussels Convention); Sierra Leone Telecommunications v Barclays Bank [1998] 2AER 821 (whether bank mandate revoked by Sierra Leone government or a military junta); Commerzbank AG v PLD Telecom [2000] (share option agreement, injunctions); Beursgracht [2002] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 574 (marine open cover insurance); Sabah v Government of Pakistan [2002] CA, Times 27.11.02 (anti-suit injuction against sovereign state); David Agmashabeli [2003] 1 Lloyd’s 92 (Comm) 806 (shipping- Master’s duties as to clausing bills of lading); Gaul Public Enquiry [2004].

Tim specialises in all aspects of commercial law, with particular emphasis on insurance and reinsurance, energy, marine, commercial fraud and general commercial disputes. He acts both as an advocate and in an advisory capacity, and has regularly been instructed on his own and as junior counsel in high-value, high-profile Commercial Court actions and arbitrations. He is also a CEDR-accredited mediator.