Position

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.

Education

Cambridge University, Downing College (2001 MA; 2002 LLM).

Mentions

London Bar

Commodities

LEADING JUNIORS1
Jessica Sutherland – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘A superb junior, Jessica is thorough, terribly well organised and totally reliable.’
London Bar

Insurance and reinsurance

LEADING JUNIORS2
Jessica Sutherland – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘Very accomplished in insurance law having a practical approach.'
London Bar

Professional negligence

LEADING JUNIORS5
Jessica Sutherland – 7 King’s Bench Walk 'A star junior ticking all the boxes - brilliant on paper and on her feet.'
London Bar

Shipping

LEADING JUNIORS3
Jessica Sutherland – 7 King’s Bench Walk 'Her written advocacy is good and persuasive.'