7 King's Bench Walk

Year of call 2019

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. Charlotte has advised 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. This has given her valuable insight into the inner workings of the commercial sector and the implications of legal disputes. 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.

Charlotte has a broad commercial practice across 7KBW’s core areas, with a particular emphasis on insurance (including marine insurance), shipping, professional negligence, civil fraud, and general commercial disputes. 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).

Her current and recent instructions include:

Acting (led by David Bailey KC) in a high value ship building dispute (warranty dispute and damages claim) concerning a c.€63 million build project for a 77-metre super yacht; acting (led by Peter MacDonald Eggers KC) for ship owners in Delos Shipholding SA & Ors v Allianz Global Corporate and Speciality SE & Ors [2024] EWHC 719 (Comm) and associated appeal, concerning an insurance claim worth c.US$40 million for the total loss of a vessel; advising (led by James Brocklebank KC), a large accountancy firm in a professional negligence dispute; 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; and 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.
As sole counsel, Charlotte’s current and recent work includes: acting for international ship owners in a £6 million High Court dispute concerning a claim under a Letter of Guarantee; advising international ship owners in a dispute concerning the sale and purchase agreement for a double hull oil tanker; acting for charterers of a vessel in a dispute concerning cargo damage to a shipment of petcoke; advising potential claimants on the insurance aspects (worth c.£5 million) of a wider class action nuisance suit; advising financiers on a potential fraud claim concerning allegations of undue influence; and acting for a leading telecommunications provider in three separate disputes following damage (in each case) to the telecommunication provider’s network and apparatus.