David Allen
‘David is a brilliant advocate who knows how to focus on the important issues, works very hard and presents them in an effective and simple way.’
Chambers of Gavin Kealey KC
More information7 King’s Bench Walk is ‘the market leader for complex energy insurance coverage disputes’, and one client remarks that the set has ’strength in depth in this field not just at the silk level but also the senior juniors are very strong in this field’. The set’s energy practice dovetails neatly with its strong flow insurance and commodities work, and members have extensive expertise in oil and gas trading, exploration and exploitation disputes, and the licensing of oil and gas fields. David Allen KC recently acted for the defendant in Victoria Oil & Gas & Gaz Du Cameroun v Chanas Assurances, which concerned an alleged well-out-of-control incident in the Logbaba Gas Field, in the Douala Basin off the coast of Cameroon, raising questions of contractual construction. Alistair Schaff KC recently represented Ukrainian oil company Ukrnafta in a major enforcement action in Commercial Court involving complex issues of foreign laws and arbitral jurisdiction concerning enforcement of Swedish arbitration award against his client.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Efficient and effective.'
- 'The best in the business. Gary Rose always makes my life easier.'
- 'The clerks are very knowledgeable, Joe Clayton is a pleasure to deal with.'
- 'The current team is efficient and friendly.'
- 'Great set of clerks - Greg Leyden is very good in keeping in touch and keeping dialogues open.'
'Good set with some very able juniors. Always available and very pleasant to work with.'
'My go-to set in these areas. Everyone I have worked with has been excellent. Always a smooth and user-friendly experience instructing them.'
'7KBW is the market leader for complex energy insurance coverage disputes and I therefore have great confidence in the juniors recommended by the leaders.'
'Chambers has a strength in depth in this field not just at the silk level but also the senior juniors are very strong in this field.'
Silks
Leading Silks
KCs at the very top of their field, with a long-established record of market-defining cases, and widespread endorsement from clients and peers. All silks appointed in the last two rounds are listed further below.
Alistair Schaff
‘Alistair is great on his feet, polite, and super-intelligent.’
Jonathan Gaisman
‘Jonathan is a barrister operating at the top of the market. He offers fantastic strategic advice and is able to spot the heart of the matter.’
Stephen Hofmeyr
‘Rigorous and with a strong intellect and firm judgement, Stephen has huge expertise in energy matters combined with fearless and firm advocacy.’
Siobán Healy
‘Offers superb legal analysis and is very fair. Tribunal members have confidence in her judgment. Excellent understanding of strategy and commercial priorities. User-friendly and very easy to work with while top league.’
Juniors
Leading Juniors
Leading juniors are those with significant experience of key cases, strong market recognition from both peers and clients, and are seen as future candidates for silk.
Alexander MacDonald
‘Alex is incredibly bright and rolls up his sleeves to get into the weeds of the dispute. Yet he wears his intelligence lightly.’
Michael Ryan
‘Michael is incredibly bright and very approachable – a pleasure to work with.’
Jason Robinson
‘Easy to work with and very good on paper, Jason is increasingly popular and his advocacy is very authoritative for someone of his call.’
Sandra Healy
‘Sandra is personable and efficient. She grasps the issues and shows commercial awareness.’
Leading Juniors
Rising stars at the Bar are defined as barristers between four and eight years’ call who are seen as up-and-coming members of the Bar in their respective practice areas by clients and peers alike. They will already be instructed in high-profile, complex, and high-value contentious and non-contentious matters, working with and opposite more experienced leading counsel.
Alexander MacDonald
‘Alex is incredibly bright and rolls up his sleeves to get into the weeds of the dispute. Yet he wears his intelligence lightly.’
Michael Ryan
‘Michael is incredibly bright and very approachable – a pleasure to work with.’
Jason Robinson
‘Easy to work with and very good on paper, Jason is increasingly popular and his advocacy is very authoritative for someone of his call.’
Sandra Healy
‘Sandra is personable and efficient. She grasps the issues and shows commercial awareness.’