Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

International Arbitration: General Commercial & Insurance - London (Bar)

1
Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Essex Court Chambers has long enjoyed a reputation as a "stand-out" for international arbitrations involving commercial and insurance matters. Its barristers are consistently recognised for their truly international practices, receiving instructions from the Middle East, Europe and Africa and acting in some of the most significant and high-value disputes. Members offer unrivalled expertise across an impressive breadth of sectors, and have particular prowess in energy and insurance and reinsurance disputes. The barristers at Essex Court Chambers are regularly called upon to handle proceedings and cases involving foreign law under all major institutional rules. A solicitor comments: "Essex Court Chambers has a deep bench of highly skilled barristers who combine intellectual excellence with strategic insight and commercial awareness." Another adds that the chambers is: "a leading commercial set with real heavyweights."

Joe Ferrigno is the senior clerk.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

1
David Joseph
1
Band 1

David Joseph KC comes highly recommended for his broad commercial international arbitration practice, which covers a wide array of industries including the energy, telecommunications, construction, insurance, shipping and aerospace sectors. He regularly acts as counsel in high-stakes arbitration enforcement cases. He has extensive experience in BIT arbitrations.

David Jospeh is an exceptionally fine advocate.

1
Graham Dunning
1
Band 1

Graham Dunning KC has longstanding experience appearing before courts and arbitration panels domestically and abroad. He often represents states and state entities in investment treaty claims, and exhibits strong expertise acting in large oil and gas disputes. He has been involved in arbitrations under the rules of the ICC, the LCIA and UNCITRAL, and those brought under the Energy Charter Treaty.

Graham is also highly responsive and incredibly efficient in turning around work product. He is a pleasure to work with.

He has an impeccable reputation and is very much in demand.

1
Joe Smouha
1
Band 1

Joe Smouha KC is widely considered to be one of the strongest practitioners at the International Arbitration Bar due to his extensive experience in handling notable commercial disputes under a number of prominent arbitral institutions including the ICC and LCIA. He also takes appointments as a commercial arbitrator. His advocacy experience includes court appearances in the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands.

He is able to handle anything that crosses his desk with ease.

1
Ricky Diwan
1
Band 1

Ricky Diwan KC is highly regarded for his international arbitration practice, which concentrates on commercial and investment issues. He has significant experience of arguing cases under a variety of laws and regulations and representing clients before national and international arbitral tribunals. He is noted for having helped to draft the Mauritian International Arbitration Act 2008.

Ricky is very collaborative, listens to everyone's views and takes them on board.

Ricky Diwan can be relied upon to be the absolute master of both the details and the big picture. He shows total commitment to his cases in a way that puts other silks in the shade.

He is one of leading experts on Arbitration Act and Act challenges.

2
Matthieu Gregoire
2
Band 2

Matthieu Gregoire has notable experience handling LCIA and ICC arbitrations. He is astute at advising government bodies, as well as companies and individuals operating in the energy and mining sectors, among others. He is well versed in both commercial and investment treaty disputes.

Matthieu Gregoire is a leading barrister in commercial disputes and a safe bet for a future leader in international arbitration space.

Knowledgeable and hard working, he is a delight to work with.

Matthieu is very impressive, super commercial and great with clients.

2
Naomi Hart
2
Band 2

Naomi Hart has broad experience in a range of commercial arbitration disputes, including those relating to the energy and aerospace sectors. She has the demonstrable ability to work on high-value, high-profile mandates and has operated in several regions, including Central and Eastern Europe and Africa.

Naomi Hart is extremely impressive.

Naomi is excellent in international arbitrations.

2
Paul Choon Kiat Wee
2
Band 2

Paul Wee acts for governments, major corporations and financial institutions in complex, sometimes high-value arbitrations, particularly in the telecoms, energy and infrastructure sectors. He is also an expert in investment treaty arbitrations and related enforcement proceedings.

Paul handles really complex arbitrations. He is clearly very bright and picks up concepts across the area. His written work is fantastic and amazingly efficient.

2
Paul Key
2
Band 2

Paul Key KC specialises in international arbitrations arising in a variety of sectors including oil and gas, shipping, foreign investments and mining. He has an impressive track record of representing large corporate clients in high-profile cases, as well as high net worth individuals and government organisations. He has acted in challenges to arbitration awards.

Paul is very user-friendly.

Paul is a true master of his field. He handles all aspects of a matter (whether answering questions, drafting complex pleadings or delivering oral advocacy) with skill and ease.

2
Philippa Hopkins
2
Band 2

Philippa Hopkins KC is well versed in acting in a broad range of domestic and international arbitrations, demonstrating expertise across a number of industry sectors, including construction, banking and pharmaceuticals. She regularly accepts appointments as arbitrator and offers advocacy under the auspices of the LCIA, ICC and LMAA.

She is very good on her feet and very quick in preparation but never misses any details.

Philippa has an outstanding brain. She is one of the top KCs, and I always recommend her.

3
Ben Juratowitch
3
Band 3

Ben Juratowitch KC is known as an accomplished practitioner in the international commercial arbitration space. He is experienced in representing parties in high-level, complex cases in jurisdictions including those in Africa and Central and Eastern Europe.

Ben Juratowitch is outstanding. He's very clever, an exceptional advocate, and super-efficient - all combined with great judgement. Ben is also uncommonly user-friendly from a client perspective

Ben is extremely vigorous and logical, very easy to work with and collaborative.

3
James Collins
3
Band 3

James Collins KC is noted for an international arbitration practice focusing on representing clients, including high-profile and foreign corporations, before domestic and international tribunals. He is particularly strong on insurance, financial transaction and international trade disputes. He has appeared in court in the British Virgin Islands as well as London.

A brilliant strategist and cross-examiner, and a delight to work with.

A creative thinker and an excellent cross-examiner who is able to tailor his approach to individual witnesses.

James is fantastic you work with. He is a good advocate and knows the law and is user-friendly, very approachable would absolutely recommend for arbitration.

3
James Willan
3
Band 3

James Willan KC provides robust representation when handling international arbitrations governed by LCIA and SIAC rules. He is also well versed in oil rig disputes under SCMA and LMAA rules. He is also experienced in arbitration-related Commercial Court proceedings for interim relief including freezing orders.

He is a very established international arbitration practitioner.

3
Lucas Bastin
3
Band 3

Lucas Bastin KC handles a wide range of matters in this field, including international commercial arbitration, investment treaty arbitration, and work before English (and foreign domestic) courts in aid of enforcement of arbitration awards. He's the favoured choice of silk for several sovereign states.

He cuts through the most complex issues and is highly skilled in positioning them in the most effective manner possible.

Lucas Bastin is outstanding; an absolute star for investor-state arbitrations.

Totally exceptional and at the top of his game as an advocate.

Lucas is a supremely well-organised and dependable counsel, with a mastery of his field.

3
Stephen Houseman
3
Band 3

Stephen Houseman KC is noted for his broad commercial practice spanning subjects including finance, natural resources and pharmaceuticals. He is also recognised for his expertise in handling anti-suit injunction and anti-arbitration injunction matters.

Stephen Houseman is excellent, knows the law back to front and provides excellent advice.

4
Alison Macdonald
4
Band 4

Alison Macdonald KC receives acclaim for her top-end public international law and investment treaty disputes practice. She is sought after by both sovereign state parties and investors alike. She has notable expertise advising on ICSID proceedings, with a particular knowledge of BIT claims.

Alison is pragmatic and delivers results.

4
Angeline Welsh
4
Band 4

Angeline Welsh KC possesses a wide international arbitration practice covering a range of commercial claims, including those concerning investment treaties and the banking, technology and construction sectors. She is especially sought after for her expertise in handling disputes arising in emerging markets and in court proceedings related to arbitrations, such as enforcement of arbitral awards and anti-suit injunctions.

She is very hands-on and a genuine expert in arbitration.

4
Dan Sarooshi
4
Band 4

Dan Sarooshi KC is highly sought after by investors looking to bring claims against sovereign states. He is deeply experienced in handling high-value and high-profile disputes under ICSID, UNCITRAL, LCIA and PCA rules. Additionally, he can assist with follow-up claims, award challenges and enforcement proceedings. In addition to his practice, Sarooshi is also a professor of public international law at Oxford University.

Dan Sarooshi is intellectually extremely bright, provides excellent written work product and is extremely client-friendly.

Dan has epic advocacy skill.

4
David Scorey
4
Band 4

David Scorey KC is a respected practitioner with notable experience as a commercial litigator. He is well versed in handling proceedings under ICC rules. He provides counsel on matters stemming from a broad spectrum of sectors including insurance and oil and gas.

He is not afraid to challenge us on our instructions and to try to build the best case for the client. He is very realistic in the advice he provided.

He is a very smooth advocate and makes light work of challenging issues. He does not let any ego interfere with his advocacy and his style is incredibly modest and polite.

David Scorey is a pleasure to work with because he is accessible yet a keen student of the traditions of the Bar, a lovely combination.

He is exceptionally clever and sees arguments from every angle.

4
Emily Wood
4
Band 4

Emily Wood KC concentrates her practice on high-value, complex international commercial arbitration and has particular expertise in handling challenges to arbitral awards. She has substantial experience of arbitrations conducted under ICC, LCIA, UNCITRAL and ICSID rules. In addition to her work as counsel, she also takes sole arbitrator appointments.

She is fantastically good.

Emily is sensible, takes good points and argues the case with a lot of confidence and vigour.

4
Iain Quirk
4
Band 4

Iain Quirk KC is renowned for providing robust representation in international arbitrations under the remit of the ICC and has acted in a number of Section 68 applications. His international arbitration experience covers a wide array of industries, and he regularly handles matters concerning the oil and gas and construction sectors. He has particular interest in arbitration-related court applications such as injunctions and award challenges.

Iain strikes the right points when handling matters.

Iain Quirk is super smart and he really cuts to the heart of the issues.

Ian is very experienced, professional, strategic and reasonable.

4
Richard Millett
4
Band 4

Richard Millett KC is highly regarded for his handling of high-value international arbitrations for financial clients, significant individuals and international corporations. He handles institutional and ad hoc arbitrations and frequently appears in offshore jurisdictions. He is experienced in energy disputes and investment arbitrations.

A wide-ranging talent with a formidable grasp of tactics across the long term.

Richard is happy to take the ideas on from anybody from the team and is clearly respected by the judges.

4
Sean Aughey
4
Band 4

Sean Aughey is rated highly for his representation of both investors and sovereign states in international arbitrations. He is praised for his deep expertise in BIT claims brought under ICSID rules. His clients include Jordan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Al Jazeera Media Network. He is often instructed as sole counsel on matters.

A superb junior. He is hard-working, thorough, has excellent judgement and is completely dependable.

4
Siddharth Dhar
4
Band 4

Siddharth Dhar KC has established himself as a go-to name for energy sector and investment treaty arbitrations. He has acted in billion-dollar arbitral disputes under the auspices of various institutions including the ICC, ICSID and the LCIA. He counts several sovereign states among his clients.

Siddharth Dhar is excellent all around.

4
Steven Berry
4
Band 4

Steven Berry KC provides solid representation in international arbitration disputes concerning commodities, shipping, and insurance and reinsurance. He is experienced in appearing before tribunals governed by the rules of the LMAA, SIAC, the LCIA and the ICC.

A top-notch barrister who is very generous with his time.

U
Benedict Tompkins
U
Up and Coming

Benedict Tompkins is recognised as an up-and-coming junior for his broad international arbitration practice. He represents both sovereign states and commercial investors in complex arbitrations, occasionally unled. He is regularly instructed in high-value disputes, and wields notable experience advising on complex offshore proceedings, having been called to the Bar of the BVI.

He is exceptionally intelligent, responsive and he has a very compelling style.

Benedict is an exceptionally sharp mind. He always cuts through to the essence of a matter and delivers every time.

Anton Dudnikov
New Silks

Anton Dudnikov KC is regularly instructed as sole counsel on various disputes by enviable clients such as state governments and high-profile individuals. Born in Russia, he draws on his ability to speak Russian and his experience of Russian culture to deal with arbitral disputes arising from the CIS. He also often works on prominent and high-value cases arising in the Middle East and Central Asia.

Anton is an all-rounder, with an excellent ability to answer the hardest legal questions, great tactical acumen and a streamlined approach that makes him among the easiest barristers to work with.

Anton is good on the granular detail and has a grasp of the factual matrix.

Tariq Baloch
New Silks

Tariq Baloch KC represents an enviable array of clients including international corporations in multi-jurisdictional arbitrations governed by the rules of leading institutions, including the LCIA and ICC. He handles insurance and reinsurance, energy, oil and gas, banking and construction matters, to name but a few. He regularly acts in complex, high-value disputes.

He is extremely impressive.

Tariq is extremely dependable; he throws himself fully into a case and has a very persuasive style of advocacy.

Ranked Barristers at
Essex Court Chambers

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

Silks (KC)

London (Bar)

International Arbitration: General Commercial & Insurance

1
David Joseph KC
1
Band 1
1
Graham Dunning KC
1
Band 1
1
Joe Smouha KC
1
Band 1
1
Ricky Diwan KC
1
Band 1
2
Paul Key KC
2
Band 2
2
Philippa Hopkins KC
2
Band 2
3
Ben Juratowitch KC
3
Band 3
3
James Collins KC
3
Band 3
3
James Willan KC
3
Band 3
3
Lucas Bastin KC
3
Band 3
3
Stephen Houseman KC
3
Band 3
4
Alison Macdonald KC
4
Band 4
4
Angeline Welsh KC
4
Band 4
4
Dan Sarooshi KC
4
Band 4
4
David Scorey KC
4
Band 4
4
Emily Wood KC
4
Band 4
4
Iain Quirk KC
4
Band 4
4
Richard Millett KC
4
Band 4
4
Siddharth Dhar KC
4
Band 4
4
Steven Berry KC
4
Band 4
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