Shipping & Commodities

Luke Parsons KC is an esteemed silk who is well respected for his broad shipping and commodities practice covering issues such as shipbuilding, ship sale and charter party disputes. He is highly active in the Court of Appeal, the Commercial Court and the High Court, and is equally adept at arbitrations.

"Luke Parsons is a charming advocate and one of the best barristers at the Bar."

"Luke is one of the best shipping advocates in the country. He is bright, strategic and one of the best cross-examiners. He is a pleasure to work with and really top of the game."

"Luke is a highly impressive barrister."

Nevil Phillips is an outstanding junior with an excellent and longstanding reputation who frequently appears unled against KCs. He has marked experience covering wet and dry shipping disputes, and he has authored a leading text on the Merchant Shipping Act 1995.

"Nevil is the star of the shipping Bar. He is fiercely intelligent and practically-minded. Judges warm to him as he delivers oral arguments effortlessly."

"Nevil is incredibly good at the details of complex dry shipping matters. He is super hard-working and always available to discuss."

"Nevil never disappoints. He is incredibly hard-working and he goes beyond excellent to bring deep insights that others can't match."

Simon Rainey KC is a highly acclaimed silk active across the shipping and commodities spaces. His exceptional practice covers diverse matters including shipbuilding, piracy and explosion, dangerous cargo and charter party disputes. He is further noted for his excellence in superyacht disputes.

"Simon Rainey is simply the best. He is a clear, concise, commercial and devastating advocate."

"Simon is at the top of the shipping and marine insurance Bar. He is very bright, engaging, user-friendly and a top KC in the field."

"Simon is a go-to barrister for high-value disputes. He is excellent at analysing cases and working out what is important."

Ben Gardner is a well-regarded junior with a broad practice covering commodities and shipping matters as well as insurance and conflict of laws. He regularly receives direct in-house instructions from industry clients to appear in courtroom trials and confidential arbitrations.

"Ben is extremely clever, knowledgeable and capable of analysing the most complex cases. He is superb in written advice."

"Ben is user-friendly, proactive in coming up with solutions, extremely responsive and hard-working."

"Ben is extremely responsive and very reliable. He is always able to make himself available and can bring himself back up to speed very quickly, even for quick queries."

Benjamin Coffer is a standout shipping and commodities junior. He has expertise in charter party, shipbuilding and ship finance disputes as well as in both hard and soft commodities including oil, coal, steel, sugar and grain.

"Benjamin is exceptional. He is phenomenally hard-working, practical, clear-thinking and extremely commercial. He is one of the most talented senior juniors at the Bar."

"Benjamin is a brilliant legal mind. He is very prompt, responsive and very effective in transferable language. He is great in complex legal matters and he is easy to work with."

"Benjamin can be relied upon to deliver robust legal and commercial advice. He is a step ahead of opponents and he is an excellent advocate."

Caroline Pounds is a sought-after junior regularly engaged on a broad range of high-profile wet and dry shipping disputes and commodities cases. She is highly commended for her ability in the High Court and in arbitration, frequently appearing on a sole basis. Her instructions arise from around the world.

"Caroline is one of the best barristers in the country. She provides great opinions, is great in proceedings and is very prompt."

"Caroline is excellent. Her drafting and pleadings are fantastic, she is commercially excellent with clients and she is lovely to work with - very respectful and polite."

"Caroline provides an incredible service. She is so bright, rock solid, and she makes complex legal problems understandable."

John Russell KC is a tough advocate whose shipping practice includes charter parties, shipbuilding and piracy claims. He has particular acumen in both cargo claims and yacht-related disputes. He is as at ease appearing in arbitrations as he is in courtroom trials. He has marked experience in cases concerning force majeure clauses.

"John is at the top of his game. He is a pleasure to work with and a reassuring force when preparing for hearings."

"John is an excellent shipping barrister. He is very clear in his analysis and presentation. John is quick on his feet and strategic in what he is trying to achieve."

"John is a powerfully effective advocate with a drafting style that many aspire to. He always has time to respond for requests, even when under intense time pressure, and his input is highly valued."

Lionel Persey KC is an excellent silk, deputy High Court judge and Lloyd's arbitrator. He has a first-rate practice covering shipping matters including charter parties, bills of lading, salvage and collisions. He also has significant expertise in energy and insurance-related matters.

"Lionel is an excellent and commercial silk."

Paul Henton is an experienced junior with capability in a range of Commercial Court and arbitration actions. His practice encompasses both wet and dry shipping cases, many of which are the subject of considerable press interest.

"Paul Henton's detail under extreme pressure is extremely impressive. He gives off an air of academia, but when it comes to cross-examination he's lethal and fantastic."

"Paul is reliable, very clever, bright and available. He is an impressive junior."

"Paul is very assured and has an incredible eye for detail."

Poonam Melwani KC is a well-regarded silk who approaches shipping and commodities cases within the context of a far-reaching commercial practice. She is regularly instructed in charter party, bill of lading and general contract disputes. Her practice also includes disputes regarding alleged fraud.

"Poonam is a very important and influential leader. She is very hard-working."

"Poonam is strong on all fronts. She is open-minded and adaptable to client feedback."

"Poonam is a go-to counsel for any complicated matter."

Robert Thomas KC is a switched-on barrister whose varied practice includes shipping and commodities matters and advice on anti-suit injunctions. He is recognised for his ability in both arbitrations and litigation.

"Robert provides thoughtful and helpful advice on challenging cases. He is always available to provide direction in drafting pleadings. His advocacy is on the point."

"Robert provides excellent service and is brilliant at cross-examination. He is a pleasure to work with and is user-friendly."

"Robert is a fantastic barrister in large shipping cases. He is a real fighter."

Ruth Hosking is commended for her practice covering bills of lading, charter parties and commodities disputes as well as anti-suit injunctions. She appears in the Commercial Court and the Admiralty Court as well as in arbitrations. She is regularly instructed directly.

"Ruth is an excellent and client service-oriented barrister."

"Ruth is an absolutely solid shipping junior."

"Ruth is pitch perfect in her oral and written advocacy. She puts the tribunal at ease."

Simon Croall KC is a distinguished barrister with a superb practice that takes in shipping, commodities and international trade matters. He has a fantastic track record in the Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court and the Commercial Court, as well as in arbitrations. He is experienced in handling disputes regarding charter parties and matters pertaining to ship detention and shipbuilding.

"Simon is amazing. He spots issues coming down the track that others miss and he sees the big picture. Simon has incredible foresight and plots a strategy to deal with real stress points."

"Simon is a very good advocate. He is extremely good on his feet, easy to work with, and one of the top barristers in the space."

"Simon is an excellent barrister. He puts himself out there, presents extremely well and is a great drafter."

Andrew Leung is a notable junior, regularly instructed in complex and high-value proceedings before the Commercial Court, Admiralty Court and Court of Appeal. He is regularly instructed in wet and dry shipping disputes as well as significant commodities claims.

"Andrew's advocacy is far beyond his years, and he is incredibly impressive and user-friendly. He thinks streets ahead and is able to turn around excellent work product in rapid time."

"Andrew is a solid barrister with good expertise in shipping and yachting. He is always clear and concise in his advice."

"Andrew is incredibly user-friendly and he understands fraud cases. He is incredibly impressive on his feet."

Chirag Karia KC is a barrister with a significant shipping and commodities practice who undertakes work in a variety of areas including cargo claims, collisions and marine insurance disputes. Many of his instructions cross multiple jurisdictions. He has notable experience in cases concerning anti-suit injunctions.

"Chirag provides prompt, clear and concise advice which contributes substantially to commercial settlements."

"Chirag provides very clear and succinct advice."

"Chirag is excellent in advising on points of contractual interpretation."

Gemma Morgan has a broad practice covering wet and dry shipping work as well as matters concerning commodities and international carriage of goods. Morgan has a prominent arbitration practice, regularly undertaking shipbuilding and technical disputes. She is especially adept at conducting arbitrations under LMAA terms. She is further noted for her yachts work.

"Gemma is excellent. She has a devastatingly effective style through advocacy which cuts through any case."

"Gemma is an exceptionally good advocate."

"Gemma is very easy to deal with. She gets on top of the detail and cuts through issues."

Henry Ellis is highly regarded for his work across both dry and wet shipping matters as well as commodities disputes. He appears in both courtroom trials and arbitrations, and is particularly recognised for his experience of dispute resolution in Asia. He is further recognised for his capabilities in international trade work.

"Henry provides an excellent service and is very user-friendly. He is always willing to go the extra mile for his clients."

"Henry Ellis is very good - a strong communicator and a pleasure to work with."

"He is very strong, collegial, and his writing is fabulous."

James Turner KC is a highly recommended barrister regularly instructed in shipbuilding, salvage and marine casualties. He also covers charter parties and trade finance matters including bills of exchange and letters of credit. He is a familiar presence in the Commercial and Admiralty Courts. He also appears regularly in arbitration proceedings.

"James's attention to detail is second to none."

"James provides discreet advice and insightful input into how the English courts approach matters."

"James's input and advocacy is exceptional. He is good on his feet, persuasive and able to succeed in difficult arguments."

Nigel Cooper KC is a well-known silk engaged in both wet and dry shipping work as well as insurance and international trade matters. He frequently advises on shipbuilding and yacht-related disputes. He represents clients both as an advocate in court cases and arbitrations and as an arbitrator. He accepts instructions from law firms, corporations, insurance companies and the UK government.

"Nigel has a clear and no-nonsense style which works very well with shipping clients."

"Nigel is a very good lawyer and is always strong in cargo cases."

Nigel Jacobs KC is an esteemed practitioner who frequently tackles collision, salvage and marine insurance matters as well as dry shipping work. He is regularly called on to handle complex international cases across a range of jurisdictions.

"Nigel is a trusted adviser in all aspects of admiralty law. He is a pleasure to work with in heavy situations."

"Nigel is always available and good on details. He has a calm but firm style of advocacy."

"Nigel is highly experienced, reasonable and easy to work with."

Tom Bird is an impressive junior with a burgeoning dry shipping practice. He regularly acts in charter party, bill of lading and shipbuilding disputes. He represents ship owners and cargo interests in significant arbitrations and court actions. He also has notable expertise in commodities cases.

"Tom is incisive, permanently amiable and very tenacious. He takes time to appreciate the clients' commercial objectives."

"Tom is exceptionally intelligent and he always presents his ideas in a way that is both pragmatic and easy to understand. He is efficient yet incredibly thorough."

"Tom punches above his weight. He has a great attention to detail and is extremely responsive."

Andrew Carruth impresses with his wet and dry shipping practice. He has the skills to act on high-profile shipping cases and is frequently instructed as sole counsel on matters.

"Andrew is an absolutely excellent junior. He is very sensible, clients love him, he's very hard -working and he's an absolute pleasure. He gets things done and is entirely reliable."

"Andrew is extremely bright. His written work is outstanding and he is better than some silks."

"He is very sharp, has an excellent grasp of the law and is also client-friendly. Andrew has an ability to spot key points and novel arguments in a case."

Chris Smith KC is an accomplished silk with a wide-ranging practice encompassing dry shipping, commodities, transport and insurance disputes. He is a familiar figure in court and arbitration proceedings.

"Chris is able to break down complex issues into manageable portions and relevant points. He has a good sense for commercial realities, whether dealing with litigation or complex negotiations."

"Chris is excellent in assisting with positive outcomes for clients."

"Chris is fantastic to work with and very sensible."

John Passmore KC is a highly able silk with a broad practice covering wet and dry shipping as well as commodities disputes. He also takes on ship sale and purchase, shipbuilding and offshore construction matters. He is also frequently sought out to provide advice on marine insurance issues.

"John is able to handle various different matters in a highly competent manner, promptly and while keeping clients updated."

"John is one of the cleverest silks in shipping."

"John Passmore is a first-rate KC."

Koye Akoni is a noteworthy junior who boasts an international commercial practice encompassing both wet and dry shipping matters. Akoni is experienced in representing clients in shipping disputes, often relating to liability, risk, smuggling and default.

"Koye is a particularly strong advocate. He is good on his feet, calm and methodical."

"It is always a good experience working with Koye."

"Koye is really bright and can quickly get to grips with issues. He is commercial, pragmatic and capable. Koye is a real team player, very personable, easy to work with and responsive."

Mark Stiggelbout is a well-regarded shipping and commodities practitioner with additional faculty in insurance, energy and insolvency disputes. He regularly acts in court and arbitration proceedings and has experience obtaining urgent injunctive relief.

"Mark's written work is exceptional in terms of content and analysis."

"He handles tough cases very well and impresses clients."

"Mark is very user-friendly, and his advice is clear and easy to understand. He has a very quick turnaround."

Michael Davey KC is well regarded for his ability in wet and dry shipping disputes including charter parties, bills of lading, salvage and collisions. He also covers related insurance and conflict of law matters. He has significant knowledge of fisheries disputes.

"Michael has the perfect mix of intelligence, smooth advocacy and client awareness."

"Michael is a go-to because he is adept at high-stress, high-stakes disputes. He is an instinctive strategist."

"Michael has unrivalled knowledge of fisheries and shipping law. He is a skilled advocate, a wise technician and incredibly tenacious."

Michael Nolan KC manages an extensive shipping practice covering litigation, arbitration and advice. He deals with charter party, bill of lading and shipbuilding contract disputes. He has particular knowledge of the sea-fishing industry as well as harbour law.

"Michael is an excellent barrister. He is always there to provide first-class advice in relation to very complex disputes."

"Michael's advice is always clear and thorough. He is good at drafting submissions and is good at talking through a point."

"Michael knows shipping work inside and out. He is a delight to deal with and a very safe pair of hands. He is a thoroughly nice guy to boot."

Natalie Moore is an accomplished junior with capability to act in international trade and in wet and dry shipping matters in the Commercial Court and in arbitration. She has handled cases relating to piracy as well as bill of lading and charter party disputes. She has a strong knowledge of anti-suit injunctions.

"Natalie is strong in large, complex matters. She is clever and works with clients in a team to make matters more beneficial for all involved."

"Natalie is very smart and hard-working."

Nichola Warrender KC is an experienced barrister with significant expertise in wet and dry shipping, international trade and commodity matters. She also handles shipbuilding cases and other commercial disputes.

"Nichola is a true expert in shipping-related matters. She provides detailed advice on many issues, often relating to multi-jurisdictional problems."

"When Nicola is working on your case, you know you have her full attention. She reads and retains all detail and provides measured, to-the-point advice. Her written and oral advocacy is persuasive."

"Nichola is highly intelligent and clear in her advice. She is a joy to work with."

Peter Stevenson focuses on high-value commodities and shipping disputes. His practice covers wet and dry shipping work as well as marine insurance and shipbuilding. He is well known for his ability to take on a range of disputes involving affreightment, dangerous cargo, collisions and unsafe port claims.

"Peter is incredibly quick to get to the heart of complex, difficult disputes and articulates his views very clearly."

"Peter is excellent on his feet and in advice. He is always thoughtful and considered, and his advice adds value to a matter. He is results-driven."

"Peter has an ability to digest a large volume of complex technical details from a matter and marry these to likely outcomes in litigation."

Saira Paruk is a respected junior with a broad knowledge of the shipping industry. Her practice spans bills of lading and charter party disputes as well as cargo damage claims.

"Saira is a powerhouse of the shipping Bar. She is cool and calm under pressure, delivering eloquent and thoughtfully prepared arguments on her feet, and is a pleasure to work with."

"Saira is an excellent advocate. She is clear-sighted on legal issues and is client-friendly."

"Saira is excellent. She presents her case calmly and without fuss; she gets to the crux of the matter and has a killer instinct."

Stewart Buckingham KC demonstrates considerable expertise across a wide practice area, taking on work in energy commodities, shipbuilding, and wet and dry shipping law. He has notable experience of both highly technical arbitrations and litigation in the Commercial Court. He has acted in numerous cases concerning piracy, collision and salvage.

"Stewart is incredibly easy to work with and provides a very rational and measured approach to complex and thorny areas of law."

"Stewart is an extremely user-friendly silk. He is always approachable, to the point and understands what the end client is looking for."

"Stewart puts clients at ease. He approaches cases practically and gets to grips with very technical issues quickly. Stewart gives a straight answer and does not shy away from difficult points."

Thomas Macey-Dare KC is a highly commended practitioner specialising in wet and dry shipping, international trade and insurance disputes. He has particular strength in emergency applications as well as technical issues related to navigation and seamanship. He is a frequent presence both on the courtroom circuit and in trade arbitrations.

"Thomas is a favourite shipping silk. He is excellent in discreet questions, tricky points and full hearings."

"Thomas is a very strong admiralty counsel and he has good experience on the dry side."

Yash Kulkarni KC is a skilful barrister with an active shipping and commodities practice, who works to resolve disputes through litigation and arbitration. He has marked experience in freezing, search and asset preservation orders, as well as anti-suit injunctions.

"Yash is a fantastic advocate. He is always a calming influence between the scenes and is fierce in battle."

"Yash Kulkarni is excellent at drafting legal submissions on high-value shipping matters, while cutting through complex issues with clear and timely advice."

"Yash is a calm and solid advocate who understands the big picture."

Andrew Guy Blackwood KC is a well-regarded silk who is experienced in commercial litigation, specifically relating to cargo recovery, insurance disputes and smuggling matters.

"Guy gives excellent and clear advice on difficult insurance issues."

"He brings thoughtful and creative energy to matters."

"Guy provides good advice quickly and he is user-friendly throughout matters."

David Goldstone KC is an excellent barrister with marked ability in shipping law. His practice covers wet and dry work such as salvage, unsafe ports and charter party disputes. He frequently appears in arbitrations and maintains a multi-jurisdictional practice.

"David brings broad experience and common sense to every problem."

James Shirley accepts shipping instructions within a broad-ranging commercial practice. He has experience in charter party disputes, demurrage and unsafe port claims. He handles both litigation and arbitrations.

"James is very clued up, proactive and switched on. He is a clear specialist and is great to work with."

"James Shirley is KC in all but name. He has a planet-sized brain."

Jamie Hamblen has a notable and wide-ranging commercial practice with experience as both a sole and junior counsel. His work encompasses a broad range of shipping, shipbuilding and commodities matters. He has experience acting in arbitrations.

"Jamie is a man destined for greatness. He has an extraordinary intellect."

"Jamie is a future star of the bar and he punches well above his calling."

"Jamie Hamblen drafts very well and is a very strong advocate."

John Kimbell KC has a flourishing commercial practice encompassing wet and dry shipping work. He routinely acts in LMAA arbitrations and in the Commercial and Admiralty Courts. He enjoys a substantial following among clients in Germany, where he is a qualified lawyer. He also sits as a GMAA arbitrator.

"John Kimbell excels on collision matters."

"John has a reassuring style, backed by genuine skill and experience. He is unflustered in his advocacy, and his work produces strong results."

"John is an incredibly smart KC who rolls his sleeves up and gets stuck in."

Max Davidson offers expertise across wet and dry shipping disputes. He has particular experience handling complex LMAA arbitrations. He is further noted for his competencies in commodities cases.

"Max is a pleasure to work with and is highly service-oriented. His drafting style is excellent, and he has no difficulty grasping technical concepts and understanding the large dynamics of a case."

"Max is excellent to work with. He's approachable, sees the bigger picture and provides concise and clear advice"

"Max is fantastic. He quickly grasps complicated legal issues, and his written work is impressive. He is highly responsive, which makes working with him a pleasure."

Stephanie Barrett has notable experience across a range of shipping matters. She demonstrates a strong ability in shipbuilding and cargo claims as well as charter party disputes including demurrage and unsafe port issues. She acts as an advocate in arbitration as well as in court.

Tom Nixon is capable of working across all facets of shipping and commodities. He possesses the acumen to work as a sole counsel and is comfortable acting in high-value cases.

"Tom's written advice is excellent and his legal analysis is fantastic. He is very astute in providing legal advice to clients."

"There aren't enough words to describe how brilliant Tom is. He is friendly, easy to work with and good at presenting cases. His drafting is phenomenal, and he is quick and responsive."

"Tom has a great attention to detail and is clever with strategy. He is very easy to work with and he produces excellent written work in difficult cases."

Paul Toms KC is a highly regarded barrister with marked capability in shipping and commodities actions in the High Court and London Mercantile Court and in arbitration. He acts in piracy and charter party disputes, among other areas, and has a burgeoning appellate practice.

"Paul has a clear, calm and compelling style of advocacy which inspires confidence in the arguments that he is making.He is extremely bright, quick to grasp details and has a keen eye for strategy."

"Paul Toms impresses with his analysis and advice."

"It is a pleasure to work with Paul. He is extremely strategic and detail-oriented."