Shipping & Commodities

Charles Kimmins KC is a respected silk with notable experience concerning charter parties, bills of lading and memoranda of agreement. He is known for his expertise across the full range of shipping and commodities issues. He has acted in a number of oil and gas disputes.

"Charles is pragmatic, knows the law very well and is a pleasure to work with."

"He's an outstanding advocate."

"Charles is a top-drawer shipping silk."

Christopher Hancock KC possesses a wide-ranging practice covering both shipping and commodities disputes and arbitrations, arising principally out of the offshore energy, mining and construction sectors.

"Christopher is a very strong silk and a leader in the space."

David Lewis KC operates a strong advocacy and advisory practice. He marshals his shipping and commodities knowledge in international arbitrations and court cases. Dry shipping and commodities are particular areas of focus.

"David is a go-to counsel for most complex disputes. He is commercially minded, approachable and accommodating to the needs of the client."

"David is very good, very bright, easy to work with and a go-to for a lot of work in this space."

"He is very clear in his advice and has the ability to take something very complex and break it down to make it understandable."

Duncan Matthews KC has an established reputation as a leading silk at the shipping and commodities Bar. His busy practice incorporates a swathe of issues including dry bulk and tanker charter party disputes, the arrest of ships, contracts of affreightment, cargo claims and civil fraud.

"It is something to behold to see Duncan work, he's brilliant in cross-examination."

"If you have a big case, Duncan is a master of strategy and able to stand up to difficult characters."

Michael Ashcroft KC is a distinguished barrister with an enviable reputation for his work across shipping and commodities, especially in disputes relating to superyachts and the petroleum industry. He has represented clients in the Supreme Court and is an expert in construction disputes. He is particularly highlighted for his ability in complex arbitrations.

"Michael is very good, very experienced and user-friendly."

"Michael is an extraordinary intellect. He immediately grasps the most technical legal issues, without losing sight of the overarching commercial goal of the client."

"He is one of the best silks at the Bar, very user-friendly, thoughtful and considered."

Michael Collett KC manages an expansive commercial practice encompassing shipping, commodities, energy, insurance, international trade and shareholder disputes. Widely regarded as an advocate, he also accepts appointments as an arbitrator. He is experienced in cases relating to charter parties and bills of lading.

"Michael is one of the best KCs in the space."

"He is meticulous and extremely thorough."

"He's exceptionally methodical, really impressive and always gets a grip on the detail."

Philip Edey KC is an exceptional advocate with considerable shipping and commodities expertise. His broad practice includes charter party disputes, cargo claims and bill of lading cases. He both litigates disputes and acts as an arbitrator. He has dealt with cases relating to both soft and hard commodities.

"Philip does a lot of high-profile work and is extremely good."

"Philip is a very experienced performer, a tough opponent and a good barrister."

"He is an amazing silk and absolutely top-draw."

Timothy Hill KC is a highly skilled commercial litigator and arbitrator who has considerable expertise in shipping cases. His broad practice covers disputes relating to such subjects as charter parties, shipbuilding, ship collisions and bills of lading.

"Timothy is a go-to KC, who is efficient, available and accessible."

"Tim is a go-to silk for complex, high-value shipping and commodities disputes."

"He is a great team player and fantastic on his feet."

Timothy Young KC is a highly esteemed barrister who combines marked ability in shipping and commodities matters with specialist expertise in several related areas including international trade and sale of goods. In addition to appearing in court he also handles arbitrations.

"He's always able to think outside the box and come up with thoughts, ideas and strategies."

"He is easy to work with, adaptable and a pleasure to work with."

"Timothy is he really delightful to deal with."

Daniel Bovensiepen acts in shipping disputes involving various kinds of vessels including container ships, tankers, superyachts and cruise ships and relating to such matters as collisions, ship sales and shipbuilding. He has further experience of commodities arbitrations.

"Daniel is devastatingly clever, always puts in phenomenal effort on every case and leaves no stone left unturned."

"He is extremely capable and understands the commercial considerations of the case."

"Daniel is a strong barrister."

Julian Kenny KC is a commercial law specialist with an established reputation for shipping and commodities work. He is experienced in cases regarding marine insurance, derivatives and the international sale of goods.

"Julian is an utterly brilliant lawyer who distils everything into very concise written work."

"Julian is extremely bright, easy to work with and fabulous on his feet."

"He provides sophisticated and creative legal arguments."

Michael Coburn KC is a highly regarded practitioner commended for his expertise in shipping and commodities matters and his additional capability in international trade. Many of his cases relate to charter party agreements and shipbuilding contracts.

"Michael grasps complex legal issues quickly and communicates the salient points effectively."

"Michael is highly responsive and takes a proactive and hands-on approach."

"He is a profound thinker with a charming court manner."

Oliver Caplin is a well-thought-of junior with substantial expertise in dry shipping, trade and commodities disputes. He represents clients in arbitration proceedings as well as in the Commercial Court and Court of Appeal.

"He is brilliant, really patient and can explain the UK system to international clients very well."

"Oliver is commercially astute, personable and his written submissions are always extremely impressive."

"Oliver is very clever, extremely efficient and an expert in jurisdictional issues."

Sara Masters KC is an experienced barrister with a broad practice covering international trade and sanctions alongside shipping and commodities matters. She is especially well known for her advocacy in anti-suit injunctions and cross-border disputes. She also acts as an arbitrator and mediator.

"Sara is a great lawyer with a flourishing practice."

"Sara is a go-to lawyer for shipping disputes."

"She is quick, gets to the point, saves everyone a lot of time and is hugely experienced."

Susannah Jones is an experienced junior with a forensic grasp of shipping and commodities law. She focuses on energy-related matters, especially those relating to LNG carriers and offshore support vessels. She handles both litigation and arbitration proceedings.

"Susannah is really excellent. She is very experienced and delivers spot-on advice quickly."

"Susannah is a very strong barrister."

Alex Carless possesses experience of wet and dry shipping cases. He is regularly instructed in charter party disputes, bills of lading and shipbuilding contracts. He has experience acting at all levels of court including the Supreme Court.

"His technical detail and the way he understands the information being translated into commercial language is brilliant."

"He's very good, responsive and user-friendly."

"He is very capable, to the point and always there when I reach out to him."

Henry Byam-Cook KC is a strong silk with a broad commercial disputes practice, spanning such issues as sale contracts, ship finance, charter party disputes, shipbuilding and supply agreements. He deals with both soft and hard commodities. He handles arbitrations as well as litigation.

"Henry is a great lawyer who is always a pleasure to work with."

"His advice is very good, very articulate and his cross-examination is a masterclass."

"He is incredibly helpful, experienced and comfortable in complex legal environments."

Karen Maxwell is an experienced barrister recognised for her competencies in shipping and shipbuilding arbitrations, where she is particularly noted for her expertise in procedural issues and challenges.

"She has a brilliant mind and can find commercial solutions even in very complex matters."

"Karen is a very experienced, bright and knowledgeable barrister with a strong commercial acumen."

"She is very knowledgeable and very user-friendly."

Thomas Corby is a strong commercial barrister with noted proficiency in shipping disputes. He is called upon to represent clients in charter party disputes and shipbuilding and cargo claims, and is adept in handling arbitrations in many jurisdictions around the world.

"Tom is very hard-working, very clever and very reliable."

"He is very user-friendly, incredibly popular with clients, and works really well in a team."

"Tom is a really strong junior."

Andrew Feld has a broad practice within the field of shipping and commodities. His work covers areas such as marine insurance, energy and natural resources, and financial disputes.

"He does an excellent job and has excellent written skills."

"Andrew is a very smart and assured barrister."

"He is phenomenally hard-working, really diligent and good at drafting."

Angharad Parry is a junior with a noteworthy commercial practice. She demonstrates expertise in sale of goods, commodities and shipping matters. She is comfortable appearing in both domestic and international arbitrations.

"Angharad is highly capable, responsive and approachable."

"She is a really responsive, strong barrister who will always update on the valuable details."

"She is a good, solid barrister."

Colleen Hanley has a strong reputation for her international shipping and commodities practice. She advises and appears on behalf of commodities traders and ship owners' defence clubs on a wide range of issues. She routinely appears before arbitral tribunals and the commercial courts.

"She is approachable and able to explain complex issues in simple terms that the client can understand."

"Colleen is a fantastic advocate and extremely user-friendly."

"She is very commercial and always able to provide practical advice."

Lawrence Akka KC has strong capabilities in the shipping and commodities space. He has significant experience in demurrage and charter issues among a wide array of other matters. He also sits as an arbitrator.

"Lawrence is a renowned silk in commercial practice."

"He has a good reputation."

"Lawrence is very knowledgable and very well known."

Matthew McGhee has experience in a range of shipping matters, often appearing as sole counsel. He is regularly instructed in cases involving P&I clubs and charter party disputes as well as fraud cases.

"Matthew has a fantastic skill set, a sharp eye for detail and a commercial, practical approach."

"Matthew is excellent in both his legal and commercial approach."

"He is exceptional and adept in his cross-examination."

Philip Riches KC possesses expertise in shipping disputes as well as mining, banking, energy and trade matters. He has dealt with a wide range of disputes in his time at the Bar, relating to both dry shipping issues and shipbuilding. His instructions originate in countries across the globe including China, Russia and those in South America.

"Philip is very efficient and commercial in the way he works."

"Philip is an extremely hard-working and thorough silk."

Simon Milnes KC has extensive experience working in a wide range of shipping and commodities matters including contracts for specialised vessels and charter party disputes. He has been instructed in LMAA and SCMA arbitrations.

"Simon has a great legal mind and is a strong communicator and strategist."

"Simon is an excellent barrister who is very amicable and user-friendly."

"Simon is very sharp and commercially astute."

Josephine Davies KC is regularly instructed in challenging commodities and shipping disputes. Her practice includes freight agreements, charter parties and bills of lading. Her technical background ensures she is often instructed in cases involving technical and complex scientific elements.

"Josephine is very user-friendly, speaks directly and is very clear and unequivocal in their advice."

"Josephine is a tenacious advocate and pleasant to deal with."

"She is excellent and experienced in very impressive cases."

Luke Pearce KC is commended for his excellent advocacy and arbitration work. He deals with shipping and commodities matters as well as banking and derivatives issues. He regularly appears as sole counsel.

"Luke is an attentive, responsive and excellent barrister who is able to handle complex matters with ease."

"Luke is a hard-working and very effective operator."

"His drafting and advocacy skills are excellent and he is a pleasure to deal with."