Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Shipping & Commodities - London (Bar)

1
Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Twenty Essex is a standout set offering impressive expertise in shipping and commodities. The set is renowned for its exceptional shipping litigation practice and represents clients at all levels of court and in arbitration. The chambers exhibits extensive experience in claims stemming from shipbuilding, charter parties and bills of lading. Members are also adept at handling disputes relating to ship arrests, cargo damage and collisions. Work highlights for the year include Omni v Samancor, in a SIAC arbitration dispute relating to a sale contract for the sale and purchase of manganese ores. Clients enjoy working with the set as a result of its unique combination of expertise in energy, environmental and maritime law. The set is noted by interviewees as having "deep sector expertise and an incredible bench strength" and a client notes: "Twenty Essex is filled with outstanding subject matter experts in shipping and commodities."

Arron Zitver, Christopher Theobald and Anthony Carroll are practice directors at the set.

Strengths

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Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Charles Kimmins
1
Charles Kimmins
1
Band 1

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 a safe pair of hands and really dwells on matters he is asked to consider. He approaches things realistically and with the overall strategy in mind.

He is always on top of the facts and the law, and thinks hard about how the judge will think.

He is excellent and very on top of the details.

Christopher Hancock
1
Christopher Hancock
1
Band 1

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

Christopher is held in high esteem.

David Lewis
1
David Lewis
1
Band 1

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.

A top-tier KC who is reliable, intelligent and helpful.

He is a brilliant advocate, his preparation is exceptional and he is able to think quickly on his feet.

One of the best minds in the business and a go-to for complex legal problems.

Duncan Matthews
1
Duncan Matthews
1
Band 1

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.

Duncan is very much in the top five. We consistently turn to him on really difficult cases. He is an absolute go-to.

Michael Ashcroft
1
Michael Ashcroft
1
Band 1

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 an absolute pleasure to deal with and a first-class senior advocate.

Michael is a class act.

Michael Collett
1
Michael Collett
1
Band 1

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.

A highly skilled King's Counsel who provides informed and strategic advice and achieves results for his clients.

He is really marvellous and very clever. He has a great manner in court and a great court presence.

Philip Edey
1
Philip Edey
1
Band 1

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 Edey is one of the most sought-after experts at the Bar.

He is very good at taking something intellectually hard and turning it round.

A definite go-to counsel for difficult questions of law.

Timothy Hill
1
Timothy Hill
1
Band 1

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 very passionate, has fantastic attention to detail and is good with clients.

Timothy brings energy, leadership, strategic thinking and deep knowledge and experience to any case he is involved in.

One of the best - he is great on his feet, intelligent, responsive and punchy.

1
Timothy Young
1
Band 1

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.

Whether in court or arbitration, he brings a commanding presence and a meticulous approach to every case.

Timothy is an innovative and extremely clever advocate with shipbuilding law expertise.

Tim is an exceptional barrister with proven ability to navigate and succeed in legally complex and high-value cases, offering sharp analysis and strategic insight.

Alex Carless
2
Alex Carless
2
Band 2

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.

Alex sees the wood from the trees and has an impressive grip of the details.

Alex is very responsive and has a good eye for detail. He is able to provide concise and client-friendly advice with recommendations on next steps.

An extremely intelligent advocate with great commercial awareness who quickly gets to the core of the dispute.

Daniel Bovensiepen
2
Daniel Bovensiepen
2
Band 2

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 strives to help and goes the extra mile on attention to detail.

He is very hard-working, and his written work is always top class.

His attention to detail is second to none, and he is incredibly responsive and intelligent.

2
Julian Kenny KC
2
Band 2

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 charms his audiences at hearings. He is clever and writes beautiful prose.

Karen Maxwell
2
Karen Maxwell
2
Band 2

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.

Karen Maxwell engages in highly complicated and challenging issues in a calm manner, and this drives things forward in a great way.

Karen is an outstanding senior junior and is always calm and responsive.

2
Michael Coburn KC
2
Band 2

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

Michael is outstanding. He is sharp and responsive, delivering clear advice on complex legal issues with strategic thinking.

He is extremely intelligent, quick and tenacious. He is consistently on the mark with his advice, undoubtedly an excellent advocate.

Michael is highly recommended for his ability to handle complex issues in a way that can be easily understood by readers/users.

Sara Masters
2
Sara Masters
2
Band 2

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 very responsive and a good barrister with a good sense of what the client requires.

Sara is excellent, hard-working and extremely strategic.

Susannah Jones
2
Susannah Jones
2
Band 2

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 Jones is a team player, very smart and thoughtful.

Tom Corby
2
Tom Corby
2
Band 2

Tom 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 Corby provides high-quality advice and is very easy to work with.

Tom is currently my favourite shipping junior. He is a pleasure to work with, clever and committed to the cause, whatever the adversities.

Tom is fantastic to work with. One of the best juniors to come up the ranks.

Tom Corby is utterly exceptional, confidence-inspiring and always knows what to do in any situation, no matter how tricky.

Andrew Feld
3
Andrew Feld
3
Band 3

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.

Andrew has a brain the size of a planet and is easy to work with, good in front of clients and responsive.

Andrew is very approachable and a very safe pair of hands.

He has a fierce intellect but wears that lightly, being both down to earth and very user-friendly.

Colleen Hanley
3
Colleen Hanley
3
Band 3

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.

An excellent barrister combining strength and poise.

Colleen gets stuck into the detail of the cases and leaves no stone unturned. She is calm, confident and direct, and very good with clients.

Henry Byam-Cook
3
Henry Byam-Cook
3
Band 3

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 has good experience in shipping disputes.

Henry is very intelligent and has a sophisticated level of knowledge in shipping.

Henry is always a pleasure to deal with, and his written work is excellent.

Philip Riches
3
Philip Riches
3
Band 3

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.

Simon Milnes
3
Simon Milnes
3
Band 3

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 knows the industry very well. He has sharp commercial awareness and exceptional skills in cross-examination and advocacy.

Simon is widely regarded as an excellent and proactive King's Counsel. He is praised for his strategic thinking, approachable manner and strong advocacy skills.

Simon is a great advocate and very sharp.

Josephine Davies
4
Josephine Davies
4
Band 4

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.

She is exceptionally detail-oriented and really stands out when it comes to getting on top of complicated facts and details.

Lawrence Akka
4
Lawrence Akka
4
Band 4

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 calm in his advocacy and has total confidence in himself, and so the court has complete confidence in him.

Lawrence is very thorough, determined. reliable and easy to work with.

Luke Pearce
4
Luke Pearce
4
Band 4

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.

A junior KC who is a favourite of clients. He is approachable and seems to enjoy working in a team.

Luke is incredibly bright, practical and responsive.

4
Matthew McGhee
4
Band 4

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 is commercially minded, practical, a first-rate drafter and extremely capable on his feet.

Matt has a very sharp legal mind and is highly commercial. He can reduce even the most complex problems to provide an analysis that sets out the available routes.

Oliver Caplin
4
Oliver Caplin
4
Band 4

Oliver Caplin KC is a well-thought-of barrister 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.

Oliver gives excellent advice and good value for money.

Oliver is excellent and is a real standout.

Oliver’s meteoric rise to silk was fully merited. He is a very special lawyer.

Richard Greenberg
4
Richard Greenberg
4
Band 4

Richard Greenberg often acts as sole counsel in a variety of shipping disputes from arbitration to commercial court disputes. He has particular expertise in charter party disputes concerning cargo claims.

Richard is extremely bright and extremely hard-working.

On his feet he was superb: unflappable, erudite, and always with an answer to a difficult question.

An incredibly safe pair of hands, frightfully intelligent and great with clients.

Sean Snook
4
Sean Snook
4
Band 4

Sean Snook has a highly regarded shipping practice, representing clients in a range of dry shipping disputes. Snook's practice includes appearing before the High Court and the Court of Appeal.

Sean is very calm and thorough, and he understands the commercial dynamics of the case.

Socrates Papadopoulos
4
Socrates Papadopoulos
4
Band 4

Socrates Papadopoulos is highly regarded for his expertise in shipping matters. Papadopoulos is experienced in charter party disputes.

He is very cerebral but also has nice instincts and thinks strategically.

I have found him incredibly polished as well as very clever.

Socrates delivers thorough analysis and deep legal knowledge, and at the same time is commercially oriented.

Angharad Parry
Angharad Parry
New Silks

Angharad Parry KC has 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 provided excellent advice at very short notice.

Angharad is good - she's thorough and prompt with her advice.

Ranked Barristers at
Twenty Essex

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Filter by
Band

Silks (KC)

London (Bar)

Shipping & Commodities

Charles Kimmins KC
1
Charles Kimmins KC
1
Band 1
Christopher Hancock KC
1
Christopher Hancock KC
1
Band 1
David Lewis KC
1
David Lewis KC
1
Band 1
Duncan Matthews KC
1
Duncan Matthews KC
1
Band 1
Michael Ashcroft KC
1
Michael Ashcroft KC
1
Band 1
Michael Collett KC
1
Michael Collett KC
1
Band 1
Philip Edey KC
1
Philip Edey KC
1
Band 1
Timothy Hill KC
1
Timothy Hill KC
1
Band 1
1
Timothy Young KC
1
Band 1
2
Julian Kenny KC
2
Band 2
2
Michael Coburn KC
2
Band 2
Sara Masters KC
2
Sara Masters KC
2
Band 2
Henry Byam-Cook KC
3
Henry Byam-Cook KC
3
Band 3
Philip Riches KC
3
Philip Riches KC
3
Band 3
Simon Milnes KC
3
Simon Milnes KC
3
Band 3
Josephine Davies KC
4
Josephine Davies KC
4
Band 4
Lawrence Akka KC
4
Lawrence Akka KC
4
Band 4
Luke Pearce KC
4
Luke Pearce KC
4
Band 4
Oliver Caplin KC
4
Oliver Caplin KC
4
Band 4
Angharad Parry KC
Angharad Parry KC
New Silks
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