7 King's Bench Walk

Head of Chambers: Gavin Kealey KC

Senior Clerks: Greg Leyden

Joint Deputy Senior Clerks: Eddie Johns, Gary Rose

Clerks: Joe Clayton, Declan Gray, Zoe Hamilton

Tenants: 73

7 King’s Bench Walk (7KBW) is a specialist commercial set. It has a pre-eminent reputation for excellence and intellectual rigour, combined with a practical and commercial approach to delivering advice and conducting litigation.

Services provided

Members of Chambers provide legal advice and advocacy services across the full range of commercial law.

This includes the following:

• litigation and arbitration: assisting at all stages of disputes in Court or in arbitration, including drafting pleadings, advising on the merits, drafting skeleton arguments or written submissions, attending hearings and trials, conducting cross-examination and oral argument;
• advisory work: advising on legal disputes or questions, whether by way of a written opinion, or in conference or by telephone or email;
• mediation: drafting position papers and representing clients in mediations;
• expert evidence: providing expert evidence on English law for use in foreign courts or arbitrations.

In addition, the more senior members of Chambers are regularly appointed as arbitrators or mediators. Members may also be appointed as Examiners of the High Court to oversee the obtaining of evidence for use in foreign proceedings.

Work undertaken

7KBW’s practice areas are exclusively commercial. Members have a recognised and respected expertise in the full breadth of commercial law with an enviable reputation and experience in all aspects of insurance and reinsurance; shipping and shipbuilding; international trade and commodities; aviation; banking and financial services; civil fraud; construction; conflicts of law; energy, including oil and gas; international arbitration; injunctions and arrests; international investment; media and communications; professional negligence; product liability; and state immunity.

Where we practise

Members are regularly instructed to appear at all levels of the civil court system in England and Wales, from the County Court to the Supreme Court. Members’ work has a particular focus on the Commercial Court and appeals arising therefrom.

Members have experience of a wide variety of tribunals, including LMAA, GAFTA, FOSFA, LOF, Lloyd’s disciplinary, LAS (tiers 1 and 2), CIArb, LCIA, ICC, UNCITRAL and ICSID.

A large proportion of 7KBW’s practice is of an international flavour.Members are regularly instructed as counsel or as arbitrators in very substantial international arbitrations and regularly work with overseas clients and foreign lawyers.

Members have acted as Counsel in courts or tribunals in: Hong Kong, Singapore, Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Bahamas, BVI, France, Switzerland, Guernsey, Jersey, USA, Canada, Netherlands and St. Vincent.

Recruitment:

7KBW welcomes applications for pupillages, mini-pupillages and tenancy from talented and ambitious applicants, regardless of background. It places particular emphasis on intellectual ability (which will generally be reflected in first-class academic achievement), analytical ability, and advocacy.