Chirag Karia KC

Commercial litigation/arbitration, shipping, commodities, energy, insurance/reinsurance and international arbitration. Cases: GTLK v Aviation Reinsurers (lead counsel in US$2.2 billion aviation insurance claim for Russia’s seizure of leased aircraft); Sharp v Viterra [2023] 2 All E.R.(Comm) 457(CA)(GAFTA Default-Clause construction); Stema Barge [2022] 1 Lloyd’s Rep. 170(CA)(meaning of “operator” in Limitation Convention); Gulf-Petrochem(2022)(LOI enforcement); Maersk v Mercuria [2022] 2 Lloyd’s Rep. 95 (2021)(anti-suit injunction in US$45 million fraud); Hin-Leong/Ocean-Tankers Fraud(US$800 million oil fraud); Sakizaya Kalon [2021] 2 Lloyd’s Rep. 70 (100% recovery in 3-vessel Suez Canal collision); Setana v Hafesa (2021)(trigger-pricing in term diesel- sale); Tenacity (2020) (impecuniosity defence to LOI); Arbitrations on contaminated bunkers, lien-on-sub-freights & bunker-fraud; Committeri v ClubMed (CA)(Rome I vs. Rome II Regulations); Sea Master [2019] 1 Lloyd's Rep. 101 (switch bills; arbitral jurisdiction); Yusuf Cepnioglu [2016] 1 Lloyd’s Rep. 641(CA)(contractual anti-suit injunction vs. 3rd party); Ramburs [2016] Bus.L.R. 135 (GAFTA Substitution Clause); Crudesky [2014] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 1(CA)(force majeure; novus actus); Proton [2014] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 100 (contract formation); Merwestone [2013] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 131 (“perils of the sea” & Inchmaree insurance cover; fortuity requirement); Lehmann Timber [2013] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 541 (CA)(GA; lien exercise costs); Ratna (CA)(US$60M oil dispute; state immunity); Arbitration (subsea blowout preventer defects); Choil v Sahara (hedging losses).

Called 1988, Lincoln’s Inn (Denning Scholar); Queen’s Counsel 2012; MA(Cantab.), Slaughter & May Prize (top 1st in Law at Cambridge University); LL.M. (UC Berkeley), Harkness Fellow; Attorney practising in California (1990-2000).

COMBAR; State Bar of California.

Joint Editor, “Butterworths Commercial Court and Arbitration Pleadings”