SILK PROFILE

John Kimbell KC

UK Bar 2026

Quadrant Chambers

Ranked in 2 practice areas

Aviation

London (Bar)

25 years ranked

Shipping & Commodities

London (Bar)

19 years ranked

About

Provided by Quadrant Chambers

Practice Areas

John Kimbell KC specialises in shipping, aviation and insurance law. He is the editor of the leading practitioner work, ‘Admiralty Jurisdiction and Practice’ (2025) and the co-editor of ‘Marsden on Collisions at Sea’ (2021). In addition to his work in the English High Court, he represents a wide range of clients in commercial arbitration (LMAA, GMAA, ICC, LCIA and DIS). He also acts as a commercial arbitrator in London and Hamburg (LMAA, LCIA, ICC, GMAA). Since 2018, he has sat in the High Court (Chancery, IPEC, LCCC and KBD) as a Deputy High Court Judge and in the Crown Court as a Recorder.

John is fluent in German and accepts instructions in that language. Since 2001, he has been qualified to practice as a lawyer (‘Rechtsanwalt’) in Germany. He uses his knowledge of German law to provide a specialist service to German-speaking commercial clients involved in London court or London arbitration proceedings.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

UK Bar

Aviation - London (Bar)

Band 1

Individual Editorial

John Kimbell KC is a well-regarded silk known in the market for his intellect and in-depth expertise in issues such as quantum. He is active particularly in matters pertaining to air accidents, personal injury and a host of related claims. Also a qualified lawyer in Germany, he specialises in advising clients on international and cross-jurisdictional disputes.

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Shipping & Commodities - London (Bar)

Band 4

Individual Editorial

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.

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Strengths

Provided by Chambers

He's brilliant and knows everything there is to know about aviation.
AviationUK Bar
John is clear, concise and someone who knows the right route to get to a result.
AviationUK Bar
A very down to earth barrister utterly lacking pomposity, who can understand highly complex points and convey them with elegant simplicity. He's the premier KC for aviation claimant work in England.
AviationUK Bar
John is exceptionally capable, consistently delivering clear, commercially focused and highly responsive advice.
Shipping & CommoditiesUK Bar