Josephine Higgs KC

Josephine Higgs KC has a broad commercial practice with particular expertise in insurance and reinsurance, professional negligence, civil fraud, conflict of laws and jurisdiction, and international arbitration. In 2021, prior to taking silk, she won Insurance Junior of the Year award at the Chambers Bar Awards.

She is regularly instructed in high value commercial disputes in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, and in domestic and international arbitrations (including ICC, LCIA, ARIAS and Bermuda Form arbitrations). She frequently acts in international matters, often involving conflicts of laws and jurisdictional issues. Jo has extensive experience of large-scale, long-running, complex disputes acting as part of a team of counsel and working closely with solicitors, clients, factual and expert witnesses.

Recent cases include: International Entertainment Holdings v Allianz [2025] 1 All E.R. (Comm) 623 (Court of Appeal, business interruption insurance); Liberty Mutual v Bath Racecourse [2025] EWCA Civ 153 (Court of Appeal, business interruption insurance); Russian Aircraft Operator Policy Claims [2024] 4 WLR 47 (jurisdiction challenge); Al Mana Lifestyle Holdings v United Lifestyle [2023] Lloyd’s Rep IR 359 (Court of Appeal, jurisdiction challenge); Harcus Sinclair LLP v Your Lawyers [2022] AC 1281 (Supreme Court, restraint of trade and solicitors’ undertakings); the FCA Covid Business Interruption Insurance test case (acting on behalf of successful policyholders); ; Patisserie Valerie Holdings v Grant Thornton [2021] EWHC 3022 (Comm) (auditors’ negligence claim acting for claimants and Simetra Global Assets v Ikon Finance [2019] 4 WLR 112 (civil fraud, successful appeal to Court of Appeal).