United Kingdom > London Bar > International arbitration
Index of tables
- International arbitration – Leading Sets
- International arbitration – Leading Silks
- International arbitration – New Silks
- International arbitration – Leading Juniors
International arbitration – Leading Sets
International arbitration – Leading Silks
-
- Michael Black QC - XXIV Old Buildings
- Michael Crane QC - Fountain Court Chambers
- Graham Dunning QC - Essex Court Chambers
- Colin Edelman QC - Devereux
- Ian Glick QC - One Essex Court
- Jonathan Hirst QC - Brick Court Chambers
- Ian Hunter QC - Essex Court Chambers
- David Joseph QC - Essex Court Chambers
- Gavin Kealey QC - 7 King’s Bench Walk
- Toby Landau QC - Essex Court Chambers
- Iain Milligan QC - 20 Essex Street
- Alistair Schaff QC - 7 King’s Bench Walk
- Nigel Tozzi QC - 4 Pump Court
- Timothy Young QC - 20 Essex Street
-
- Michael Brindle QC - Fountain Court Chambers
- Christopher Butcher QC - 7 King’s Bench Walk
- Neil Calver QC - Brick Court Chambers
- Stuart Catchpole QC - Thirty Nine Essex Street
- Stephen Dennison QC - Atkin Chambers
- Philip Edey QC - 20 Essex Street
- David Edwards QC - 7 King’s Bench Walk
- Richard Fernyhough QC - Keating Chambers
- Vernon Flynn QC - Essex Court Chambers
- David Foxton QC - Essex Court Chambers
- Clive Freedman QC - Littleton Chambers
- Stephen Furst QC - Keating Chambers
- Steven Gee QC - Stone Chambers
- Jeffrey Gruder QC - Essex Court Chambers
- Roger ter Haar QC - Crown Office Chambers
- Timothy Howe QC - Fountain Court Chambers
- Dominic Kendrick QC - 7 King’s Bench Walk
- Simon Lofthouse QC - Atkin Chambers
- Ali Malek QC - 3 Verulam Buildings
- John McCaughran QC - One Essex Court
- Ewan McQuater QC - 3 Verulam Buildings
- Ian Mill QC - Blackstone Chambers
- Stephen Moriarty QC - Fountain Court Chambers
- Lionel Persey QC - Quadrant Chambers
- Khawar Qureshi QC - Serle Court
- David Railton QC - Fountain Court Chambers
- Richard Salter QC - 3 Verulam Buildings
- Joe Smouha QC - Essex Court Chambers
- David Streatfeild-James QC - Atkin Chambers
- Michael Swainston QC - Brick Court Chambers
- John Tackaberry QC - Thirty Nine Essex Street
- Marcus Taverner QC - Keating Chambers
- Bankim Thanki QC - Fountain Court Chambers
- Andrew White QC - Atkin Chambers
- Antony White QC - Matrix Chambers
-
- Andrew Bartlett QC - Crown Office Chambers
- Helen Davies QC - Brick Court Chambers
- Nicholas Dennys QC - Atkin Chambers
- Jonathan Gaisman QC - 7 King’s Bench Walk
- Richard Gillis QC - One Essex Court
- Charles Graham QC - One Essex Court
- Mark Howard QC - Brick Court Chambers
- Robert Howe QC - Blackstone Chambers
- Stephen Hofmeyr QC - 7 King’s Bench Walk
- Charles Kimmins QC - 20 Essex Street
- Stephen Males QC - 20 Essex Street
- Philip Marshall QC - Serle Court
- Duncan Matthews QC - 20 Essex Street
- Christopher Moger QC - 4 Pump Court
- Terence Mowschenson QC - Wilberforce Chambers
- Finola O’Farrell QC - Keating Chambers
- Simon Rainey QC - Quadrant Chambers
- Klaus Reichert SC - Brick Court Chambers
- Philippe Sands QC - Matrix Chambers
- Roger Stewart QC - Four New Square
- Christopher Symons QC - 3 Verulam Buildings
- David Thomas QC - Keating Chambers
- David Wolfson QC - One Essex Court
-
- Veronique Buehrlen QC - Keating Chambers
- Michael Bloch QC - Wilberforce Chambers
- Philip Boulding QC - Keating Chambers
- Adam Constable QC - Keating Chambers
- Derrick Dale QC - Fountain Court Chambers
- Chantal-Aimée Doerries QC - Atkin Chambers
- Robert Englehart QC - Blackstone Chambers
- Andrew Green QC - Blackstone Chambers
- Sarah Hannaford QC - Keating Chambers
- Richard Harding QC - Keating Chambers
- Siobán Healy QC - 7 King’s Bench Walk
- Hilary Heilbron QC - Brick Court Chambers
- Adrian Hughes QC - Thirty Nine Essex Street
- Richard Jacobs QC - Essex Court Chambers
- Stephen Kenny QC - 7 King’s Bench Walk
- Peter Leaver QC - One Essex Court
- Alan Maclean QC - Brick Court Chambers
- Manus McMullan QC - Atkin Chambers
- Andrew Neish QC - 4 Pump Court
- Fidelis Oditah QC - South Square
- Andrew Onslow QC - 3 Verulam Buildings
- David Owen QC - 20 Essex Street
- Mark Raeside QC - Atkin Chambers
- Andrew Rigney QC - Crown Office Chambers
- Simon Salzedo QC - Brick Court Chambers
- Charles Samek QC - Littleton Chambers
- Vasanti Selvaratnam QC - Stone Chambers
- Akhil Shah QC - Fountain Court Chambers
- Marcus Smith QC - Fountain Court Chambers
- Paul Stanley QC - Essex Court Chambers
- Daniel Toledano QC - One Essex Court
- Richard Wilmot-Smith QC - Thirty Nine Essex Street
International arbitration – New Silks
-
- Michael Bools QC - Brick Court Chambers
- James Collins QC - Essex Court Chambers
- Alexander Gunning QC - 4 Pump Court
- Andrew Hunter QC - Blackstone Chambers
- Sara Masters QC - 20 Essex Street
- Stuart Ritchie QC - Littleton Chambers
- Marc Rowlands QC - Keating Chambers
- Rebecca Sabben-Clare QC - 7 King’s Bench Walk
- Richard Waller QC - 7 King’s Bench Walk
International arbitration – Leading Juniors
-
- Serena Cheng - Atkin Chambers
- Dr Cyril Chern - Crown Office Chambers
- Jasbir Dhillon - Brick Court Chambers
- Zachary Douglas - Matrix Chambers
- Karen Gough - Thirty Nine Essex Street
- Christopher Harris - 3 Verulam Buildings
- Alexander Hickey - 4 Pump Court
- Michael Holmes - 7 King’s Bench Walk
- James Howells - Atkin Chambers
- Patrick Lane SC - Thirty Nine Essex Street
- David Lewis - 20 Essex Street
- Roger Masefield - Brick Court Chambers
- Ian Meakin - XXIV Old Buildings
- Deepak Nambisan - Fountain Court Chambers
- David Scorey - Essex Court Chambers
- Geraint Webb - Henderson Chambers
- Adam Zellick - Fountain Court Chambers
-
- Harris Bor - Wilberforce Chambers
- Mark Chennells - Atkin Chambers
- Richard Clegg - Selborne Chambers
- Jess Connors - Thirty Nine Essex Street
- Nicholas Craig - 3 Verulam Buildings
- David Davies - Essex Court Chambers
- Arshad Ghaffar - XXIV Old Buildings
- Karim Ghaly - Thirty Nine Essex Street
- William Godwin - 3 Hare Court
- Timothy Kenefick - 7 King’s Bench Walk
- Julian Kenny - 20 Essex Street
- Jawdat Khurshid - 7 King’s Bench Walk
- Anna Laney - Crown Office Chambers
- Edward Levey - Fountain Court Chambers
- Christopher Lewis - Atkin Chambers
- Michelle Menashy - One Essex Court
- Michael Nolan - Quadrant Chambers
- Benjamin Parker - 7 King’s Bench Walk
- Matthew Parker - 3 Verulam Buildings
- Conall Patton - One Essex Court
- Ben Quiney - Crown Office Chambers
- Chris Quinn - Littleton Chambers
- Matthew Reeve - Quadrant Chambers
- Philip Riches - Stone Chambers
- Dan Sarooshi - Essex Court Chambers
- Marion Smith - Thirty Nine Essex Street
- George Spalton - Four New Square
- Rebecca Taylor - Crown Office Chambers
- David Brynmor Thomas - Thirty Nine Essex Street
- James Turner - Quadrant Chambers
- Robert Weekes - Blackstone Chambers
This section ranks barristers on their abilities as counsel, rather than as arbitrators. For senior barristers, the two roles are often inextricably linked, although arbitration bodies are starting to frown upon the not uncommon practice of barristers from the same chambers appearing as counsel and arbitrator on the same dispute. This is a potential problem for larger chambers, where senior silks regularly appear as arbitrators, which could conflict their junior members out of acting as counsel on the same matter, thus denying them work and experience.
Essex Court Chambers has ‘both the strength and breadth of knowledge required to provide first-rate service in international arbitration matters’. Toby Landau QC has ‘an extraordinary grasp of international arbitration that surpasses almost all of the more established QCs in this area’. Jeffrey Gruder QC has ‘a formidable legal brain for issues involving novel or uncharted points of law’. David Joseph QC is ‘an excellent advocate whose calm, relaxed manner ensures he has the ear of the tribunal’. Vernon Flynn QC is ‘an exceptionally bright and persuasive advocate’ who has ‘a masterful ability to prepare and present a case’. David Scorey is ‘a real star’ and ‘an excellent senior junior’ for complex insurance disputes, and for investment treaty arbitrations the ‘very knowledgeable’ Dan Sarooshi ‘bridges academia and professional practice very well’.
20 Essex Street is ‘simply outstanding’ for international arbitration. The ‘extraordinarily hardworking’ Iain Milligan QC has ‘excellent analytical skills and expresses himself concisely’. Philip Edey QC is ‘an exceptional talent’, and the ‘magisterial’ Duncan Matthews QC is ‘one of the best courtroom and tribunal advocates’. Charles Kimmins QC is ‘top class; a really good advocate and cross-examiner who is totally on top of the detail’. Sara Masters QC is ‘a true specialist in her field; there is little which escapes her attention’. Her recent elevation to QC ‘was long overdue’. Among the juniors, David Lewis is ‘unflappable under pressure and a first-rate drafter and cross-examiner’.
At Brick Court Chambers, Mark Howard QC is ‘a master at weaving treaty law and fraud principles into his cross-examinations’, and Michael Swainston QC is ‘an excellent and very persuasive advocate and a great master of detail’. Clients who experience Neil Calver QC ‘never want to go elsewhere’, thanks to his ‘first-rate written and oral advocacy’ and his willingness to attend ‘meetings and conference calls at short notice’. The ‘hugely talented’ Simon Salzedo QC is ‘a pleasure to work with, very responsive, and remains unusually calm under pressure’. Among the juniors, Jasbir Dhillon is ‘an excellent, meticulous lawyer’ who ‘leaves no stone unturned in his rigorous approach to cases’. The ‘very impressive’ Klaus Reichert SC is ‘an exceptional lawyer’ with ‘superb cross-examination skills’.
One Essex Court has a selection of quality arbitration counsel, particularly at the junior end. The ‘unflappable’ John McCaughran QC has ‘impressive analytical abilities and a low-key manner which is also very welcome in an arbitration setting’. Praised for his ‘phenomenal energy and commitment’, Charles Graham QC is ‘a pleasure to work with and does a great job’. A ‘real team player’, Daniel Toledano QC has ‘a very sure touch with tribunals and a great delivery style’. Of the juniors, the ‘likeable, analytical and bold’ Michael Fealy is ‘a highly effective and highly regarded arbitration lawyer’. Sa’ad Hossain is ‘relentlessly on point’ and ‘a very effective advocate’. Orlando Gledhill is ‘surgical in his approach’ and ‘will be an extraordinary silk’. The ‘outstanding’ Conall Patton ‘responds quickly to procedural developments to maintain the upper hand’.
Fountain Court Chambers has an excellent reputation, particularly on the insurance and reinsurance front, where leading silks such as Michael Crane QC have been involved in some of the largest reinsurance disputes in the market. On the energy front, Timothy Howe QC represented Canadian Nexen in a $100m dispute regarding the ownership and operation of Yemen’s largest oil and gas concession. Patrick Goodall is building a superb reputation for insurance-related Bermuda form arbitrations. Deepak Nambisan is held in high regard, and has recently been involved in several major arbitrations in the broadcasting and hedge fund sectors.
7 King’s Bench Walk is best known for shipping and insurance disputes, and more than holds its own on general commercial arbitrations. Among the silks, Alistair Schaff QC and Gavin Kealey QC are both considered ‘top picks’; and Jonathan Gaisman QC is ‘an accomplished and polished advocate with an unparalleled breadth and depth of knowledge’. The ‘exceptionally bright and very hardworking’ Richard Waller QC recently took silk and is ‘excellent’. The ‘dependable and very personable’ Jawdat Khurshid ‘gives advice which always instils confidence’, and Timothy Kenefick is ‘very user-friendly, pragmatic and commercially astute’.
Atkin Chambers’ focus on construction ensures a regular throughput of major infrastructure-related arbitrations. Andrew White QC is ‘delightful to work with’ and has ‘impressive turnaround times’. David Streatfeild-James QC is ‘an excellent advocate’ who is ‘certainly at the very top of his field’. Nicholas Dennys QC has ‘an impressive ability to ask the right questions and come out with creative solutions to difficult issues’. Stephen Dennison QC is ‘very impressive at grappling with technical issues and has a wealth of relevant experience which he brings to bear’. Manus McMullan QC ‘handles the technical details very well and delivers the points with a persuasive advocacy style’. Serena Cheng has ‘a calm manner both behind the scenes and in front of a tribunal, which wins the confidence of the clients and makes her a persuasive advocate’. The ‘extremely diligent’ Mark Chennells is ‘a good team player, and one to watch for the future’.
Keating Chambers is a strong construction set with a good track record in infrastructure and energy disputes. The set boasts several leading silks, including the ‘robust’ Richard Fernyhough QC, Stephen Furst QC and Marcus Taverner QC. Another popular choice is Adam Constable QC, who ‘can present a difficult case persuasively and with real ease’.
4 Pump Court is especially recommended for infrastructure and insurance. Nigel Tozzi QC is ‘very experienced in arbitration, easy to work with, and excellent in consultation with clients’. The ‘outstandingly professional’ Christopher Moger QC is ‘an excellent advocate who masters very technical issues quickly’. The ‘undoubtedly brilliant’ Andrew Neish QC is ‘first choice for any significant insurance or reinsurance dispute’, and is ‘a real fighter’. Of the juniors, Sean O’Sullivan ‘combines meticulous preparation and a first-rate intellect with a very friendly and reasonable working style’.
3 Verulam Buildings is ‘an excellent set with very helpful clerks’ and a very good track record in major commercial and banking disputes. Ali Malek QC is ‘one of the most powerful arbitration advocates available’ and has ‘a great feel for the outcome of a case’. Andrew Onslow QC is ‘a pleasure to work with; very user-friendly and assured on his feet’. Christopher Harris is ‘one of the rising stars of the international arbitration Bar’, and is ‘extremely knowledgeable’ on investment treaties.
At Blackstone Chambers, Ian Mill QC is ‘a powerful cross-examiner who presents his cases in a masterly manner’. The ‘thorough, approachable and client-friendly’ Robert Howe QC has ‘an excellent ability to clinically analyse a complex issue and talk about it in lay terms’. Robert Weekes has ‘a truly razor-sharp mind but is very user friendly’.
Crown Office Chambers is recommended for construction and infrastructure disputes. Roger ter Haar QC is ‘a powerful advocate, ruthless in cross-examination, and a razor-sharp strategic thinker who inspires confidence’. Andrew Rigney QC has an ‘amazing ability to grasp often complex engineering concepts and reduce them to simple concepts’. Dr Cyril Chern provides ‘thorough, practical and well-considered opinions in consultation and on paper’. The ‘unflappable’ Rebecca Taylor is ‘an extremely safe pair of hands and drafts beautifully’.
Thirty Nine Essex Street’s John Tackaberry QC ‘combines scholarship and erudition with a strong commercial grasp of the case’. Stuart Catchpole QC is ‘undoubtedly the go-to QC in construction right now’, with ‘a very fine legal mind and a strong strategic sense’. Karen Gough is ‘outstanding in her detailed and analytical grasp of her field and fearless in her protection of the client’. Karim Ghaly’s ‘infectious enthusiasm will undoubtedly make him one of the most sought-after barristers at the international Bar in the years ahead’.
At Littleton Chambers, Stuart Ritchie QC ‘mixes a great brain with great client-handling skills’, and is ‘a dream to work with’.
Matrix Chambers’ Antony White QC ‘quietly and methodically destroys an opponent’s argument rather than engaging in theatrics’, and the ‘brilliant, creative and knowledgeable’ Zachary Douglas is extremely well regarded for investment treaty matters.
Well known for its expertise in commodities and trade disputes, Quadrant Chambers boasts several quality arbitration barristers, including Lionel Persey QC and Simon Rainey QC.