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Index of tables

  1. Shipping – Leading Sets
  2. Shipping – Leading Silks
  3. Shipping – New Silks
  4. Shipping – Leading Juniors

Shipping – Leading Silks

Quadrant Chambers has ‘broad and deep experience’ in both wet and dry shipping matters. The ‘eminentSimon Rainey QC led the ‘outstandingMichael Davey for China National Chartering in the $150m safe port case Gard Marine & Energy ltd v China National Chartering Co, while the ‘meticulous’ and ‘user-friendlyJeremy Russell QC led the ‘extremely ableJames Turner for the owners, and David Goldstone QC (‘very bright and quick on the uptake’) acted for the sub-charterer. Lionel Persey QC is ‘one of the big names in the shipping sphere, especially for disputes with a technical component’; and Luke Parsons QC is ‘thoroughly engaging and easy to work with, with a superb legal brain’. Simon Kverndal QC is ‘extremely intelligent, and commercially astute’, Simon Croall QC is a ‘very personable, bright and efficient counsel’, and new silk Chirag Karia QC is ‘one the most user-friendly, hardworking and effective barristers at the Bar’. Nevil Phillips - is very knowledgeable in all aspects of dry shipping’ and ‘the leading light in unclean hold cases’. Also recommended are Stewart Buckingham, who is ‘easy to work with’ and noted for his salvage experience, the ‘effective and eloquentJohn Russell, the ‘tenacious and doggedMichael Nolan, the ‘diligent and accessibleChris Smith, and the ‘excellent and pragmaticRuth Hosking. John Passmore is ‘one of the most impressive barristers of his generation’; Yash Kulkarni has the ‘rare ability to marry an intelligent, detailed approach with a thorough grasp of the commercial realities’; and Thomas Macey-Dare is ‘phenomenally hardworking’.

Essex Court Chambers is a ‘very strong shipping set’ with a deep bench of silks and juniors. Steven Berry QC is highly regarded, and Graham Dunning QCstands out as one of very few barristers who can deservedly be called a superstar’. David Foxton QC recently acted in demurrage test case Suek AG v Glencore International AG; and Richard Siberry QC is ‘a go-to barrister for high-value cases where gravitas is needed to command the attention of a court or arbitral tribunal’. Claire Blanchard QC combines ‘first-rate legal analysis with a resolute, no-nonsense approach to both her advocacy and her advice’. Simon Bryan QC is ‘very measured, very steady and very bright’, and Christopher Smith QC is ‘a superb advocate and an excellent strategist’. At junior level, Edmund King has ‘excellent knowledge of shipping law’, Jeremy Brier is ‘quick-thinking and has an ability to formulate unique arguments’, and Jern-Fei Ng is a ‘formidable advocate able to stand up to commercial silks and senior juniors’. Respected senior junior Philippa Hopkins is also recommended.

20 Essex Street is ‘very strong in dry shipping and commodities trading work’. The ‘very impressiveAndrew Baker QC recently led junior Henry Byam-Cook in the Supreme Court case Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. v E.N.E. Kos 1 Limited. Stephen Males QC is ‘one of the best advocates at the Bar’, and Iain Milligan QC is an ‘outstanding commercial silk’. Other recommended silks include Duncan Matthews QC, who ‘picks up points at lightning speed’; Timothy Young QC, who is ‘a lateral and inventive thinker’; ‘rising starPhilip Edey QC, who acted in Suek AG v Glencore International AG; the ‘insightful and effectiveDavid Owen QC, who has ‘an impressive breadth of expertise’; Michael Ashcroft QC, who is a ‘superstar’ with ‘excellent academic and analytical skills’; and the ‘extremely hardworkingCharles Kimmins QC. The recently appointed Sara Masters QC has ‘compendious knowledge of EU law’. Recommended juniors include Michael Collett, who is ‘strong whether on paper, in conference or at trial’; Thomas Raphael, who is ‘extremely clever and hardworking with a keen eye for the minutiae within a case’; David Lewis, who has ‘a commanding court presence’; and Julian Kenny.

7 King’s Bench Walk’s raft of leading silks in the shipping field are utilised extensively for dry shipping work. ‘First-rate’ silk Timothy Brenton QC stands out for his broad expertise in ‘collision and salvage work, or more intricate issues of admiralty law’, and combines ‘tenacious cross-examination skills with a deft touch and incisive analysis’. Stephen Hofmeyr QC’s ‘grasp of detail is fantastic’, and Dominic Kendrick QC has ‘an extensive knowledge of the complex regulatory framework surrounding electricity generation’. ‘Efficient and charming advocateRobert Bright QC is recommended for complex shipbuilding and charterparty disputes, and Christopher Butcher QC is ‘expert in marine total loss incidents’. The ‘forceful, stimulating and very effectiveRichard Southern QC also stands out, as do Stephen Kenny QC and Peter Macdonald Eggers QC. ‘Heavy-hitter and class actAlistair Schaff QC, David Bailey QC, who has ‘a first-class intellect’, and Jonathan Gaisman QC are also recommended. Charles Priday is ‘a superb advocate and very effective in cross-examination’, and Benjamin Parker is ‘extremely assiduous and thorough’. Rebecca Sabben-Clare QC and Richard Waller QC have recently taken silk.

Stone Chambers has a deep bench of silks and juniors, and its ‘flexible, commercial and helpful’ clerks are ‘a pleasure to work with’. John Reeder QC and Steven Gee QC are highly respected in the market and act in a wide range of commercial shipping cases and arbitrations; and Vasanti Selvaratnam QC has acted in a number of high-value charterparty disputes. Elizabeth Blackburn QC is ‘excellent for pollution and jurisdictional matters’; and ‘brave and effective cross-examinerTimothy Hill QC recently led the ‘giftedJames Shirley in the Aquafaith case. Among the juniors, Ravi Aswani is ‘clear, responsive and has a good court presence on many shipping areas’, Mark Jones is ‘a very knowledgeable, sharply minded and skilful barrister’, Rachel Toneythrows herself into matters with gusto’, and Tom Whitehead is a ‘go-to guy for shipping’.

Also recommended are Brick Court Chambers’s Richard Lord QC, for dry shipping matters; 4 Pump Court’s Sean O’Sullivan, who is ‘phenomenally talented with a loyal following’; the ‘affable and approachableNicholas Craig at 3 Verulam Buildings; James Watthey at Hardwicke, who is noted for his wide range of knowledge; and Stephen Dennison QC at Atkin Chambers.

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