Neil Hart KC > Essex Court Chambers > London, England > Barrister Profile

Neil Hart KC

020 7813 8000 nhart@essexcourt.com

Position

Specialises in the fields of insurance and reinsurance, shipping (dry and wet) and other commercial disputes, principally in arbitration and in litigation before the courts in London. Considerable experience of working alone or as part of a team of counsel and solicitors on factually and legally complex areas of foreign law. Although the bulk of his work is in the context of confidential arbitration proceedings, reported cases include Aziz v Aziz (Sultan of Brunei Intervening) [2008] 2 All ER 501 (claim to diplomatic inviolability by serving head of state); Allianz Marine Aviation (France) v GE Frankona Reinsurance Ltd London (‘The Treasure Bay’) [2005] EWHC 101, [2005] 1 Lloyd’s Rep IR 437 (application of deductible in follow settlements clause); King v Brandywine Reinsurance Co [2005] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 655 (CA) (construction of reinsurance policy covering loss arising from Exxon Valdez disaster, effect of arbitration and service of suit clause); Vrinera Marine Co Ltd v Eastern Rich Operations Inc (‘The Vakis T’) [2004] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 465 (whether costs of arbitration recoverable as damages); Fyffes Group Ltd v Templeman [2000] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 643 (accessory liability at common law).

Career

Called 1998, Gray’s Inn.

Languages

French.

Memberships

Commercial Bar Association (COMBAR); London Common Law and Commercial Bar Association; London Maritime Arbitrators Association.

Education

Magdalen College, Oxford (BA Hons, congratulatory first class); City University, London (Dipl Law); Fudan University, Shanghai (Dipl Mandarin Chinese).