Sara Masters KC > Twenty Essex > London, England > Barrister Profile
Twenty Essex Offices
20 ESSEX STREET
LONDON
WC2R 3AL
England
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Sara Masters KC
Work Department
- Arbitration
- EU law/competition law
- Private international law
- Sale of goods
- Shipping and commodities
Position
Sara is “hugely experienced in the international arbitration field, both as counsel and arbitrator”. This is complemented by a busy court practice as Leading Counsel.
A go-to Silk for cases raising difficult jurisdiction and private international law issues, Sara’s practice extends to commercial disputes, (particularly complex multi-jurisdictional disputes), EU law (with a focus on competition and private international law), shipping (including shipbuilding and ship sale disputes) and commodities, construction, energy, insurance (including marine insurance) and re-insurance.
She regularly appears as Counsel in international commercial arbitrations before the major international arbitral institutions, and also before trade specific bodies including the LMAA, GAFTA and FOSFA. Her arbitrations have covered areas such as shipping and commodities, ship building, super yachts, joint production oil agreements off-shore construction, gas supply agreements, share purchase agreements and licensing. She has been involved in virtual arbitration hearings as both Counsel and Arbitrator
She also acts as an expert witness on English law before foreign courts, including the French, Singaporean, Malaysian, Hong Kong and US Courts.
Sara also has experience in the rapidly changing world of commercial sanctions both as counsel and as arbitrator with a particular focus on Russian and Iranian sanctions in the transport and energy sectors, but also extending to more general commercial contexts.
Sara has appeared in the High Court, Competition Appeal Tribunal, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and Privy Council and before the European Court of Justice and Dubai International Financial Centre Courts. She is registered to appear before the Singapore International Commercial Court.
She accepts appointments as an arbitrator both in a variety of global seats. She has wide experience of both ad hoc and institutional arbitrations including LCIA, SIAC, CIETAC, UNCITRAL and LMAA.
Sara is also a Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) accredited mediator.
https://www.twentyessex.com/people/sara-masters/
Languages
French (fluent); Italian (conversational)
Lawyer Rankings
London Bar > International arbitration: arbitrators
(Leading counsel as arbitrators)Ranked: Tier 2Sara Masters KC –Twenty Essex ‘Sara is absolutely fantastic. She stands out as one of the best arbitrators, successfully chairing over very senior counsel and former judges. Sara is extremely responsive, entirely on top of procedural matters and effective in dealing with a number of issues. Proceedings run smoothly and, in large part, thanks to Sara’s incredibly incisive mind and great humour – one of the rare finds of an outstanding arbitrator who ticks every box.’
Twenty Essex is ‘a very strong set in the international arbitration arena with many outstanding arbitrators’ such as Sir Bernard Rix, Sara Masters KC, and Duncan Matthews KC. Appointments span all major arbitral institutions including ad-hoc arbitrations under the UNCITRAL rules across many sectors including energy, insurance, mining, IP, pharmaceuticals and a wide range of commercial disputes. While the set continues to be globally recognised and respected for its strong commercial expertise, its reputation for investor-state work grows with regular investor-state arbitration appointments. Notable additions boosting the set’s bench strength include Baiju Vasani, Wendy Miles KC, both also acting as counsel, and Philippa Charles, who joined from Stewarts Law LLP. Clare Ambrose is particularly sought-after as a full member of the LMAA and Sir Peter Gross attracts appointments in maritime as well as commercial disputes. Kate Parlett is building a strong practice of high-value international commercial arbitration appointments.
London Bar > Commodities
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 3Sara Masters KC – Twenty Essex ‘Sharp and affable, Sara brings obvious intellectual weight.’
London Bar > International arbitration: counsel
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 3Sara Masters KC –Twenty Essex ‘Sara is a fantastic silk to have on your team. She is thorough, sensible, willing to look at creative approaches to difficult issues. She is impossible to intimidate, and expresses herself with a clarity and emphasis which makes her very effective.’
London Bar > Shipping
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 5Sara Masters KC –Twenty Essex ‘Very sharp intellect. Excellent advocate. Great presence with clients.’