Rani Noakes > 4 Pump Court (Sean Brannigan KC and Rachel Ansell KC) > London, England > Barrister Profile

4 Pump Court fields an in-depth shipping practice, which sees members of the set regularly appear in arbitration and litigation concerning substantial disputes in relation to shipbuilding, commercial shipping, as well as yachts. James Leabeater KC and Sean O’Sullivan KC are two of the group’s leading silks, with the latter appearing in and leading Rani Noakes in Havila v Hijos de J Barrerras, a shipbuilding dispute about two LNG powered ferries. Nick Vineall KC also continues to have a strong practice, having been instructed in a case arising out of a drill ship construction which went to the Supreme Court on appeal. The highly publicised Eternal Bliss was scheduled for the Supreme Court but ultimately settled beforehand; Alexander Wright KC acted in this case about demurrage on behalf of the charterers.

4 Pump Court includes members involved in cases which reflect critical issues affecting the insurance market, including members such as Martyn Naylor  and Rani Noakes  involved in matters arising out of the Covid-19 lockdowns, and professional liability insurance, D&O cover, insurance of financial institutions and cyber risks. Beyond the pandemic, barristers such as Mek Mesfin  have been involved in cases revolving around the construction field, with claims arising across the world including major construction projects in the Middle East and Africa. Andrew Neish KC has a strong cross-border practice, having been involved in disputes acting for major UK, US and Bermudian insurers, while Aidan Christie KC has had a busy year in insurance, with cases involving Covid-related claims, both direct and reinsurance, and heavyweight arbitrations in the industry.

4 Pump Court is a ‘great set for shipping disputes‘. Members are well known for appearing in Hong Kong, China and Singapore in complex, long-running disputes in the maritime sector, and are equally adept at advising on a broad range of commodities matters. Sean O’Sullivan KC is singled out for his strength in handling commodities and dry shipping disputes. Alexander Wright KC‘s busy practice includes charterparties, bills of lading, contracts of affreightments, commodity sale and purchase agreements and shipbuilding matters. At the junior end, Rani Noakes is ‘a powerhouse‘, and Andrew Stevens is regularly instructed by Chinese owners and charterers in shipping mandates.