Blackstone Chambers has several leading silks who are highly sought after for major international disputes. This expertise extends to investment treaty arbitrations, where public international law specialists such as Maurice Mendelson QC are held in particularly high regard. Other members of note include Andrew Hunter QC, who has been representing a Chinese alumina supplier in a London Metals Exchange arbitration, and Robert Howe QC , who is instructed on a set of LCIA arbitrations involving a $650 million shareholder dispute linked to the development of a Caribbean island. Among the juniors, Robert Weekes QC has built up an extremely good track record in this area.
International arbitration: counsel in
London BarEssex Court Chambers
Essex Court Chambers is still for many 'the leading set in this area', a fact undiminished by the much-publicised sanctions imposed by China in 2021 over a legal opinion written by a number of members of chambers concerning the country’s controversial treatment of its Uyghur minority. The subsequent fallout resulted in the departure of several high profile silks, but the set's strength-in-depth and pedigree in this area ensures no reduction in quality. In addition to its cadre of top tier silks who have dominated the market for years, the set has an excellent pool of younger QCs and juniors climbing the ranks, notably Alison Macdonald QC who was part of a team, including David Peters representing the Yukos majority shareholders in the enforcement of their $50bn arbitral award against the Russian Federation. Paul Key QC is representing the claimant and Lucas Bastin QC is part of Pakistan's team in the investment treaty dispute, Karkey Karadeniz Elektrik Uretim A.S. v The Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
Testimonials
Set
‘First class in all departments. The barristers at Essex Court are universally first-rate, and highly responsive. Essex Court also delivers very high quality training programmes.’
‘The Rolls-Royce set – everything purrs.’
‘Very good chambers, maybe the best when it comes to international dispute resolution.’
‘Essex Court Chambers is the market leader in international arbitration by some distance. No other chambers comes close to matching the bench-strength they have on offer.’
‘Fantastic strength in depth.’
Clerking
‘They are excellent. Extremely responsive and very easy to deal with.’
‘They are outstanding. Joe Ferrigno, Ben Perry and Oliver Duane are the best clerks one could ever dream of dealing with.’
‘Joe Ferrigno and Ollie Butcher are both very responsive and helpful. ‘
‘The entire clerking team is excellent, very responsive and reliable.’
‘Very easy to work with the clerks.’
Fountain Court Chambers
Fountain Court Chambers is an 'excellent all-round' set for commercial disputes, a quality that extends to its international arbitration offering. Clients appreciate the 'useful Singapore presence', although its members also are active in arbitrations spanning the US, Middle East, Russia, the CIS, and Africa. Among the silks, Anneliese Day QC is building an excellent reputation both as an advocate and arbitrator, and is currently representing NIDCO in NIDCO v OAS, a dispute involving a contract for Trinidad's southern road network. The highly versatile Bankim Thanki QC is also active in this area and is representing Ukraine in Littop Enterprises and others v Ukraine. Other key members include Timothy Howe QC and Alexander Milner QC, who is noted for his Russia and CIS related expertise.
Testimonials
Set
‘I have had very good experiences with Fountain Court to date. The barristers are excellent, and the clerks helpful.’
‘High class chambers with many excellent counsel at all levels.’
‘My preferred London set for international arbitration.’
‘Excellent counsel and excellent clerks.’
‘We have instructed this chambers for many years, and find them to be excellent, having members of chambers covering very every skill set across the full range of commercial dispute resolution matters.’
Clerking
‘The clerks always respond promptly and try to stay flexible in terms of resolving technical issues.’
‘Alex Taylor is simply London’s best Head Clerk, no arguments. Sian Huckett is a pleasure to deal with and knows her members and their abilities very well.’
‘The service of the clerks at Fountain Court is excellent. Luke Diebelius and Alfie Harper are experienced clerks who are able to strike a good balance between keeping their members and instructing solicitors/their clients happy, and always with a smile on their faces.’
‘Luke Diebelius is easy to work with and works hard to coordinate multiple diaries, often with conflicting appointments.’
‘The clerks are responsive and professional.’
Keating Chambers
Keating Chambers is 'in the top two of construction sets in London' and 'offers a superb service' . Clients appreciate the 'huge amount of strength in depth and generally good availability', and the fact that the barristers are 'excellent team players' who 'all worked very well together'. In the past few years, the set has seen some of its more senior members retire, or in the case of Marcus Taverner QC, shift towards a full time arbitrator role. Nevertheless, the set has plenty of senior silks more than able to fill their shoes, with Adam Constable QC and David Thomas QC being two notable examples. Juniors such as Calum Lamont QC and James Thompson have also made good names for themselves in this area.
Testimonials
Set
‘Keating are rightly considered the leading construction chambers. The breadth and depth of their expertise is unmatched, with several leading individuals. I have always found their barristers to be exceptionally capable, responsive and lending additional gravitas to any case.’
‘Keating are the go-to set for construction. I have instructed a number of members of Keating in the last few years, from mid-level junior to senior QC, and all of them have always exceeded my (high) expectations. They understand the pressures and realities of working in the construction industry, and lay clients really appreciate the value this adds.’
‘Top set of barrister chambers, with many specialist barristers to choose from.’
‘This is a prestigious chamber. Every barrister we have worked with shows high standard of proficiency.’
‘Keating are my go-to chambers for anything involving construction & engineering issues. They always seem to attract clever, commercially-minded and approachable barristers whose knowledge of technical issues and the construction industry is second to none. ‘
Clerking
‘The clerks at Keating are excellent – personable, responsive, commercial and effective. Declan Redmond has built and leads a brilliant team and is unrivalled in developing long-terms relationships with instructing solicitors. James Luxmoore is also highly-effective and easy to deal with.’
‘The clerks at Keating Chambers are second to none. They are friendly, professional, responsive, and always deliver what is needed. In particular, Sarah Walker epitomises all these qualities. She is the person I always go to. She is a pleasure to deal with, and a real asset to clerking team at Keating.’
‘Declan Redmond is awesome. Always prepared to go above and beyond for his clients.’
‘Will Shrubsall is very responsive and always on hand to assist where necessary.’
‘The clerks’ room is professional and responsive, particularly William Shrubsall and Rob Garvan.’
3 Verulam Buildings
3 Verulam Buildings is now firmly ensconced among the leading sets in London for international arbitration and is considered by some to be 'the leading set of chambers for international investment arbitration disputes'. In addition to several top name commercial silks, such as Ali Malek QC, who are equally adept before the tribunals as they are before the High Court, the set also has some excellent senior juniors and junior silks with strong specialist expertise in this area, with Christopher Harris QC being of particular note. Harris represented the Moroccan government in its ICSID arbitration, Carlyle v Morocco, with Georges Chalfoun, Mark Wassouf and Cameron Miles also on the team. Another ICSID highlight was Mytilineos SA v Republic of Serbia in which Tariq Baloch was sole barrister for the Greek industrial conglomerate. In February 2022 Can Yeginsu joined from 4 New Square.
Testimonials
Set
‘3VB is very strong in arbitration with a deep bench of practitioners we have involved in our arbitration matters.’
‘3VB has a deep arbitration bench which is why we gravitate to them for arbitration matters.’
‘3VB are exceptionally strong and well clerked.’
‘3VB has great strength in depth and high-quality barristers at all levels. It is particularly strong on public international law where it has some of the leading individuals at the junior, mid and senior levels.’
‘By instructing a top set like 3VB we expect the best and we got it. Technical excellence combines with understanding to guide us through every stage of a worryingly complex process. We felt reassured and supported at every stage. 3VB would be our first-choice chambers for any relevant future disputes, especially complex international claims.’
Clerking
‘Very responsive, professional and pleasant.’
‘Very good and supportive.’
‘Friendly efficient clerking.’
‘Service from the clerks and from the clerks’ room has been seamless and excellent.’
‘Clerks are professional and accessible. James Kelly is very good to have grown-up conversations with.’
7 King's Bench Walk
7 King’s Bench Walk is ‘an extremely strong set with some top-tier individuals at all levels‘. The set is a market-leader for insurance, shipping and commodities disputes, and is also held in extremely high regard for broader commercial arbitrations. Siobán Healy QC enters the top tier of silks on the back of several high profile disputes, including Cockett v OW Bunker, where she pursued a successful enforcement of the award in the Commercial Court. Three members, including David Bailey QC and Marcus Mander were involved in Enka v Chubb, an ICC arbitration that also went to the Supreme Court on issues of the choice of law governing an arbitration agreement. Leading junior silks such as Jawdat Khurshid QC are also highly rated in this area.
Testimonials
Set
‘7KBW is an extremely strong set for insurance and arbitration work.’
‘Top notch and in a league of it’s own for insurance and international arbitration work.’
‘7KBW has become the ‘go to’ set for any insurance and reinsurance dispute. They have tremendous strength in depth.’
‘7KBW is an excellent set for commercial disputes matters and on the arbitration side boasts a strong bench both of Silks and Juniors.’
‘An extremely strong set with some top-tier individuals at all levels.’
Clerking
‘Excellent. Incredibly responsive and efficient. A pleasure to work with.
‘I have always found 7KBW to be efficient and responsive to my needs. The head clerk, Bernie Hyatt, is particularly adept at finding solutions in double quick time.’
‘An efficient, friendly and well mannered service.’
‘7 KBW provides a better service than any other set I have dealt with.’
‘Always very pleasant and helpful.’
One Essex Court
One Essex Court is praised for its ‘good strength in depth for international arbitration‘, with the ability to provide ‘the right team for any case‘. Several members have a heavy focus on this area, notably Michael Sullivan QC who was awarded Kenya’s Order of the Grand Warrior in 2020 for his work defending the state in several ICSID arbitrations, such as the recent Cortec Mining Kenya Limited, Cortec (Pty) Limited and Stirling Capital Limited v. Republic of Kenya. In addition to investment treaty claims, members regularly appear in LCIA, ICC, and SIAC disputes, as well as in the courts for arbitral enforcement proceedings. Alexander Gunning QC, Alain Choo Choy QC and Michelle Menashy have built up especially strong reputations in this area.
Testimonials
Set
‘I regularly instruct One Essex Court – they’re definitely one on the top commercial sets, including for international arbitration.’
‘One Essex Court has a fantastic selection of senior/junior counsel so you can always count on being offered someone who is very good.’
‘OEC is on top of its game; genuine strength in depth.’
‘One of my favoured sets. It has one of the strongest teams around for arbitration, commercial and banking. It’s where you go when you want the best of the best.’
‘An excellent set, with a wide range of talent at all levels.’
Clerking
‘Very good clerks, particularly David Amdor.’
‘Darren Burrows is a highly efficient and considerate clerk. He reacts quickly and am able to provide suitable candidates to suit our client’s needs. He adopts flexible and commercial approach to fee arrangements, which set him apart from his peers at other leading chambers.’
‘Clerks are very good and efficient. David Amdor, Jackie Ginty and Kirsty Hough, Jade Cassell are all very good. David is excellent for keeping in touch and providing helpful insights into strengths of individual counsel.’
‘A very strong clerking team. Very responsive and always willing to go the extra mile for you.’
‘The clerks are great, they will always bend over backwards to find someone to help, even at short notice.’
Atkin Chambers
Atkin Chambers has developed an excellent reputation for international arbitration, and is praised for its 'strength-in-depth for construction and energy related disputes'. The set's credentials for Asia and Middle East-related matters are especially strong, particularly when it comes to infrastructure disputes. On the transport side, Andrew White QC , Nicholas Dennys QC and Sebastian Pigott have all been involved in several high-profile rail and metro-related claims. On the social infrastructure front, Simon Lofthouse QC and Zulfikar Khayum both worked on Obrascon Huarte Lain SA (t/a OHL Internacional) & Anor v Qatar Foundation where they defeated a challenge to a partial arbitral award concerning a hospital project in Doha.
Testimonials
Set
‘Atkin is one of the two preeminent construction sets. They have considerable strength in depth at all levels. The barristers are generally competitive and academic colleagues and opponents.’
‘One of my first ports of call when looking for construction and arbitration counsel.’
‘The reputation as one of the best sets for construction and arbitration is well deserved.’
‘Atkin is typically the first place I look for assistance in high-value and complex energy/construction/infrastructure disputes under English law because of their impressive talent at all levels of seniority.’
‘A peerless set for construction, with great strength in depth.’
Clerking
‘Its clerking service is top quality especially David Barnes and Justin Wilson. They are very experienced at dealing with the issues faced when working in Hong Kong.’
‘Responsive and helpful clerks, accommodating on fees.’
‘David Barnes is exceptional. A great asset to the set.’
‘Justin Wilson and David Barnes are knowledgeable, well-respected and provide an excellent service.’
‘The clerks are always hands on as they remind the team of important deadlines. Their strengths include good organization and management which is extremely helpful for the team as it enables them to only focus on the case at hand.’
Twenty Essex
Twenty Essex is a 'premier chambers in international arbitration' with a selection of top-notch silks and juniors. The members cover a broad range of disputes, including investment treaty claims, as well as broader commercial, shipping and commodities arbitrations. In recent years it has also done well in recruiting esteemed former solicitor advocates, with Wendy Miles QC being the latest most high profile example. Significant public disputes include PL Holdings SARL v Republic of Poland, a dispute over an alleged forced sale of a Polish bank, in which Sara Masters QC and Belinda McRae represented Polish government, with Philip Riches QC and rising star Sam Goodman acting for the investors.
Testimonials
Set
‘Twenty Essex is well-known in the market as having excellent bench strength in arbitration, with consistently high quality counsel at all levels of seniority.’
‘Leading set for arbitration.’
‘Twenty Essex is undoubtedly still one of small number of “go to” sets for arbitration/public international law work, with a very strong bench at all levels. I really rate them.’
‘Twenty Essex is known for its silks but has an incredible team of juniors as well.’
‘Twenty Essex are one of the top players in International Arbitration.’
Clerking
‘The clerks are a very good and decent team.’
‘Very nice people to work with, always willing to help the clients.’
‘Clerks are very responsive and commercial.’
‘Excellent – Arron Zitver has always been a stand out performer.’
‘Excellent, with a special mention to Chris Theobald who is always available and willing to assist.’
39 Essex Chambers
39 Essex Chambers is a strong choice for international arbitration, particularly for construction, infrastructure and energy-related disputes. The set's international reach, with outposts in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, makes it particularly popular for disputes in the Middle East and Asia. Among the senior and junior members, Karim Ghaly QC has established himself as a favoured choice for clients in the Middle East, while Adrian Hughes QC is one of the foremost Chinese arbitration specialists operating in the market. This is in addition to several highly experienced senior juniors including Karen Gough, who handles a broad mix of energy and infrastructure disputes, and Jess Connors.
Testimonials
Set
’39 Essex is a strong set and has a number of highly competent, qualified and experienced barristers who we regularly instruct as counsel or nominate as arbitrators.’
‘The quality of everyone that I interacted with from the Chambers has been top class.’
‘The set has very considerable depth in this area.’
Clerking
‘Niki Merison is an experienced clerk who is willing to have open and frank conversations regarding fees and budgets and appreciates that providing and expecting an hourly rate basis is not acceptable to most clients. Niki is always able to balance available budget, timelines and expertise to provide a client driven solution.’
‘The service of the clerks has always been exceptional, with particular mention to Niki Merison and Mark Winrow.’
‘Mark Winrow and Niki Merison are brilliant.’
4 New Square
4 New Square is 'a good, well-rounded set with some stand-out arbitration specialists'. In addition to broader commercial international arbitrations the set is also developing a strong name in investment treaty claims and public international law. Highlight cases include Province of Balochistan v TCC, in which George Spalton QC is representing a claimant in the Commercial Court following ICSID and ICC arbitrations. Senior silks such as Roger Stewart QC and Justin Fenwick QC both come highly recommended for their advocacy skills. In February 2022 Can Yeginsu moved to 3 Verulam Buildings.
Testimonials
Set
‘The chambers is very well equipped to handle all manner of disputes and in particular investment and other international arbitration matters.’
‘4 New Square is one of my firm’s go to chambers for international arbitration. The barristers there are all phenomenally good but also very pleasant to deal with and clerked to a very high standard. They take a team approach and I am noticing that they are also now becoming a force in investor-state arbitration harnessing their growth as a public international law set.’
‘4 New Square has an excellent roster of practitioners in the arbitration space. They have built and focused on this area in recent years and offer strength and depth.’
‘They are very detail-focused, sharp and proactive.’
‘4 New Square is a vary good set and easy to deal with and with a broad range of barristers well represented by their clerks.’
Clerking
‘Alex Dolby is an excellent clerk and we are very pleased.’
‘They are very responsive and understand the client’s needs and approach. It is a pleasure to work with them.’
‘Always found the clerking team very pleasant and proactive.’
‘All excellent from junior clerks to the most senior clerks.’
‘Dennis Peck is an excellent clerk. He is responsive and always a pleasure to deal with.’
4 Pump Court
4 Pump Court is a 'fantastic set - going from strength to strength to strength in International Arbitration' and 'now offering some of the biggest silk names in this field'. The versatile chambers offers a broad range of skills from energy and construction through to insurance, IT, telecoms, shipping and broader commercial arbitrations. Members such as Nigel Tozzi QC and Sean Brannigan QC have firmly established themselves at the top of the market, with several other leading silks, including Rachel Ansell QC and Sean O’Sullivan QC close behind. In addition to the largely confidential arbitration workload, members are also involved in cases that spill into the Courts and the public domain, such as the hugely influential Chubb v Halliburton in the Supreme Court, where Nick Vineall QC led Andrew Stevens acted on behalf of the interveners, the LMAA.
Testimonials
Set
‘4 Pump Court has a very strong profile in international arbitration, especially shipping and energy disputes.’
‘4 Pump Court cares about Chinese market and has a long-time goal in providing best services adaptive to local needs. They have exceled themselves in maintaining good relationship with instructing firms in China.’
‘We use 4PC a lot, and often when things get particularly busy they are able to provide additional junior resource at short notice. The whole team has a great work ethic and is very user-friendly and willing to muck in to get the job done. ‘
‘4 Pump Court is my go to Chambers. Great barristers, amazing clerks, brilliant service and an ability to think outside the box to provide services that are tailored to the solicitor or client needs.’
‘Fastastic set – a force to be reckoned with in both the middle east and far east.’
Clerking
‘Carl Wall provides top quality service and is incredibly responsive. He gives particular attention to help chambers to develop China-related practice and cares about Chinese clients’ feedback.’
‘Service of the clerks is second to none. I have a lot of contact with Billy Griffiths in particular, who is exceptional and always available and willing to assist in any way he can.’
‘Excellent service – really understand what is required.’
‘Stewart Gibbs is really impressive.’
‘The clerk’s are very helpful and in my view one of the stand-out clerking teams in the City. Stewart Gibbs in particular is incredibly helpful and friendly to deal with.’
Brick Court Chambers
Brick Court Chambers is building an increasingly strong reputation international arbitration work. The set will miss former top tier silk Neil Calver QC, who left for the High Court bench, but any loss to the overall offering has been mitigated by the arrival of the hugely respected Vernon Flynn QC from Essex Court Chambers. Other members cover a broad range of key sectors, including infrastructure, energy and insurance. Flynn QC led highly-rated junior Edward Ho in The Republic of Kazakhstan v World Wide Minerals Ltd in a Commercial Court challenge to a BIT award. Other key juniors include Zahra Al-Rikabi, who had a prominent role representing the Qatari broadcaster in the BIT dispute Al Jazeera Media Network v Egypt, a case concerning issues such as the arrest of three Al Jazeera journalists against a backdrop of greatly soured diplomatic relations between Qatar and other Arab nations. Mark Howard QC acted for the claimant in Standard Life Aberdeen v Lloyds Banking Group before the LCIA.
Testimonials
Set
‘Obviously great set of Chambers with strength across the board.’
‘Brick Court is one of the foremost commercial sets, involved in much international arbitration either as practitioners or as arbitrators. It is not surprising that a high proportion of its members have gone on to be judges in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court and following that have sat as judges in other courts or as arbitrators.’
‘The best set for commercial litigation and with a rapidly growing presence in commercial arbitration.’
‘Brick Court are first class.’
‘The client insisted he want to be represented by Brick Court as “They are the best.’
Clerking
‘They are all at the top of their game. My experience of them is very positive.’
‘Tony Burgess and Paul Dennison are both impressive clerks.’
‘Philip Wilkes has been helpful throughout.’
‘Good clerking service.’
‘Very efficient and commercial.’
Quadrant Chambers
Quadrant Chambers is 'a first class set for commercial and shipping dispute resolution, made up of a group of the most outstanding minds in the UK'. The international arbitration expertise of its members now goes well beyond the set's traditional strengths of shipping and commodities disputes. Among the more high profile cases has been Malaysian Government v 1MDB, in which Luke Parsons QC led the Malaysian government's challenge to a $5.8 billion LCIA settlement agreement negotiated by the country's former prime minister with an Abu Dhabi government-owned entity. Guy Blackwood QC also successfully represented the appellant in a bit to overturn an arbitral award in Herculito Maritime Ltd v. Gunvor International. Alexander Uff, who joined recently from Shearman & Sterling LLP is one of several with experience at elite firms of solicitors in this space.
Testimonials
Set
‘Quadrant Chambers has an impressive depth of expertise in international arbitration, at all levels. The addition of Alexander Uff seriously enhances their offering and shows they are committed to growing arbitration as a specialist practice area. ‘
‘Excellent team work with determination and self-discipline. ‘
‘A very talented set of chambers, the barristers and and the clerking team provide seamless service and are very friendly. ‘
‘Quadrant has come along leaps and bounds in recent years. A number of my go to counsel in the past year or two have been drawn from that set.’
‘Much of Quadrant’s work is highly international by nature and there is a significant growing practice in the international arbitration market especially at the mid level/senior junior end.’
Clerking
‘Top rate. Their support and commercial staff are extremely professional and good to deal with also. Simon Slattery is excellent.’
‘Gary Ventura is a force of nature. He really knows how to manage a set and get the best out of his barristers.’
‘Very user friendly and pragmatic.’
‘First rate. Daryl Hughes in particular cannot do enough for you. We have always felt supported from the clerks room and know they can be relied on to meet deadlines.’
‘Everything perfect – as it should be. All the work is made timely and with no errors at all. What else could one expect?’
Crown Office Chambers
Crown Office Chambers is not as large as some of the leading arbitration sets, but the quality of its barristers is high, particularly for infrastructure and construction related arbitration claims. For many, the smaller size is a virtue, guaranteeing clients a much more personalized and flexible service. Roger Ter Haar QC has an eminent reputation for infrastructure and energy related disputes, particularly in the Middle East. Andrew Rigney QC is another top name in the construction and infrastructure space, while Crispin Winser QC's advocacy skills were recognised in 2021 as he took silk. Notable juniors include the highly experienced Anna Laney.
Testimonials
Set
‘As a firm, we have used several barristers from Crown Office Chambers, all of which we would highly recommend. They are commercially minded, incredibly responsive and have a real in-depth knowledge of arbitration. They are also incredibly good value in comparison with other chambers.’
‘Excellent. Counsel are engaged and responsive. Good construction expertise and a deep bench at all levels, particularly at the junior end.’
Clerking
‘I have always found the clerks responsive. As international counsel, having a chambers who can operate with flexibility helps a lot.’
‘The clerks are excellent. I worked with Andy Flanagan who gives excellent service and goes that extra mile for his clients.’
‘The clerks have been exceptional. With some clients, it can be a challenge to find a balance with payment terms that satisfy both chambers and the client’s needs. Crown Office Chambers were incredibly receptive to this, really wanting to understand the needs of the client and adapt accordingly without any issue. This was very impressive, and made my role as an instructing solicitor incredibly easy. Andy Flanagan, in particular, is exceptional at what he does – he is personable, and really wants to understand the client’s needs.’
‘Very well and efficiently clerked in Andy Flanagan and Chris Kent.’
Essex Court Chambers
Essex Court Chambers is still for many 'the leading set in this area', a fact undiminished by the much-publicised sanctions imposed by China in 2021 over a legal opinion written by a number of members of chambers concerning the country’s controversial treatment of its Uyghur minority. The subsequent fallout resulted in the departure of several high profile silks, but the set's strength-in-depth and pedigree in this area ensures no reduction in quality. In addition to its cadre of top tier silks who have dominated the market for years, the set has an excellent pool of younger QCs and juniors climbing the ranks, notably Alison Macdonald QC who was part of a team, including David Peters representing the Yukos majority shareholders in the enforcement of their $50bn arbitral award against the Russian Federation. Paul Key QC is representing the claimant and Lucas Bastin QC is part of Pakistan's team in the investment treaty dispute, Karkey Karadeniz Elektrik Uretim A.S. v The Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
Testimonials
Set
‘First class in all departments. The barristers at Essex Court are universally first-rate, and highly responsive. Essex Court also delivers very high quality training programmes.’
‘The Rolls-Royce set – everything purrs.’
‘Very good chambers, maybe the best when it comes to international dispute resolution.’
‘Essex Court Chambers is the market leader in international arbitration by some distance. No other chambers comes close to matching the bench-strength they have on offer.’
‘Fantastic strength in depth.’
Clerking
‘They are excellent. Extremely responsive and very easy to deal with.’
‘They are outstanding. Joe Ferrigno, Ben Perry and Oliver Duane are the best clerks one could ever dream of dealing with.’
‘Joe Ferrigno and Ollie Butcher are both very responsive and helpful. ‘
‘The entire clerking team is excellent, very responsive and reliable.’
‘Very easy to work with the clerks.’
Fountain Court Chambers
Fountain Court Chambers is an 'excellent all-round' set for commercial disputes, a quality that extends to its international arbitration offering. Clients appreciate the 'useful Singapore presence', although its members also are active in arbitrations spanning the US, Middle East, Russia, the CIS, and Africa. Among the silks, Anneliese Day QC is building an excellent reputation both as an advocate and arbitrator, and is currently representing NIDCO in NIDCO v OAS, a dispute involving a contract for Trinidad's southern road network. The highly versatile Bankim Thanki QC is also active in this area and is representing Ukraine in Littop Enterprises and others v Ukraine. Other key members include Timothy Howe QC and Alexander Milner QC, who is noted for his Russia and CIS related expertise.
Testimonials
Set
‘I have had very good experiences with Fountain Court to date. The barristers are excellent, and the clerks helpful.’
‘High class chambers with many excellent counsel at all levels.’
‘My preferred London set for international arbitration.’
‘Excellent counsel and excellent clerks.’
‘We have instructed this chambers for many years, and find them to be excellent, having members of chambers covering very every skill set across the full range of commercial dispute resolution matters.’
Clerking
‘The clerks always respond promptly and try to stay flexible in terms of resolving technical issues.’
‘Alex Taylor is simply London’s best Head Clerk, no arguments. Sian Huckett is a pleasure to deal with and knows her members and their abilities very well.’
‘The service of the clerks at Fountain Court is excellent. Luke Diebelius and Alfie Harper are experienced clerks who are able to strike a good balance between keeping their members and instructing solicitors/their clients happy, and always with a smile on their faces.’
‘Luke Diebelius is easy to work with and works hard to coordinate multiple diaries, often with conflicting appointments.’
‘The clerks are responsive and professional.’
Keating Chambers
Keating Chambers is 'in the top two of construction sets in London' and 'offers a superb service' . Clients appreciate the 'huge amount of strength in depth and generally good availability', and the fact that the barristers are 'excellent team players' who 'all worked very well together'. In the past few years, the set has seen some of its more senior members retire, or in the case of Marcus Taverner QC, shift towards a full time arbitrator role. Nevertheless, the set has plenty of senior silks more than able to fill their shoes, with Adam Constable QC and David Thomas QC being two notable examples. Juniors such as Calum Lamont QC and James Thompson have also made good names for themselves in this area.
Testimonials
Set
‘Keating are rightly considered the leading construction chambers. The breadth and depth of their expertise is unmatched, with several leading individuals. I have always found their barristers to be exceptionally capable, responsive and lending additional gravitas to any case.’
‘Keating are the go-to set for construction. I have instructed a number of members of Keating in the last few years, from mid-level junior to senior QC, and all of them have always exceeded my (high) expectations. They understand the pressures and realities of working in the construction industry, and lay clients really appreciate the value this adds.’
‘Top set of barrister chambers, with many specialist barristers to choose from.’
‘This is a prestigious chamber. Every barrister we have worked with shows high standard of proficiency.’
‘Keating are my go-to chambers for anything involving construction & engineering issues. They always seem to attract clever, commercially-minded and approachable barristers whose knowledge of technical issues and the construction industry is second to none. ‘
Clerking
‘The clerks at Keating are excellent – personable, responsive, commercial and effective. Declan Redmond has built and leads a brilliant team and is unrivalled in developing long-terms relationships with instructing solicitors. James Luxmoore is also highly-effective and easy to deal with.’
‘The clerks at Keating Chambers are second to none. They are friendly, professional, responsive, and always deliver what is needed. In particular, Sarah Walker epitomises all these qualities. She is the person I always go to. She is a pleasure to deal with, and a real asset to clerking team at Keating.’
‘Declan Redmond is awesome. Always prepared to go above and beyond for his clients.’
‘Will Shrubsall is very responsive and always on hand to assist where necessary.’
‘The clerks’ room is professional and responsive, particularly William Shrubsall and Rob Garvan.’
3 Verulam Buildings
3 Verulam Buildings is now firmly ensconced among the leading sets in London for international arbitration and is considered by some to be 'the leading set of chambers for international investment arbitration disputes'. In addition to several top name commercial silks, such as Ali Malek QC, who are equally adept before the tribunals as they are before the High Court, the set also has some excellent senior juniors and junior silks with strong specialist expertise in this area, with Christopher Harris QC being of particular note. Harris represented the Moroccan government in its ICSID arbitration, Carlyle v Morocco, with Georges Chalfoun, Mark Wassouf and Cameron Miles also on the team. Another ICSID highlight was Mytilineos SA v Republic of Serbia in which Tariq Baloch was sole barrister for the Greek industrial conglomerate. In February 2022 Can Yeginsu joined from 4 New Square.
Testimonials
Set
‘3VB is very strong in arbitration with a deep bench of practitioners we have involved in our arbitration matters.’
‘3VB has a deep arbitration bench which is why we gravitate to them for arbitration matters.’
‘3VB are exceptionally strong and well clerked.’
‘3VB has great strength in depth and high-quality barristers at all levels. It is particularly strong on public international law where it has some of the leading individuals at the junior, mid and senior levels.’
‘By instructing a top set like 3VB we expect the best and we got it. Technical excellence combines with understanding to guide us through every stage of a worryingly complex process. We felt reassured and supported at every stage. 3VB would be our first-choice chambers for any relevant future disputes, especially complex international claims.’
Clerking
‘Very responsive, professional and pleasant.’
‘Very good and supportive.’
‘Friendly efficient clerking.’
‘Service from the clerks and from the clerks’ room has been seamless and excellent.’
‘Clerks are professional and accessible. James Kelly is very good to have grown-up conversations with.’
7 King's Bench Walk
7 King’s Bench Walk is ‘an extremely strong set with some top-tier individuals at all levels‘. The set is a market-leader for insurance, shipping and commodities disputes, and is also held in extremely high regard for broader commercial arbitrations. Siobán Healy QC enters the top tier of silks on the back of several high profile disputes, including Cockett v OW Bunker, where she pursued a successful enforcement of the award in the Commercial Court. Three members, including David Bailey QC and Marcus Mander were involved in Enka v Chubb, an ICC arbitration that also went to the Supreme Court on issues of the choice of law governing an arbitration agreement. Leading junior silks such as Jawdat Khurshid QC are also highly rated in this area.
Testimonials
Set
‘7KBW is an extremely strong set for insurance and arbitration work.’
‘Top notch and in a league of it’s own for insurance and international arbitration work.’
‘7KBW has become the ‘go to’ set for any insurance and reinsurance dispute. They have tremendous strength in depth.’
‘7KBW is an excellent set for commercial disputes matters and on the arbitration side boasts a strong bench both of Silks and Juniors.’
‘An extremely strong set with some top-tier individuals at all levels.’
Clerking
‘Excellent. Incredibly responsive and efficient. A pleasure to work with.
‘I have always found 7KBW to be efficient and responsive to my needs. The head clerk, Bernie Hyatt, is particularly adept at finding solutions in double quick time.’
‘An efficient, friendly and well mannered service.’
‘7 KBW provides a better service than any other set I have dealt with.’
‘Always very pleasant and helpful.’
One Essex Court
One Essex Court is praised for its ‘good strength in depth for international arbitration‘, with the ability to provide ‘the right team for any case‘. Several members have a heavy focus on this area, notably Michael Sullivan QC who was awarded Kenya’s Order of the Grand Warrior in 2020 for his work defending the state in several ICSID arbitrations, such as the recent Cortec Mining Kenya Limited, Cortec (Pty) Limited and Stirling Capital Limited v. Republic of Kenya. In addition to investment treaty claims, members regularly appear in LCIA, ICC, and SIAC disputes, as well as in the courts for arbitral enforcement proceedings. Alexander Gunning QC, Alain Choo Choy QC and Michelle Menashy have built up especially strong reputations in this area.
Testimonials
Set
‘I regularly instruct One Essex Court – they’re definitely one on the top commercial sets, including for international arbitration.’
‘One Essex Court has a fantastic selection of senior/junior counsel so you can always count on being offered someone who is very good.’
‘OEC is on top of its game; genuine strength in depth.’
‘One of my favoured sets. It has one of the strongest teams around for arbitration, commercial and banking. It’s where you go when you want the best of the best.’
‘An excellent set, with a wide range of talent at all levels.’
Clerking
‘Very good clerks, particularly David Amdor.’
‘Darren Burrows is a highly efficient and considerate clerk. He reacts quickly and am able to provide suitable candidates to suit our client’s needs. He adopts flexible and commercial approach to fee arrangements, which set him apart from his peers at other leading chambers.’
‘Clerks are very good and efficient. David Amdor, Jackie Ginty and Kirsty Hough, Jade Cassell are all very good. David is excellent for keeping in touch and providing helpful insights into strengths of individual counsel.’
‘A very strong clerking team. Very responsive and always willing to go the extra mile for you.’
‘The clerks are great, they will always bend over backwards to find someone to help, even at short notice.’
Atkin Chambers
Atkin Chambers has developed an excellent reputation for international arbitration, and is praised for its 'strength-in-depth for construction and energy related disputes'. The set's credentials for Asia and Middle East-related matters are especially strong, particularly when it comes to infrastructure disputes. On the transport side, Andrew White QC , Nicholas Dennys QC and Sebastian Pigott have all been involved in several high-profile rail and metro-related claims. On the social infrastructure front, Simon Lofthouse QC and Zulfikar Khayum both worked on Obrascon Huarte Lain SA (t/a OHL Internacional) & Anor v Qatar Foundation where they defeated a challenge to a partial arbitral award concerning a hospital project in Doha.
Testimonials
Set
‘Atkin is one of the two preeminent construction sets. They have considerable strength in depth at all levels. The barristers are generally competitive and academic colleagues and opponents.’
‘One of my first ports of call when looking for construction and arbitration counsel.’
‘The reputation as one of the best sets for construction and arbitration is well deserved.’
‘Atkin is typically the first place I look for assistance in high-value and complex energy/construction/infrastructure disputes under English law because of their impressive talent at all levels of seniority.’
‘A peerless set for construction, with great strength in depth.’
Clerking
‘Its clerking service is top quality especially David Barnes and Justin Wilson. They are very experienced at dealing with the issues faced when working in Hong Kong.’
‘Responsive and helpful clerks, accommodating on fees.’
‘David Barnes is exceptional. A great asset to the set.’
‘Justin Wilson and David Barnes are knowledgeable, well-respected and provide an excellent service.’
‘The clerks are always hands on as they remind the team of important deadlines. Their strengths include good organization and management which is extremely helpful for the team as it enables them to only focus on the case at hand.’
Twenty Essex
Twenty Essex is a 'premier chambers in international arbitration' with a selection of top-notch silks and juniors. The members cover a broad range of disputes, including investment treaty claims, as well as broader commercial, shipping and commodities arbitrations. In recent years it has also done well in recruiting esteemed former solicitor advocates, with Wendy Miles QC being the latest most high profile example. Significant public disputes include PL Holdings SARL v Republic of Poland, a dispute over an alleged forced sale of a Polish bank, in which Sara Masters QC and Belinda McRae represented Polish government, with Philip Riches QC and rising star Sam Goodman acting for the investors.
Testimonials
Set
‘Twenty Essex is well-known in the market as having excellent bench strength in arbitration, with consistently high quality counsel at all levels of seniority.’
‘Leading set for arbitration.’
‘Twenty Essex is undoubtedly still one of small number of “go to” sets for arbitration/public international law work, with a very strong bench at all levels. I really rate them.’
‘Twenty Essex is known for its silks but has an incredible team of juniors as well.’
‘Twenty Essex are one of the top players in International Arbitration.’
Clerking
‘The clerks are a very good and decent team.’
‘Very nice people to work with, always willing to help the clients.’
‘Clerks are very responsive and commercial.’
‘Excellent – Arron Zitver has always been a stand out performer.’
‘Excellent, with a special mention to Chris Theobald who is always available and willing to assist.’
39 Essex Chambers
39 Essex Chambers is a strong choice for international arbitration, particularly for construction, infrastructure and energy-related disputes. The set's international reach, with outposts in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, makes it particularly popular for disputes in the Middle East and Asia. Among the senior and junior members, Karim Ghaly QC has established himself as a favoured choice for clients in the Middle East, while Adrian Hughes QC is one of the foremost Chinese arbitration specialists operating in the market. This is in addition to several highly experienced senior juniors including Karen Gough, who handles a broad mix of energy and infrastructure disputes, and Jess Connors.
Testimonials
Set
’39 Essex is a strong set and has a number of highly competent, qualified and experienced barristers who we regularly instruct as counsel or nominate as arbitrators.’
‘The quality of everyone that I interacted with from the Chambers has been top class.’
‘The set has very considerable depth in this area.’
Clerking
‘Niki Merison is an experienced clerk who is willing to have open and frank conversations regarding fees and budgets and appreciates that providing and expecting an hourly rate basis is not acceptable to most clients. Niki is always able to balance available budget, timelines and expertise to provide a client driven solution.’
‘The service of the clerks has always been exceptional, with particular mention to Niki Merison and Mark Winrow.’
‘Mark Winrow and Niki Merison are brilliant.’
4 New Square
4 New Square is 'a good, well-rounded set with some stand-out arbitration specialists'. In addition to broader commercial international arbitrations the set is also developing a strong name in investment treaty claims and public international law. Highlight cases include Province of Balochistan v TCC, in which George Spalton QC is representing a claimant in the Commercial Court following ICSID and ICC arbitrations. Senior silks such as Roger Stewart QC and Justin Fenwick QC both come highly recommended for their advocacy skills. In February 2022 Can Yeginsu moved to 3 Verulam Buildings.
Testimonials
Set
‘The chambers is very well equipped to handle all manner of disputes and in particular investment and other international arbitration matters.’
‘4 New Square is one of my firm’s go to chambers for international arbitration. The barristers there are all phenomenally good but also very pleasant to deal with and clerked to a very high standard. They take a team approach and I am noticing that they are also now becoming a force in investor-state arbitration harnessing their growth as a public international law set.’
‘4 New Square has an excellent roster of practitioners in the arbitration space. They have built and focused on this area in recent years and offer strength and depth.’
‘They are very detail-focused, sharp and proactive.’
‘4 New Square is a vary good set and easy to deal with and with a broad range of barristers well represented by their clerks.’
Clerking
‘Alex Dolby is an excellent clerk and we are very pleased.’
‘They are very responsive and understand the client’s needs and approach. It is a pleasure to work with them.’
‘Always found the clerking team very pleasant and proactive.’
‘All excellent from junior clerks to the most senior clerks.’
‘Dennis Peck is an excellent clerk. He is responsive and always a pleasure to deal with.’
4 Pump Court
4 Pump Court is a 'fantastic set - going from strength to strength to strength in International Arbitration' and 'now offering some of the biggest silk names in this field'. The versatile chambers offers a broad range of skills from energy and construction through to insurance, IT, telecoms, shipping and broader commercial arbitrations. Members such as Nigel Tozzi QC and Sean Brannigan QC have firmly established themselves at the top of the market, with several other leading silks, including Rachel Ansell QC and Sean O’Sullivan QC close behind. In addition to the largely confidential arbitration workload, members are also involved in cases that spill into the Courts and the public domain, such as the hugely influential Chubb v Halliburton in the Supreme Court, where Nick Vineall QC led Andrew Stevens acted on behalf of the interveners, the LMAA.
Testimonials
Set
‘4 Pump Court has a very strong profile in international arbitration, especially shipping and energy disputes.’
‘4 Pump Court cares about Chinese market and has a long-time goal in providing best services adaptive to local needs. They have exceled themselves in maintaining good relationship with instructing firms in China.’
‘We use 4PC a lot, and often when things get particularly busy they are able to provide additional junior resource at short notice. The whole team has a great work ethic and is very user-friendly and willing to muck in to get the job done. ‘
‘4 Pump Court is my go to Chambers. Great barristers, amazing clerks, brilliant service and an ability to think outside the box to provide services that are tailored to the solicitor or client needs.’
‘Fastastic set – a force to be reckoned with in both the middle east and far east.’
Clerking
‘Carl Wall provides top quality service and is incredibly responsive. He gives particular attention to help chambers to develop China-related practice and cares about Chinese clients’ feedback.’
‘Service of the clerks is second to none. I have a lot of contact with Billy Griffiths in particular, who is exceptional and always available and willing to assist in any way he can.’
‘Excellent service – really understand what is required.’
‘Stewart Gibbs is really impressive.’
‘The clerk’s are very helpful and in my view one of the stand-out clerking teams in the City. Stewart Gibbs in particular is incredibly helpful and friendly to deal with.’
Brick Court Chambers
Brick Court Chambers is building an increasingly strong reputation international arbitration work. The set will miss former top tier silk Neil Calver QC, who left for the High Court bench, but any loss to the overall offering has been mitigated by the arrival of the hugely respected Vernon Flynn QC from Essex Court Chambers. Other members cover a broad range of key sectors, including infrastructure, energy and insurance. Flynn QC led highly-rated junior Edward Ho in The Republic of Kazakhstan v World Wide Minerals Ltd in a Commercial Court challenge to a BIT award. Other key juniors include Zahra Al-Rikabi, who had a prominent role representing the Qatari broadcaster in the BIT dispute Al Jazeera Media Network v Egypt, a case concerning issues such as the arrest of three Al Jazeera journalists against a backdrop of greatly soured diplomatic relations between Qatar and other Arab nations. Mark Howard QC acted for the claimant in Standard Life Aberdeen v Lloyds Banking Group before the LCIA.
Testimonials
Set
‘Obviously great set of Chambers with strength across the board.’
‘Brick Court is one of the foremost commercial sets, involved in much international arbitration either as practitioners or as arbitrators. It is not surprising that a high proportion of its members have gone on to be judges in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court and following that have sat as judges in other courts or as arbitrators.’
‘The best set for commercial litigation and with a rapidly growing presence in commercial arbitration.’
‘Brick Court are first class.’
‘The client insisted he want to be represented by Brick Court as “They are the best.’
Clerking
‘They are all at the top of their game. My experience of them is very positive.’
‘Tony Burgess and Paul Dennison are both impressive clerks.’
‘Philip Wilkes has been helpful throughout.’
‘Good clerking service.’
‘Very efficient and commercial.’
Quadrant Chambers
Quadrant Chambers is 'a first class set for commercial and shipping dispute resolution, made up of a group of the most outstanding minds in the UK'. The international arbitration expertise of its members now goes well beyond the set's traditional strengths of shipping and commodities disputes. Among the more high profile cases has been Malaysian Government v 1MDB, in which Luke Parsons QC led the Malaysian government's challenge to a $5.8 billion LCIA settlement agreement negotiated by the country's former prime minister with an Abu Dhabi government-owned entity. Guy Blackwood QC also successfully represented the appellant in a bit to overturn an arbitral award in Herculito Maritime Ltd v. Gunvor International. Alexander Uff, who joined recently from Shearman & Sterling LLP is one of several with experience at elite firms of solicitors in this space.
Testimonials
Set
‘Quadrant Chambers has an impressive depth of expertise in international arbitration, at all levels. The addition of Alexander Uff seriously enhances their offering and shows they are committed to growing arbitration as a specialist practice area. ‘
‘Excellent team work with determination and self-discipline. ‘
‘A very talented set of chambers, the barristers and and the clerking team provide seamless service and are very friendly. ‘
‘Quadrant has come along leaps and bounds in recent years. A number of my go to counsel in the past year or two have been drawn from that set.’
‘Much of Quadrant’s work is highly international by nature and there is a significant growing practice in the international arbitration market especially at the mid level/senior junior end.’
Clerking
‘Top rate. Their support and commercial staff are extremely professional and good to deal with also. Simon Slattery is excellent.’
‘Gary Ventura is a force of nature. He really knows how to manage a set and get the best out of his barristers.’
‘Very user friendly and pragmatic.’
‘First rate. Daryl Hughes in particular cannot do enough for you. We have always felt supported from the clerks room and know they can be relied on to meet deadlines.’
‘Everything perfect – as it should be. All the work is made timely and with no errors at all. What else could one expect?’
Crown Office Chambers
Crown Office Chambers is not as large as some of the leading arbitration sets, but the quality of its barristers is high, particularly for infrastructure and construction related arbitration claims. For many, the smaller size is a virtue, guaranteeing clients a much more personalized and flexible service. Roger Ter Haar QC has an eminent reputation for infrastructure and energy related disputes, particularly in the Middle East. Andrew Rigney QC is another top name in the construction and infrastructure space, while Crispin Winser QC's advocacy skills were recognised in 2021 as he took silk. Notable juniors include the highly experienced Anna Laney.
Testimonials
Set
‘As a firm, we have used several barristers from Crown Office Chambers, all of which we would highly recommend. They are commercially minded, incredibly responsive and have a real in-depth knowledge of arbitration. They are also incredibly good value in comparison with other chambers.’
‘Excellent. Counsel are engaged and responsive. Good construction expertise and a deep bench at all levels, particularly at the junior end.’
Clerking
‘I have always found the clerks responsive. As international counsel, having a chambers who can operate with flexibility helps a lot.’
‘The clerks are excellent. I worked with Andy Flanagan who gives excellent service and goes that extra mile for his clients.’
‘The clerks have been exceptional. With some clients, it can be a challenge to find a balance with payment terms that satisfy both chambers and the client’s needs. Crown Office Chambers were incredibly receptive to this, really wanting to understand the needs of the client and adapt accordingly without any issue. This was very impressive, and made my role as an instructing solicitor incredibly easy. Andy Flanagan, in particular, is exceptional at what he does – he is personable, and really wants to understand the client’s needs.’
‘Very well and efficiently clerked in Andy Flanagan and Chris Kent.’