International arbitration: counsel

Leading Silks

KCs at the very top of their field, with a long-established record of market-defining cases, and widespread endorsement from clients and peers. All silks appointed in the last two rounds are listed further below.

Stuart Catchpole KC
1

Stuart Catchpole KC

Atkin Chambers
Stuart is a wonderful leading counsel to have on your team. He is collegiate and a pleasure to work with, while also being an extremely experienced advocate and strategist. He is exceptional with clients and immediately wins their trust through a combination of his clear intellect and his user-friendly approach in liaising with them and his instructing solicitors alike. His significant experience and technical excellence make him a superb choice for any high-stakes construction dispute.
David Joseph KC
1

David Joseph KC

Essex Court Chambers
One of the finest barristers I have ever worked with. A pleasure to have on any team. Brilliant advocacy, attention to detail, and a true team player. Could not ask for a better barrister to work on a case.
Duncan Matthews KC
1

Duncan Matthews KC

Twenty Essex
Duncan has a rare ability to identify the points that will determine the outcome of a case and to develop a coherent strategy around them from the outset. He is exceptionally effective both in written submissions and oral advocacy, responding to questions from tribunals with confidence, accuracy, and complete command of the issues. Clients benefit not only from his formidable advocacy skills but also from his commercial judgment and strategic insight throughout every stage of a dispute. He is highly responsive, collaborative, and a genuine pleasure to work with.
Toby Landau KC
1

Toby Landau KC

Duxton Hill Chambers London
Toby is one of, if not the, standout barristers in this area. In the Ras Al Kaimah v India case before the English Commercial Court, his advocacy was superlative. The go-to barrister for both arbitrations and litigations in this field.
Jern-Fei Ng KC
1

Jern-Fei Ng KC

Duxton Hill Chambers
Jern Fei is a meticulous advocate who leaves no stone unturned. His preparations are thorough, and he is quick on his feet. He is an excellent advocate who engages the tribunal well.
James Howells KC
2

James Howells KC

Atkin Chambers
James Howells KC is an excellent arbitration counsel with deep experience in large-scale international disputes. He combines strong legal analysis with a strategic, solutions-focused approach. He is particularly effective in managing complex multi-party matters and in handling expert-heavy cases. His advocacy is measured, persuasive, and well-judged, and he works very effectively with the tribunal and opposing counsel alike. He is a highly trusted adviser who consistently delivers at the top level.
Adrian Hughes KC
2

Adrian Hughes KC

39 Essex Chambers
Adrian is a highly conscientious barrister who is willing to do the spadework and prepare his cases thoroughly. He is great on paper and a very strong advocate, adopting an examination and submission style that is well-received by tribunals. In recent years, his practice has involved a significant amount of time sitting as an arbitrator in international arbitrations, particularly those in the Far East. He is often appointed as Chair and is now a highly respected international arbitrator.
Matthew Gearing KC
2

Matthew Gearing KC

Duxton Hill Chambers London
Excellent knowledge of the oil and gas sector. In-depth knowledge of the Indian market, which he deploys effectively. Very collegiate. A pleasure to work with.
Lucas Bastin KC
3

Lucas Bastin KC

Duxton Hill Chambers London
Incredibly hard-working and very, very bright. A true subject matter expert, Lucas has an impressive depth of knowledge of Public International Law and Arbitration; he really knows his stuff. He has an excellent client manner and is a real strategic thinker.
Richard Boulton KC
3

Richard Boulton KC

One Essex Court
Richard combines unparalleled and unique technical expertise in issues of valuation and accounting, with impeccable judgment and a measured yet highly persuasive advocacy style. That combination makes him an absolutely superb advocate. His cross-examination of expert witnesses is excellent. He knows the points that will appeal to judges and those that will not. He is a genuine pleasure to work with. He is highly collegiate and supportive of the ideas of others. He is hands-on and without ego, but carries genuine authority and respect.
Rupert D’Cruz KC
3

Rupert D’Cruz KC

Littleton Chambers
Rupert D’Cruz KC is a very strong advocate. He demonstrated deep knowledge of English law and used it effectively throughout the dispute. Rupert D’Cruz KC worked closely with the client and did an excellent job on procedural strategy, always thinking several steps ahead. At the same time, Rupert D’Cruz KC met every deadline without fail and handled all procedural steps with great care and precision. During the hearings, the advocacy was clear and persuasive, even under tough questioning from the tribunal. The barrister demonstrated the ability to work under tough conditions by preparing answers to complex questions from the arbitrators directly during the hearings and showed an excellent ability to navigate the complex factual circumstances of the dispute.
Philip Marshall KC
3

Philip Marshall KC

Chambers of Philip Marshall KC
James MacDonald KC
4

James MacDonald KC

One Essex Court
James was able to familiarize himself with very complex specialized laws of a foreign jurisdiction in a very short amount of time. His attention to detail was particularly noteworthy. James made himself available personally to discuss matters whenever requested; he was easygoing and approachable, and it was a pleasure working with him on the assignment. His calm and measured approach to the examination of witnesses set the right tone for proceedings that could otherwise have become very adversarial.
Steven Walker KC
4

Steven Walker KC

33 Chancery Lane
Steven Walker KC is a formidable advocate. His advocacy is precise, clear, and persuasive. As a cross-examiner, he is able to interrogate information from the most difficult of witnesses. He is very impressive on his feet and gives the aura of what a King's Counsel should be. He is a litigation strategist and is able to discern the commercial objectives of clients even before the clients know what they should aim for. He is very commercially astute. He is very good with business clients, and his international experience shows when he is interacting with international clients.
Emily Wood KC
4

Emily Wood KC

Essex Court Chambers
Emily Wood KC is an absolutely first-rate lawyer with very substantial international arbitration experience built up over many years. I have worked with her for decades and seen her become one of the strongest arbitration silks of her generation. She is bright, careful, diligent, hardworking, and ambitious — and she brings real rigor and intellectual seriousness to her cases. Newly in silk and already operating at a very high level in this field. A first-rate choice in international arbitration.
Khawar Qureshi KC
4

Khawar Qureshi KC

McNair International

2025 Silks

KCs at the very top of their field, with a long-established record of market-defining cases, and widespread endorsement from clients and peers. All silks appointed in the last two rounds are listed further below.

Tariq Baloch KC
1

Tariq Baloch KC

Essex Court Chambers
Tariq is super-intelligent, very personable, and easy to work with. He is both a formidable advocate and leader on arbitration matters, as well as a member of a team that brings everyone together. Tariq is a wordsmith whose written work is always compelling and attractive.

2026 Silks

KCs at the very top of their field, with a long-established record of market-defining cases, and widespread endorsement from clients and peers. All silks appointed in the last two rounds are listed further below.