Essex Court Chambers > London, England > Set Profile
Essex Court Chambers Offices
24 LINCOLN'S INN FIELDS
LONDON
WC2A 3EG
England
Essex Court Chambers > The Legal 500 Rankings
London Bar > Art and cultural property Tier 1
The barristers at Essex Court Chambers stand out for their ‘deep experience‘, often acting for auction houses, collectors, and dealers in transactions and contractual disputes relating to the art world. Leading Claudia Renton, Joe Smouha KC represented the defendant in Sotheby’s v Mark Weiss Ltd, where Sotheby’s sought the rescission of a contract of sale for a painting by Frans Hals, disputing its authenticity as a ground for contention – a contractual dispute now settled. In QIPCO v Ariadne Galleries, Emily Wood KC represented the defendant, a New York based dealer, against claims by the Qatari investment company alleging mosaics sold to it valued at US$350,000 were forgeries.Leading Silks
2022 Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘Top quality throughout their barristers.‘
‘One of the big beasts of art law – they have very deep experience in these cases.‘
‘Top quality set. One of our favourites. Huge strength in depth at every level, especially KCs.‘
Clerking
‘Very good – Kevin Grubb will always go the extra mile.‘
‘Efficient and responsive.‘
London Bar > Commercial litigation Tier 1
Essex Court Chambers is ‘packed with excellent barristers‘ and has ‘a deserved reputation as a Magic Circle chambers for heavyweight litigation‘. The set’s senior and junior members offer an incredibly broad range of expertise, including overlapping strengths in civil fraud and commercial arbitration. Recent noteworthy cases include Dynasty Company for Oil and Gas Trading Ltd v The Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq; and Dr Ashti Hawrami, a US$1.5bn Commercial Court claim relating to change of control of two oil and gas blocks in Northern Iraq in which Hawrami was successfully represented by Graham Dunning KC, Anton Dudnikov and Catherine Jung. Several members, including Dunning, Anna Dilnot KC, Ruth den Besten, Ciaran Keller and Benedict Tompkins, are representing different groups of defendants in, Suppipat & Ors v Nop Narongdeg & Ors, a US$2bn claim concerning an alleged fraud by Thai businessman Nop Narongdej and several other individuals and entities over the ownership of Thailand’s largest renewable energy company.Rising stars
Leading Silks
2021 Silks
2022 Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘One of the market leading commercial litigation sets – packed with excellent barristers.’
‘Essex court is one of the leading sets in commercial litigation for a reason. They have true strength and depth.’
‘I am consistently impressed by Essex Court. Everyone I have worked with there is very intelligent and hard working. They are without question a go-to set when you have a difficult issue.’
‘Essex Court is excellent and the top of the tree for commercial litigation work.’
‘Essex Court is an outstanding set with a deserved reputation as a Magic Circle chambers for heavyweight litigation. They are my go-to choice for complex civil fraud claims. All the tenants are outstanding.’
Clerking
‘Ably led by Joe Ferrigno, they know what they deliver and how to pair barristers with the work on which they are instructed.’
Work highlights
London Bar > Fraud: civil Tier 1
Essex Court Chambers is ‘the market leading civil fraud set by the proverbial country mile’ with ‘true strength and depth in chambers from silks to baby juniors, and a great training programme to show off their knowledge and skills‘. The set’s broad offering ensures a wide range of expertise in a range of areas, including cryptocurrencies. Paul McGrath KC remains a dominant force and successfully led James Sheehan, Tom Ford and Owen Lloyd on behalf of the lead defendants in PJSC Bank “Finance and Credit” Deposit Guarantee Fund of Ukraine v Zhevago and others, a US$500m fraud claim against PJSC Bank’s former owner with significant jurisdictional implications. Joe Smouha KC also led Louise Hutton KC and Felix Wardle on behalf of the claimant in Ivanishvili v Credit Suisse Life, a claim by Georgia’s former prime minister over losses incurred to the assets held in two life insurance policy wrappers as a result of the fraud of his Credit Suisse relationship manager.Rising stars
Leading Silks
2021 Silks
2022 Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘The market leading civil fraud set by the proverbial country mile – absolute strength in depth.’
‘Essex Court is one of the leading sets in commercial fraud litigation for a reason. They have true strength and depth in chambers from silks to baby juniors, and a great training programme to show off their knowledge and skills.’
‘They are in a league of their own for this kind of work – all the best people for this area are at this set, and they’re routinely our first port of call.’
‘Essex Court are, in my view, the number one chambers for civil fraud work. They are rightly considered to be the market leaders in this area.’
‘Exceptional set with lots of exceptional people – some of them being astonishingly good. Real market leaders.’
Clerking
‘With such a wealth of talent, the clerks know how to pair barristers to the right cases and are ably led by Joe Ferrigno.’
Work highlights
London Bar > International arbitration: counsel Tier 1
Essex Court Chambers is ‘the go-to set for international arbitration‘, unmatched in terms of scale and quality. The chambers is commended for its ‘deep bench of advocates at every level who are specialists in arbitration and court-related arbitration work’. This expertise extends to investment treaty disputes, and covers the full range of industries, from shipping and insurance through to energy, construction and infrastructure. The set boosted its silk ranks with the arrival of Ben Juratowitch KC from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP‘s renowned international arbitration practice. Notable case highlights include Cairn v India in which David Joseph KC led Anton Dudnikov on behalf of the oil and gas company Cairn (now Capricorn Energy) on its enforcement of a US$1.2bn arbitral award. On the investment treaty side, Alison Macdonald KC led Paul Wee (a recent arrival from 3 Verulam Buildings) for Kazakhstan in Alhambra v Kazakhstan, a high-value ICSID dispute arising out of the country’s largest gold mining concession.Rising stars
Leading Silks
2021 Silks
2022 Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘Essex Court Chambers are the go-to set for international arbitration. They have a deep bench of advocates at every level who are specialists in arbitration and court-related arbitration work.’
‘The team’s strengths at Essex Court Chambers include its vast expertise in this area and excellent quality of legal services that are tailored towards the client’s needs.’
‘Extraordinary all-round capability in these Chambers.’
‘Leading set in investment arbitration and arbitration generally.’
‘The Chambers have a deserved reputation for international arbitration.’
Clerking
‘The contact with clerks is always seamless and efficient.’
London Bar > Public international law Tier 1
Essex Court Chambers is a ‘first rate chambers with real strength in depth across the board‘ and is widely considered ‘among the best in the business for public international law‘. The set fields a broad mix of academics and commercial barristers with a wide range of expertise in public international law, from cases before the International Court of Justice through to ICSID claims and state versus state disputes. Its ranks were boosted through the recruitment of the highly experienced Ben Juratowitch KC from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP. Recent highlights include Mauritius v Maldives, a maritime delineation case before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea over the Chagos Archipelago, also known as the British Indian Ocean Territory, in which Alison Macdonald KC represented the Mauritian government, with Amy Sander and Naomi Hart for the Maldivian state. Malcolm Shaw KC also acted on behalf of the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a dispute with Qatar (represented by Vaughan Lowe KC) concerning a complaint to the International Civil Aviation Organisation over airspace restrictions on flights to and from Qatar.Rising stars
Leading Silks
2022 Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘This is clearly a top set in international law.’
These are first rate chambers with real strength in depth across the board.’
‘Essex Court Chambers is among the best in the business for public international law.’
‘A chambers with a top quality choice of barristers.’
‘You can’t beat Essex Court – there is no one in that chambers I would not consider instructing.’
Clerking
‘Clerks are efficient and professional.’
Work highlights
London Bar > Tax: VAT and excise Tier 1
Essex Court Chambers includes experienced members in the field of VAT and indirect tax, with specialist expertise in areas relating to customs duty, environmental tax and restitution work. Roderick Cordara KC represented the claimants, comprising over 350 local authorities and businesses, in the extremely significant Royal Mail Group Litigation before the Court of Appeal; with Cordara KC being successful on cross-appeal and the matter subsequently being decided by the CJEU. Andrew Legg acted in a complex and high value VAT dispute in Saint-Gobain Building Distribution Ltd v HMRC, with the Upper Tribunal ruling that a historical bad debt relief claim approaching £10m could not be made due to a lack of supporting evidence. Edward Brown KC, who has this year taken silk, appeared before the Court of Appeal in News UK v HMRC, the first VAT dispute to concern the supply of electronic copies of newspapers.Rising stars
Leading Silks
2022 Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘Excellent set and Counsel always bend over backwards to make themselves available. ’
Clerks
‘Clerks are very efficient and responsive. ’
London Bar > Banking and finance (including consumer credit) Tier 2
Essex Court Chambers is ‘an up and coming power in the banking disputes space, leveraging off its traditional strength in fraud‘ and fielding ‘lots of exceptional people’. Many disputes have a major cross-border dimension, such as Republic of Mozambique v Credit Suisse, in which Joe Smouha KC, Nathan Pillow KC and Ciaran Keller are representing Mozambique in the ‘Tuna Bond’ scandal relating to government backed loans arranged by Credit Suisse that pushed Mozambique into a debt crisis. James Willan KC is also representing Privatbank in JSC Commercial Bank PrivatBank v Kolomoisky, a claim against two former owners of the Ukrainian bank who allegedly orchestrated a fraudulent scheme to misappropriate funds.Rising stars
Leading Silks
2021 Silks
2022 Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘They are a leading practice for banking disputes.’
‘Essex Court is very commercial, and is an up and coming power in the banking disputes space, leveraging off its traditional strength in fraud.’
‘Exceptional set with lots of exceptional people – some of them being astonishingly good. Real market leaders.’
‘A top set and they are as strong for banking work as they are for civil fraud and commercial disputes more generally.’
‘Great set – full of stars.’
Clerking
‘Very impressive. Joe Ferrigno is a class act and his team is good.’
London Bar > Employment Tier 2
Essex Court Chambers‘ ‘high-quality employment practice‘ spans cross-border team moves, remuneration disputes, complex bonus issues, restrictive covenants and confidential information, as well as whistleblowing and discrimination claims. Recent highlights include Andrew Hochhauser KC‘s representation of claimant Nadja Swarovski-Adams, a general partner and managing director of the Swarovski crystal production business, against Daniel Swarovski Group, the matter concerning direct sex discrimination, equal pay, harassment and victimisation claims. Elsewhere in chambers, Daniel Oudkerk KC represented F1 engineer Ben Hodgkinson, who moved from a role as head of mechanical engineering at Mercedes-Benz High Performance Powertrains to a similar role at the powertrain arm of its rivals Red Bull Racing. In Richard Baker Harrison Ltd v Brooks and others, 2022 Silk appointment Edward Brown KC successfully acted for the claimant against serving and former senior employees, in relation to misuse of confidential information and breach of fiduciary duty.Rising stars
Leading Silks
2021 Silks
2022 Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘Essex Court has a high-quality employment practice.‘
‘Essex Court is an excellent set.‘
‘A strong set with highly intelligent people.‘
‘All of the set is impressive. Essex Court has always had a range of counsel (of varying experience) available for every instruction.‘
‘Essex Court is a top-notch set favouring quality over quantity.‘
Clerking
‘The clerks’ team is very well run, approachable and efficient.‘
London Bar > Energy Tier 2
Essex Court Chambers is ‘without question a go-to set when you have a difficult issue’, particularly in ‘high-value, frighteningly complex multi-jurisdictional energy disputes’. It has a long-standing practice in large-scale energy litigation, building on the synergy with its market-leading practice in international commercial arbitration, and its members have notable expertise in cases concerning gas pricing, production sharing agreements and joint operating agreements. Paul Key KC successfully represented Petrochemical Holdings in its $2bn+ claim against Romania arising out of a dispute as to redevelopment of petrochemicals plants. David Mildon KC has in-depth knowledge of solar feed-in tariffs, renewables obligation, contracts for differences in the electricity market, and Graham Dunning KC was lead counsel in Dynasty v Kurdistan Regional Government & Hawrami, which concerned a $1.5bn claim concerning change of control of two blocks under production sharing contracts in the eponymous autonomous area in the north of Iraq. Outstanding junior Siddharth Dhar acted for P&ID in seeking to enforce a $9.5bn award against Nigeria in respect of a failed gas project.
Leading Silks
2021 Silks
2022 Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘I am consistently impressed by Essex Court. Everyone I have worked with there is very intelligent and hard working. They are without question a go-to set when you have a difficult issue.’
‘Essex court is one of the leading sets for a reason. They have true strength and depth.’
‘These are first-rate chambers with real strength in depth across the board.’
‘Essex Court is a high-quality set. Dependably good.’
‘Generally extremely high-quality on complex contractual disputes; very responsive.’
Clerking
‘The clerks room is first-rate. Oliver Duane is always a pleasure to deal with; he is commercially savvy and extremely personable.’
Work highlights
London Bar > Shipping Tier 2
Fielding ‘high-level professional services’, Essex Court Chambers is known for its strong barristers on both junior and silk level. The set handles disputes, arbitration, and litigation on the full spectrum of maritime matters. Christopher Smith KC appeared for the South African government in Argentum v The Silver - the case, concerning the recovery of silver bars from a 1942 shipwreck, was the first to consider the State Immunity Act in relation to an in rem claim. Sanctions were a central part of OCM Nile and OCM Kama v Courage and Amethyst, in which Graham Dunning KC led for the defendants. Philippa Hopkins KC regularly appears in various courts and arbitration fora in relation to ship arrests, shipbuilding, and marine insurance. 2021 was another strong year for David Walsh, who was involved in the charterparty claim Container Schiffahrts-Gmbh & Co. KG MS “MSC Flaminia” v MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. about an onboard explosion caused by cargo. Jeremy Brier KC and Neil Hart KC are both 2022 Silk appointments.Rising stars
Leading Silks
2021 Silks
2022 Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘Essex Court Chambers offers high-level professional services.’
‘First-class chambers with in-depth strength in many areas.’
‘Very impressive Chambers. Strength in depth. Tenancy really is a hallmark of good quality.’
‘Essex Court has a fantastic reputation.’
‘These are first-rate chambers with real strength in depth across the board.’
‘Essex Court Chambers is the best for shipping and commodities matters.’
Clerks
Work highlights
London Bar > Commodities Tier 3
Essex Court Chambers remains ‘one of the go-to sets for commodities and shipping, with great depth both at silk and junior level’. It has an impressive track record in both areas of law and is particularly highly regarded in wet and dry shipping cases, as well as high-value fraud matters. Nathan Pillow KC, who is ‘a fantastic example of what a modern-day silk should be’, is the set’s most active silk in commodities matters; he led the representation of a claimant in a Commercial Court claim between Turkish and Russian interests for breach of a long-term contract for the supply of oil. Among the juniors, the ‘user-friendly, intelligent, commercial and pragmatic’ David Walsh acted for Trafigura in a claim against various Sudanese governmental agencies concerning crude and gasoil supplies.Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘Essex Court is one of the go-to sets for commodities and shipping. They are probably number one is this area. Great depth both at silk and junior level.’
Clerking
‘I have found Essex Court to be very good and quick in responding to queries put to them. David Banks is always helpful.’
London Bar > Insurance and reinsurance Tier 3
Fielding an ‘impressive range of individuals‘, Essex Court Chambers has a significant market presence in insurance and reinsurance disputes, with members regularly acting in claims before courts and arbitration panels in London, Paris, Vienna, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong, Singapore, the US and Canada among others. John Lockey KC routinely acts for insurers, reinsurers, policyholders and brokers in a broad range of insurance and reinsurance disputes and related litigation; and his recent experience includes representing Arch Insurance in the FCA’s lockdown-related business interruption test case alongside Jeremy Brier KC (prior to his appointment in the 2022 Silk round).Leading Silks
Testimonials
Set
‘Impressive range of individuals.‘
‘Excellent set.‘
Clerking
‘Very good.‘
‘The clerks are excellent.‘
‘All the clerks do a good job.‘
‘Excellent indeed.‘
Work highlights
London Bar > Data protection
Leading Silks
London Bar > European Union law
London Bar > Travel law (including jurisdictional issues)
London Bar > Administrative law and human rights
Leading Silks
2022 Silks
London Bar > Business and regulatory crime (including global investigations)
Leading Silks
London Bar > Media and entertainment
2021 Silks
London Bar > Partnership
Leading Juniors
London Bar > Company
Leading Juniors
London Bar > Private client: personal tax
London Bar > International arbitration: arbitrators
‘The standard of the individuals is consistently outstanding‘, at Arbitrators at 24 Lincoln’s Inn Fields which is praised for its ‘strength in depth‘ and its wide selection of ‘top commercial arbitrators‘. The chambers is an affiliate of the elite commercial set Essex Court Chambers, where many of the arbitrators, including Graham Dunning KC, Jeffrey Gruder KC and David Mildon KC still practice as counsel. They join an impressive array of former barristers and judges, many of which previously practiced at Essex Court. Lord Collins and Sir Bernard Eder are the most high profile names among the full-time arbitrators, but the set caters for the full spectrum of industries, including construction, energy, insurance and reinsurance, and shipping.Testimonials
Set
‘A blue chip set for this type of work – one of the top few with strength in depth and breadth.’
‘It is obviously a first-rate commercial set.
‘I have appeared in front of arbitrators and appeared against / been led by a number of barristers at Essex Court Chambers / Arbitrators at 24 Lincoln’s Inn Fields. The standard of the individuals is consistently outstanding.’
’24 Lincolns Inn Fields has some of the top commercial arbitrators.’
‘They are one of the go-to sets for arbitrators in large commercial disputes.’
Clerking
‘The strength of the Chambers must in part be a tribute to clerking excellence.’
Work highlights
The English Bar Offshore > The English Bar Offshore Tier 4
Asia Pacific - The English Bar > Set overview
Asia Pacific - The English Bar > Commercial
Asia Pacific - The English Bar > Shipping and commodities
India - Senior Advocates > Commercial disputes
Gaurab Banerji is an overseas associate at Essex Court Chambers.Essex Court Chambers > Set Profile
Essex Court Chambers is a leading set of barristers’ chambers, specialising in commercial and financial litigation, arbitration, public law and public international law.
Members of chambers are recognised specialists in all areas of commercial law and handle disputes across the full spectrum of the business and financial world, including banking and finance, civil fraud, corporate/chancery and offshore, insurance and reinsurance, energy, trade, shipping, revenue, and employment.
Chambers is not a firm, nor are its members partners or employees. Rather, chambers is comprised of individual barristers, each of whom is a self-employed sole practitioner. Members of chambers are commonly retained by opposing sides in the same dispute, both in litigation and arbitration, with protocols in place to safeguard confidentiality. As well as acting on opposing sides, individuals appear in front of other members acting impartially as Deputy Judges or Arbitrators.
The barristers at Essex Court Chambers advise and act in disputes both in the UK and worldwide. They have a reputation for exceptional talent, top-class advocacy and a client-oriented approach.
The set: Founded in 1961, the then five members of chambers included the future judges Lord Mustill, Lord Justice Evans and Lord Justice Kerr. Other distinguished alumni include Lords Saville and Steyn, Lord Thomas (Lord Chief Justice), Lord Justice Beatson, Sir Anthony Colman, Bernard Eder (now Sir Bernard Eder), Geraldine Andrews (now Mrs Justice Andrews), Simon Bryan (now Mr Justice Bryan), Sara Cockerill (now Mrs Justice Cockerill), Richard Jacobs (now Mr Justice Jacobs), Tim Eicke (now a Judge of the European Court of Human Rights), Dame Rosalyn Higgins (former president of the International Court of Justice) and Sir Christopher Greenwood (formerly a Judge of the International Court of Justice). Essex Court Chambers continues to attract the highest calibre of recruits, and now comprises over 100 members.
Pupillage: Chambers typically offers up to four funded 12-month tenancy-seeking pupillages per year. Applications should be made via the Pupillage Gateway. Applications from both law and non-law graduates are welcomed. Applicants for pupillage are encouraged to undertake a mini-pupillage (of 1-2 days). Information about mini-pupillage, including deadlines for mini-pupillage applications and an online application form, is available at www.essexcourt.com.
Types of work undertaken: Annual market research and award ceremonies confirm that members are consistently recognised as leading individuals by clients and peers in a number of key areas, but most notably: international commercial arbitration; commercial litigation; civil fraud; public international law; VAT; energy and natural resources; insurance and reinsurance; shipping; banking and finance; commodities; employment; professional negligence; media, entertainment and sport; civil liberties and human rights; administrative and public law; agriculture; information technology; immigration; aviation; EU and competition; offshore litigation; commercial chancery; and insolvency and corporate recovery.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Clerk | Joe Ferrigno | jferrigno@essexcourt.com | 020 7147 7221 |
| Deputy Senior Clerk | Ben Perry | bperry@essexcourt.com | 020 7147 7222 |
| Team Leader | Jack Wood | jwood@essexcourt.com | 020 7147 7223 |
| Team Leader | Katie Myles | KMyles@essexcourt.com | 020 7147 7281 |
| Team Leader | Kevin Grubb | KGrubb@essexcourt.com | 020 7147 7281 |
Barrister Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
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 | Lorraine Aboagye | View Profile | |
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| Tim Akkouh KC | Tim is a commercial litigator, with a strong reputation for civil fraud… | View Profile |
 | Rebecca Akushie | Arbitration; commercial litigation; conflict of laws; insurance and reinsurance; international commercial arbitration;… | View Profile |
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| Sean Aughey | Barrister | View Profile |
 | David Baker | Barrister | View Profile |
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| Lucas Bastin KC | Lucas has a versatile practice across an array of practices areas, albeit… | View Profile |
 | Mark Belshaw | Barrister | View Profile |
 | Sir Franklin Berman | Specialises in international arbitration and advisory work in international law. 50-year career… | View Profile |
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| Steven Berry KC | Has specialised since 1985 in the associated fields of insurance and reinsurance,… | View Profile |
 | Claire Blanchard KC | Barrister. Claire Blanchard QC has a specialist commercial practice and is an… | View Profile |
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| Adam Board | Adam acts and advises as counsel in commercial litigation and international arbitration… | View Profile |
 | Stewart Boyd | Has appeared as counsel in the English courts and in other courts… | View Profile |
 | Prof Alan Boyle | Specialist in public international law, especially international environmental law and law of… | View Profile |
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| Jeremy Brier KC | Commercial barrister frequently appearing in the Commercial Court and in international arbitrations,… | View Profile |
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| Edward Brown KC | Broad-ranging practice across the following practice areas: commercial litigation; employment; media, entertainment… | View Profile |
 | Wei Jian Chan | Barrister | View Profile |
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| Charles Ciumei KC | Has a practice covering all aspects of employment with a commercial aspect,… | View Profile |
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| James Collins KC | Has a broad-based commercial practice. Recognised as clever, commercial and user-friendly, he… | View Profile |
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| Roderick Cordara KC | Has a broad commercial and public law practice with over 30 years’… | View Profile |
 | David Craig KC | With a “reputation for handling high-stakes cases”, “revered practitioner” David Craig KC has a rich… | View Profile |
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| Stuart Cribb | Stuart has a broad commercial practice in line with Chambers’ profile. He… | View Profile |
 | Simon Crookenden KC | Shipping: charterparty and bills of lading disputes; cargo claims; ship building; ship… | View Profile |
 | Prof Paul Davies | Paul is Professor of Commercial Law at UCL, having previously been a… | View Profile |
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| David Davies KC | Has a broadly based commercial practice encompassing both acting as junior counsel… | View Profile |
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| Huw Davies KC | Experienced and effective cross examiner with ‘an incredibly impressive style and approach’… | View Profile |
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| Ruth Den Besten | Ruth den Besten is a senior junior practitioner with substantial expertise in… | View Profile |
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| Siddharth Dhar | Siddharth acts as an advocate and advisor in substantial commercial litigation and… | View Profile |
 | Anna Dilnot KC | Broad commercial and commercial chancery litigation practice with a particular speciality in… | View Profile |
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| Ricky Diwan KC | Ricky Diwan QC specialises in international commercial and investment arbitration and related… | View Profile |
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| Stephen Donnelly | Barrister | View Profile |
 | Shane Doyle KC | Shane Doyle QC has a commercial practice covering a wide range of… | View Profile |
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| Anton Dudnikov | Anton has a broad commercial practice. He is regularly instructed in international… | View Profile |
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| Graham Dunning KC | Graham Dunning QC was until recently the co-head of Essex Court Chambers.… | View Profile |
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| Nigel Eaton KC | Specialises in international and domestic commercial litigation, with a particular emphasis on… | View Profile |
 | Tim Eicke | Highly experienced and respected public law advocate with a strong background in… | View Profile |
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| Tom Ford | View Profile | |
 | Daniel Fox | Daniel has a broad commercial practice in line with Chambers’ profile. He… | View Profile |
 | Matthieu Gregoire | Matthieu Gregoire specialises in commercial litigation, international commercial arbitration, and investor-state arbitration.… | View Profile |
 | Martin Griffiths | Has a busy general commercial practice including a significant proportion of employment-related… | View Profile |
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| Jeffrey Gruder KC | Jeffrey Gruder QC is widely recognised as a leading silk at the… | View Profile |
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| Naomi Hart | Naomi has a broad commercial litigation and arbitration practice. She has experience… | View Profile |
 | Neil Hart KC | Specialises in the fields of insurance and reinsurance, shipping (dry and wet)… | View Profile |
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| Andrew Hochhauser KC | Has a broad-based commercial practice, including a significant number of employment-related disputes… | View Profile |
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| Philippa Hopkins KC | Advises and acts in a wide range of commercial disputes, both in… | View Profile |
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| Stephen Houseman KC | Handles a wide range of commercial disputes. Many of his cases are… | View Profile |
 | Richard Hoyle | Barrister specialising in commercial litigation and international arbitration – most matters involve… | View Profile |
 | Ian Hunter | Has a broad-based commercial practice in line with chambers’ profile. A major… | View Profile |
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| Louise Hutton KC | Louise’s practice covers commercial and commercial/chancery litigation and arbitration, including banking and… | View Profile |
 | David Joseph KC | Has acted as counsel and arbitrator in an extremely wide range of… | View Profile |
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| Catherine Jung | View Profile | |
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| Ciaran Keller | Commercial and chancery litigation and arbitration (domestic and international), including: business agreements… | View Profile |
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| Paul Key KC | In private practice as a barrister since 1997, specialising in international and… | View Profile |
 | Prof Martin Lau | Regularly advises on South Asian law and Islamic law in the form… | View Profile |
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| Andrew Legg | Andrew has a broad commercial practice in line with Chambers’ profile. He… | View Profile |
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| Owen Lloyd | Barrister | View Profile |
 | John Lockey KC | Barrister specialising in insurance, reinsurance, commercial litigation, and professional negligence including brokers’… | View Profile |
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| Prof Vaughan Lowe KC | Practises as counsel in International Court of Justice, European Court of Human… | View Profile |
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| Alison Macdonald KC | Barrister | View Profile |
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| Jackie McArthur | Barrister | View Profile |
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| Paul McGrath KC | Barrister with a broad-based practice. Between 1999 and 2001 he was editor… | View Profile |
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| Hugh Mercer KC | Court and advisory advocate specialising in EU, competition, public law and cross-border… | View Profile |
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| David Mildon KC | General commercial litigation and arbitration including ABCI v Banque Franco Tunisienne [2003]… | View Profile |
 | Richard Millett KC | Specialises in: banking law, securities, debt and other financing instruments, derivatives, loan… | View Profile |
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| Bibek Mukherjee | Bibek undertakes a broad range of commercial work, as both sole and… | View Profile |
 | Freddie Onslow | Barrister | View Profile |
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| Daniel Oudkerk KC | Daniel Oudkerk QC has a broad-based trial and advisory practice. He is… | View Profile |
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| David Peters | Wide experience of commercial law with emphasis on general commercial litigation, civil… | View Profile |
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| Nathan Pillow KC | Specialises in commercial dispute resolution. Practises in the English courts at all… | View Profile |
 | Freddie Popplewell | Barrister | View Profile |
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| Iain Quirk KC | Has a broad commercial practice before the English courts and in arbitration.… | View Profile |
 | Katherine Ratcliffe | View Profile | |
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| Claudia Renton | Claudia has a broad commercial practice with specialisms in media and entertainment… | View Profile |
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| Alexander Riddiford | Alex specialises in insolvency/restructuring law, commercial dispute resolution, banking and finance (including… | View Profile |
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| Mr John Robb | John has a broad commercial law practice. He specialises in shipping, banking… | View Profile |
 | Jane Russell | Practises in employment and commercial law, acting for mainly city respondent clients.… | View Profile |
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| Amy Sander | Amy has a broad commercial practice with a particular interest in public… | View Profile |
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| Prof Dan Sarooshi KC | Professor Dan Sarooshi Q.C. has a track record of achieving success in… | View Profile |
 | David Scorey KC | Wide-ranging practice in international and domestic commercial law, litigating in both domestic… | View Profile |
 | Malcolm Shaw | Barrister focusing on public international law. Cases include: R v Mohamed Gul… | View Profile |
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| James Sheehan | Specialist in commercial and chancery litigation and arbitration. Practice areas include civil… | View Profile |
 | Christopher Smith KC | Chris Smith has a broad based practice covering all aspects of domestic… | View Profile |
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| Joe Smouha KC | Has a broad-based commercial practice with a particular emphasis on appearances in… | View Profile |
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| John Snider | Barrister practising in the following areas: shipping, insurance, arbitration (including LMAA, ICC,… | View Profile |
 | Akash Sonecha | View Profile | |
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| Paul Stanley | Prior to being called to the bar, Paul lectured on European Community… | View Profile |
 | Luke Tattersall | Barrister | View Profile |
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| Mark Templeman KC | Practises primarily in the fields of reinsurance and insurance (marine and non-marine).… | View Profile |
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| Benedict Tompkins | Benedict has a broad commercial litigation and arbitration practice. He has experience… | View Profile |
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| David Walsh | Barrister with a broad commercial practice. Particularly well-known for his work in… | View Profile |
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| Felix Wardle | View Profile | |
 | Mubarak Waseem | Barrister | View Profile |
 | Prof Philippa Watson | Has a practice in London, Dublin and Brussels. Most of her work… | View Profile |
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| Peter Webster | Undertakes a broad range of commercial work, as both sole counsel and… | View Profile |
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| Mr Paul Wee | Paul Choon Kiat Wee specialises in commercial litigation, international commercial arbitration, and… | View Profile |
 | Jessica Wells | Has a broad commercial practice, with a particular interest in public international… | View Profile |
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| Angeline Welsh | Barrister | View Profile |
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| James Willan | Barrister with a broad-based commercial practice, appearing before the county courts, High… | View Profile |
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| Emily Wood KC | Has a broad commercial practice in line with chambers’ profile. Focused on… | View Profile |
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| Adam Woolnough | Arbitration, commercial litigation, conflict of laws, insurance and reinsurance, public international law,… | View Profile |
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| Sam Wordsworth | In private practice as a barrister since 1997, specialising in public international… | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Lucy Smith : Head of Marketing Jacky Chase : Operations ManagerDiversity
Members of Essex Court Chambers are involved in a variety of initiatives for the furtherance of equality and diversity and promoting access to the legal profession and to the bar. Examples of these include:
The Social Mobility Foundation
For the last five years, Essex Court Chambers has been an official supporter of the Social Mobility Foundation, and a large number of members of Chambers are regularly involved in running workshops and activities for students identified by the Social Mobility Foundation. Essex Court Chambers was the first (and still the only) chambers to become an official supporter of the Social Mobility Foundation. One of the key focuses of the Social Mobility Foundation is to support talented students from non-traditional backgrounds to focus on both thinking about careers and university choices whilst at school, and to support students in these endeavours. Supporting the Social Mobility Foundation came as part of a recognition by members of chambers that more needs to be done, far earlier in the recruitment process, and with a long term focus: supporting talented students to achieve their potential at school and university, enabling them to be the barristers of the future. Members of Chambers run at least four events per year with the Social Mobility Foundation, including a public speaking workshop for sixth form students, a mooting workshop for students at university, attending the Social Mobility Foundations career events, giving feedback on draft personal statements for university law degree applications, and providing mock university law interviews.
Mentoring Scheme
Essex Court Chambers is one of six Barristers’ Chambers who created a mentoring scheme for underrepresented groups at the Bar. The mentoring scheme, aims to support and encourage individuals from groups which are underrepresented at the Bar of England and Wales (and in particular the commercial bar) to pursue careers as barristers. Those underrepresented groups include women; people from minority ethnic backgrounds; people with disabilities; LGBT+ people; people who spent time in care; and people from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds.
Outreach
Outreach to potential candidates to widen the pool of potential applicants, for instance sponsoring QMUL’s diversity event, providing speakers or participants to student events, providing mentors for students as part of the KCL Bar & Mooting Society’s Social Mobility Mentors Scheme, putting on student open days, assisting with the Bar Council’s Bar Placement Week, participating in the Inner Temple’s Pegasus Access and Support Scheme. In 2019, one of our current pupils, Lorraine Aboagye, spoke as a panelist for BME Legal, which caters to aspiring barristers from a black/minority and/or low socio-economic background, providing support, one-to-one mentoring and workshops on the pupillage process. The event was a workshop on networking tips and tricks, and general pupillage application advice.
COMBAR
Assisting with the work of COMBAR, the specialist bar association for the commercial bar, which has recently been supporting a series of diversity events with ‘Cake and Counsel’ in Birmingham and London with an emphasis on informal networking with aspiring lawyers. Several members of chambers are involved in COMBAR’s governance, and Bibek Mukherjee is a member of the Junior COMBAR Committee.
Annual Student Open Day
Essex Court Chambers led the way in introducing an annual student open day, in addition to traditional mini-pupillages, as a way of running an event specifically focused on giving students an opportunity to learn about the different areas of the bar and the routes to the bar, the available scholarships and financial support and where they are encouraged to freely ask questions and meet current members of Chambers. This annual event has proved very popular, including attracting many students not yet studying law and attracting equal numbers of male and female students.
Pro Bono
Members of Chambers regularly undertake pro bono work, including via the Bar Pro Bono Unit and the Employment Law Appeal Advice Scheme (“ELAAS”). Notable pro bono cases undertaken by members of Chambers include appearing in the Supreme Court in (1) Jivraj v Hashwani, in which the Supreme Court held that an arbitrator was not a person “employed” within the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003; and (2) Bates van Winkelhof v Clyde & Co LLP, in which the Supreme Court held that members of limited liability partnerships are workers for the purposes of whistleblowing protection. Further information on pro-bono work undertaken by members of Essex Court Chambers can be found on individual members’ CVs. In addition to arguing cases pro bono, many members of Essex Court Chambers are individually involved in supporting charitable causes, including working with legal advice clinics and acting as trustees. In 2019 Essex Court Chambers was acknowledged as a Gold Patron of the Bar Pro Bono Unit.
- Art and cultural property
- Commercial litigation
- Fraud: civil
- International arbitration: counsel
- Public international law
- Tax: VAT and excise
Top Tier Set Rankings
- Data protection
- European Union law
- Travel law (including jurisdictional issues)
- Administrative law and human rights
- Business and regulatory crime (including global investigations)
- Media and entertainment
- Partnership
- Company
- Private client: personal tax
- International arbitration: arbitrators
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