Essex Court Chambers > London, England > Set Profile

Essex Court Chambers
24 LINCOLN'S INN FIELDS
LONDON
WC2A 3EG
England

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

Joe Smouha KCEssex Court Chambers  ‘A stellar advocate and a supersilk in all respects. Not grand and a great team player too. A huge pleasure to work with.
Ranked: Tier 1

2022 Silks

Leading Juniors

Claudia RentonEssex Court ChambersHer written work is faultless. She has a brilliant writing style. She is extremely collaborative – certainly one of her strengths.
Ranked: Tier 1

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

Benedict Tompkins  - Essex Court Chambers 'Benedict is technically excellent - he will also grasp the key point quickly and will hone in on any weaknesses in an opponent's argument.'
Ranked: Tier 1

Leading Silks

Joe Smouha KCEssex Court ChambersCalming gravitas, wonderful intellect, deadly advocate.’
Ranked: Tier 1
Paul McGrath KCEssex Court ChambersHe’s phenomenally clever, and a really nice man, who is a real team player, to boot.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Andrew Hochhauser KCEssex Court ChambersA scary adversary and fantastic on the law.'
Ranked: Tier 3
Jeffrey Gruder KCEssex Court Chambers ‘Outstanding intellect, extraordinary advocacy married with sharp commercial acumen.'
Ranked: Tier 3
Ranked: Tier 3
Stephen Houseman KCEssex Court ChambersVery user-friendly, extremely intelligent and calm under pressure.'
Ranked: Tier 3
Huw Davies KCEssex Court Chambers ‘An excellent advocate with a calm and convincing style. Responsive and direct regarding advice.'
Ranked: Tier 4
Daniel Oudkerk KCEssex Court Chambers ‘Excellent strategic judgment, smooth as butter with his advocacy and just a thoroughly decent human being. Great fun to work with.'
Ranked: Tier 4
Graham Dunning KCEssex Court ChambersHis advocacy is brilliant.
Ranked: Tier 4
Ranked: Tier 4
Nathan Pillow KCEssex Court Chambers ‘Nathan is one of the absolute best. He is charming in court, and his advocacy and cross-examination is insightful, incisive and has left many witnesses in great difficulty. He is also supremely user friendly, works well with people at all levels, and is strategically brilliant.'
Ranked: Tier 4
Paul Stanley KCEssex Court Chambers ‘His forensic skills, alongside his fierce intellect, allow him to cut through any legal claim which is put in front of him. He is efficient, strategic and businesslike which is highly attractive to clients.'
Ranked: Tier 4
Ranked: Tier 6
Philippa Hopkins KC - Essex Court Chambers 'She has a great capacity for absorbing detail while keeping the big picture in mind. She is use-friendly, responsive and extremely bright. A persuasive and credible advocate. Overall a pleasure to work with, and excellent with clients.'
Ranked: Tier 6
James Collins KC – Essex Court Chambers ‘Calm and assured both as an adviser and as an advocate. Excellent both at first instance and in the Court of Appeal.’
Ranked: Tier 6

2021 Silks

James Willan KCEssex Court ChambersSimply one of the stars of the Bar – makes the most complex points of law or fact sound simple, has the ear of the court as it knows it will hear clear, concise and erudite submissions when he is on his feet. Engenders absolute confidence.’

2022 Silks

Tim Akkouh KCEssex Court Chambers ‘Any instructing solicitor's dream: creative, incredibly user-friendly, with unparalleled command of the law on freezing orders.' 
Anna Dilnot KC – Essex Court ChambersAnna has great judgment, and is excellent both on paper and on her feet. Opponents underestimate Anna at their peril.'
Edward Brown KCEssex Court Chambers ‘Ed’s particular strength is an ability to quickly get under the skin of a complex case, identify the issues and plan accordingly.’
Emily Wood KCEssex Court Chambers ‘Emily is one of the stars of the Bar. She has every quality in spades. Formidably clever, a polished advocate, a huge appetite for hard work and always willing to give a pragmatic steer on strategy. In addition to that, she has a great sense of humour.’
Jeremy Brier KCEssex Court ChambersJeremy is excellent at all levels. He is approachable, thoughtful, incisive, clear, concise and very bright.'

Leading Juniors

Ruth den BestenEssex Court Chambers ‘Very cool, calm and incisive advocacy. Always on top of her brief.'
Ranked: Tier 1
James SheehanEssex Court Chambers ‘James has all the gravitas, experience, and sound judgement of a silk, but is immersed in the detail throughout the case and always available. His abilities consistently astound: send him a long document and he’ll have read it, digested it, and reverted with incisive comments before you have got to page 10.’
Ranked: Tier 1
Ciaran KellerEssex Court Chambers ‘Ciaran is a superstar. He cuts to the heart of the case and provides clear, precise advise. He is a fantastic strategist and has a great feel for how a Court will react to an argument. His written work is exceptional. He is always available and is super responsive.'
Ranked: Tier 2
David PetersEssex Court Chambers ‘His advice and legal submissions combine cleverness, creativity and commerciality wrapped up in compelling concision. His oral advocacy style is measured and very effective with judges.'
Ranked: Tier 2
Anton DudnikovEssex Court Chambers ‘Anton is extremely capable and easy to work with. He grasps issues quickly and has the ability to explain them in lucid fashion.'
Ranked: Tier 2
Tom FordEssex Court Chambers ‘Tom has an impressive grasp of detail and the law, but is able to distill that into clear advice and strategic suggestions. He is responsive, very hard-working and overall a pleasure to deal with. His advocacy is well-prepared and persuasive.'
Ranked: Tier 3
Christopher Lloyd - Essex Court Chambers  'Chris is extremely clever and yet patient and approachable. Always happy to explain a complex issue and will always suggest a pragmatic approach. He is willing to go the extra mile to ensure a good result.' 
Ranked: Tier 5
Alexander RiddifordEssex Court Chambers ‘Alex has done a huge amount of advocacy and is extremely good on his feet.’
Ranked: Tier 5
Catherine Jung  - Essex Court Chambers 'Catherine has an excellent grasp of the law, and writes very well. She is also extremely personable, and is consequently always a pleasure to work with.'
Ranked: Tier 5

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

    Owen Lloyd  - Essex Court Chambers 'Owen has the work ethic of a trojan horse, coupled with an extreme determination to win for his client. He will work around the clock to achieve that. He is very bright and astute. Has a great future ahead of him.'
    Ranked: Tier 1

    Leading Silks

    Paul McGrath KCEssex Court Chambers ‘Paul is the leader in the field in strategy and knowledge of the area. He is well respected by the court who listen carefully to what he has to say because they know he knows what he is talking about.'
    Ranked: Tier 1
    Joe Smouha KCEssex Court Chambers ‘Excellent in the civil fraud area.’
    Ranked: Tier 1
    Nathan Pillow KCEssex Court Chambers ‘Nathan is a fantastic example of what a modern-day silk should be. Extremely bright, sound judgement, strong gravitas, available, user-friendly. He is forging a fantastic reputation as a leading silk, working on some of the biggest cases, which is very much deserved.’
    Ranked: Tier 2
    Huw Davies KCEssex Court Chambers ‘Huw has impeccable judgment and excellent court skills – quick on his feet and exceptional cross examination skills.’
    Ranked: Tier 3
    Paul Stanley KCEssex Court Chambers ‘Paul has the highest integrity so when he makes a submission the court understands that and will always listen very carefully.'
    Ranked: Tier 4
    James Collins KCEssex Court Chambers ‘His style is effortless and authoritative, with an absolute mastery of the detail of every case. He is also an expert on quantum and complex financial transactions, which alone sets him apart.’
    Ranked: Tier 4

    2021 Silks

    Louise Hutton KCEssex Court Chambers ‘Louise is an incredibly bright barrister, who understands and knows how to navigate the court system and procedure effectively. Louise is persuasive on her feet and gets the judge on her side of the arguments in a robust but subtle way.’
    James Willan KCEssex Court ChambersVery strong lawyer (one of the brightest) and strategist. Very pleasant to work with.'

    2022 Silks

    Tim Akkouh KCEssex Court Chambers ‘Any instructing solicitor’s dream: creative, incredibly user-friendly, with unparalleled command of the law on freezing orders.’
    Anna Dilnot KC – Essex Court Chambers ‘Excellent lawyer who has effortlessly moved from Junior to Silk – strong in all departments – law, on paper, in conference and in court. A formidable opponent.’

    Leading Juniors

    David PetersEssex Court Chambers ‘He is the star at the Bar for this kind of work. An extremely good advocate, and any solicitor would be happy to have him on their client’s side on any case – he holds his own against silks with decades more experience. On top of that, he knows the area of law inside out, has impeccable judgement – and is a delight to work with to boot.’
    Ranked: Tier 1
    James SheehanEssex Court Chambers ‘Terrific on the law and on the facts and shows excellent judgment, as well as being a good advocate. He has made himself a first choice senior junior for fraud cases.'
    Ranked: Tier 1
    Ruth den BestenEssex Court Chambers ‘Ruth is extremely smart and hard-working with a very impressive knowledge of the law across a wide range of areas. She is also a pleasure to work with.'
    Ranked: Tier 1
    Tom FordEssex Court Chambers ‘Tom is a force of nature. He can take on much bigger and better funded teams, and beat them into submission almost single-handedly. An extraordinary work ethic and a great legal mind. And a very nice chap as well – it is a real pleasure working with him.’
    Ranked: Tier 1
    Ciaran KellerEssex Court Chambers ‘He is one of the top juniors working at the Bar and is first choice for any meaty fraud dispute. He is destined for greatness. He is also a pleasure to deal with.’
    Ranked: Tier 1
    Anton DudnikovEssex Court Chambers ‘Anton is extremely clever and organised. He is very well prepared, persuasive and confident on his feet in court, reading judges well and demonstrating very good judgement on which points are key and will play well. He is fantastic to have on your side as he pretty much thinks of everything.’
    Ranked: Tier 2
    Christopher Lloyd – Essex Court Chambers ‘Chris is extremely clever and yet patient and approachable. Always happy to explain a complex issue and will always suggest a pragmatic approach. He is willing to go the extra mile to ensure a good result.’
    Ranked: Tier 3
    Felix WardleEssex Court Chambers ‘Felix is a superb team player - adds value at ever level due to his enormous intellect and warm manner.'
    Ranked: Tier 4
    Stuart CribbEssex Court Chambers ‘Exceptionally bright, proactive, gives clear advice and gets into the trenches with you. An excellent and highly persuasive advocate.'
    Ranked: Tier 4
    Sophia Hurst – Essex Court Chambers ‘Incredibly calm, a super clear and succinct drafter, a real team player and available at short notice throughout Covid. Incredibly dependable.’
    Ranked: Tier 4

    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

      Naomi Hart  - Essex Court Chambers 'A leading star at Essex Court – tremendously able as an advocate with a wonderful style and a huge pleasure to work with.'
      Ranked: Tier 1
      Benedict TompkinsEssex Court Chambers ‘Benedict is highly professional in fact-finding processes whether by analyzing facts or determining the key elements of the dispute. He has vast experience in public international law and investment disputes.'
      Ranked: Tier 1

      Leading Silks

      Graham Dunning KCEssex Court ChambersAlways brilliant.
      Ranked: Tier 1
      Ranked: Tier 1
      Paul Key KCEssex Court Chambers ‘Paul is approachable and very well connected in the international arbitration world. He has a good knowledge of rules and customs of these kind of proceedings.’
      Ranked: Tier 1
      Ranked: Tier 1
      Joe Smouha KCEssex Court ChambersOne of the elite silks at the Bar.
      Ranked: Tier 1
      Huw Davies KCEssex Court Chambers ‘Huw is an extremely adept advocate. His cross-examination is forensic. The style of presentation and delivery of his arguments is appropriately understated. He plays very well with tribunals and judges.’
      Ranked: Tier 2
      Jeffrey Gruder KCEssex Court Chambers ‘Outstanding intellect, extraordinary advocacy married with sharp commercial acumen.'
      Ranked: Tier 2
      Ranked: Tier 2
      Ranked: Tier 2
      Paul Stanley KCEssex Court Chambers ‘Completely brilliant. Paul is a go-to silk. He is bright beyond compare and, despite being incredibly busy, always makes himself available if you need his assistance.’
      Ranked: Tier 2
      Sam Wordsworth KCEssex Court ChambersTop of the game. And fantastic to work with.’
      Ranked: Tier 3
      James Collins KCEssex Court Chambers ‘An absolute pleasure to work with. Tactically and strategically astute, incredibly hard working and intellectually brilliant. A compelling advocate who really builds a rapport with the tribunal. ’
      Ranked: Tier 3
      Alison Macdonald KCEssex Court Chambers ‘Extremely bright, and very easy to work with - we brought her in for her arbitration expertise, and she did not disappoint. Willing to pull her sleeves up and deal with the detail.'
      Ranked: Tier 3
      David Mildon KCEssex Court Chambers ‘Very clinical and logical analysis and dissection of contracts. He is able to understand connections between clauses that other eminent lawyers have overlooked.’
      Ranked: Tier 3
      Ricky Diwan KCEssex Court Chambers ‘Ricky is a phenomenally effective advocate. He presents extremely complex issues in a clear and logical way without hyperbole. I would instruct Ricky again without hesitation.’
      Ranked: Tier 3
      Philippa Hopkins KCEssex Court Chambers ‘Pragmatic, clear, straightforward and calm approach that very quickly sorts out  the wood from the trees  and is very easy to work with. Extremely responsive. Excellent at cross-examination, has a manner with witnesses that the court finds compelling, focused and persuasive. ’
      Ranked: Tier 3
      Dan Sarooshi KCEssex Court Chambers ‘Dan is unique in that he combines very deep knowledge of the law with vast negotiations and trial experience.’
      Ranked: Tier 4
      Ben Juratowitch KC - Essex Court Chambers 'Ben is an excellent advocate. He is able to deal with every point that comes up with absolute clarity and with an excellent mastery that has the capacity of convincing even the other side of the cogency of his arguments.' 
      Ranked: Tier 4

      2021 Silks

      Iain Quirk KCEssex Court Chambers ‘A very good understanding of International arbitration and how a different approach is required from litigation. A strong ability to anticipate the requirements of the Arbitration Panel. Effortless advocacy.'
      James Willan KCEssex Court Chambers ‘Truly exceptional. Quite simply the cleverest barrister solicitors have ever dealt with. He is able to craft creative and clear arguments. His oral advocacy is measured and persuasive. He is destined to be one of the super silks and will likely dominate the market for the next 10 or 15 years.’

      2022 Silks

      Lucas Bastin KCEssex Court Chambers ‘He is one of the top barristers of his generation. No surprise he made silk so early on his barrister career. Top legal skills and strong business acumen.’
      Emily Wood KCEssex Court Chambers ‘Very strong written and oral advocacy skills. Presents a clear and focused strategy for the case. Easy to work with.'
      Edward Brown KCEssex Court Chambers ‘Ed's particular strength is an ability to quickly get under the skin of a complex case, identify the issues and plan accordingly.’

      Leading Juniors

      Siddharth DharEssex Court Chambers ‘Sid is first and foremost an excellent lawyer. He is a very impressive advocate (his presentation is clear and persuasive and he thinks well on his feet). He is equally strong on paper, producing excellent, clearly and thoroughly argued written submissions.'
      Ranked: Tier 1
      Sean AugheyEssex Court Chambers ‘A real star. Very bright, knows the law inside out, hard working and gets it.’
      Ranked: Tier 2
      David PetersEssex Court Chambers ‘He has nothing but strengths. He is an incredibly brave advocate and stands his own against senior silks (and wins while he's at it).’
      Ranked: Tier 2
      Angeline WelshEssex Court Chambers ‘Exceptionally user-friendly, with experience from a former life as a solicitor and so understanding the needs on this side of the practice. Insightful yet commercial advice a real strength, and a strong work ethic. An invaluable part of any team she joins.’
      Ranked: Tier 2
      Paul WeeEssex Court Chambers ‘Paul is an outstanding senior junior. Solicitors really enjoy working with Paul he is very user-friendly, phenomenally hard-working and he integrates seamlessly into their teams on cases. Paul is exceedingly bright and he has absolutely excellent drafting skills – he can distil complex legal and technical points into very crisp, clear drafting.’
      Ranked: Tier 2
      Anton Dudnikov  - Essex Court Chambers 'Anton's drafting is phenomenal; he cuts to the heart of the issue in a clear and concise way. He is unbelievably bright, and has consistently provided first-rate strategic and tactical guidance to the client.'
      Ranked: Tier 3
      Peter WebsterEssex Court Chambers ‘He was on top of the detail and has excellent drafting skills. His work supporting leading counsel was terrific. He has very good judgment and knows which points to take. His advocacy was also impressive.'
      Ranked: Tier 3

      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

      Naomi HartEssex Court Chambers ‘Naomi has a brilliant mind and her analytical skills are exceptional. Her practice in PIL is growing quickly, and rightly so. She is excellent in the investor state dispute field, but in pure state-versus-state cases also.’
      Ranked: Tier 1

      Leading Silks

      Vaughan Lowe KCEssex Court ChambersThe superstar in the PIL field.
      Ranked: Tier 1
      Alison Macdonald KCEssex Court ChambersExceptionally hard-working, diligent and collegial. A meticulous and very effective cross-examiner. Calm and convincing under pressure. A true team player and overall a delight to work with.'
      Ranked: Tier 2
      Ranked: Tier 2
      Sam Wordsworth KCEssex Court Chambers ‘Top of the game. And fantastic to work with.’
      Ranked: Tier 2
      Ranked: Tier 3
      Ranked: Tier 3
      Ben Juratowitch KC - Essex Court Chambers 'Has a brilliant legal mind. He is an excellent strategist, an incisive analyst and an eloquent and persuasive advocate. He is always accessible and responsive, and has an outstanding ability to present complex issues and ideas in simple and understandable ways.'
      Ranked: Tier 3
      Paul Key KCEssex Court Chambers ‘Paul is an excellent academic lawyer who is able to distill his knowledge into persuasive submissions. Always keen to explore any avenues that may assist the client.'
      Ranked: Tier 3
      Dan Sarooshi KCEssex Court Chambers ‘He has a deep knowledge of international law from an academic and practical perspective. He is authoritative and persuasive as an advocate.'
      Ranked: Tier 3

      2022 Silks

      Lucas Bastin KCEssex Court Chambers ‘Lucas has developed an important practice in investment treaty arbitration, in which he has long practiced and has built up all the right skills and tools. He knows all the cases (he also teaches) and is an excellent advocate. His mastery of quantum issues is another plus that makes him stand out.’

      Leading Juniors

      Amy SanderEssex Court Chambers ‘Amy is undoubtedly one of the top senior juniors, who is really almost a silk - viz the exceptional standard of her advocacy and strength of her analytical mind.'
      Ranked: Tier 1
      Sean AugheyEssex Court Chambers ‘Quite simply superb: Sean has a remarkable work ethic combined with incredible analytical powers, and an ability to retain and recall vast quantities of information. Very easy to work with: he gets to the point and is refreshingly un-flashy.’
      Ranked: Tier 1
      Paul WeeEssex Court ChambersRight at the top of the list of barristers you want on your side – sharp, brilliant and hard working.’
      Ranked: Tier 2
      Jackie McArthur  - Essex Court Chambers 'Hard working, very clear, very smart and very thorough, as well as being a pleasure to work with.'
      Ranked: Tier 3
      Ranked: Tier 3

      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

        Stephen Donnelly Essex Court Chambers ‘An exceptional junior, Stephen takes on difficult and time-sensitive tasks without hesitation and delivers insightful and thorough results. He has remarkable research and drafting skills, which he combines with a particularly impressive in-depth knowledge of tax law. ’
        Ranked: Tier 1

        Leading Silks

        Roderick Cordara KC – Essex Court Chambers ‘Roderick is an eloquent speaker and can weave an argument on behalf of his clients; drawing from his myriad of knowledge of the relevant case law, vastly enhanced by the fact that in many of the landmark cases, it was he who acted for the taxpayer. ’
        Ranked: Tier 1
        Ranked: Tier 2

        2022 Silks

        Edward Brown KC – Essex Court ChambersEdward’s greatest strength is an ability to quickly get under the skin of a complex case, identify the relevant issues and formulate a plan accordingly. Courts generally respond well to his well thought out and no-nonsense approach to litigation.

        Leading Juniors

        Andrew Legg Essex Court ChambersAndrew produces excellent submissions and is particularly impressive in the convincing way he deals with difficult points presented by the court.
        Ranked: Tier 3

        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

        Owen Lloyd  - Essex Court Chambers 'Owen is fantastic. He has an extraordinary work ethic, is super responsive and incredibly easy to deal with. He is razor sharp and all over the detail. He is working well beyond his year of call and is a real rising star.'
        Ranked: Tier 1

        Leading Silks

        Joe Smouha KCEssex Court Chambers ‘Right at the top of the list of barristers you want on your side - sharp, brilliant and hard working.’
        Ranked: Tier 1
        Stephen Houseman KCEssex Court Chambers ‘A go-to counsel for financial disputes, a fantastic team player.’
        Ranked: Tier 2
        Paul McGrath KCEssex Court Chambers ‘He is always the smartest guy in the room – he thinks of points nobody else thinks of. You wouldn’t want him on the other side.’
        Ranked: Tier 3
        Nathan Pillow KCEssex Court Chambers ‘A leading star at Essex Court – tremendously able as an advocate with a wonderful style and a huge pleasure to work with.’
        Ranked: Tier 4

        2021 Silks

        Louise Hutton KCEssex Court Chambers ‘A very polished and a strong performer, who has worked with the best and been involved in some of the most interesting work around. She clearly has the critical blend of strong team skills and a fiercely analytical mind. She is also an accomplished advocate.'
        James Willan KCEssex Court Chambers ‘James has quite simply one of the top intellects of his generation. He is ferociously bright, hard working and his advocacy skills are second to none.'

        2022 Silks

        Emily Wood KCEssex Court Chambers 'Technically excellent with the added bonus of being personable and engaging, very approachable and user friendly.'

        Leading Juniors

        James SheehanEssex Court Chambers ‘James is wise beyond his years. He has already developed excellent judgement, and is more than equal to many of the KCs in his area. His advocacy is first class – he can hold his own against a phalanx of Silks. He already has the ability of appearing trustworthy, credible and plausible to the bench.’
        Ranked: Tier 1
        Ciaran KellerEssex Court Chambers ‘Excellent technical ability and very responsive, he provides clear pragmatic and timely advice.’
        Ranked: Tier 3
        Anton DudnikovEssex Court Chambers ‘Extremely knowledgeable of financial issues, great legal mind.'
        Ranked: Tier 3
        Tom FordEssex Court Chambers ‘Clear, well organised in his submissions, and thorough.'
        Ranked: Tier 3
        John RobbEssex Court Chambers ‘John is incredibly hard working and always available. He is fiercely intelligent and is able to deliver perfectly reasoned and strategic advice quickly. His commerciality and understanding of what is important to his clients is excellent.'
        Ranked: Tier 4

        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

        Bibek Mukherjee  – Essex Court ChambersBibek is hardworking and diligent, and provides clear and cogent advice on often complicated and novel issues. Bibek works well as part of a team and always stays calm under pressure.
        Ranked: Tier 1

        Leading Silks

        Ranked: Tier 1
        Andrew Hochhauser KCEssex Court ChambersAcutely perceptive as to litigation strategy – ensures that the client fully stress-tests all arguments to ensure every step and anticipated next steps are thought through.
        Ranked: Tier 1
        Daniel Oudkerk KC - Essex Court Chambers 'Simply outstanding. His advocacy is of the very highest order - hugely elegant and swift on his feet, but also a tremendous fighter. He is technically brilliant, but knows instinctively which points matters most and when to push. A natural winner, who also has fantastic client-handling skills.'
        Ranked: Tier 1
        Charles Ciumei KC - Essex Court ChambersA class act. He handles the room, including the judge and client, with mastery, and knows when to push and when to stop - never loses his audience. Highly recommended, particularly for cross-border matters.
        Ranked: Tier 3

        2021 Silks

        2022 Silks

        Edward Brown KCEssex Court ChambersThe leading barrister in the country for restrictive covenant disputes - very commercial, direct and spare in the delivery of his content. Only says what needs to be said and a pleasure to deal with.

        Leading Juniors

        Ranked: Tier 1
        Andrew LeggEssex Court ChambersVery impressive - he is very bright, personable, hardworking, and clear in his exposition of legal positions. He also writes very well.
        Ranked: Tier 5

        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

        Paul Key KCEssex Court Chambers ‘He is approachable and very well connected in the international arbitration world, having good knowledge of rules and customs.’
        Ranked: Tier 1
        David Mildon KCEssex Court Chambers ‘Extremely knowledgeable about the oil and gas sector, he is collegiate in his dealings with the Tribunal.’
        Ranked: Tier 2
        Graham Dunning KCEssex Court Chambers ‘He is polite, well-prepared and has sensible and incisive questions.’
        Ranked: Tier 3
        Philippa Hopkins KCEssex Court Chambers ‘She has a pragmatic, clear, straightforward and calm approach but will never leave a weakness unexposed, and she is a relentless cross-examiner of experts.’
        Ranked: Tier 4

        2021 Silks

        Iain Quirk KC - Essex Court Chambers  ‘Very approachable and responsive, he adopts a light touch where required, but gets more involved when necessary.
        Iain Quirk KCEssex Court Chambers ‘Very approachable and responsive, he adopts a light touch where required, but gets more involved when necessary.’

        2022 Silks

        Lucas Bastin KCEssex Court Chambers ‘He shows good judgement and strategy, is great on his feet, and particularly good on cross-examination.’

        Leading Juniors

        Siddharth DharEssex Court Chambers ‘His depth of knowledge is mighty impressive, as is the cool judgment which he brings when deploying that expertise.’
        Ranked: Tier 1
        Anton DudnikovEssex Court Chambers ‘He is extremely capable and easy to work with, grasps issues quickly and has the ability to explain them in lucid fashion.’
        Ranked: Tier 1
        Paul WeeEssex Court Chambers ‘An outstanding senior junior who is user-friendly, phenomenally hardworking and exceedingly bright.’
        Ranked: Tier 2
        Ciaran KellerEssex Court Chambers ‘He cuts to the heart of the case and provides clear, precise advice, and he is a fantastic strategist with a great feel for how a Court will react to an argument.’
        Ranked: Tier 3
        Stuart CribbEssex Court Chambers ‘Stuart always goes the extra mile, he is very hard working and the quality of his written documents is excellent.’
        Ranked: Tier 4

        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

          Stephen DonnellyEssex Court Chambers ‘Very hard working, clever and professionally competent.'
          Ranked: Tier 1
          Ranked: Tier 1
          Bibek Mukherjee  – Essex Court Chambers 'Bibek is hard working and very bright. He is a major asset to any litigation team.'
          Ranked: Tier 1

          Leading Silks

          Steven Berry KCEssex Court Chambers 'Continues to perform at the highest level.'
          Ranked: Tier 1
          Graham Dunning KCEssex Court Chambers 'One of the best in his field.'
          Ranked: Tier 2
          Ranked: Tier 3
          Jeffrey Gruder KCEssex Court Chambers 'A very calm and relaxed advocacy style that rises above the more aggressive approach adopted by opponents.'
          Ranked: Tier 4
          Nathan Pillow KCEssex Court Chambers 'A leading star at Essex Court – tremendously able as an advocate with a wonderful style and a huge pleasure to work with.'
          Ranked: Tier 4
          Ranked: Tier 5
          Nigel Eaton KCEssex Court Chambers 'Nigel offers superb clarity and can always be trusted to give a reliable, neutral guidance on the prospects of a case where others can sit on the fence or give overblown advice.'
          Ranked: Tier 5
          Philippa Hopkins KCEssex Court Chambers ‘A well-prepared and convincing advocate, managing to distil and convey her knowledge and grasp of the facts with consummate authority.'
          Ranked: Tier 5

          2021 Silks

          2022 Silks

          Jeremy Brier KCEssex Court Chambers 'Very enthusiastic.'

          Leading Juniors

          David WalshEssex Court ChambersHis advice is always well presented and commercial and his advocacy formidable. A joy to work with for solicitors and lay clients alike.'
          Ranked: Tier 1
          Adam BoardEssex Court Chambers 'His advice is always well presented and commercial and his advocacy formidable. A joy to work with for solicitors and lay clients alike.'
          Ranked: Tier 3
          John RobbEssex Court Chambers ‘A powerhouse of an advocate.'
          Ranked: Tier 3
          John SniderEssex Court Chambers ‘Thorough and easy to work with. A very experienced junior and good on paper.'
          Ranked: Tier 3
          Adam Woolnough  – Essex Court Chambers ‘Promising junior and pleasant to work with.’
          Ranked: Tier 4

          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 pragmaticDavid Walsh acted for Trafigura in a claim against various Sudanese governmental agencies concerning crude and gasoil supplies.

            Leading Silks

            Nathan Pillow KC - Essex Court Chambers ‘His advocacy is smooth as silk, he has immense gravitas, and calibrates his cross-examination to perfection, charming helpful answers out of witnesses' mouths.’
            Ranked: Tier 4
            Graham Dunning KC - Essex Court Chambers ‘A first-class legal mind, balanced and fair in his judgments, he has superb drafting skills and is extremely efficient.’
            Ranked: Tier 5
            Philippa Hopkins KC - Essex Court Chambers ‘She has a pragmatic, clear, straightforward and calm approach that very quickly sorts out the wood from the trees, and a compelling, focused and persuasive manner.’
            Ranked: Tier 5

            Leading Juniors

            David WalshEssex Court Chambers ‘A top-level junior, he has excellent written skills and produces top-quality yet concise advice on complex issues.’
            Ranked: Tier 2

            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

            Ranked: Tier 1
            Ranked: Tier 2
            Mark Templeman KC - Essex Court Chambers 'Mark is one of the few out and out specialists in the field of insurance and reinsurance. His oral and written advocacy is marked by huge knowledge and experience of the subject and a measured style of delivery.'
            Ranked: Tier 4
            Ranked: Tier 5
            Philippa Hopkins KCEssex Court ChambersExcellent at marine insurance coverage work.  A real specialist who knows the law inside out and applies it in a practical way.
            Ranked: Tier 5

            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

              Charles Ciumei KCEssex Court ChambersHe has proven to be innovative and practical in his approach, as well as highly intellectual. He is very approachable and a great communicator.
              Ranked: Tier 1

              London Bar > European Union law

              London Bar > Travel law (including jurisdictional issues)

              London Bar > Administrative law and human rights

              Leading Silks

              Dan Sarooshi KCEssex Court Chambers 'Vast academic knowledge of public and human rights law combined with a brilliant strategic mind and masterful advocacy.' 
              Ranked: Tier 3
              Alison MacDonald KCEssex Court ChambersAn experienced advocate with expertise across international law and human rights.
              Ranked: Tier 4
              Hugh Mercer KC - Essex Court ChambersHe has the finest mind I have encountered on administrative law issues relating to food and agriculture and EU law generally.
              Ranked: Tier 4

              2022 Silks

              Edward Brown KC - Essex Court ChambersClear in his advice and robust in his advocacy, he can present difficult arguments with skill and tenacity.

              London Bar > Business and regulatory crime (including global investigations)

              Leading Silks

              Alison Macdonald KCEssex Court ChambersA brilliant Silk – tremendously able with huge international skills and a delight to work with.
              Ranked: Tier 3

              London Bar > Media and entertainment

              2021 Silks

              Iain Quirk KC –Essex Court Chambers 'Very user friendly. Good attention to detail and fun to work with.'

              London Bar > Partnership

              Leading Juniors

              Ciaran KellerEssex Court Chambers 'Ciaran is a superstar. He cuts to the heart of the case and provides clear, precise advise.'
              Ranked: Tier 2

              London Bar > Company

              Leading Juniors

              James Sheehan - Essex Court Chambers 'He is seriously clever but doesn't let that get in the way of planning a good commercial strategy through to the right solution.'
              Ranked: Tier 3
              Ruth den BestenEssex Court Chambers 'Very cool calm and incisive advocacy. Always on top of her brief.'
              Ranked: Tier 3

              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 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.

                DepartmentNameEmailTelephone
                Senior Clerk Joe Ferrignojferrigno@essexcourt.com020 7147 7221
                Deputy Senior Clerk Ben Perrybperry@essexcourt.com020 7147 7222
                Team Leader Jack Woodjwood@essexcourt.com020 7147 7223
                Team Leader Katie MylesKMyles@essexcourt.com020 7147 7281
                Team Leader Kevin GrubbKGrubb@essexcourt.com020 7147 7281
                PhotoNamePositionProfile
                Lorraine Aboagye photo Lorraine Aboagye
                Tim Akkouh KC photo Tim Akkouh KCTim is a commercial litigator, with a strong reputation for civil fraud…
                Rebecca Akushie photo Rebecca AkushieArbitration; commercial litigation; conflict of laws; insurance and reinsurance; international commercial arbitration;…
                Sean Aughey photo Sean AugheyBarrister
                David Baker photo David BakerBarrister
                Lucas Bastin KC photo Lucas Bastin KCLucas has a versatile practice across an array of practices areas, albeit…
                Mark Belshaw photo Mark BelshawBarrister
                Franklin Berman photoSir Franklin BermanSpecialises in international arbitration and advisory work in international law. 50-year career…
                Steven Berry KC photo Steven Berry KCHas specialised since 1985 in the associated fields of insurance and reinsurance,…
                Claire Blanchard KC photo Claire Blanchard KCBarrister. Claire Blanchard QC has a specialist commercial practice and is an…
                Adam Board photo Adam BoardAdam acts and advises as counsel in commercial litigation and international arbitration…
                Stewart Boyd photo Stewart BoydHas appeared as counsel in the English courts and in other courts…
                Alan Boyle photoProf Alan BoyleSpecialist in public international law, especially international environmental law and law of…
                Jeremy Brier KC photo Jeremy Brier KCCommercial barrister frequently appearing in the Commercial Court and in international arbitrations,…
                Edward Brown KC photo Edward Brown KCBroad-ranging practice across the following practice areas: commercial litigation; employment; media, entertainment…
                Wei Jian Chan photo Wei Jian ChanBarrister
                Charles Ciumei KC photo Charles Ciumei KCHas a practice covering all aspects of employment with a commercial aspect,…
                James Collins KC photo James Collins KCHas a broad-based commercial practice. Recognised as clever, commercial and user-friendly, he…
                Roderick Cordara KC photo Roderick Cordara KCHas a broad commercial and public law practice with over 30 years’…
                David Craig KC photo David Craig KCWith a “reputation for handling high-stakes cases”, “revered practitioner” David Craig KC has a rich…
                Stuart Cribb photo Stuart CribbStuart has a broad commercial practice in line with Chambers’ profile. He…
                Simon Crookenden KC photo Simon Crookenden KCShipping: charterparty and bills of lading disputes; cargo claims; ship building; ship…
                Paul Davies photoProf Paul DaviesPaul is Professor of Commercial Law at UCL, having previously been a…
                David Davies KC photo David Davies KCHas a broadly based commercial practice encompassing both acting as junior counsel…
                Huw Davies KC photo Huw Davies KCExperienced and effective cross examiner with ‘an incredibly impressive style and approach’…
                Ruth Den Besten photo Ruth Den BestenRuth den Besten is a senior junior practitioner with substantial expertise in…
                Siddharth Dhar photo Siddharth DharSiddharth acts as an advocate and advisor in substantial commercial litigation and…
                Anna Dilnot KC photo Anna Dilnot KCBroad commercial and commercial chancery litigation practice with a particular speciality in…
                Ricky Diwan KC photo Ricky Diwan KCRicky Diwan QC specialises in international commercial and investment arbitration and related…
                Stephen Donnelly photo Stephen DonnellyBarrister
                Shane Doyle KC photo Shane Doyle KCShane Doyle QC has a commercial practice covering a wide range of…
                Anton Dudnikov photo Anton DudnikovAnton has a broad commercial practice. He is regularly instructed in international…
                Graham Dunning KC photo Graham Dunning KCGraham Dunning QC was until recently the co-head of Essex Court Chambers.…
                Nigel Eaton KC photo Nigel Eaton KCSpecialises in international and domestic commercial litigation, with a particular emphasis on…
                Tim Eicke photo Tim EickeHighly experienced and respected public law advocate with a strong background in…
                Tom Ford photo Tom Ford
                Daniel Fox photo Daniel FoxDaniel has a broad commercial practice in line with Chambers’ profile. He…
                Matthieu Gregoire photo Matthieu GregoireMatthieu Gregoire specialises in commercial litigation, international commercial arbitration, and investor-state arbitration.…
                Martin Griffiths photo Martin GriffithsHas a busy general commercial practice including a significant proportion of employment-related…
                Jeffrey Gruder KC photo Jeffrey Gruder KCJeffrey Gruder QC is widely recognised as a leading silk at the…
                Naomi Hart photo Naomi HartNaomi has a broad commercial litigation and arbitration practice. She has experience…
                Neil Hart KC photo Neil Hart KCSpecialises in the fields of insurance and reinsurance, shipping (dry and wet)…
                Andrew Hochhauser KC photo Andrew Hochhauser KCHas a broad-based commercial practice, including a significant number of employment-related disputes…
                Philippa Hopkins KC photo Philippa Hopkins KCAdvises and acts in a wide range of commercial disputes, both in…
                Stephen Houseman KC photo Stephen Houseman KCHandles a wide range of commercial disputes. Many of his cases are…
                Richard Hoyle photo Richard HoyleBarrister specialising in commercial litigation and international arbitration – most matters involve…
                Ian Hunter photo Ian HunterHas a broad-based commercial practice in line with chambers’ profile. A major…
                Louise Hutton KC photo Louise Hutton KCLouise’s practice covers commercial and commercial/chancery litigation and arbitration, including banking and…
                David Joseph KC photo David Joseph KCHas acted as counsel and arbitrator in an extremely wide range of…
                Catherine Jung photo Catherine Jung
                Ciaran Keller photo Ciaran KellerCommercial and chancery litigation and arbitration (domestic and international), including: business agreements…
                Paul Key KC photo Paul Key KCIn private practice as a barrister since 1997, specialising in international and…
                Martin Lau photoProf Martin LauRegularly advises on South Asian law and Islamic law in the form…
                Andrew Legg photo Andrew LeggAndrew has a broad commercial practice in line with Chambers’ profile. He…
                Owen Lloyd photo Owen LloydBarrister
                John Lockey KC photo John Lockey KCBarrister specialising in insurance, reinsurance, commercial litigation, and professional negligence including brokers’…
                Vaughan Lowe KC photoProf Vaughan Lowe KCPractises as counsel in International Court of Justice, European Court of Human…
                Alison Macdonald KC photo Alison Macdonald KCBarrister
                Jackie McArthur photo Jackie McArthurBarrister
                Paul McGrath KC photo Paul McGrath KCBarrister with a broad-based practice. Between 1999 and 2001 he was editor…
                Hugh Mercer KC photo Hugh Mercer KCCourt and advisory advocate specialising in EU, competition, public law and cross-border…
                David Mildon KC photo David Mildon KCGeneral commercial litigation and arbitration including ABCI v Banque Franco Tunisienne [2003]…
                Richard Millett KC photo Richard Millett KCSpecialises in: banking law, securities, debt and other financing instruments, derivatives, loan…
                Bibek Mukherjee photo Bibek MukherjeeBibek undertakes a broad range of commercial work, as both sole and…
                Freddie Onslow photo Freddie OnslowBarrister
                Daniel Oudkerk KC photo Daniel Oudkerk KCDaniel Oudkerk QC has a broad-based trial and advisory practice. He is…
                David Peters photo David PetersWide experience of commercial law with emphasis on general commercial litigation, civil…
                Nathan Pillow KC photo Nathan Pillow KCSpecialises in commercial dispute resolution. Practises in the English courts at all…
                Freddie Popplewell photo Freddie PopplewellBarrister
                Iain Quirk KC photo Iain Quirk KCHas a broad commercial practice before the English courts and in arbitration.…
                Katherine Ratcliffe photo Katherine Ratcliffe
                Claudia Renton photo Claudia RentonClaudia has a broad commercial practice with specialisms in media and entertainment…
                Alexander Riddiford photo Alexander RiddifordAlex specialises in insolvency/restructuring law, commercial dispute resolution, banking and finance (including…
                John Robb photoMr John RobbJohn has a broad commercial law practice. He specialises in shipping, banking…
                Jane Russell photo Jane RussellPractises in employment and commercial law, acting for mainly city respondent clients.…
                Amy Sander photo Amy SanderAmy has a broad commercial practice with a particular interest in public…
                Dan Sarooshi KC photoProf Dan Sarooshi KCProfessor Dan Sarooshi Q.C. has a track record of achieving success in…
                David Scorey KC photo David Scorey KCWide-ranging practice in international and domestic commercial law, litigating in both domestic…
                Malcolm Shaw photo Malcolm ShawBarrister focusing on public international law. Cases include: R v Mohamed Gul…
                James Sheehan photo James SheehanSpecialist in commercial and chancery litigation and arbitration. Practice areas include civil…
                Christopher Smith KC photo Christopher Smith KCChris Smith has a broad based practice covering all aspects of domestic…
                Joe Smouha KC photo Joe Smouha KCHas a broad-based commercial practice with a particular emphasis on appearances in…
                John Snider photo John SniderBarrister practising in the following areas: shipping, insurance, arbitration (including LMAA, ICC,…
                Akash Sonecha photo Akash Sonecha
                Paul Stanley photo Paul StanleyPrior to being called to the bar, Paul lectured on European Community…
                Luke Tattersall photo Luke TattersallBarrister
                Mark Templeman KC photo Mark Templeman KCPractises primarily in the fields of reinsurance and insurance (marine and non-marine).…
                Benedict Tompkins photo Benedict TompkinsBenedict has a broad commercial litigation and arbitration practice. He has experience…
                David Walsh photo David WalshBarrister with a broad commercial practice. Particularly well-known for his work in…
                Felix Wardle photo Felix Wardle
                Mubarak Waseem photo Mubarak WaseemBarrister
                Philippa Watson photoProf Philippa WatsonHas a practice in London, Dublin and Brussels. Most of her work…
                Peter Webster photo Peter WebsterUndertakes a broad range of commercial work, as both sole counsel and…
                Paul Wee photoMr Paul WeePaul Choon Kiat Wee specialises in commercial litigation, international commercial arbitration, and…
                Jessica Wells photo Jessica WellsHas a broad commercial practice, with a particular interest in public international…
                Angeline Welsh photo Angeline WelshBarrister
                James Willan photo James WillanBarrister with a broad-based commercial practice, appearing before the county courts, High…
                Emily Wood KC photo Emily Wood KCHas a broad commercial practice in line with chambers’ profile. Focused on…
                Adam Woolnough photo Adam WoolnoughArbitration, commercial litigation, conflict of laws, insurance and reinsurance, public international law,…
                Sam Wordsworth photo Sam WordsworthIn private practice as a barrister since 1997, specialising in public international…
                Lucy Smith : Head of Marketing
                Jacky Chase : Operations Manager

                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.