Set Profile > Essex Court Chambers > London, England

Administrative and public law (including local government)

Commercial litigation Tier 1

Essex Court Chambers is a 'first-class set to turn to on significant matters' with 'an incredibly deep and diverse bench'. The set's versatility on commercial disputes is one of the things that marks it out, with some excellent expertise in areas such as fraud and international arbitration. The set has expanded heavily at the junior level in recent years, with Tim Akkouh arriving from Erskine Chambers being the most recent example. Major recent cases have included PJSC Tatneft v Bogolyubov & Others in which Paul McGrath QC, David Davies and James Sheehan were on opposing sides to fellow members, including Ruth den Besten. Other highlights included Fortress Group v BNP Paribas (the Golden Belt litigation), and Yukos Finance v Lynch. Martin Griffiths QC has been appointed a High Court judge in the Queen’s Bench Division.

Fraud: civil Tier 1

Essex Court Chambers is 'without question the go-to set for heavy-duty commercial litigation, in particular, fraud'. The set has expanded significantly in this area over recent years, particularly at the junior end, and the recent arrival of tier-one junior Tim Akkouh, from Erskine Chambers, continues the trend. Five members, including Nathan Pillow QC, David Davies, and James Willan  were involved in the nine-week National Bank Trust v Yurov & ors trial, relating to a $800m fraud claim. Paul McGrath QC, James Sheehan, and Ruth den Besten were among those with significant roles on Tatneft v Bogolyubov & Ors.

International arbitration: counsel Tier 1

Essex Court Chambers a 'go-to set for any general commercial or arbitration-related matters'. The chambers is praised for being 'commercial and strategic in approach' and 'typically team-oriented and user-friendly, including for non-UK clients'. The barristers are 'the cream of the crop' and few will quibble with the set's overall market-leading status. Members are well-versed in arbitrations across a range of jurisdictions, sectors, and disciplines, including insurance, infrastructure, BIT claims, and general commercial disputes. The set's barristers have been involved in several high-profile disputes, including Turkmenistan v National Iranian Gas Corporation in which Paul Key QC was lead counsel for the National Iranian Gas Corporation. Another highlight was Progas Energy Limited, Progas Holding Limited, and Sheffield Engineering Company Ltd v Republic of Pakistan, in which Dan Sarooshi QC faced David Foxton QC and Iain Quirk.

Public international law Tier 1

Essex Court Chambers is a 'very eminent set' with an 'unparalleled range of talents' working across all areas of public international law. The set has a strong focus on state v state and investment treaty arbitrations, and has a strong blend of barristers with both academic and commercial expertise. Members regularly appear before the International Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights. Major cases include Ukraine v Russia, in which Sam Wordsworth QC is leading Amy Sander. Alison Macdonald QC joined from Matrix Chambers in January 2020.

Employment Tier 2

The 'extremely good' Essex Court Chambers has members who are 'great for complex commercial employment matters'. Andrew Hochhauser QC acted for a former senior banker who had worked for the respondent bank for four decades in a substantial claim for unfair dismissal and disability discrimination. Meanwhile, Daniel Oudkerk QC is instructed by cyber-security company Secarma in a multimillion-pound damages claim and injunctive relief arising out of a poaching raid. Martin Griffiths QC has been appointed a High Court judge in the Queen’s Bench Division.

Energy Tier 2

Essex Court Chambers is 'a "go-to" set in London for complex matters' and has 'excellent strength in depth'.  In 2017 and 2018, the set was instructed in energy cases with a combined value in excess of $80bn related to oil, gas, coal and renewable energy. Graham Dunning QC was lead counsel for the Kurdistan Regional Government in a $35bn LCIA arbitration relating to an oil and gas project in Northern Iraq and potential pipelines to serve Europe. Paul Key QC successfully represented Nigeria in its defence of a $9bn arbitration award. David Mildon QC represented the applicant in Kufpec UK Limited v Enquest Heather Limited, which centred on issues under a Farm-In Agreement for various North Sea license blocks. Among the juniors, Siddharth Dhar acted as sole lead advocate for the defendant in Hydro & Ors v Republic of Albania, a $1.5bn ICSID claim arising from alleged investments in the hydroelectric sector. According to one client: 'The clerks are uniformly excellent – responsive and helpful'.

Insurance and reinsurance Tier 2

Essex Court Chambers has 'great strength-in-depth' for insurance and reinsurance work. Although it is active across a range of insurance disputes, the set stands out for its Bermuda Form and marine insurance expertise. David Foxton QC and David Walsh, who joined from Quadrant Chambers in 2018, are involved in Double Eight Marine v RSA & others, a claim for the total loss of the vessel, the Panamax Trader. Elsewhere, John Lockey QC was instructed in the $1bn dispute, Single Buoy Mooring v Insurers and was also instructed in platform rig claim, Siri v Noreco. David Scorey QC was instructed in Harvey Weinstein v Chubb, a claim by the former film producer seeking coverage for his legal costs relating to multiple sexual assault allegations.

International arbitration: arbitrators Tier 2

Essex Court Chambers has a strong group of full-time arbitrators who work out of its seperate and specialised chambers, 24 Lincoln's Inn Fields. Barristers who divide their time between acting as counsel and arbitrators can be found within the main chambers.

Offshore Tier 2

Travel law (including jurisdictional issues) Tier 2

Shipping Tier 2

With 'top quality barristers', Essex Court Chambers is seen as a 'pre-eminent set in international arbitration, shipping and commodities'. Major marine insurance dispute, The Panamax Trader, is a key highlight for Steven Berry QC and Jeremy Brier, which concerns whether the shipowners deliberately sank a vessel. Euro-Asia v Credit Suisse, which relates to missing bills of lading and an alleged letter of credit fraud, is a notable case for Jeffrey Gruder QC  and Nathan Pillow QC saw the end of long-running bribery and conspiracy case case Fiona Trust & Holding Corp v Privalov and others in 2018, when permission to appeal was refused. The 'user-friendly' set welcomed David Walsh from Quadrant Chambers in 2018.

Banking and finance (including consumer credit) Tier 3

Essex Court Chambers is a 'high-profile, high-quality set' whose members have an enviable track record when it comes to complex and highly technical banking litigation. In recent years chambers has been involved in several insolvency-related banking disputes, such as the Lehmans Waterfall litigation relating to the distribution of over $1bn from the Lehman's estate. Another highlight involving numerous members was the Hellas II litigation – Hosking v Apax Partners, Deutsche Bank & Others, in which Joe Smouha QC and Ciaran Keller faced a team including David Foxton QC.

Commodities Tier 3

Essex Court Chambers is 'the pre-eminent set in international arbitration, shipping and commodities', according to one client who remarks that 'the quality of their barristers is unrivalled'. Another notes that it has 'a number of very good and user-friendly barristers for complex high-value commercial disputes' and that 'the clerking is really helpful, responsive, accommodating and flexible'. Graham Dunning QC acted as lead counsel in a Commercial Court trial and ensuing appeal between Citibank and Mercuria regarding obligated repos in respect of allegedly missing metal in China. Experienced junior David Walsh joined from Quadrant Chambers in 2018.

Company and partnership Tier 3

IT and telecoms Tier 3

Private client: trusts and probate Tier 4

Professional negligence Tier 4

EU Law Tier 4

Environment Tier 4

Media and entertainment (including art and cultural property)

Highlighted as an ‘outstanding set’, Essex Court Chambers has ‘a top reputation’ in the arts and cultural property sector. As well as being ‘very commercial on fees’, the set offers ‘quick responses and great strength in depth’. Work highlights include Joe Smouha QC’s continued instruction to defend an art dealer in a criminal complaint filed in the principality of Monaco, and Emily Wood’s representation of Sotheby’s in several matters, including a $10m claim relating to alleged forgery of work by the Golden Age painter, Frans Hals.

Set overviews: England and Wales

From senior silks down to ‘some very clever and able juniors’, the ‘first-class’ Essex Court Chambers has ‘outstanding bench strength and depth’ and is ‘at the cutting edge of the leading civil fraud cases’, ‘always in the line-up on heavy duty commercial cases’, and a ‘go-to chambers’ for international arbitrations and insurance matters. ‘They have an excellent set of highly competent counsel of all levels, who bring a good mix of intellect and practical/commercial awareness to their work; they are, quite simply, the best.’ It is also described as ‘the chambers to turn to if there’s a Friday night emergency’. In recent news, Tim Akkouh has joined from Erskine Chambers and Richard Millett QC continues as leading counsel to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, while Martin Griffiths QC has been appointed a High Court judge in the Queen’s Bench Division. Senior clerk Joe Ferrigno leads ‘a gold standard’ clerking team from the front and trains his clerks well; the ‘top notch’ clerks are ‘flexible and proactive, always happy to help’. His is able assisted by the 'frankly superb' Ben Perry, who becomes deputy senior clerk effective 1 October 2019. Former senior clerk David Grief heads up Essex Court Duxton in Singapore. Offices in: London and Singapore

Tax: corporate and VAT/indirect tax

Essex Court Chambers is noted for its work in indirect tax disputes, acting for the taxpayers in cases involving VAT, Goods and Services Tax (GST), Landfill Tax, Insurance Premium Tax, and Customs Duty. Major VAT cases for Roderick Cordara QC include acting for the taxpayer in American Express v HMRC, conducting an analysis on the relationship between merchants, American Express and Cardholder, with £50m at stake; and Safestore in Safestore v HMRC, an appeal to the First-tier Tribunal in a case concerning the status of insurance arrangements made through the client for its customers' goods.