Thomas Sebastian > Essex Court Chambers > London, England > Barrister Profile
Essex Court Chambers Offices
24 LINCOLN'S INN FIELDS
LONDON
WC2A 3EG
England
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Thomas Sebastian
Position
Thomas acts in complex regulatory and commercial disputes.
His practice is diverse and spans public international law (in particular, WTO law and investment treaty law); international arbitration; commercial litigation and competition law.
Recent case highlights include acting for Google in its dispute with Epic Games; acting for the United Kingdom in defending a €2.7 billion infraction action brought before the CJEU and defending MUFG in collective proceedings brought in the CAT in connection with alleged manipulation in the FX markets.
Thomas has acted at all levels of the English courts. He has also acted internationally before a wide variety of international tribunals (including the WTO’s Appellate Body, WTO panels, the CJEU and ICSID tribunals).
Thomas takes a collaborative approach to his cases and is particularly well-versed in handling disputes which involve economic or regulatory issues.
He is a member of the “A Panel” of Junior Counsel to the Crown (Attorney General’s Public International Law Panel).
Career
- 2023 onwards: Essex Court Chambers, London
- 2012-2023: Monckton Chambers, London
- 2010-2012: Allen & Overy LLP, London
- 2002-2009: Advisory Centre on WTO Law, Geneva
Lawyer Rankings
London Bar > Public international law
(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 3Thomas Sebastian – Essex Court Chambers ‘One of the most insightful minds at the Bar in my view. Enormously intelligent but wears it lightly. Diligent, super smart and an all-round class act.’
London Bar > International arbitration: counsel
(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 2Thomas Sebastian – Essex Court Chambers ‘Tom is superb, calm and leads management of a difficult case as well as can be imagined. High intelligent and incisive. Keen mind for the commercial realities in a case.’
Essex Court Chambers is praised for its ‘strength in depth when it comes to all types of arbitration’ with members of the set frequently appearing in internationally significant investment treaty arbitrations, arbitration related proceedings in the English courts and commercial arbitrations in arbitration centres across the globe. Away from a the set’s practice across international commercial arbitrations, in the investor-state sphere David Joseph KC led Anton Dudnikov KC in the English enforcement proceedings related to the Cairn Energy v India investment treaty dispute, with India paying over $1bn to Cairn for unlawful retrospective taxation measures. Key highlights on investor state arbitrations include First Quantum Minerals v Panama, in which Paul Key KC, leading Lucas Bastin KC and Sean Aughey, represents First Quantum Minerals in their dispute over the termination of a mining licence in Panama. Among the lineup changes to the set in the last year was the arrival of Thomas Sebastian from Monckton Chambers in July 2023; David Peters KC and James Sheehan KC being made silk in March 2024; and Tariq Baloch KC joining from 3 Verulam Buildings in October 2024.
London Bar > Competition
(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 3Thomas Sebastian – Essex Court Chambers ‘Thomas has strong forensic drafting skills and a very broad knowledge of competition law and its application to commercial agreements.’