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 ‘Best barrister in the market when it comes to international trade, but also a first-rate PIL generalist – in terms of both analytical and strategic thinking, he is one of the best senior juniors in PIL.’
With ‘ the perfect combination of expertise and commercial awareness‘, pre-eminent public international law set Essex Court Chambers fields an outstanding portfolio of commercial and academically accomplished barristers who are highly adept at handling the full spectrum of public international law matters with particular expertise in state-versus-state disputes, land and sea territorial disputes, international trade and investment arbitrations, and state immunity issues. Alison Macdonald KC who was recently asked by the Ukrainian government to join a high-profile working group on the seizure of Russian assets to provide reparations following Russia’s 2022 invasion. Ben Juratowitch KC is representing the Gabonese government in its dispute with Equatorial Guinea in its boundary dispute over three islands. On the junior end, Amy Sander, Naomi Hart and Jackie McArthur stand out, forming parts of counsel teams in state-versus-state disputes. Thomas Sebastian, joined from Monckton Chambers in July 2023, bringing with him expertise on WTO matters.
London Bar > International arbitration: counsel
(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 2Thomas Sebastian – Essex Court Chambers ‘Outstanding analysis and a lovely drafting style. Great team player, contributes strongly to all aspects of a case – he is a pleasure to work with.’
Essex Court Chambers is ‘a market leading set with an excellent line up of senior and junior counsel‘ for international arbitration work. Members are instructed as counsel to lead on the most complex, high-profile arbitrations and often politically sensitive matters, from commercial to investment treaty claims, involving the full spectrum of arbitral rules, spanning a broad geographical area and sectors. Alison Macdonald KC is representing the claimant telecom operator in Axiata Investments v Nepal, an ICSID case in concerning a disputed 22.5bn NPR (£134m) tax bill. Governments draw on Ben Juratowitch KC’s expertise for sensitive arbitrations, including an Energy Charter Treaty dispute concerning the RAFO Onești refinery in Romania. Angeline Welsh KC and Siddharth Dhar KC and took silk in March 2023, boosting the set’s senior ranks further. With expertise in international commercial arbitration, Thomas Sebastian, who is also qualified in India, joined the set in July 2023 from Monckton Chambers.