Set Profile > Twenty Essex > London, England

Commodities Tier 1

Twenty Essex is ‘still the standout set for commodities matters’ and clients note that is has 'some real quality among its members, both silks and juniors'. One remarks that 'the clerks are helpful, commercially flexible and responsive'. The set combines great depth in shipping matters with in-depth knowledge of commodities trading across a broad range of soft commodities, oil, coal, gas, and metals. Co-head of chambers Duncan Matthews QC has more than 30 years' experience in this field and he successfully appeared for the claimant in Euro-Asian Oil SA v Credit Suisse AG, in which the Court of Appeal upheld a $15m award arising from a dispute concerning a contract to buy oil. Highly regarded senior-junior Henry Byam-Cook defended oil and gas company OMV in claims brought in the Commercial Court by Glencore.

International arbitration: arbitrators Tier 1

Twenty Essex is packed with some of the market's leading arbitrators, including ex-judges, solicitors, and barristers, many of whom are based in the set's Singapore chambers.

Public international law Tier 1

Twenty Essex has a selection of top names at senior and junior level who have established incredibly strong track records in public international law. Two members were formerly principal legal advisers to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, including Sir Michael Wood KCMG who never took silk due to a historic quirk in the system, but is a QC in all but name and therefore sits in The Legal 500's 'Senior Counsel' table in recognition of his expertise. Members have been involved in several major cases, including Australia v Timor-Leste Conciliation, while Guglielmo Verdirame QC and Sudhanshu Swaroop QC faced each other on the Freedom and Justice Party of Egypt v Foreign & Commonwealth Office case.

International arbitration: counsel Tier 2

Twenty Essex is 'especially good quality in international arbitration, public international law, and the international trade world'. The highly versatile set has a broad range of expertise, and members regularly handle major shipping, commodities, fraud, and BIT claims, as well as arbitration-related spin-off suits in the courts. Recent highlight cases include PL Holdings S.A.R.L and Republic of Poland in which Sara Masters QC led Belinda McRae  in a case that will consider the impact of the Achmea decision.

IT and telecoms Tier 2

Professional negligence Tier 2

Shipping Tier 2

Twenty Essex is a 'leader for shipping disputes' and highly rated by clients thanks to its 'exceptionally talented' members. Michael Ashcroft QC and Luke Pearce appeared for the insurers in The Swedish Club v Connect Shipping (MV Renos), which examines the law of marine insurance and claims for constructive total loss. The Songa Winds, which concerns letters of indemnity, was also a notable highlight for Michael Ashcroft QC leading Oliver Caplin. Maersk Tangier, which examined the applicability of the Hague-Visby Rules, was a key case for Sara Masters QC and Daniel Bovensiepen. Elsewhere, Timothy Hill QC appeared in Lady M, which raised important questions as to the scope and interpretation of The Hague Rules; he also appeared in class action claim Alize 1954 v Allianz Elementar Versicherungs AG ('The CMA CGM LIBRA'), which concerned issues as to whether the vessel was seaworthy.

Commercial litigation Tier 3

Twenty Essex has 'an impressive bunch' of versatile silks and juniors. Members are especially experienced in major international disputes, often with a fraud or trade component, and they are especially noted for their private international law expertise. Highlight cases include CMOC Sales & Marketing Limited v Persons Unknown & 30 others, which involved the first-ever persons unknown injunction, and was led by Paul Lowenstein QC and also involved Philip Riches and two other members on behalf of CMOC. Another highlight was Deutsche Bank AG v (1) Sebastian Holdings Inc. (2) Mr Alexander Vik in which Duncan Matthews QC successfully represented Alexander Vik in a related offshore claim before the Court of Apeal of the Turks & Caicos Islands.

Company and partnership Tier 3

Energy Tier 3

A standout set for shipping and commodities work, Twenty Essex also has a strong practice in energy disputes, notably in the offshore construction and energy trading arenas. One client notes how the set has 'a strong practice for the largest and most commercial disputes'. Timothy Hill QC acted in Glencore Energy UK Limited v Springfield Energy Limited, which concerned the storage and importation of gasoil and gasoline into Ghana for the domestic market. Michael Ashcroft QC advised Repsol on a $1.3bn Commercial Court claim brought by SBM on contractors all risks policies relating to the YME Mopustor Project in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. Co-head of chambers Duncan Matthews QC is active in several high-value disputes, including an UNCITRAL matter on behalf of the claimant that concerns a long-term drilling contract and the performance of a drilling vessel. Junior Malcolm Jarvis handled a substantial claim concerning the termination of contract for the supply and sale of subsea equipment for an offshore oilfield in Africa.

Fraud: civil Tier 3

Driven by its roster of experienced silks and juniors, Twenty Essex has seen huge growth in fraud instructions in recent years. Paul Lowenstein QC and Philip Riches acted on CMOC Sales & Marketing Limited v Persons Unknown & 30 others, which involved the first-ever persons unknown injunction, which will have a huge bearing on cyber fraud and cryptocurrency trade and asset tracing.

Insolvency Tier 3

International crime and extradition Tier 3

Offshore Tier 3

Insurance and reinsurance Tier 4

Twenty Essex is 'excellent' and regularly engaged in complex insurance and reinsurance disputes; Michael Ashcroft QC  is representing the insurers in The Swedish Club v Connect Shipping (MV Renos), a high-profile claim for constructive total loss. Christopher Hancock QC is instructed by the claimant in M/T Prestige, a case relating to one of the largest oil spills in history.

Environment Tier 4

Banking and finance (including consumer credit) Tier 5

Twenty Essex fields a selection of high-end silks and juniors well-versed in complex banking and trade finance disputes. Members are also experienced in derivatives claims and banking-related cyber fraud. Highlights included Fundo Soberano De Angola and ors v Jean-Claude Bastos De Morais and ors, in which Philip Edey QC and Andrew Fulton represented the corporate respondents.

Mediators Tier 5

Twenty Essex's David Owen QC has been mediating disputes since 2002. His cases are often international, with recent mediation appointments including disputes involving shipping and maritime issues, commodity sales, finance, corporate fraud, joint ventures, product liability and infrastructure projects.

Set overviews: England and Wales

The ‘go-to’ chambers for international arbitrators and counsel, the recently rebranded Twenty Essex is ‘one of the leading sets’ for public international law instructions, a ‘leader in the charterparty and bill of lading/contractual side of shipping’, as well as commodities work, and it also has ‘a good reputation for commercial litigation’. Solicitors also notice its members’ ever increasing presence in banking work. In recent news, following three years in the Cayman Islands as a litigation attorney at Walkers, Sarah Tresman has returned to chambers. Led by practice directors Arron Zitver, Christopher Theobald, and Anthony Carroll, the ‘ever improving’ and ‘helpful’ clerks’ room is ‘friendly, prompt, and flexible on fees’. Tara Shah has recently joined the clerks’ room from 2 Hare Court. Other names to note are CEO Jemma Tagg, COO Daniel Clark, and Rachel Foxton, head of marketing and BD director, Asia. Offices in: London and Singapore