Christopher Harris QC > Chambers of Ewan McQuater QC and Adrian Beltrami QC > London, England > Lawyer Profile
3 Verulam Buildings Offices
3 Verulam Buildings
GRAY'S INN
LONDON
WC1R 5NT
England
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Christopher Harris QC
Position
Barrister specialising in banking, financial services, general commercial litigation and international commercial arbitration.
Career
Called 2002, Lincoln’s Inn.
Languages
French, German; rudimentary Spanish.
Memberships
Lincoln’s Inn; COMBAR; LCIA; ASA under 40.
Education
University of Bristol (LLB Joint Honours Law and French); Leiden (LLM); University of St Gallen (PhD); publication: ‘Informing Offeree Shareholders – The Duties of the Offeree Board of Directors in a Hostile Takeover in England and Switzerland’; ICSL – very competent.
Leisure
Skiing, cricket, football, travel.
Lawyer Rankings
London Bar > Energy
(2019 Silks) Ranked: Tier 1Christopher Harris QC –3 Verulam Buildings ‘His very good tactical sense and strong advocacy skills make him a reassuring presence in investment arbitration.’
3 Verulam Buildings is ‘evidently a strong set with breadth and depth of quality‘ and clients report that its members are ‘very user-friendly‘. The set is known for its expertise in banking and commercial litigation but its members also appear frequently in court and arbitration cases concerning oil fields, mines and technical issues related to the operation of oil and gas pipelines. New silks Christopher Harris QC, who represented the claimant in Forum International v OOS International which concerned high-value oil exploration assets in Brazil, and Nicholas Craig QC are among the set’s most active members in energy disputes. Juniors Paul Wee, who appeared in English enforcement proceedings concerning the $50bn arbitral awards obtained by former shareholders of Yukos under the Energy Charter Treaty, and Jane Davies Evans are highly recommended; Mark Wassouf is a rising star in chambers. ‘The clerks are good – responsive, approachable and keen to help‘, remarks one client.
London Bar > Public international law
(2019 Silks) Ranked: Tier 1Christopher Harris QC –3 Verulam Buildings ‘Has a deep knowledge of investment treaty arbitration jurisprudence and strong legal and strategic instincts.’
3 Verulam Buildings is ‘increasingly developing genuine expertise and depth in Public International Law at all levels‘ and is considered by some to be a ‘premier Investor State Arbitration chambers’. Christopher Harris QC is one of the set’s best-known silks in this area, and more in recent years, he has been joined by several ex-solicitors with a strong track background in this area, including Tariq Baloch, Mark Wassouf, Paul Wee, and Cameron Miles. Recent highlights include The Nova Group BV v Romania, where Harris and Miles are representing Nova Group.
London Bar > International arbitration: counsel
(2019 Silks) Ranked: Tier 1Christopher Harris QC –3 Verulam Buildings ‘Outstanding intellectual ability, rock-solid judgement and a compelling and highly persuasive advocacy style.’
3 Verulam Buildings‘ ‘depth in the field of arbitration has grown consistently over the past few years,’ and ‘they are catching up with the traditional top sets for general commercial arbitration‘. In recent years the set has made astute recruits from among the ranks of experienced arbitration solicitors, and this has started to pay dividends with high-profile instructions. Notable highlights include KLS Energy Lanka v Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, an ICSID claim in which Christopher Harris QC and Mark Wassouf are representing KLS Energy Lanka. Ewan McQuater QC and Paul Wee are also representing TC Ziraat Bank in the epic Sonera Holding v Cukurova Holding LCIA arbitration. In recent news, Rajesh Pillai took silk in 2020.
London Bar > Commercial litigation
(2019 Silks) Ranked: Tier 1Christopher Harris QC –3 Verulam Buildings ‘Excellent advocate, assured and forensic, with very good client skills.’
London Bar > Banking and finance (including consumer credit)
(2019 Silks) Ranked: Tier 1Christopher Harris QC –3 Verulam Buildings ‘A first rate advocate with a keen strategic mind and a complete mastery of the facts.’
Asia Pacific - The English Bar > Commercial
(2019 Silks) Ranked: Tier 1Christopher Harris QC –3 Verulam Buildings ‘He is also a powerful advocate and good on his feet, prepared to run difficult points. ’