Michael Holmes KC > Chambers of Gavin Kealey KC > London, England > Barrister Profile
7 King's Bench Walk Offices
7 King's Bench Walk
TEMPLE
LONDON
EC4Y 7DS
England
- Set Profile
- Go to...
Michael Holmes KC
Position
Barrister specialising in insurance/reinsurance, shipping disputes, commercial fraud and general commercial litigation, with a particular interest in jurisdiction disputes and questions arising out of the conflict of laws. Recent cases include Libyan Investment Authority v JP Morgan Markets Limited [2019] EWHC 1452 (Comm) (contesting jurisdiction on limitation grounds), AXA Versicherung AG v Arab Insurance Group [2017] Lloyd’s Rep IR 216 (Court of Appeal; avoidance of a reinsurance treaty), and Pan Oceanic Chartering v Unipec UK [2017] Lloyd’s Rep Plus 32 (suit by sole agent in a long-term contract of affreightment).
Career
Called 1999; Middle Temple.
Languages
Working knowledge German.
Memberships
COMBAR, British Insurance Law Association, London Shipping Law Centre, LCLCBA.
Education
Peterhouse, Cambridge (MPhil Medieval History; BA Hons History (Starred 1st), MA); City University (Diploma in Law); Inns of Court School of Law (BVC).
Leisure
Rugby, hiking, food.
Lawyer Rankings
London Bar > Insurance and reinsurance
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 3Michael Holmes KC – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘A silk with encyclopedic insurance and reinsurance market knowledge who is a pleasure to work with.’
London Bar > Commercial litigation
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 6Michael Holmes KC –7 King’s Bench Walk ‘Michael is an absolute expert. He is extremely responsive, commercial, and client-friendly.’
London Bar > Fraud: civil
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 4Michael Holmes KC – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘A shrewd silk.’
London Bar > International arbitration: counsel
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 4Michael Holmes KC –7 King’s Bench Walk ‘Extremely bright, creative in his thinking, very hard working, extremely user-friendly – a joy to work with.’
7 King’s Bench Walk boasts an ‘outstanding calibre of talent across all levels’, adept at handling international arbitrations across various sectors and concerning multiple different jurisdictions and centres such as the LCIA, HKIAC, SIAC and ICC. The set is praised as ‘undoubtedly the strongest set for insurance and reinsurance’, in which David Edwards KC and Benjamin Parker frequently handle high-profile work. Further areas of expertise for the set include healthcare and pharmaceutical related arbitrations, with Gavin Kealey KC and Dominic Kendrick KC being go-to names in Covid-19 business interruption arbitrations, while also expanding in the niche area of Bermuda Form disputes, an area in which Michael Holmes KC, Sushma Ananda and Marcus Mander have recently been active.