Michael Ryan > Chambers of Gavin Kealey KC > London, England > Barrister Profile

Known in the industry as the ‘leader in insurance and reinsurance disputes,’ with ‘rich history and top quality barristers of all levels,’ 7 King’s Bench Walk remains a pre-eminent set for all aspects of insurance and reinsurance work, with barristers instructed on the year’s high profile and high value cases, as well as aiding in the development of the law. During 2023, aviation litigation became one of the core areas of the insurance practice, with Andrew Wales KC, Clara Benn acting for AIG, and other members such as Rebecca Sabben-Clare KC and Alistair Schaff KC acting as opposing counsel in Aercap Ireland v AIG Europe and Lloyds Insurance Company which is the lead case begun by lessors against the aviation insurance market concerning the Russian government’s effective seizure of aircraft from foreign lessors. On top of this, members including Michael Ryan, Peter MacDonald Eggers KC, Sandra Healy and Gavin Kealey KC have been involved in the Covid-19 business interruption series of test cases, with Josephine Higgs KC acting for policyholders on Prevention of Access clauses in Gatwick Investment Ltd & Ors v Liberty Mutual Insurance. Julia Gibbon and Douglas Grant are names to watch.

7 King’s Bench Walk offers an impressive ‘array of talent at all levels’ and is particularly renowned for its expertise in insurance, reinsurance, and shipping disputes as part of a broader commercial disputes offering. Barristers in the set have been instructed by various parties in aviation litigation concerning whether aircraft expropriated by the Russian Federation – after the imposition of sanctions following its invasion of Ukraine – are permanently lost, and whether this loss is attributable to a war risk or an all-risk insured policy. This includes Gavin Kealey KC, Clara Benn, and Ralph Morley’s defence of AIG, and Richard Waller KC and Michael Ryan’s defence of Lloyds Insurance Co against aircraft lessor AerCap Ireland. Additionally, Alistair Schaff KC and Rebecca Sabben-Clare KC are acting for the claimant in Dubai Aerospace Enterprise Ltd v Lloyd’s Insurance Company and others, with Jonathan Gaisman KC, Siobán Healy KC, Keir Howie, and others representing Global Aerospace. Members have also been active in a number of COVID-19 business interruption cases, including Gavin Kealey KC and Josephine Higgs KC acting for the Al Mana group in its Commercial Court claim against three Gulf-based insurers.

Demonstrating ‘real strength in depth for fraud work‘, 7 King’s Bench Walk handles a wide range of domestic and multijurisdictional civil fraud cases, with strong expertise in asset recovery and obtaining and resisting interim injunctions. Members of the set are often engaged in insurance claims involving underlying fraud, such as Richard Waller KC and Michael Ryan‘s representation of the claimant in Malhotra Leisure v Aviva, in which an insurer is being sued for refusing to pay out under the COVID-19 business interruption policy following water damage to the hotel. In the Ablyazov SPV litigation, David Allen KC, leading Jason Robinson, represents JSC BTA Bank in BVI proceedings against over fifty defendants concerning an alleged $231m offshore SPV fraud. Over in the junior ranks, Keir Howie is instructed by a group of defendants in SKAT v Solo Capital Partners, a high-value claim concerning trading by a Dubai-based hedge fund which the Danish tax authorities allege was a cum-ex fraud.