Chambers of Gavin Kealey KC

Barrister and Arbitrator specialising in general commercial law disputes, including insurance; reinsurance; international trade and commodities; shipping and carriage of goods; banking and other contractual disputes; professional negligence particularly of solicitors, brokers, surveyors and accountants; arbitration and conflicts of law. Notable cases include acting for the successful insurance brokers in ABN Amro v RSA [2022] 1 Lloyd’s Rep IR 201; acting for the claimants in the Buncefield litigation: Beazley Underwriting v Travelers [2012] Lloyd’s Rep IR 78; Carboex SA v Louis Dreyfus [2013]2 WLR 754; Colour Quest v Total [2009]2 Lloyd’s Rep 1; Dunlop Haywards v Barbon [2010]1 Lloyd’s Rep IR 149 (brokers’ duties); DHL v Erinaceous [2009] EWCA Civ 354 (rectification, joinder); Wasa v Lexington [2010]1 AC 180 (back-to-back nature of insurance and reinsurance); Encia v Canopius [2008] Lloyd’s Rep IR 79 (professional indemnity insurance); Diab v Regent [2007] 1WLR 797 (unaccepted repudiation of policy did not invalidate notification requirements); Limit No.3 v PDV [2005] Lloyd’s Rep IR 522 (forum non conveniens); Paine v Catlins [2005] Lloyd’s Rep IR 655 (fire insurance); Glencore v Alpina [2004]1Lloyd’s Rep 111 (insurance; open cover); Assicurazioni Generali v CGU [2004] Lloyd’s Rep IR 457 CA (‘follow settlements’ in reinsurance); Tradigrain v SlAT [2002]2 Lloyd’s Rep 553 (conflict of laws; Brussels-Lugano conventions articles 8, 12a, 17, 22); The Mass Glory [2002] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 244 (damages in string arbitrations damages for detention); The Happy Day [2002] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 487 (whether despatch payable where no valid NOR given); Chase v Ram [2000] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 418 (jurisdiction forum non conveniens, insurance); Eide v Lowndes Lambert CA [1999] QB 199 (broker’s lien); Boskalis v Mountain CA [1999] QB 674 (marine insurance). Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. Acts as arbitrator in sports and commercial contractual disputes of all kinds

Qualified 1990 solicitor; 1993 barrister; 2010 Queen’s Counsel; articled clerk then solicitor Richards Butler 1988-93; director Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund Limited 1995 to 2010; Bar Standards Board Professional Conduct Committee 2011-2015; FCIArb 2013.

LCIA; COMBAR; BILA; LSLC; LMAA (supporting member). Member of CAS, SIAC, ARIAS, KLRCA Panels of Arbitrators.

Brasenose College, Oxford (1986 BA Hons Jurisprudence); Northwestern University, Chicago (1991 LLM).