James Watthey > 4 Pump Court (Sean Brannigan KC and Rachel Ansell KC) > London, England > Barrister Profile

James Watthey

020 7842 5555 chambers@4pumpcourt.com View profile

Position

An experienced commercial barrister handling heavyweight international arbitration and litigation. In addition to LMAA, LCIA, SIAC, ICC and other institutional and ad hoc arbitrations all around the world, he also frequently handles disputes in the Mercantile Court, the Commercial Court and the Admiralty Court, as well as other divisions of the High Court. He also has experience in mediation and as an arbitrator and expert in English law in foreign proceedings. His arbitration practice includes both substantive proceedings and challenges under the Arbitration Act 1996, on grounds such as want of jurisdiction, apparent bias, serious irregularity and errors of law. Particular specialist expertise in shipping and commodities; shipbuilding, offshore construction and energy; insurance and reinsurance; professional negligence; general commercial dispute resolution.
Reported cases include: QUEEN B SPEED” LTL 2/10/2020; [2020] 9 WLUK 353; “STORM EMMA” limitation claim [2020] EWHC 1750 (Admlty); Crowther v Crowther [2020] EWHC 1037 (Fam) and [2020] EWCA Civ 762; AIG Europe Ltd v Royal & Sun Alliance Plc & ors [2020] EWHC 943 (TCC); “REJOICE” [2020] Lloyd’s Rep. Plus 21; “OCEAN WIND 8” [2019] 1 Lloyd’s Rep. 510; “ALHANI” [2018] 2 Lloyd’s Rep. 563; A v B (arbitration claim – contractual terms – foreign language) [2018] EWHC 1370 (Comm); “MARCO POLO” [2017] 1 Lloyd’s Rep. 575; Vitol v Beta [2017] 2 Lloyd’s Rep. 338; Bank of Baroda v Nawany Marine Shipping FZE [2016] EWHC 3089 (Comm); Austen v Pearl Motor Yachts Ltd [2014] EWHC 3544 (Comm); “IMME” [2014] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 386; “CONTI CARTAGENA” [2014] EWHC 1064 (Comm) and [2015] EWHC 3922 (QB); “BERIL 1” [2014] EWHC 398 (Comm); “SNOW BUNTING” [2012] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 647; F&M Bunkering Services Ltd v Bulgarian River Shipping [2012] EWHC B26 (Comm); “TE HSING” [2012] EWHC B16 (Comm); Lombard Marine Finance v Hussein LTL 7/3/2011; “BON AMI” [2009] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 356.

Career

Called 2000, Gray’s Inn. Formerly insurance and reinsurance litigator at Lovells. Chairman, Gray’s Inn Barristers’ Committee. Tenant at Hardwicke Building, Lincoln’s Inn (2002-March 2014). Tenant at 4 Pump Court from April 2014.

Memberships

Supporting member of the LMAA; member of the LCIA Users’ Council; BILA; COMBAR; London Shipping Law Centre; founder committee member Young Maritime Professionals; Worshipful Company of Shipwrights.

Education

Ashcroft High School; Luton VIth Form College; Christ’s College, Cambridge (1998, MA (Cantab) (Law); Christ Church, Oxford (1999, BCL).

Leisure

Family, food, cycling (London Dynamo) and sailing (Bar Yacht Club, RORC).