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4 Pump Court (Sean Brannigan KC and Rachel Ansell KC)

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Ruth Bala
Ruth Bala
Ruth has built up a specialist practice in regulated lending, retail banking and financial services. Ruth has represented banks and finance institutions in a number of the leading cases in the area. She was lead counsel for the creditor in Kerrigan & 11 ors v Elevate Credit International Limited (t/a Sunny) (in administration) [2020] EWHC 2169 (Comm), the payday lending test case litigation on the relationship between the FCA’s Handbook rules and the ‘unfair relationship’ provisions. She also mounted a successful defence of undisclosed PPI commission in the seminal case of Harrison v Black Horse Ltd [2011] Lloyd’s Rep I.R. 455, subsequently overruled by the Supreme Court in Plevin v Paragon Personal Finance Limited [2014] 1 W.L.R. 4222, and appeared in Conlon v Black Horse Ltd [2012] GCCR 11423 (settled three days before the hearing in the Supreme Court). Ruth gives corporate entities in-depth advice on debt portfolio acquisitions and financial regulatory compliance. She is an expert on the detailed rules governing regulated activities in the FCA Handbook, including the CONC, MCOB, ICOBS and DISP modules.
Sean Brannigan
Sean Brannigan
Joint head of chambers, Sean specialises in high-value domestic construction cases and major international arbitrations seated worldwide.Sean is regularly instructed in the UK, Middle East, Far East, Africa and North America. Sean's practice is also broadly based in civil and commercial matters, specialising in professional negligence, including accountants and solicitors, building/civil engineering disputes, and landlord and tenant; has particular experience of work involving allegations of commercial fraud, and of alternative dispute resolution procedures such as mediation and adjudication.
Alice Carse
Alice Carse
Alice Carse is a highly regarded commercial barrister. She is instructed by businesses to advise on commercial employment issues including protection of confidential information, team moves, bonus disputes, large scale changes to workforces and has a particular specialism in handling industrial relations. Alice’s practice has led to a complementary profile in professional negligence matters involving a wide range of professionals, including solicitors, surveyors and architects, often drawing on coverage issues.
Helen Dennis
Helen Dennis
General commercial practice in line with chambers’ expertise, specialising in construction, energy, engineering, technology, shipping, shipbuilding and general commercial litigation and arbitration, often involving a cross-border element.  Recently instructed as sole counsel on a multi-million pound dispute relating to a high profile energy project, as junior counsel in relation to a high value construction arbitration concerning a significant infrastructure project and to advise on a shipbuilding dispute in relation to termination and operation of refund guarantees. A keen linguist who has been instructed in a number of international disputes involving French and German documents.
Simon Hale KC
Simon Hale KC
Simon is an experienced commercial litigator with a particular emphasis on construction, commercial and professional indemnity disputes. He was nominated for Construction and Energy Junior of the Year in 2020 by Legal 500. His practice is split between court work, adjudication, and domestic and international arbitration. Examples of his recent work include: internationally, Leonardo SpA v Doha Bank Assurance Co LLC [2020] QIC (A) 1, on appeal from [2019] QIC (F) 6, a leading decision on the enforcement of demand bonds. Domestically, Blackpool Borough Council v Volkerfitzpatrick Ltd, Caunton Engineering Limited and ors; main judgment, [2020] EWHC 1523 (TCC); costs judgment [2020] 2128 EWHC (TCC); a 4-week trial of complex corrosion defects in a state-of-the-art electric tram depot. 
Neil Henderson
Neil Henderson
Shipping and international trade: cargo claims, charterparty disputes, arrests, bunker disputes, shipbuilding disputes, sale and purchase, marine insurance, commodity sales. Commercial litigation and arbitration: private equity, shareholder disputes, banking, insolvency, director disqualification, general contractual disputes. Applications to the High Court in support of arbitration, including freezing injunctions, anti-suit injunctions, inspection orders, jurisdiction disputes, security for costs and applications under ss57, 67, 68 and 69 of the Arbitration Act 1996. Extensive experience of LMAA, ICC and LCIA arbitrations.
Alexander Hickey KC
Alexander Hickey KC
Barrister specialising in litigation, domestic and international arbitration and adjudication of disputes in construction, engineering, energy oil and gas, petrochemicals, waste management, transport, utilities and shipbuilding industries. His cases involve disputes in the UK and abroad especially Turkey, Middle East and Africa. He undertakes trials in the TCC, Queen’s Bench Division and Chancery Division and has appeared in the Court of Appeal and House of Lords. He is admitted as an advocate in Dubai International Financial Centre Courts. He acts as advocate in LCIA, ICC, DIAC, VIAC, LMAA and UNCITRAL international arbitration. He is an ICC arbitrator and accredited CEDR adjudicator.
Rebecca Keating
Rebecca Keating
Rebecca has a broad commercial practice with experience in banking and financial services, commercial disputes, energy and construction, professional negligence and shipping. Rebecca has a particular interest in technology and intellectual property. Recently, she has been instructed on disputes involving bespoke software, quantum computers, defective IT systems and the use of a robo-advice model. Her recent instructions have raised a range of issues including data protection, cyber security and intellectual property. Prior to joining 4 Pump Court, Rebecca worked at Dropbox's European Headquarters, where her work focused on assisting clients in the large-scale deployment of cloud technology. She has published several articles on the topic of technology and the law in both national and international publications.
Jeremy Nicholson KC
Jeremy Nicholson KC
Barrister and arbitrator specialising in commercial disputes including construction & engineering, energy, insurance and professional negligence; also acts as adjudicator, DB member, and mediator; clients include employers, contractors, insurers, engineers, architects, surveyors, valuers and other professionals; major cases include international arbitrations about construction in Middle East, Far East, and Europe, and many actions before the TCC and elsewhere in the High Court.
Laurence Page
Laurence Page
Laurence Page is a leading commercial and infrastructure advocate who is regularly instructed in some of the highest value and most complex disputes both in the UK and in the Middle East. He is ranked in four different categories by both Legal 500 and Chambers and is one of only three barristers recognised as “tier 1” in Middle East disputes. His current experience includes acting for the principal defendants in c£2 billion banking and tax fraud claim; acting for the company at the centre of a multi-billion-dollar shareholder arbitration; acting for the contractor in a billion-QAR construction dispute; acting for a group of institutional shareholders in a s.90 FSMA claim against a FTSE 250 company. In addition to appearing in cases before the English Commercial Court, Technology and Construction Court, and Court of Appeal, Laurence also appears before the Dubai International Financial Centre Courts and Qatar Finance Centre Courts. See https://www.4pumpcourt.com/barrister/laurence-page/
Robert Scrivener
Robert Scrivener
Broad commercial practice, in line with chambers’ expertise. Robert has particular experience of disputes involving construction, energy, shipping, financial services, insurance and professional negligence. Robert regularly appears in court on behalf of banks. He has undertaken secondments with a major bank and with the financial markets dispute resolution department at a major City law firm; been instructed to advise in a coverage dispute under a liability policy; and undertaken professional negligence claims against auditors, insurance brokers and financial services professionals, solicitors, barristers, accountants, engineers and architects.
Fiona Sinclair KC
Fiona Sinclair KC
Specialises in construction, energy, transport, construction professionals’ liability and insurance. First class advocacy and team-management skills honed in complex, high-value disputes on major construction and engineering, energy or transport projects, property damage disputes and all related insurance issues. Fiona’s success in the UK Supreme Court’s first ever construction adjudication case (Aspect Contracts v Higgins Construction, 2015) sealed her reputation as a first choice silk for heavyweight litigation, as well as big-ticket domestic and international arbitration. Enjoys leading multi-disciplinary teams of experts and lawyers to success for the client.
Jessica Stephens KC
Jessica Stephens KC
Barrister specialising in construction and related professional negligence disputes. Acts for employers, contractors, professional advisers, local authorities and government departments in domestic and international disputes relating to the design and construction of buildings, infrastructure and installations. She has appeared in arbitrations (international and domestic) and the courts, both the TCC and the Commercial Court (in relation to offshore energy disputes). She has experience of all standard form construction and engineering contracts (including JCT, NEC, FIDIC) and PFI/PPP disputes and has significant experience in international arbitrations (LCIA, ICC and LMAA) concerning a variety of subject matters including shipbuilding, offshore energy and infrastructure projects. She has considerable experience of all aspects of adjudication, including advising on and drafting documents within the adjudication process, and has regularly appeared at enforcement hearings, injunctions to restrain the continuation of adjudications and declarations as to the adjudicator’s jurisdiction. Jessica also has experience of disputes concerning fire, floods, asbestos, subsidence and party wall matters as well as related insurance matters. Recent reported cases: Alstom Transport v Eurostar International [2010] EWHC 2747 (Ch), [2011] EWHC 1828 (Ch), [2012] EWHC 28 (Ch); CN Associates v Holbeton [2011] EWHC 43 (TCC); Vertase FLI v Squibb Group [2012] EWHC 3194 (TCC); Roe Brickwork v Wates Construction [2013] EWHC 3417 (TCC); Devon County Council v Celtic BioEnergy [2014] EWHC 309 (TCC); Herboshe-Kiere Marine Contractors v Dover Harbour Board [2012] EWHC 84 (TCC); Lazari v London & Newcastle (Camden) [2013] EWHC 97 (TCC); Birmingham City Council v Paddison Construction [2008] EWHC 2254.
Andrew Stevens
Andrew Stevens
Commercial barrister specialising in complex and high-value international disputes in arbitration and litigation. Particular specialism in energy (oil, gas, nuclear and renewables), infrastructure, construction (onshore and offshore), shipbuilding, shipping and finance disputes. Has acted in English commercial cases in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Acts in arbitrations seated globally, including in London, Singapore, Stockholm, Hong Kong, Geneva, China and the Netherlands under e.g. LCIA, ICC, CIETAC, HKIAC, UNCITRAL, SIAC and SMAC rules as well as ad hoc. Regularly acts for Far Eastern parties especially Chinese SOEs including in Belt & Road / PCEC disputes. Experience of acting as English law expert in Chinese court litigation and in support of Singapore litigation and as co-counsel. Fluent French speaker and has acted in arbitration in English and French.
Quentin Tannock
Quentin Tannock
Barrister with a broad commercial practice, combining legal excellence with practical business experience, particularly in the areas of commercial litigation, technology and IP and with a strong focus on advocacy. Quentin has particular experience in commercial litigation and arbitration across technology, telecommunications, intellectual property, construction, shipping and financial services disputes. He has a background in law and business, including venture capital, has lectured at the University level and contributes regularly to major publications on areas of law ranging from the GDPR and data protection to technology and shipping law.
James Watthey
James Watthey
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.
Laura Wright
Laura Wright
Barrister with a broad commercial practice and particular experience of IT, IP, construction, banking, and professional negligence disputes. Laura is developing a specialism in technology and intellectual property disputes across a variety of industries. She is frequently instructed as both sole and junior counsel in cases involving computer systems, internet services and software. Laura sits on the Bar Council’s IT Panel, is a committee member of the Society for Computers and Law Junior Lawyers’ Group and is a contributing author to The Law of Artificial Intelligence, Sweet & Maxwell, 2020.
Luke Wygas
Luke Wygas
Luke’s practice focuses on domestic construction, energy, IT and professional negligence (with a particular emphasis on construction professionals) disputes. Luke is a qualified engineer who worked, mainly in the Far East, before coming to the Bar. Recent cases include representing an employer in an international arbitration concerning a power plant in the Middle East, representing an employer in relation to a mining project in Africa and representing a contractor in relation to a prestigious retail development in the Far East. Luke also has experience of fire loss claims, particularly when they include issues of technical complexity and claims arising out of cladding. He is frequently instructed in relation to construction adjudications.