Essex Court Chambers ‘stands at the very pinnacle of the English commercial Bar, particularly for complex international disputes’. Paul McGrath KC is acting for the claimants in Petersen & Ors v Republic of Argentina, concerning the enforcement of a $16.4bn judgment issued against Argentina in New York arising from a dispute over an alleged breach of contract. Joe Smouha KC ‘is able to combine a ferocious intellect with steely determination and a thoroughly charming personality’. In March 2025, the senior end of chambers was bolstered by the elevation of the ‘robust, hard-working, and effective’ Ciaran Keller KC and the ‘incredibly bright, creative and methodical’ Anton Dudnikov KC to silk.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Profile
Position
Commercial and chancery litigation and arbitration (domestic and international), including: business agreements and contractual disputes of all kinds; banking and financial services litigation; civil fraud and asset tracing; energy and minerals; jurisdiction disputes; company, partnership and insolvency matters; shareholder disputes; fiduciaries; professional negligence; enforcement of judgments and awards; and claims for and against sovereign states.
Admitted as a member of the Bar of the British Virgin Islands.
Notable cases include: Maximov v NLMK [2017] (Comm – enforcement of annulled award); Hellas II v Apax Partners [2017] (Ch - transaction defrauding creditors); Nogotkov v Browder [2017] (Ch - Cross Border Insolvency Regulations; public policy); British American Tobacco v Sequana [2016] (Ch – unlawful dividends; breach of fiduciary duty; transactions defrauding creditors); Krys v KBC Partners [2015] (Privy Council – construction of articles of a limited partnership); Yukos Capital v Rosneft (No. 2) [2014] (Comm – enforceability of annulled arbitral awards); Barnsley v Noble [2015] (Ch – deceit, breach of contract and fiduciary duty); Cifal Groupe v Meridian Securities [2013] (Comm – jurisdiction challenge); Yukos Capital v Rosneft [2012] (CA - act of state, issue estoppel); Favor Easy Management v Wu [2012] (CA – civil fraud); NML v Argentina [2011] (Supreme Court - sovereign immunity); Crossco v Jolan [2011] (CA - constructive trust, proprietary estoppel); Star Energy v Bocardo [2010] (Supreme Court – trespass by oil pipelines at depth); Crest Nicholson v Akaria [2010] (CA - contractual formation); IPCO v NNPC [2009] (CA – part enforcement of New York Convention awards); Meretz v ACP [2008] (CA – conspiracy; inducing breach of contract); Donegal v Zambia [2007] (Comm - debt recovery against a sovereign state); Gamlestaden v Baltic Partners [2007] (Privy Council – unfair prejudice remedy for shareholders).
Career
Formerly a Member of HM Diplomatic Service (serving at the United Nations and the British Embassy, Lisbon). Called to the Bar 2004.
Memberships
Commercial Bar Association; Chancery Bar Association; Financial Services Lawyers Association
Education
Educated at Cheadle Hulme School and Brasenose College, Oxford (MA, 1st Class Honours; Gibbs Prize, John House Prize, Shell Prize; Open Scholarship), City University (Distinction) and the Inns of Court School of Law (Barstow Scholarship, Sweet & Maxwell Company Law Prize). Member of Lincoln' s Inn (Hardwicke, Lord Haldane, Lord Mansfield and Megarry Scholarships; Buchanan Prize; Sir Louis Gluckstein Advocacy Prize).
Content supplied by Essex Court Chambers
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Joe Ferrigno runs a tight ship.'
- 'Ollie Butcher is fantastic to deal with.'
- 'Joe Ferrigno runs a top quality clerks' room.'
- 'Essex Court’s clerks provide a comprehensive and quality service which is second to none.'
- 'A premium set.'
- 'Essex Court are a quality chambers which is highly regarded with an impressive barrister line up.'
- 'Essex Court Chambers are a class act.'
- 'A leading commercial set.'