7 King’s Bench Walk is 'highly regarded and well respected for its experience and strength in commercial litigation'. Demonstrating the set's prowess in insurance law, multiple members of the set appeared for various parties in the longrunning Russian Aircraft litigation, including Gavin Kealey KC and Ralph Morley representing AIG; Richard Waller KC and Michael Ryan acting for Lloyds Insurance Co; and Jonathan Gaisman KC, Siobán Healy KC, Keir Howie, and others representing Global Aerospace. The Commercial Court ruled that the aircraft were lost on 10 March 2022, and the proximate cause of the loss was Russian Government Resolution 311, which banned the return from Russia of leased aircraft and engines to Western lessors. As the ban qualified as 'restraint' and/or 'detention' within the meaning of war risks perils, the loss was ruled to be covered under the war risk insurance and excluded under the all-risk insurance. Jason Robinson KC was elevated to silk in March 2025.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Profile
Position
Gavin Kealey is widely acknowledged to be one of the leading commercial silks practising at the English Bar both as Counsel and as Arbitrator.
He is Head of Chambers at 7 King’s Bench Walk, a Deputy High Court Judge with significant judgments to his name, and a Bencher of the Inner Temple.
He specialises in commercial law, and practises at all levels, including in reported decisions in the last five years in the Supreme Court, the Privy Council, the Court of Appeal, and the Commercial Court, and the Abu Dhabi Global Market Court of Appeal. He is exceptionally well-known and in demand both as counsel and as arbitrator in international arbitrations in all parts of the world, and additionally as expert on English law and jurisdiction.
He holds rankings across eight practice areas, including Star Individual or Band 1 rankings in Insurance & Reinsurance, Aviation and International Arbitration (as both Counsel and Arbitrator). In 2022 he was The Legal 500’s Financial Services Silk of the Year.
Career
Lecturer in Laws, King’s College, London University; qualified 1977; QC 1994; recorder 2000; deputy High Court judge in the QBD Commercial Court; head of chambers.
Languages
French.
Education
Fletcher Scholar, University College, Oxford University (1975 BA Jurisprudence First Class).
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Testimonials
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- 'Greg Leyden stands out for his impressive leadership.'
- 'The clerks are client-focused.'
- 'The clerks handle barristers well and look after clients very well. Engaged and engaging.'
- 'A favoured set for high value and complex litigation.'
- 'The go to set for insurance coverage.'
- '7KBW offers a wealth of experience.'
- 'Excellent service. The clerks respond promptly and are very approachable.'