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.
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Profile
Position
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 successful all risks underwriters the Russian Aircraft ‘mega’ trial before Butchers J (https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Comm/2025/1430.html), representing the 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.
Career
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.
Memberships
LCIA; COMBAR; BILA; LSLC; LMAA (supporting member). Member of CAS, SIAC, ARIAS, KLRCA Panels of Arbitrators.
Education
Brasenose College, Oxford (1986 BA Hons Jurisprudence); Northwestern University, Chicago (1991 LLM).
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- '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.'