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
Michael Ryan’s practice encompasses cross-border disputes, banking and finance, energy disputes, company litigation, insurance and professional liability.
Many of Michael’s cases include allegations of dishonesty and he has extensive experience of commercial fraud. He is familiar with the demands of hard-fought commercial cases and has substantial advocacy experience, having conducted trials, appeals and applications in his own right. He has appeared in the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
Michael has experience of interim applications, including worldwide freezing injunctions, Norwich Pharmacal Applications, Bankers Trust Orders and jurisdictional applications.
Cases include: Aercap Ireland v AIG Europe [2023] EWHC 96, US$4.5bn insurance dispute; UBS Switzerland v Kumar [2023] EWHC 2041, freezing orders in banking/fraud dispute; Deposit Guarantee Fund v Bank Frick [2022] EWHC 2221, banking fraud dispute; Natwest Markets Plc v Bilta [2021] EWCA Civ 680, carbon credit trading fraud; VTB Commodities v JSC Antipinksy [2021] EWHC 1758 (Comm), Russian banking fraud dispute; PDVSA Servicios S.A. v Petrosaudi Oil Services Limited [2020] EWHC 2819 (Ch), 1MDB fraud and offshore oil drilling; Apache North Sea Ltd v INEOS FPS Ltd [2020] EWHC 2081 (Comm), North Sea oil dispute; Group Seven Ltd v Notable Services LLP [2020] Ch 129, appeal on dishonest assistance.
Career
Called 2011 (Middle Temple, scholar and exhibitioner; ver Heyden de Lancey Prize; Certificate of Honour). BA (Oxon) Jurisprudence (First Class). BCL (Distinction). BPTC (Outstanding).
Memberships
COMBAR; Chancery Bar Association.
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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.'