Quadrant Chambers is ‘certainly the lead set in international trade and shipping in a highly competitive market’, according to one client, and the related area of commodities is a growing source of work for many members. Simon Rainey KC was involved in Fimbank v KCH Shipping The Giant Ace, which saw him represent bulk ship wwners in a Commercial Court appeal concerning a claim for misdelivery of cargo that raises questions about the correct construction and effect of the Hague and Hague-Visby Rules time limit. Also prominent in this space is Chirag Karia KC, who successfully acted for the Claimant GAFTA appellant, along with leading junior Ben Gardner, in Sharp Corp Ltd v Viterra BV. This is the first case to rule on the proper construction and effect of the GAFTA Default Clause and the quantification of losses for non-acceptance of goods under that clause.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Profile
Position
Commercial litigation and arbitration, shipping, commodities, energy, insurance/reinsurance and international arbitration. Cases: GTLK v Aviation Reinsurers (lead counsel in US$2.2 billion aviation insurance claim following Russian seizure of leased aircraft); Sharp v Viterra 2023] 2 All E.R.(Comm) 457(CA) (GAFTA Default-Clause construction); Stema Barge II [2022] 1 Lloyd’s Rep. 170 (CA)(meaning of “operator” in Limitation Convention); OCM v Gulf-Petrochem (2022)(LOI enforcement); Maersk v Mercuria [2022] 2 Lloyd’s Rep. 95 (2021)(anti-suit injunction in US$45 million fraud); Hin- Leong/Ocean- Tankers Fraud (US$800 million oil fraud); Sakizaya Kalon [2021] 2 Lloyd’s Rep. 70 (100% recovery in 3-vessel Suez Canal collision); Setana v Hafesa (2021)(trigger-pricing in term diesel- sale); Tenacity (2020) (impecuniosity defence to LOI); Arbitration (contaminated bunkers); Arbitration (lien-on-sub-freights); Arbitration (bunker-fraud); Committeri v ClubMed (CA)(Rome I vs. Rome II Regulations); Sea Master [2019] 1 Lloyd's Rep. 101 (switch bills; arbitral jurisdiction); Yusuf Cepnioglu [2016] 1 Lloyd’s Rep. 641(CA)(contractual anti-suit injunction vs. 3rd party); Ramburs [2016] Bus.L.R. 135 (GAFTA Substitution Clause); Crudesky [2014] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 1(CA)(force majeure; novus actus); Proton [2014] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 100 (contract formation); Merwestone [2013] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 131 (“perils of the sea” & Inchmaree insurance cover; fortuity requirement); Lehmann Timber [2013] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 541 (CA)(GA; lien exercise costs); Ratna (CA)(US$60M oil dispute; state immunity); Arbitration (subsea blowout preventer defects); Choil v Sahara (hedging losses).
Career
Called 1988, Lincoln’s Inn (Denning Scholar); Queen’s Counsel 2012; MA(Cantab.), Slaughter & May Prize (top 1st in Law at Cambridge University); LL.M. (UC Berkeley), Harkness Fellow; Attorney practising in California (1990-2000).
Joint Editor, “Butterworths Commercial Court and Arbitration Pleadings”
Languages
Gujarati (spoken); basic French.
Memberships
COMBAR; State Bar of California.
Education
Cambridge University (1987 MA Hons); Slaughter and May prize for top 1st in Law at Cambridge University (1987); Denning Scholar, Lincoln’s Inn (1988); University of California, Berkeley (1990 LLM); Harkness Fellow, Commonwealth Fund of New York (1989-90).
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Simon Slattery runs a great clerks room and is someone who is great to deal with and always helpful.'
- 'The clerks are fantastic! Friendly, fast to respond and commercial.'
- 'Quadrant is the go-to shipping set with a depth of knowledge throughout the different levels of barristers.'
- 'Quadrant Chambers is my go-to set for shipping and commodities matters. They have always delivered what I need, on time and within the cost estimate.'
- 'Obviously one of the top sets for commodities and shipping.'