Twenty Essex

A broad range of commercial insurance and reinsurance disputes, both in arbitration and in court, have been handled by the membership of Twenty Essex. Members in this set act for policyholders, insurers and reinsurers on a number of high-value, complex cases. Michael Ashcroft KC is representing insurers in claims involving fines imposed against the assured by US Customs authorities for violating the Jones Act, which requires US-built, US-crewed, US-owned and US-flagged vessels to be used for journeys between US ports. Elsewhere in chambers, Michal Hain is representing Mediterranean Shipping Company regarding claims pertaining to the correct interpretation of the 1976 Limitation Convention, which restricts shipowners’ liability for specific claims.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

'The service from the clerks’ room has been exemplary. The clerks are highly professional and possess an in-depth understanding of the barristers’ capabilities. They always anticipate our needs, ensuring that all administrative aspects of our instructions are handled efficiently, from scheduling conferences to coordinating document exchanges.'
'Excellent set in terms of strength and depth.'
'The chambers, as a whole, have proven to be a stalwart in the insurance law area. Their strength-in-depth is evident in the diverse expertise of their barristers.'
'Twenty Essex continues to be a go-to set for complex commercial, insurance, and international arbitration disputes. The set offers real strength in depth, with an excellent bench of juniors and silks who are well-versed in handling multi-jurisdictional issues. Their barristers consistently exhibit a high level of academic rigour and practical experience, particularly in insurance disputes and cross-border arbitration work.'

Lawyers

Leading Silks

KCs at the very top of their field, with a long-established record of market-defining cases, and widespread endorsement from clients and peers. All silks appointed in the last two rounds are listed further below.

Christopher Hancock KC

Philip Edey KC

‘Very good manner and able to deliver difficult advice calmly and clearly and diplomatically. Very hands on and in the detail. Very approachable. Excellent writing and very clear advocate.'

Charles Kimmins KC

Immensely detail-focused. An imaginative thinker who looks for solutions to complex problems and is excellent at evaluating the merits of legal arguments. A pleasure to work with.'

Michael Ashcroft KC

‘Strong analytical skills and very clear written communications.'

2024 Silks

Oliver Caplin KC

‘Oliver is very responsive and user friendly. The advice he provides is clear and concise. He also gets the commercial levers and understands what our clients are trying to achieve.'

Leading Juniors

Leading juniors are those with significant experience of key cases, strong market recognition from both peers and clients, and are seen as future candidates for silk.