Noted for its dedicated arbitration clerking team that delivers ‘a fabulous service’, 7 King’s Bench Walk’s stable of arbitrators has experience in insurance and reinsurance, aviation, commercial, shipping and logistics disputes. Members appear across Europe, the US and South East Asia. Jeremy Cooke KC regularly acts as sole arbitrator and chair of arbitral tribunals. Lord Mance is another key name, acting under ICC, LCIA, SIAC, UNCITRAL and ICSID rules. Gavin Kealey KC specialises in construction, insurance, civil fraud and aviation arbitrations. Other noted names include Alistair Schaff KC, James Drake KC, Stephen Hofmeyr KC and Siobán Healy KC.
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
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- '7KBW would typically be our go to set for insurance arbitration disputes.'
- 'The clerk team are responsive and have good availability as needed.'
- 'This set has strength-in-depth in relation to disputes involving banking and sanctions issues.'
- 'Good clerking service.'
- 'The clerks are responsive and helpful.'
- 'The clerks are up there with the very best at the bar and deliver a fabulous service.'