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.
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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.
- '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.'