Praised for its ‘vast experience and remarkable knowledge in international arbitration’, barristers at Essex Court Chambers remain a popular choice across the entire spectrum of international arbitrations and related proceedings, including complex enforcement and interim relief challenges at all levels of the English courts. Graham Dunning KC led Lucas Bastin KC, Peter Webster, and Katherine Ratcliffe in the Czech Republic v Diag Human SE and Josef Stava proceedings, concerning challenges and appeals to a $600m arbitral award handed down in 2022 in favour of Diag Human due to a breach of a fair and equitable treatment obligation by the state. Members of the set are highly experienced in matters at the intersection between international arbitration and public international law with juniors Naomi Hart, Matthieu Gregoire and Sean Aughey appearing in complex investor-state arbitrations before a range of arbitral institutions.
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Mentions
Profile
Position
Barrister
Career
2017: Appointed to the Attorney General's C PIL Panel
2015-17: Adjunct Professor in Public International Law, Pepperdine University, London
2011: Stagiaire, European Court of Human Rights
2011: Intern, Volterra Fietta
2011: Intern, International Arbitration Department, Wilmer Hale
2010-11: Bye-Fellow in Law and supervisor in European Union Law, Downing College, University of Cambridge
2010: Intern, International Law Programme, Chatham House
2010: Volunteer, Advice and Information Department, Liberty
2010: Call: Lincoln's Inn
2009: Intern, International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia
Education
2012: Harvard Law School, Visiting Scholar (EALS)
2010: Bar Vocational Course, BPP: Very Competent
2009: The Hague Academy of International Law, Public International Law Session
2009: University of Cambridge, Downing College, LL.M: Class I (ranked second overall)
2008: University of Cambridge, Downing College, BA (Hons), Law Tripos
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Clerks are personable and user friendly.'
- 'Widely regarded as one of the premier sets in this field. They have extensive experience to some of the most complex and high-stakes international disputes.'
- 'Essex Court Chambers is the leading set for excellent advocates, particularly in public international law and international arbitration.'
- 'Market leading set. Go to chambers for most critical client matters.'
- 'Essex Court is our first port of call for arbitration-related court litigation. This is because they are very good lawyers, they have good commercial sense, they are team players and they have a service culture.'
- 'Essex Court Chambers has vast experience and remarkable knowledge in international arbitration.'
- 'Essex Court Chambers is the leading set for excellent advocates, particularly in public international law and international arbitration.'
- 'Excellent depth of bench and expertise. The standout arbitration specialist set.'