39 Essex Chambers houses ‘high-quality’ barristers, who routinely advocate in complex infrastructure, energy and construction arbitrations across a range of regions, including Asia Pacific, Africa, the Caribbean, Europe and the Middle East. Notable for his connections in China, Adrian Hughes KC has extensive experience in energy and constriction arbitrations and is well versed in the rules of the LCIA, SIAC and DIAC, and Karim Ghaly KC similarly handles high-value construction and infrastructure arbitrations. Further construction experts at the set include Jonathan Bellamy and Vivek Kapoor, while Karishma Vora takes the lead in international trade related arbitrations and various corporate contract disputes.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Profile
Position
Called to the bar: 2006 (India), 2011 (England & Wales), 2020 (DIFC)
Career
- Karishma has a strong commercial disputes and civil fraud practice representing companies and individuals in high value cases before the commercial court and in arbitration usually ranging from about $10 million to $2 billion in dispute. She specialises in banking, private equity, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), breach of commercial contracts and civil fraud disputes. Her sector expertise includes defence, metals and commodities, mining, technology, crypto, pharmaceuticals, distribution and diamonds. She has a strong track record of instructions from banks and borrowers, private equity funds and family offices in complex, multi-jurisdictional disputes. Karishma is instructed on jurisdiction challenges, applications for service out, anti-suit and summary judgment applications, Norwich Pharmacal claims and freezing injunctions through to trial. She appears on a led basis and equally leads teams in heavy trials and interim proceedings, depending on the nature of the case. Karishma’s significant international arbitration expertise includes being appointed as an arbitrator and as counsel in arbitrations seated in London, Singapore, Dubai and India. She has worked on cases governed by the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), London Metal Exchange (LME), Refined Sugar Association (RSA), London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA), Indian Council of Arbitration (ICA) and Mumbai Centre for International Arbitration (MCIA). Karishma also serves on the board of the LME and ICA. Karishma frequently works with lawyers from foreign jurisdictions. She has the rare expertise of being triple qualified in England, India and the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and has reported judgments in all three jurisdictions. Karishma is an alumna of the London School of Economics where she taught commercial law.
Languages
In addition to English, Karishma speaks three Indian languages fluently, namely Hindi, Gujarati and Marathi.
Memberships
The Commercial Bar Association (COMBAR); The Chancery Bar Association; African Arbitration Association (AfAA); International Advisory Committee, Indian Council of Arbitration, NewDelhi; London Metal Exchange (LME) Arbitration Panel; Bombay Bar Association, Mumbai; The London School of Economics Lawyers Alumni Association; Pledge India Steering Committee.
Education
2003: London School of Economics and Political Science, BSc (Hons); 2006: Government Law College, Mumbai, LLB (first)
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'The clerking team are always ready, willing and able to assist; Andy Poyser is noteworthy for this.'
- 'Andy Poyser is consistently professional and helpful.'
- 'The service from 39 Essex clerks is second to none, they are efficient, responsive and incredibly helpful to clients. They are always willing to go the extra mile to ensure work is completed and that barristers are available within the timeframes we require work to be done.'
- '39 Essex has significant strength and depth in the provision of environmental law advice and they have a good range of counsel available for this work.'
- 'The set as a whole have been brilliant. From dealing mostly with their Juniors, all of whom seem set for much greater things.'
- 'A genuine specialist planning set, with genuine strength-in-depth.'
- 'The chambers are excellent with high quality staff including juniors.'