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Shipping

Christopher Smith KC

Christopher Smith KC

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Essex Court Chambers

Essex Court Chambers is praised for being 'approachable and always ready to assist' and stands out as one of the top commercial shipping sets at the Bar. Christopher Smith KC remains involved in the SS Tilawa case, representing the Republic of South Africa, where the Supreme Court confirmed that it was entitled to state immunity from the in rem claim concerning a vessel which was sunk by Japanese torpedos while carrying sixty tonnes of silver bullion during WWII, much of which was raised in 2017 by a salvage company owned by Sir Paul Marshall. He also appears in the MSC Flaminia litigation, working alongside 2025 silk David Walsh KC, who leads on issues likely to shape the future development of liability limitations. In FIMBank p.l.c v KCH Shipping Co Ltd, Helen Morton successfully acted in a case where the court held that both The Hague Rules and the Hague-Visby Rules time bars apply to misdelivery claims arising after discharge—leading to the dismissal of the appeal. Meanwhile, in RTI Ltd v Mur Shipping BV, Nigel Eaton KC leads Adam Woolnough in a high-profile case addressing U.S. sanctions and the operation of force majeure clauses in commercial contracts.
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Phone
020 7813 8000
Email
[email protected]
Profile
essexcourt.com

Profile

Position

Chris Smith has a broad based practice covering all aspects of domestic and international commercial work, with particular emphasis on wet and dry shipping, professional negligence, and related areas such as marine and non-marine insurance and reinsurance. Chris’ practice involves advisory work, mediation and litigation in the Court of Appeal and all divisions of the High Court. He also has extensive experience of acting as co-counsel in disputes involving litigation in more than one jurisdiction and much of his practice involves arbitration, both in England and Wales and abroad including Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore and Norway. Chris is a CEDR accredited mediator and also accepts appointments as arbitrator both on LMAA and ad hoc terms.

Career

Called 1989, Inner Temple; Silk 2009.

Languages

Working knowledge French, German.

Memberships

Commercial Bar Association (COMBAR), London Common Law and Commercial Bar Association; London Court of International Arbitration; Chartered Institute of Arbitrators; supporting member London Maritime Arbitrators’ Association; Baltic Exchange.

Education

Southampton University (LLB).

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Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • "I think the standards at Essex Court Chambers are exceptionally high."
  • "Very good chambers - approachable and always ready to assist."
  • "The clerks’ team is very good and approachable, always willing and able to help."
  • "They are a pre-eminent set, with someone of high quality always available."
  • "Very switched on and quick to respond – they identify problems quickly and offer practical solutions."