The 36 Group is widely recognised for its depth of expertise in maritime law and arbitration, with additional strengths in insurance disputes and contractual matters arising from bills of lading and contracts of affreightment. Vasanti Selvaratnam KC recently appeared before the Supreme Court in MUR Shipping BV v RTI Ltd, a case which clarified the application of force majeure clauses, after the purchaser of a shipment of bauxite proposed to pay in Euros rather than US dollars. Mark Jones also acted before the Supreme Court in Herculito Maritime Ltd v Gunvor International BV, a key decision examining liability issues arising from Somali pirate attacks. Andrew Ng appeared in the Supreme Court of Gibraltar in a matter addressing the scope of liability limitation in maritime claims, acting for Oldstone Cargo Limited. Charles Debattista was instructed in Stouranas Stylianos Monoprosopi v Maersk, a use concerning the description of goods on bills of lading after the buyers of scrap metal sought to bring an action against the carriers of a cargo of cement tiles were fraudulently labelled as scrap metal.
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36 Stone
Position
Mark Jones is a barrister with a broad commercial practice, encompassing general commercial work, fraud, banking, insurance, shipping, commodities and trade.
He acts in cases before the English Courts and in arbitration, and has wide-raging experience of international arbitrations conducted under various institutional rules both in London and abroad.
He is particularly well known for his expertise in matters of shipping, commodities and international trade. His trade practice covers both the sale and carriage of goods, and the related financial and insurance transactions. His shipping expertise extends to all corners of the shipping and offshore industries, from charterparties to salvage, from cargo claims to collisions, from ship finance to performance guarantees, and from marine insurance to general average. He has a particular specialism in shipbuilding disputes and cases about the sale of second-hand tonnage.
He also acts in significant commercial arbitrations covering a diverse range of subject matter, from the construction of hospitals in the UAE, through the sale of rare vintage motor cars, to the operation of railway infrastructure, and has extensive experience of the remedies available under the Arbitration Act 1996.
In addition, he provides expert evidence on English maritime and commercial law for use in foreign proceedings and arbitrations. Before moving to the Bar, Mark trained as a litigation solicitor at Ince & Co focusing on shipping and insurance matters.
Mark sits as a Recorder (a deputy Circuit Judge) in the County Court (civil) and in the Crown Court (crime), and accepts appointments as arbitrator.
Career
Called to the Bar in 2000, Lincoln’s Inn (Kennedy Scholar); Recorder (Civil); Recorder (Crime); formerly Solicitor (Ince & Co)
Memberships
COMBAR; LCLCBA; LSLC; BMLA; ABG; LMAA; CIArb
Education
Winchester College (Scholar); St Edmund Hall, Oxford University (BA Hons – Jurisprudence)
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'The clerks are responsive and easy to work with. Reiss Nott and Sam Medlock deserve particular recognition.'
- 'The 36 Group demonstrates notable strength-in-depth, particularly in maritime law and arbitration. Its barristers are highly experienced and offer a broad range of expertise across maritime disputes, including charterparty issues, ship arrest, and international trade.'
- 'The set consistently delivers high-quality advocacy and advice, making it a dependable choice for complex maritime and arbitration matters.'
- 'I have instructed Chambers for over 20 years and can say with complete confidence that they continue to produce dynamic, highly skilled barristers with an exceptional command of the law and strong commercial insight.'
- 'Their barristers are not only technically excellent but also strategically astute—able to anticipate and navigate complex challenges with clarity, confidence, and precision. The standard of advocacy, both written and oral, is consistently first-rate, and their grasp of industry-specific nuances sets them apart.'
- 'This is a Chambers that cultivates excellence. They remain my first port of call for high-stakes, commercially sensitive matters.'
- '36 Stone is a set I genuinely enjoy working with. While they are well known for their expertise in shipping and international trade, they bring considerable depth and capability across a wide spectrum of commercial work.'
- '36 Stone is excellent, offering strength and depth across all levels of seniority.'