Contact details

Cathal Leigh-Doyle

T: +44 20 7809 2658 M: +44 7540 155 833 Email Cathal | vCard Office: London

Cathal Leigh-Doyle Partner

Contact details

Cathal Leigh-Doyle

T: +44 20 7809 2658 M: +44 7540 155 833 Email Cathal | vCard Office: London

An international dispute resolution lawyer with a broad range of contentious experience especially within the energy and natural resources sectors. Cathal advises a range of industry leaders on disputes in the English courts and international arbitration. Cathal also frequently assists clients on non-contentious matters in relation to negotiating and drafting contractual documentation on high value, international and complicated projects.
  • Profile
  • Services
  • Sectors

With a strong international perspective, Cathal acts for clients in disputes before the English courts as well as in international arbitrations.

Cathal assists large corporate clients across a broad range of contentious situations, in both a representative and advisory capacity, from internal investigations through to formal court or arbitral proceedings. He also frequently carries out negotiations and mediations for his clients.

Cathal is also routinely instructed on non-contentious projects where he is engaged by clients to assist in negotiating and drafting contracts, especially relating to decarbonisation, renewable energy, construction and maritime projects.

Cathal has worked with clients from a variety of sectors including renewable energy (wind, hydrogen and solar), tech, marine, O&G, financial services and retail sectors. While qualified and practicing in England and Wales, Cathal is triple jurisdiction qualified being also qualified to practise law in New York and Ireland. Cathal frequently speaks on legal issues at events and is also a guest law lecturer at Swansea University on its Oil, Gas and Renewable Energy LLM.

  • Dispute resolution
  • Shipping
  • International arbitration

A L Challis Ltd v British Gas Trading Ltd [2015] EWHC 141 (Comm)

Successfully defended a multi-million pound breach of contract claim in the Commercial Court.

Endeavour Energy UK Ltd v Hess LTD (2017) QBD (Comm)

Represented an international oil and gas exploration company bring a multi-million claim for rig idle costs and breach of the JOA in the Commercial Court. Successfully defeated an application for security on the basis that the Defendant was already secured.

Cataline London Limited –and- (1) Kyriakos Kapsolokis (2) Anastasios Sofroniadis [2018] EWHC 1309 (QB)

Successfully defended a non-party costs order in relation to proceedings taken in England to register and enforce a judgment obtained in Greece.

Boskalis Offshore Marine Contracting BV –and- Atlantic Marine and Aviation LLP [2019] EWHC 1213 (Comm)

Successfully represented a vessel owner obtain three LLMA arbitration awards for payment of unpaid invoices. Successfully defended Charterers' challenge of the three arbitration awards in the English High Court under s69 of the Arbitration Act 1996.

Drilling company

Represented an international oil and gas drilling company bring a breach of contract claim in the ICC for the non-payment of drilling fees.

Contractor

Represented an EPCI contractor in relation to disputes with subcontractors in relation to; insolvency issues, requests for additional time and costs, and quality of production.

Creditors

Advised an international creditor issue a statutory demand and ultimately commence winding up proceedings against an English debtor.

Kelp farm owner

Represented a UK based kelp farm owner in a licencing application dispute with the Marine Management Organisation.

Jackup rig owner

Represented a European jackup rig owner in a charterparty dispute with a Chinese charterer for non-payment of hire and breach of repair and maintenance obligations. Ultimately successfully negotiated the sale of the jack-up rig and the settlement of the dispute.   

Jackup rig owner

Represented a US jackup rig owner in relation to a national oil company charterer demobilisation time and cost dispute.

More: Dispute resolution

Heavylift vessel owner

Successfully represented a semisubmersible heavy lift vessel owner in a LMAA arbitration for $19 million in demurrage and unpaid invoices. Successfully obtained precautionary attachments against the named defendant and its local owner in the UAE for enforcement of the LMAA award.

Boskalis Offshore Marine Contracting BV –and- Atlantic Marine and Aviation LLP [2019] EWHC 1213 (Comm)

Successfully represented a vessel owner obtain three LLMA arbitration awards for payment of unpaid invoices. Successfully defended Charterers' challenge of the three arbitration awards in the English High Court under s69 of the Arbitration Act 1996.

Ferry vessel owner

Successfully represented a ferry owner obtain an urgent injunction in the English High Court against a Norwegian shipyard during the build. Subsequently successfully maintained the injunction on two return dates in the English High Court and negotiated a settlement to resolve the matter and safely release the vessel to enable it to be relocated to a new shipyard.

CTV owner

Successfully represented a CTV owner in dispute with a national government body in relation to seafarer documentation and visa requirements.

Heavylift vessel owner

Successfully represented a heavy lift vessel owner working on a UK offshore windfarm in a dispute with the UK Home Office in relation to the Home Office's interpretation of UK legislation surrounding seafarer identity documents. The UK Home Office subsequently introduced the Offshore Wind Workers Concession.

Vessel owner employment dispute

Successfully represented one of the largest offshore wind specialist vessel owners defend an English High Court claim alleging breach of a consulting agreement.

Dive support vessel dispute

Represented a charterer in a $35 million SIAC arbitration in relation to the termination of the dive support vessel charterparty.

Successfully represented Diverse Marine shipyard purchase the freehold of its shipyard.

Represented an oil and gas services company purchase an offshore support vessel located in China which upon purchase, would transit to Ghana to commence operations on an offshore oil and gas field.

Successfully represented a leading CTV owner on the purchase of several vessels from a distressed seller's financier.

More: Shipping

Drilling company

Represented an international oil and gas drilling company bring a breach of contract claim in the ICC for the non-payment of drilling fees.

Boskalis Offshore Marine Contracting BV –and- Atlantic Marine and Aviation LLP [2019] EWHC 1213 (Comm)

Successfully represented a vessel owner obtain three LLMA arbitration awards for payment of unpaid invoices. Successfully defended Charterers' challenge of the three arbitration awards in the English High Court under s69 of the Arbitration Act 1996. 

Vessel charterer

Represented a charterer in a LMAA arbitration for breach of charterparty in relation to the overconsumption of fuel.

Vessel owner

Represented owners in a LMAA arbitration for breach of charterparty in relation to unpaid invoices.

Oil and gas company

Represented an oil and gas company in an ICC arbitration in relation to the operator's obligations when selecting a suitable decommissioning rig under a joint venture agreement. 

  • Marine
  • Energy and natural resources
  • Construction and engineering
  • Technology

Heavylift vessel owner

Successfully represented a heavylift vessel owner in a $19 million LMAA arbitration in relation to demurrage and non-payment of invoices.

Boskalis Offshore Marine Contracting BV –and- Atlantic Marine and Aviation LLP [2019] EWHC 1213 (Comm)

Successfully represented a vessel owner obtain three LLMA arbitration awards for payment of unpaid invoices. Successfully defended Charterers' challenge of the three arbitration awards in the English High Court under s69 of the Arbitration Act 1996.

Offshore windfarm support vessel owner

Represented vessel owner in dispute with national government body in relation to seafarer documentation and visa requirements 

DSV vessel charterer

Represented a charterer in a $35 million SIAC arbitration in relation to the termination of the chartparty.

Offshore construction vessel re-delivery dispute

Represented charterer in a $2.5 million re-delivery dispute with owners.

Bulk carrier vessel owner

Successfully represented a bulk carrier vessel owner in enforcing security and settling the quantum dispute after a collision.

Heavylift vessel owner

Successfully represented a semisubmersible heavy lift vessel owner in a LMAA arbitration for $19 million in demurrage and unpaid invoices. Successfully obtained precautionary attachments against the named defendant and its local owner in the UAE for enforcement of the LMAA award.

Boskalis Offshore Marine Contracting BV –and- Atlantic Marine and Aviation LLP [2019] EWHC 1213 (Comm)

Successfully represented a vessel owner obtain three LLMA arbitration awards for payment of unpaid invoices. Successfully defended Charterers' challenge of the three arbitration awards in the English High Court under s69 of the Arbitration Act 1996.

Ferry vessel owner

Successfully represented a ferry owner obtain an urgent injunction in the English High Court against a Norwegian shipyard during the build. Subsequently successfully maintained the injunction on two return dates in the English High Court and negotiated a settlement to resolve the matter and safely release the vessel to enable it to be relocated to a new shipyard.

CTV owner

Successfully represented a CTV owner in dispute with a national government body in relation to seafarer documentation and visa requirements.

Heavylift vessel owner

Successfully represented a heavy lift vessel owner working on a UK offshore windfarm in a dispute with the UK Home Office in relation to the Home Office's interpretation of UK legislation surrounding seafarer identity documents. The UK Home Office subsequently introduced the Offshore Wind Workers Concession.

Vessel owner employment dispute

Successfully represented one of the largest offshore wind specialist vessel owners defend an English High Court claim alleging breach of a consulting agreement.

Dive support vessel dispute

Represented a charterer in a $35 million SIAC arbitration in relation to the termination of the dive support vessel charterparty.

Successfully represented Diverse Marine shipyard purchase the freehold of its shipyard.

Represented an oil and gas services company purchase an offshore support vessel located in China which upon purchase, would transit to Ghana to commence operations on an offshore oil and gas field.

Successfully represented a leading CTV owner on the purchase of several vessels from a distressed seller's financier.

Kelp farm owner

Represented a UK based kelp farm owner in a licencing application dispute with the Marine Management Organisation.

Jackup rig owner

Represented a European jackup rig owner in a charterparty dispute with a Chinese charterer for non-payment of hire and breach of repair and maintenance obligations. Ultimately successfully negotiated the sale of the jack-up rig and the settlement of the dispute.   

Jackup rig owner

Represented a US jackup rig owner in relation to a national oil company charterer demobilisation time and cost dispute.

More: Marine

Green hydrogen developer

Represented a UK green hydrogen developer in several negotiations involving (i) pre-feasibility agreements, (ii) full feasibility agreements, (iii) offtake heads of terms and (v) collaboration agreements.

International offshore windfarm contractor

Represented an international offshore windfarm contractor in a remeasurement dispute in relation to drilling penetration rates and pricing.

Offshore windfarm contractor

Represented an offshore windfarm contractor in relation to pollutant discharge dispute.

A L Challis Ltd v British Gas Trading Ltd [2015] EWHC 141 (Comm)

Successfully defended a multi-million pound breach of contract claim in the Commercial Court.

Endeavour Energy UK Ltd v Hess LTD (2017) QBD (Comm)

Represented an international oil and gas exploration company bring a multi-million claim for rig idle costs and breach of the JOA in the Commercial Court.

Green hydrogen developer

Advising a developer on UK regulatory requirements for a green hydrogen production facility.

More: Energy and natural resources

International EPCI contractor

Represented an international EPCI contractor in relation to all its construction project disputes with subcontractors in relation to insolvency, remeasurement, requests for additional time and costs and quality issues.

Concrete flange ovality dispute

Successfully represented contractor in a project critical construction dispute with employers about determining the ovality of the concrete flanges.

EPCI contractor

Represented EPCI contractor in delay dispute with sub-contractor.

International hardware owner and cloud distributor

Conducted a bribery investigation into the client's operations in the United Kingdom and America.

Offshore positioning technology

Represented a lessee in a US$35 million arbitration in relation to a software failure whereby the redundancy failed.

Technology provider

Represented a UK technology provider negotiate service supply and global distribution agreements.

Technology introducer agreement

Represented a UK technology agent negotiate an introducer agreement with an international technology provider. 

More: Technology

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