Contact details

Haris Zografakis

T: +44 20 7809 2144 Email Haris | vCard Office: London

Awards

Commodities: Physicals

Commodities: Physicals

Commodities disputes

Commodities disputes

Haris Zografakis Partner

Contact details

Haris Zografakis

T: +44 20 7809 2144 Email Haris | vCard Office: London

Haris heads the firm's commodities practice and over a period of 30 years has dealt with all aspects of shipping and international maritime trade. He has acted for clients ranging from mining companies and oil majors to shipowners and their insurers, state-owned oil companies, independent trading houses, chemical companies, banks and refineries from around the world. He is also a leading expert in the contractual aspects of maritime decarbonisation, acting for NGOs, organisations and companies from across the spectrum of the maritime supply chain. 
  • Profile
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Haris started his career in the City of London in 1994. Dispute resolution represents a large part of his practice and he has acted in hundreds of arbitrations, High Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and multi-jurisdictional cases ranging from modest demurrage claims to mine off-take and oil and gas disputes worth hundreds of millions. His reported Court cases include the Johnny K, Trafigura v Kookmin Bankthe Sabrewingthe Northgatethe Port RusselU&M v Konkola Copper Mines, CH Offshore v PDVSA Petroleo and Petrosaudi Oil Services v Novo Banco et al. While he has been described as a "solid and tenacious litigator" (Chambers UK 2007) and “a supreme tactician” (Chambers UK 2020), he is also involved in non-contentious work, structuring transactions, drafting terms and advising clients on decarbonisation strategy.

He is member of the editorial board of Shipping and Transport Law Journal, member of the Institute of maritime law of the University of Southampton and has served on the Council of the London Shipping Law Centre. He is chair of the International Working Group on maritime decarbonisation of Comite Maritime International. He has published and lectured extensively worldwide, including at COP, for BIMCO and the IMO.

Haris heads the firm's commodities practice, which has repeatedly been recognised as a First Tier team by The Legal 500. The same directory described him as "leading a true team, perfectly organised, providing excellent legal and commercial advice". He has also been inducted to the 2018 Legal 500 Hall of fame as a result of his continued recognition by the directory. 

"a first-class litigator with great technical knowledge and strategic nous"

The Legal 500 UK 2013

  • Shipowners and operators
  • International arbitration
  • Commodities
  • Shipping litigation
  • Marine and international trade

Charterparty, bill of lading and MoA disputes

Advising clients on all types of charterparty, bill of lading and MoA disputes.

The "Sabrewing"

Advising charterers of the vessel Sabrewing on the claim by the owners, for demurrage. It was held that the owners’ claim was time-barred pursuant to a charterparty time bar clause.

The “Northgate” 

Construction of charterparty laytime/demurrage provisions; waiver and estoppel.

More: Shipowners and operators

LCIA, UNCITRAL and ICC disputes

LCIA, UNCITRAL and ICC disputes involving all types of mining, oil exploration and production and commodities trading disputes.

Mining – LCIA arbitration

Acting for one of the world's largest copper mines in a dispute with a contractor.

Metal concentrates – LCIA arbitration

Advising mining group in a series of quality and other disputes with a major trading company relating to the supply of copper, lead and zinc concentrates.

Maritime – LMAA arbitrations

Acted in hundreds of LMAA arbitrations regarding all types of maritime contracts.

Commodities – FOSFA and GAFTA arbitrations

Advised clients in relation to soft commodities arbitration disputes.
 

More: International arbitration

Sale contract disputes – oil, coal, iron ore, metals and agriproduct trades

Advising on all types of sale contract disputes in the oil, coal, iron ore, metals and agriproduct trades.

Supply of iron ore - non-performance of a contract

Advised a leading global commodity trading company on a dispute relating to the non-performance of a contract for the supply of iron ore.

Repurchase ("repo") agreements

Advising a major bank on a “repo” transactions for soft commodities stored in European and African warehouses.

Sulphuric acid – quality dispute

Advising a major zinc producer in a quality dispute with one of the world’s largest fertiliser traders over a series of contracts for the sale of sulphuric acid.

Soybean dispute 

Advising a major Swiss soft commodities trading company in a GAFTA dispute with a German soybean trader related to unpaid fees.

Letter of credit dispute - Trafigura v Kookmin Bank

Advising on a LC dispute in which the buyer of decant oil became insolvent. In an attempt to cover its loss the bank brought proceedings in Korea against the shippers of the cargo; the owners of the ship that carried the cargo and the managers of the vessel.

GTCs

Drafting general terms and conditions for the sale and purchase of petroleum products.
 

More: Commodities

Charterparty, bill of lading, MoA disputes 

Advising clients on all types of charterparty, bill of lading and MoA disputes. 

The "Johnny K" 

Advising on a claim for damages in circumstances where the vessel sailed without loading its full nominated cargo.

The "Sabrewing"

Advising charterers of the vessel Sabrewing on the claim by the owners, for demurrage. It was held that the owners’ claim was time-barred pursuant to a charterparty time bar clause.

The “Northgate” 

Construction of charterparty laytime/demurrage provisions; waiver and estoppel.
 

More: Shipping litigation

Oil and gas – sale contract chain dispute

Advising and managing complex multi-party High Court disputes relating to the delivery of off-spec product.

Sulphuric acid – quality dispute

Advising a major zinc producer in a quality dispute with one of the world’s largest fertiliser traders over a series of contracts for the sale of sulphuric acid.

Supply of iron ore - non-performance of a contract

Advised a leading global commodity trading company on a dispute relating to the non-performance of a contract for the supply of iron ore. 

 
More: Marine and international trade
  • Mining and minerals
  • International trade
  • P&I clubs

LCIA, UNCITRAL and ICC disputes

LCIA, UNCITRAL and ICC disputes involving all types of mining, oil exploration and production and commodities trading disputes.

Mining – LCIA arbitration

Acting for one of the world's largest copper mines in a dispute with a contractor.

Metal concentrates – LCIA arbitration

Advising mining group in a series of quality and other disputes with a major trading company relating to the supply of copper, lead and zinc concentrates.

More: Mining and minerals
 

Sale contract disputes – oil, coal, iron ore, metals and agriproduct trades

Advising on all types of sale contract disputes in the oil, coal, iron ore, metals and agriproduct trades.

Sulphuric acid – quality dispute

Advising a major zinc producer in a quality dispute with one of the world’s largest fertiliser traders over a series of contracts for the sale of sulphuric acid.

Supply of iron ore - non-performance of a contract

Advised a leading global commodity trading company on a dispute relating to the non-performance of a contract for the supply of iron ore.


Cocoa beans – "repo" agreement

Advising a major Australian bank on a “repo” transaction for cocoa beans stored in European warehouses and Ghanaian warehouses.


Dairy products - “repo” agreement 

Advising a major Australian bank on a “repo” transaction for powdered milk stored in European warehouses.

Soybean dispute

Advising a major Swiss soft commodities trading company in a GAFTA dispute with a German soybean trader related to unpaid fees. 

Charterparty, bill of lading and MoA disputes 

Advising clients on all types of charterparty, bill of lading and MoA disputes. 

The "Johnny K" 

Advising on a claim for damages in circumstances where the vessel sailed without loading its full nominated cargo.

The "Sabrewing"

Advising charterers of the vessel Sabrewing on the claim by the owners, for demurrage. It was held that the owners’ claim was time-barred pursuant to a charterparty time bar clause.

The “Northgate” 

Construction of charterparty laytime/demurrage provisions; waiver and estoppel.

More: P&I clubs

Awards

Commodities: Physicals

Commodities: Physicals

Commodities disputes

Commodities disputes

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07 Dec 2023

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Two Stephenson Harwood partners ranked among top ten maritime lawyers

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