Dispute resolution

International arbitration – ICSID

Acting as co-counsel for the Republic of Iraq in defence of a US$600 million ICSID claim brought by the Kuwaiti company, Agility Public Warehousing, relating to a failed telecommunications investment in Iraq.

International arbitration - LMAA

Successfully acting for a German shipowner against a major Chinese shipbuilder in a US$36 million international arbitration claim for the reimbursement of instalments under a shipbuilding contract following the repudiation and early termination of the same.

International arbitration – Adjudication and ICC

Successfully representing one UAE State entity against another UAE State entity in a US$30 million offshore construction adjudication that developed into an ICC arbitration.

International arbitration – UNCITRAL

Acting for a large NOC in a US$180 million dispute relating to the condition and performance of a rig operating in South America under a long-term drilling contract. 

International arbitration – LCIA 

Acting for a Middle Eastern State in defending a US$218 million claim brought by, and bringing an approximately US$600 million counterclaim against, an Indian contractor in respect of the termination of an EPC contract.

International arbitration – LCIA

Acting for a director in bringing a claim under a D&O insurance policy for the costs of defending FX manipulation allegations brought against him in a high-profile US antitrust case.

Cross-border litigation

Acting for a leading Canadian debt fund and UAE oil trader in pursuing a US$19 million commodities claim against a large Chinese oil company involving proceedings in the Dubai criminal and civil courts as well as in the High Court of Singapore.

High Court litigation

Acting for one of Europe’s leading hedge funds in a US$35 million claim involving allegations of fraud and breach of warranty under a share purchase agreement of a company operating a power-generation barge in Ecuador.

High Court litigation

Acting for a Nigerian commodities trader in defending a US$9.5 million claim brought by a Russian company involving issues such as force majeure, frustration,  malicious falsehood and right to set-off.

High Court litigation

Representing a leading Indian reinsurer in successfully defending a US$2.2 million claim brought by a ceding insurer in relation to the total loss of a livestock carrier.

Interim relief – High Court

Acting for a leading hedge fund in successfully bringing a heavy anti-suit injunction application before the High Court in relation to vexatious proceedings commenced in Kenya relating to power barge located in Mombasa.

Interim relief – High Court

Acting for London Market insurers in successfully obtaining a worldwide freezing injunction so as to provide them with security for an appeal.

Court of Appeal litigation

Acting for a syndicate of London Market and French insurers in successfully bringing a US$30 million appeal against a High Court judgment concerning the constructive total loss of a vessel following its confiscation by the Venezuelan authorities as a result of it being used to smuggle drugs.

Supreme Court litigation

Successfully defending an appeal to the Supreme Court on behalf of London Market and French insurers and securing a landmark judgment concerning the correct interpretation of longstanding Institute War Clauses (and relevant case law) including the customs infringement exclusion and the meaning of ‘malicious’ within the insurance context. 

Offshore

Loss of production claim

Advising a lead insurer on a business interruption claim of up to £40 million under an energy package policy. The claim related to loss of production at an FPSO operating offshore West Africa.

Drilling rig dispute

Acting for a large NOC in a US$180 million dispute relating to the condition and performance of a rig operating in South America under a long-term drilling contract.

Offshore construction

Successfully representing one UAE State entity against another UAE State entity in a US$30 million offshore construction adjudication that developed into an ICC arbitration.

Offshore wind farm installation

Advising a leading offshore contractor on a defects liability insurance policy in relation to the installation of an offshore wind farm in the North Sea costing approximately US$1 billion.

Subsea gas pipeline installation

Advising a leading offshore contractor in respect of a pipeline abandonment incident that occurred during a US$1.2 billion subsea gas pipeline installation project.   

More: Offshore

Insurance

War risk insurance

Acting for leading London Market and French insurers on a claim relating to the detention of a vessel in Venezuela. The litigation, which went all the way to the Supreme Court, involved consideration of the correct interpretation of the longstanding institute war clauses (and relevant case law) including the customs infringement exclusion and the meaning of ‘malicious’ within the insurance context.

Directors & Officers insurance

Acting for a director in bringing a claim under a D&O insurance policy for the costs of defending FX manipulation allegations brought against him in a high-profile US antitrust case.

Business interruption insurance

Advising a lead insurer on a business interruption claim of up to £40 million under an energy package policy. The claim related to loss of production at an FPSO operating offshore West Africa.

Marine hull insurance

Successfully recovering a loss of up to US$2 million under a marine hull insurance policy on behalf of one of the world’s largest dry bulk shipping companies. The claim related to the breakdown of a vessel’s generators.

Marine hull reinsurance

Successfully representing a leading Indian reinsurer in defending (a) a US$2.2 million High Court claim brought by a ceding insurer in relation to the total loss of a livestock carrier, and (b) other claims brought in the German Courts in relation to two vessels, one that had run aground and the other that had been involved in a collision.

Marine hull and P&I 

Acting for the owner of a jack-up Rig in order to recover the total loss of the same following capsize under tow offshore Myanmar. 

Broker – breach of warranty of authority/ professional negligence

Advising a broker in respect of defending a US$1.2 million claim brought in the Belgium and English Courts.

Public liability insurance

Successfully acting for a reinsurer in the DIFC (Dubai) in defence of a US$2.5 million subrogated action arising out of a warehouse fire in Sharjah, UAE.

Construction all risks 

Advising on insurance claims under a WELCAR policy relating to a pipeline abandonment incident that occurred during a US$1.2 billion subsea gas pipeline installation project.

Defects liability insurance

Advising a leading offshore contractor on a defects liability insurance policy in relation to the installation of an offshore wind farm in the North Sea costing approximately US$1 billion.  

Oil and gas

Loss of production claim

Advising a lead insurer on a business interruption claim of up to £40 million under an energy package policy. The claim related to loss of production at an FPSO operating offshore West Africa.

Drilling rig dispute

Acting for a large NOC in a US$180 million dispute relating to the condition and performance of a rig operating in South America under a long-term drilling contract.

Subsea gas pipeline installation

Advising a leading offshore contractor in respect of a pipeline abandonment incident that occurred during a US$1.2 billion subsea gas pipeline installation project.

Oil & Gas AIM IPO 

Part of team that advised Eland Oil & Gas Plc on its £118 million placing as part of its IPO and the related acquisition of a 45% interest in Nigerian OML 40 from Shell, Total and Eni through Eland's joint venture with its local partner Starcrest.

International trade

Mercuria Energy Trading

Part of the team acting for Mercuria in their successful defence of a headline-making US$270 million claim by Citibank, relating to “repo” deals affected by a major metals warehousing fraud in China.

Commodities fraud

Acting for a leading Canadian debt fund and UAE oil trader in pursuing a US$19 million commodities claim against a large Chinese oil company involving proceedings in the Dubai criminal and civil courts as well as the High Court of Singapore.

Commodities dispute

Acting for a Nigerian commodities trader in defending a US$9.5 million claim brought by a Russian company involving issues such as force majeure, frustration, malicious falsehood and right to set-off.

Ferry disaster

Advising on a ferry collision in West Africa involving loss of life and the development of a humanitarian fund.

OW Bunkers

Part of the team advising an International Group P&I Club in relation to the insolvency of the OW Bunkers group.

Major ship fire in Angola

Advising a major US corporation and its insurer in relation to allegations that the corporation's product caused a major fire on board a vessel.

Construction and engineering

Onshore construction

Acting for a Middle Eastern State in defending a US$218 million claim brought by, and bringing an approximately US$600 million counterclaim against, an Indian contractor in respect of the termination of an EPC contract.

Offshore construction

Successfully representing one UAE State entity against another UAE State entity in a US$30 million offshore construction adjudication that developed into an ICC arbitration.

Subsea gas pipeline installation

Advising a leading offshore contractor in respect of a pipeline abandonment incident that occurred during a US$1.2 billion subsea gas pipeline installation project.   

The Middle East

Middle East construction dispute

Acting for a Middle Eastern State in defending a US$218 million claim brought by, and bringing an approximately US$600 million counterclaim against, an Indian contractor in respect of the termination of an EPC contract.

UAE offshore construction dispute

Successfully representing one UAE State entity against another UAE State entity in a US$30 million offshore construction adjudication that developed into an ICC arbitration. 

Investor-treaty dispute under the Iraq/ Kuwait BIT

Acting as co-counsel for the Republic of Iraq in defence of a US$600 million ICSID claim brought by the Kuwaiti company, Agility Public Warehousing, relating to a failed telecommunications investment in Iraq.

DIFC/ Sharjah insurance dispute 

Successfully acting for a reinsurer in the DIFC (Dubai) in defence of a US$2.5 million subrogated action arising out of a warehouse fire in Sharjah, UAE.

Arabian Gulf commodities fraud

Acting for a leading Canadian debt fund and UAE oil trader in pursuing a US$19 million commodities claim against a large Chinese oil company involving proceedings in the Dubai criminal and civil courts as well as in the High Court of Singapore.

Africa

Angolan ship fire

Advising a major US corporation and its insurer in relation to allegations that the corporation's product caused a major fire on board a vessel in Angola.

West African loss of production claim

Advising a lead insurer on a business interruption claim of up to £40 million under an energy package policy. The claim related to loss of production at an FPSO operating offshore West Africa.

Anti-suit against Kenyan proceedings 

Acting for a leading hedge fund in successfully bringing a heavy anti-suit injunction application before the High Court in relation to vexatious proceedings commenced in Kenya relating to a power barge located in Mombasa.

Nigerian commodities dispute

Acting for a Nigerian commodities trader in defending a US$9.5 million claim brought by a Russian company involving issues such as force majeure, frustration, malicious falsehood and right to set-off. 

West African ferry disaster

Advising on a ferry collision in West Africa (Sierra Leone) involving loss of life and the development of a humanitarian fund.

West African wreck removal

Advising on the wreck removal of a fishing trawler offshore Dakar, Senegal.

Acquisition of Nigerian OML

Part of team that advised Eland Oil & Gas Plc on its £118 million placing as part of its IPO and the related acquisition of a 45% interest in Nigerian OML 40 from Shell, Total and Eni through Eland's joint venture with its local partner Starcrest.

South America

South American drilling rig dispute Acting for a large NOC in a US$180 million dispute relating to the condition and performance of a rig operating in South America under a long-term drilling contract.

Ecuadorian power barge dispute

Acting for one of Europe’s leading hedge funds in a US$35 million claim involving allegations of fraud and breach of warranty under a share purchase agreement of a company operating a power-generation barge in Ecuador.

Venezuelan drug smuggling claim

Acting for a syndicate of London Market and French insurers in successfully defending a US$30 million claim concerning the constructive total loss of a vessel following its confiscation by the Venezuelan authorities as a result of it being used to smuggle drugs.

South American sales and acquisitions

Advising on South American sales and acquisitions including advising on the sale of a land-based oil rig and advising international investors on the acquisition of an Ecuadorian independent power generation company.

Ecuadorian criminal proceedings 

Assisting the owner of a power company in defence of criminal proceedings in Ecuador and in recouping an expropriated power generation asset. 

Asia

Chinese shipbuilding dispute

Successfully acting for a German shipowner against a major Chinese shipbuilder in a US$36 million international arbitration claim for the reimbursement of instalments under a shipbuilding contract following the repudiation and early termination of the same.

Singapore commodities fraud 

Acting for a leading Canadian debt fund and UAE oil trader in pursuing a US$19 million commodities claim against a large Chinese oil company involving proceedings in the Dubai criminal and civil courts as well as in the High Court of Singapore.

Myanmar capsize

Acting for the owner of a jack-up Rig in order to recover the total loss of the same following capsize under tow offshore Myanmar. 

Asian warehousing fraud 

Part of the team acting for Mercuria in their successful defence of a headline-making US$270 million claim by Citibank, relating to “repo” deals affected by a major metals warehousing fraud in China.

Asian asset sales, leasing and financing

Acting for several Asian clients (mostly Singaporean, Chinese and Korean) in the sale, leasing and financing of various types of vessel.