Professional practice

Ed joined Chambers in 2022 as a leading commercial junior with over 10 years’ experience in high-value litigation and arbitration in the UK and Australia. Ed’s practice focuses on commercial litigation & international arbitration, insurance & reinsurance, civil fraud, banking, and professional negligence.

Ed acts as both sole and junior counsel, and has substantial experience of large-scale commercial litigation,  international arbitration conducted under a range of arbitral rules, injunctions, class actions, regulatory matters, and commissions of inquiry. He also sits as an arbitrator.

Examples of Ed’s recent and ongoing work as counsel in London include acting:

In an ICC arbitration (seated in Toronto) defending a c. $250m claim for alleged misuse of trade secrets and confidential information (with H Davies KC).

For Hull all-risks re-insurers in the Russian aircraft aviation claims currently before the Commercial Court arising from alleged losses of aircraft following the Russian invasion of

Ukraine and the imposition of Western sanctions (with J Lockey KC).

In proceedings seeking anti-suit injunctive relief, including for Deutsche Bank (with P Key KC) and other German banks in connection with proceedings commenced in Russia (with S Dhar KC).

In a substantial LMAA arbitration relating to the management of vessels and involving  issues of Greek and Liberian law (with G Dunning KC and N Pillow KC).

For re-insurers in separate arbitral proceedings before Sir Bernard Rix and Sir Stephen Tomlinson (with J  Lockey KC in each case).

For petitioners / claimants in the quantum phase of an unfair prejudice claim involving allegations of fraud and asset stripping from a joint venture (with I Quirk KC).

For National Bank Trust in PJSC National Bank Trust v Shishkhanov, a c. $2 billion fraud action against over 30 defendants (with P McGrath KC, N Pillow KC and others).

For claimants at the 3 day return date hearing for the continuation of a freezing injunction in support of complex multi-jurisdictional proceedings abroad (with P McGrath KC, L Hutton KC and others).

 

What Others Say

Legal 500 2025, Insurance and reinsurance

‘Edward is an exceptional junior counsel. His analysis and drafting skills are exemplary. He is extremely personable and easy to work with. A real star in the making.’

Arbitration & related court applications

Ed has acted in a range of commercial arbitrations and related court applications, including:

  • A confidential ICC arbitration (seated in Toronto) in claims involving the alleged misuse of trade secrets and confidential information (with H Davies KC).
  • Claims for anti-suit injunctive relief, including on behalf of Deutsche Bank (with P Key KC) and other German banks in support of a foreign seated  arbitration (with S Dhar KC: see Bayerische Landesbank  v Ruschemalliance LLC [2024] EWHC 1822 (Comm)).
  • Successfully resisting an injunction in the Chancery Division on the basis of (inter alia)       the existence of an arbitration agreement (unled).
  • A substantial LMAA arbitration concerning the management of vessels and involving issues of Greek and Liberian law (with G Dunning KC and N Pillow KC).
  • Acting for re-insurers in confidential arbitral proceedings before Sir Bernard Rix and before Sir Stephen Tomlinson (with  J Lockey KC in each case).
  • A London seated arbitration in a complex claim for business interruption losses arising from  the COVID-19 pandemic (with J Lockey KC).
  • Acting for administrators in a high-value LCIA arbitration against Middle Eastern  banks arising from a substantial fraud.
Injunctions

Ed has substantial experience in urgent cases and claims for injunctive relief (including anti-suit relief, freezing orders and other injunctions). Ed’s recent experience in London includes:

  • Successfully resisting an injunction sought in the Chancery Division on the basis of (inter alia) the existence of an arbitration agreement (unled).
  • Acting for Deutsche Bank in Commercial Court proceedings seeking anti-suit injunctive relief in support of a  foreign seated arbitration (led by P Key KC).
  • Obtaining anti-suit injunctive relief on behalf of German Banks in support of a foreign seated  arbitration (with S Dhar KC: see [2024] EWHC 1822 (Comm)).
  • Acting at the 3 day return date hearing for parties seeking the continuation of a freezing
  • injunction in support of complex multi-jurisdictional proceedings abroad (with P McGrath KC, L Hutton KC and others).
  • Obtaining an ex parte freezing order arising from the alleged unlawful retention of monies (with Roderick Cordara KC).
  • Obtaining Norwich Pharmacal relief against a major financial institution in connection with phishing scam (unled).
Commercial dispute resolution

Ed has advised and acted in a wide range of commercial disputes both as sole and junior counsel and in litigation and arbitration. Examples of cases in which Ed has been instructed include:

  • Acting in a confidential ICC arbitration proceedings (seated in Toronto) in claims for involving the alleged misuse of trade secrets and confidential information (with H Davies KC)
  • Acting in a substantial LMAA arbitration concerning the management of vessels and involving issues of Greek and Liberian law (with G Dunning KC and N Pillow KC).
  • Krishna v Gowrie and others – acting for the petitioners / claimants in the quantum phase of an unfair prejudice petition involving allegations of fraud and asset stripping from a joint venture (with I Quirk KC).
  • Aventus Cranbourne Thompsons Road v Home Consortium Leasehold Pty Ltd [2020] VSCA 199 – Victorian Court of Appeal – whether a commercial landlord of a large format retail centre acted reasonably in withholding consent to a sublease (with W A Harris KC on appeal and J Karkar KC at first instance).
  • Finance & Guarantee Pty Ltd v Auswild [2019] VSC 664 (with A Strahan KC) – acting for the first defendant in 6 week trial involving historic claims of fraud and breaches of fiduciary duty.
  • MWL Finance Group v Focus Australia Holdings LLC [2020] FCA 548 – acting for an
  • American financial services firm resisting an application to restrain a general meeting of members (with J M Peters AM KC)
  • Harplex Pty Ltd v Konstandellos (2018) 54 VR 174 – Victorian Court of Appeal – applicability of the common law rule governing joint obligations and whether release of one co-debtor releases all co-debtors who are jointly or jointly and severally liable for the same debt (unled).

Ed also has acted for claimants and defendants in class actions in Australia. For example:

  • Earglow Pty Ltd v Newcrest Mining Ltd (with W Harris QC and R Craig – instructed by Herbert Smith Freehills) acted for Newcrest in a securities class action relating to gold production.
  • Lay v Nuix & Ors [2022] VSC 479 (with WAD Edwards SC) – acted for plaintiff group members in a carriage dispute in securities class action against Nuix Ltd, Macquarie Group and others.
  • Bogan v Estate of Peter John Smedley [2022] VSC 645 (discovery dispute) (with WAD Edwards SC) – acting for plaintiff group members in a securities class action against the former directors and auditor of Arrium Ltd.
Civil Fraud

Recent matters in which Ed has acted include:

  • For petitioners / claimants in the quantum phase of an unfair prejudice claim involving allegations of fraud and asset stripping from a joint venture (with I Quick KC).
  • For National Bank Trust in PJSC National Bank Trust v Shishkhanov, a c. $2 billion fraud action against over 30 defendants (with P McGrath KC, N Pillow KC and others).
  • For claimants at the 3 day return date hearing for the continuation of a freezing injunction in support of complex multi-jurisdictional proceedings abroad (with P McGrath KC, L Hutton KC and others).
  • Obtaining Norwich Pharmacal relief against a major financial institution in connection with a phishing scam (unled).
  • Canaccord Genuity (Australia) Ltd v Allen [2022] VSC 631 (unled) – Victorian Supreme Court – acted for a financial institution in successfully proving, tracing and recovering the proceeds of a trading fraud.
Insurance & reinsurance

Ed has substantial experience acting for insurers (and re-insurers) and policyholders in a range of insurance disputes. Examples of cases in which Ed has been instructed include:

  • Acting for hull all-risks re-insurers in the Russian Aircraft claims currently before the Commercial Court (with J Lockey KC).
  • Acting for US based policyholders in a number of English seated arbitrations seeking coverage under New York law governed excess liability policies (with P Stanley KC, J Lockey KC and others).
  • Acting for re-insurers in confidential arbitral proceedings before Sir Bernard Rix and  before Sir Stephen Tomlinson (with J  Lockey KC in each case).
  • Acting for insurers in a London seated arbitration in a claim for business interruption losses arising from the COVID-19 pandemic (led by John Lockey KC).
  • Acting for National Australia Bank in proceedings against its insurers and re-insurers in respect of losses incurred by Clydesdale Bank and Yorkshire Bank arising from the sale of
  • interest rate hedging products in the UK (with W A Harris KC and R Craig KC).
  • Acting for a multi-national construction and engineering firm in dispute with its insurer in connection with findings of fraud made in arbitral proceedings in Singapore (with P Solomon KC).
Professional negligence

Ed has considerable experience in professional negligence claims, including (in particular) claims against legal professionals. He recently acted for the UK subsidiaries of an international media group in a claim against their former auditor (with Huw Davies KC, David Walsh and Rebecca Akushie). Other cases in which Ed has been instructed in Australia include:

  • ACN 115 918 959 Pty Ltd v Hoeys Lawyers Pty Ltd [2021] VSC 79 – acted for senior counsel and former Judge in complex professional negligence proceedings (led by D Collins KC).
  • Bodycorp Repairers Pty Ltd v Holding Redlich [2018] VSCA 17 – Victorian Court of Appeal – acted for the law firm in defending allegations of professional negligence (with P Solomon KC).
  • Dover Financial Advisors v HNLaw & Ors (S ECI 2020 01623) – acting for the fourth defendant in complex professional negligence proceedings against multiple legal firms and practitioners (unled).
Media, art, entertainment

Ed has recently appeared unled in Australia in two of the leading appellate cases on the rights of the media to access materials filed in Court and the principle of open justice: Lee v Deputy Commissioner of Taxation [2023] FCAFC 22 and Zhang v The Age Company [2023] ACTCA 10.

Career

2023: Tenant, Essex Court Chambers

2023: Called to the Bar England and Wales (Lincoln’s Inn)

2017: Sessional Teaching Fellow, University of Melbourne Law School

2015:  Called to the Bar Victoria, Australia

2012 – 2014: Associate in Dispute Resolution, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP

2010: Admitted as a solicitor, Victoria, Australia

Education

2010 – 2011: BCL, Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford (Distinction)

2004 – 2008: LLB (Hons) / BA (Political Science), University of Melbourne.

Awards

Since 2020, Ed has been recognised annually in Doyle’s Guide as a leading commercial litigation and dispute resolution junior barrister in Victoria, Australia.

2016: winner of the 2016 ICLC Young COMBAR Competition

2011: read for the BCL as a recipient of Allan Myers Melbourne University Scholarship.

Publications

Philip Crutchfield QC, Robert Craig and Edward Batrouney, Korda v Australian Executor Trustees [2015] HCA 6: imputed trusts in a commercial context – Australia clarifies its approach, Trust and Trustees, Vol 22, Issue 4, May 2016.