Professional practice

Helen is an experienced lawyer with an established practice spanning the full range of commercial disputes. She acts as both sole and junior counsel and regularly appears in the Business and Property Courts and in arbitration.

Helen is particularly experienced in heavy commercial litigation, civil fraud, private international law, shipping, insurance, data protection and confidential information. She acts in both the advisory and contentious contexts at all stages of the dispute resolution process, from initial advice to trial and enforcement actions.

She is currently acting in the notable s.69 arbitration appeal, Fimbank Plc v KCH Shipping Co, which was heard by the Supreme Court in July 2024 and concerns whether the Article III Rule 6 time-bar in the Hague-Visby Rules applies to misdelivery of cargo post-discharge. The position was previously undecided with debate in the caselaw, commentaries and international community going both ways. As the point arises frequently across the industry, the decision has considerable commercial significance.

Other recent work highlights include acting:

  • For the claimant in one of the high-profile proceedings against the SFO (ENRC v The Director of the SFO, Gibson & Puddick) which includes claims for breach of confidence and misfeasance in public office. The 7 week trial settled in October 2024.
  • For the defendant insurer in proceedings brought by Greensill Bank AG (Greensill Bank AG v Zurich Insurance Public Limited) concerning trade credit insurance and counterclaims for deceit and unlawful means conspiracy.
  • For defendant insurers in their defence of the multi-billion pound litigation arising out of the alleged loss of aircraft which have not been returned to the owners following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
  • For the defendants in US$ 2 billion fraud proceedings (Suppipat & Ors v Nop Narongdej & Ors), a multi-party conspiracy claim concerning the shares of Thailand’s largest renewable energy company; and
  •  For the claimant in a major class action in relation to largescale data breaches by a global social media platform (SMO (A child) v TikTok).

Helen is a contributing author for ‘The Common Law Jurisprudence of the Conflict of Laws, Hart’ published in May 2023. Her chapter, ‘The Mixed Blessing of Vita Food Products: The Impact and Influence of the Privy Council’s Decision’, addresses issues in the conflict of laws and shipping. She is also an editor of Arnould – Law of Marine Insurance and Average, and assists the editorial team of Scrutton on Charterparties and Bills of Lading.

She is also a committee member of the British Insurance Law Association Young Professionals.

 

What others say

The Legal 500 2025, Shipping:

“Her legal acumen is truly extraordinary, demonstrating an exceptional depth of knowledge, razor-sharp analytical skills, and an unparalleled ability to dissect complex legal issues with clarity and precision.”

The Legal 500 2024, Shipping:

“Helen is a powerhouse and definitely a force to be reckoned with. Her grasp of the law and of the facts is top notch.”

 

 

Arbitration & related court applications

Helen has substantial experience in arbitration and related court applications across the breadth of actions including commencing proceedings, interim applications to the High Court under s.44 of the Arbitration Act 1996, jurisdiction challenges, enforcement of awards and appeals to the High Court (and up to and including the Supreme Court). She has advised and acted as sole and junior counsel under a variety of arbitration rules, including LMAA, LCIA ICC and FOSFA.

Examples of Helen’s experience in this area include:

  • Fimbank Plc v KCH Shipping Co Ltd [2023] EWCA Civ 569: Acting as junior counsel (led by Christopher Smith KC) in an LMAA arbitration concerning a claim for misdelivery of goods for the claimant bank against the charterer of the vessel, which involved whether or not the Hague/Hague-Visby Rules Article III rule 6 time bar applies to misdelivery post-discharge. The appeal was heard by the Supreme Court in July 2024.
  • Acting as sole counsel in a multi-million pound claim for non-payment of consignments of coal following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
  • Acting as junior counsel (led by Nigel Eaton KC) in an LMAA arbitration concerning misdelivery of goods
  • Advising in respect of a claim for delivery up of documents pursuant to a vessel sharing agreement
  • Acting in a claim for breaches of a charterparty and losses in respect of sanctioned cargo, involving an application to the Court under s.44 of the Arbitration Act 1996.
  • Acted as sole counsel in various claims for breach of a charterparty and loss of hire.
  • Acting for policy holders in claims for business interruption insurance pursuant to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Acted as junior counsel (led by Iain Quirk KC) in a claim for breaches of a long-running distribution agreement.
  • Acted as junior counsel (led by Stephen Houseman KC) in an LMAA Arbitration concerning agency agreements in respect of drilling contracts which involved claims of alleged breach of fiduciary duty.
  • Acted as junior counsel (led by Vernon Flynn KC and Jern-Fei Ng KC) in an ICC arbitration involving a USD40m dispute concerning the supply of a telecommunications system. Acted as junior counsel (led by Joe Smouha KC, Damien Walker and Lucas Bastin KC) for the
  • Claimants in an LCIA arbitration concerning issues under a shareholder agreement. Acted as junior counsel (led by David Foxton KC, Paul McGrath KC and David Davies KC) for the Claimants, former majority holders of the Yukos oil company in an enforcement action in England in respect of the US$50 billion arbitration awards awarded to the Claimants against The Russian Federation. The case was listed as one of The Lawyer Magazine’s top 20 cases of 2016.
  •  Acted as sole counsel in respect of costs and interest issues concerning a number of arbitration awards.
  •  Acted as junior counsel (led by Nigel Eaton KC) in LCIA arbitrations involving disputes concerning various loan agreements.
  •  Acted as junior counsel (led by Roderick Cordara KC) in an LMAA arbitration involving a share purchase agreement and counterclaims concerning alleged company mismanagement.
  •  Acted as junior counsel (led by David Davies KC) in relation to the quantum stage of proceedings concerning a FOSFA arbitration award.
Civil fraud & asset recovery

Helen has considerable experience of heavy civil fraud work, spanning global multi-party disputes, injunctions, contempt applications as well as smaller claims, including those against litigants-in-person. She currently acts both as a junior in large-scale and high profile fraud proceedings as well as sole counsel in smaller matters. Her recent instructions include:

  • Greensill Bank AG v Zurich Insurance Company Limited: acting (led by Nathan Pillow KC and Ben Lynch KC) for the defendant in substantial and complex proceedings concerning trade credit insurance involving allegations of deceit and unlawful means conspiracy against the claimants and other defendants.
  • ENRC v The Director of the SFO, Gibson & Puddick: Acting on behalf of the claimant (led by Stephen House KC, Anna Boase KC and David Glen) in a claim against the SFO and two of its officers in respect of alleged unauthorised and unlawful disclosures of confidential information. The claims against the defendants included breach of confidence, misfeasance in public office and unlawful means conspiracy.
  • Suppipat & Ors v Nop Narongdej & Ors: Acted (led by Anna Dilnot KC and with James Petkovic) for three defendants in substantial and hugely complex fraud proceedings commenced by the former owner of Thailand’s largest renewable energy company. 17 defendants have been joined to the proceedings, by which the claimants seek between £1-2 Verlox International Ltd v Antoshin & Ors [2023] EWHC 86 (Comm): Acting on behalf of the Fourth Defendant resisting the claimants’ application to bring contempt proceedings against legal representatives in the context of a claim concerning an alleged oral share agreement. The claim attracted significant publicity and involved allegations of bias and collusion against a variety of legal representatives and members of the judiciary.
  • Advising on a potential claim for extensive and far-reaching fraud in respect of government loan schemes issued during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Acting as sole counsel in a claim against a director of a company for dishonest honest assistance of the company’s breaches of trust, and breaches of fiduciary duties.
  • Acting as sole counsel in a claim brought by an international packaging manufacturer for extensive fraudulent invoicing by one of its UK employees.
Commercial dispute resolution

Helen’s practice spans the full range of commercial disputes, and regularly acts and advises in a wide variety of disputes as both sole and junior counsel. She has considerable experience of interim applications, including security for costs, summary judgment and specific disclosure, as well as trial and enforcement actions. She is particularly adept at drawing together connected sets of global proceedings, different areas of law and causes of action, and the commercial rationale behind strategic actions.  Examples of her work include:

  • Greensill Bank AG v Zurich Insurance Company Limited: acting (led by Nathan Pillow KC and Ben Lynch KC) for the defendant in substantial and complex proceedings concerning trade credit insurance involving allegations of deceit and unlawful means conspiracy against the claimants and other defendants.
  • ENRC v The Director of the SFO, Gibson & Puddick: Acting on behalf of the claimant (led by Stephen House KC, Anna Boase KC and David Glen) in a claim against the SFO and two of its officers in respect of alleged unauthorised and unlawful disclosures of confidential information. The claims against the defendants included breach of confidence, misfeasance in public office and unlawful means conspiracy.
  • Russian Aircraft litigation: acting as junior counsel (led by Jeffrey Gruder KC, Ben Lynch KC and David Peters KC) in the high profile Russian Aircraft multi-billion pound litigation involving the retention of aircraft by Russia following the Russo-Ukraine war.
  • Acting as sole counsel in a claim for breach of contract in respect of convertible loan notes and subsequent breach of confidence claims.
  • Acting as sole counsel in a claim against a director of a company for dishonest honest assistance of the company’s breaches of trust, and breaches of various fiduciary duties.
  • Acting as sole counsel in a claim for breach of contract of a food supply agreement on behalf of a UK entity against a European supplier.
  • Suppipat & Ors v Nop Narongdej & Ors: Acted (led by Anna Dilnot KC and with James Petkovic) for three defendants in substantial and hugely complex fraud proceedings commenced by the former owner of Thailand’s largest renewable energy company. 17 defendants have been joined to the proceedings, by which the claimants seek between £1-2 billion.
  • Fimbank Plc v KCH Shipping Co Ltd: Acting as junior counsel (led by Christopher Smith KC) in a claim for misdelivery of goods for the claimant bank against the charterer of the vessel, which involved whether or not the Hague/Hague-Visby Rules Article III rule 6 time bar applies to misdelivery post-discharge. The Supreme Court heard the appeal in July 2024.
  • AML v AMMENA: Acting (led by Iain Quirk KC and with Robert Harris) for Aston Martin Lagonda in proceedings against its Middle East distributor.
  • Advising as sole counsel in a contractual dispute concerning security services at high profile events.
  • Acted (led by Steven Berry KC) for the claimant in a marine reinsurance dispute concerning the constructive total loss of the insured vessel.
  • Acted (led by Emily Wood KC) for the claimants in a dispute concerning the commission of a newbuild yacht, involving claims of alleged breach of fiduciary duty.
  • Eldimas Limited v B&H Worldwide Limited: Acted as sole counsel in a case concerning a contract for worldwide business development services.
  • Acted (led by Vikram Sachdeva KC) for claimants in a claim for an injunction to secure the continued collaboration between two police forces pursuant to the contract between them. Bank Mellat v Her Majesty’s Treasury [2019] EWCA Civ 449: Acted as junior counsel (led by David Foxton KC, Philippa Hopkins KC, Steven Kovats KC and Julian Blake) in the long running multi-billion pound damages litigation, which settled just before trial. In March 2019 the Court of Appeal handed down an important judgment on the proper approach to disclosure where one party alleges a risk of foreign prosecution. The litigation settled on the first day of trial in June 2019.
  •  Cargill International Trading Pte Ltd v Uttam Galva Steels Ltd: Acted as junior counsel (led by David Foxton KC) for the Claimants in a claim involving advance payment and steel supply agreements worth USD63m, dealt with the initial advice and all preliminary stages as sole counsel.
Data Protection AND BREACH OF CONFIDENCE

Helen acts in a wide range of breach of confidence and data protection claims. She has particular experience in breach of confidence actions and her recent instructions, in particular ENRC v The Director of the SFO, Gibson & Puddick, have involved wide-ranging allegations of unlawful disclosures of confidential information. She is similarly experienced in the misuse of private information and breach of data protections claims, and examples of her notable recent cases include:

  • ENRC v The Director of the SFO, Gibson & Puddick: Acting on behalf of the claimant (led by Stephen House KC, Anna Boase KC and David Glen) in a claim against the SFO and two of its officers in respect of alleged unauthorised and unlawful disclosures of confidential information. The claims against the defendants included breach of confidence, misfeasance in public office and unlawful means conspiracy.
  • Acting as sole counsel in a claim for breach of contract in respect of convertible loan notes and subsequent breach of confidence claims.
  • SMO v TikTok: Acting as junior counsel (led by Charles Ciumei KC) for the claimant in a major class action against a global social media company in relation to largescale data breaches. The most recent decision on the claimant’s application for anonymity can be found at: [2020] EWHC 3589 (QB).
  • Acting for, and representing in Court, the claimant in a claim involving alleged breaches of the Data Protection Act 1998 and the resulting effect on their employment.
Insurance & reinsurance

Helen’s practice covers all aspects of insurance and reinsurance, including Bermuda Form arbitrations and claims arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic (specifically, business interruption disputes). Her recent high-profile cases include acting for a leader insurer in the Russian Aircraft litigation and for the defendant in Greensill Bank AG v Zurich Insurance Company Limited. She also has considerable experience in claims relating to marine insurance, and is an editor of  Arnould – Law of Marine Insurance and Average. Examples of her recent cases include:

  • Russian Aircraft litigation: acting as junior counsel (led by Jeffrey Gruder KC, Ben Lynch KC and David Peters KC) in the high profile Russian Aircraft multi-billion pound litigation involving the retention of aircraft by Russia following the Russo-Ukraine war.
  • Greensill Bank AG v Zurich Insurance Company Limited: acting (led by Nathan Pillow KC and Ben Lynch KC) for the defendant in substantial and complex proceedings concerning trade credit insurance involving allegations of deceit and unlawful means conspiracy against the claimants and other defendants.
  • Acting for various policyholders in claims for business interruption following the COVID-19 pandemic, including claims connected to the business interruption test cases being heard in early November 2023.
  • Acting for an insurer (led by David Scorey KC) in relation to a number of policies, including ‘Bermuda form’ policies in the context of the US opioid litigation.
  • Advising policyholders in respect of a claim for business interruption following the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Korean Reinsurance Company v XL Insurance Company (“The Stellar Banner”): Helen was instructed, led by Steven Berry KC, on behalf of the claimant, an insurer, against two of its retrocessionaires in respect of losses under policies of marine insurance and reinsurance, including a constructive total loss.
  • Kareem v Amlin: Helen was instructed on behalf of the defendant in respect of claims made in respect of a policy of marine insurance relating to damage to a port breakwater.

Helen delivers a variety of talks in the insurance sphere including ‘Introduction to the Bermuda Form’ with David Scorey KC, ‘The Stonegate Judgment and its impact on Business Interruption’, and ‘The Insurance Act: Where are we now?’.

Shipping & admiralty

Helen’s practice covers all aspects of shipping, shipbuilding and international trade disputes. She regularly acts as both sole and junior counsel at all stages of the litigation process, from commencement to trial and enforcement, both in arbitration and the High Court. She has considerable experience of arbitration-related Court applications, in particular appealing Awards to the High Court and beyond. One of her most recent instructions, Fimbank Plc v KCH Shipping Co Ltd was heard by the Supreme Court in July 2024. She also assists the editorial team of Scrutton on Charterparties and Bills of Lading, and examples of her most recent instructions include:

  • Fimbank Plc v KCH Shipping Co Ltd [2023] EWCA Civ 569: Acting as junior counsel (led by Christopher Smith KC) in an LMAA arbitration concerning a claim for misdelivery of goods for the claimant bank against the charterer of the vessel, which involved whether or not the Hague/Hague-Visby Rules Article III rule 6 time bar applies to misdelivery post-discharge. The appeal was heard by the Supreme Court in July 2024.
  • Acting for the claimant bank in two further arbitrations concerning the mis-delivery of goods dispute against the charterer or owner of the relevant vessel. Helen is led by Steven Berry KC and Nigel Eaton KC respectively.
  • Acting as sole counsel in a multi-million pound claim for non-payment of consignments of coal following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
  • Advising in respect of a claim for delivery up of documents pursuant to a vessel sharing agreement
  • Acting as sole counsel in a claim for breaches of a charterparty and losses in respect of sanctioned cargo.
  • Acted as sole counsel in various claims for breach of a charterparty and loss of hire.
  • Acted in an LMAA Arbitration concerning agency agreements in respect of drilling contracts which involved claims of alleged breach of fiduciary duty. Helen was led by Stephen Houseman KC.
  • Acted in an LMAA arbitration involving claims and counterclaims arising from 10 shipbuilding contracts. Helen was led by Richard Jacobs KC.
  • Advised as sole counsel on the merits of a demurrage claim in the context of a voyage charter.
Career

2014 Tenant at Essex Court Chambers, following completion of Pupillage with Nathan Pillow

2013-2014 Pupillage, Essex Court Chambers

Education

2012-2013 BCL, St Edmund Hall, University of Oxford (Distinction: Conflict of Laws, Restitution of Unjust Enrichment, Principles of Civil Procedure and European Business Regulation)

2011-2012 BPTC, BPP Law School (Outstanding)

2008-2011 Law (Jurisprudence) BA, St Edmund Hall, University of Oxford (First Class, ranked sixth in the year, joint first in Tort Law Finals Exam)

Awards

2012-2013 Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Scholarship

University of Oxford Faculty of Law Graduate Scholarship

St Edmund Hall Scholarship

2011-2012 Inner Temple Exhibition Award

2011 Martin Wronker Prize: Highest Academic Achievement in the Tort Law Final Exam

2011 St Edmund Hall Scholarship