Professional practice

L500 Rising Star 2026

Lorraine’s practice encompasses high-value litigation and arbitration disputes in commercial and in international law. She is recognised as a Rising Star (Legal 500) and is described as “highly intelligent, very hardworking, excellent drafting skills.”

In her commercial practice, Lorraine is instructed on complex and strategically significant matters, and frequently acts in proceedings involving civil fraud, trust and asset-recovery, freezing injunctions, claims arising under the Insolvency Act 1980 and Letters of Request under the 1970 Hague Convention. She has a particular interest in anti-suit and anti-enforcement injunctions and is regularly instructed in injunction applications. Recent highlights include Cape Intermediate Holdings Ltd v Protopapas [2025] EWHC 2706 (Ch), Google LLC v NAO Tsargrad Media [2025] EWHC 94 (Comm) and General Dynamics United Kingdom Limited v The State of Libya [2025] EWHC 2734 (Comm). Lorraine’s arbitration experience spans proceedings under the ICC, LCIA and UNCITRAL Rules, covering sectors such as oil and gas, telecommunications, sanctions, and joint venture agreements involving African States or State-owned entities. She is also instructed in arbitration related court applications, including questions of jurisdiction under section 32 of the 1996 Arbitration Act.

Lorraine has substantial advocacy experience, including before the Court of Appeal. She regularly appears before the commercial courts and has acted in several hearings as sole counsel against more senior advocates.

Lorraine also has a strong international law practice. She has acted in cases involving State immunity before the English courts and in international law proceedings before the European Court of Human Rights. She appeared before the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights in its first inter-state case concerning alleged violations of human rights in the context of armed conflict. Lorraine was a member of the legal team which represented the Republic of Chile before the International Court of Justice in the Dispute over the Status and the Use of the Waters of the Silala (Chile v Bolivia). She was previously seconded to the Legal Directorate of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (“FCDO”) and continues to advise on public international law matters.

 

Examples of Recent Cases
  • Cape Intermediate Holdings Ltd v Protopapas [2025] EWHC 2706 (Ch): Urgent application for variation of an injunction permitting settlement with a US court appointed receiver (not recognised under English law) and successfully resisting an injunction application to prevent such settlement.
  • Google LLC v NAO Tsargrad Media [2025] EWHC 94 (Comm) and [2024] EWHC 2212 (Comm): Acted for Google in its successful application for anti-enforcement and ancillary anti-anti-suit relief, against fines issued by the Russian courts of c. $20 decillion (33 zeros), sums described as “larger than the world’s GDP.”
  • General Dynamics United Kingdom Limited v The State of Libya [2025] EWHC 2734 (Comm): securing an order for the sale of State property, following arbitration related proceedings for enforcement of a $27 million judgment debt, involving issues of State immunity and service on foreign States.
  • Delos Shipbuilding SA v Allianz Global Corporate and Specialty SE [2025] EWCA Civ 1019 and [2024] EWHC 719 (Comm): Acting for six major insurers in a CTL claim for $30 million, following the detention of a vessel in foreign waters.
  • SMA Investment Holdings Ltd v Harbour Fund II LP [2023] EWHC 428 (Comm) and Re Smith [2022] EWHC 3053 (Comm): Acted in the ‘Orb Litigation’, involving claims for the transfer of shares and the removal of trustees, following the judgment of Foxton J in [2021] EWHC 1272 (Comm), which determined the equitable rights in a variety of assets following a major fraud.
  • Integral Petroleum SA v Petrogat FZE [2023] EWHC 44 (Comm): Acted for the successful claimant company in claims for declarations under s.423 of the Insolvency Act 1986.
What Others Say

Legal 500 2025: Public International Law

“Highly intelligent, very hardworking, excellent drafting skills. A top junior in this area”

Commercial dispute resolution
  • Acted (as sole counsel) in successfully securing judgment on a contractual debt claim in the London Circuit Commercial Court.
  • Cape Intermediate Holdings Ltd v Protopapas [2025] EWHC 2706 (Ch): Urgent application for variation of an injunction permitting settlement with a US court appointed receiver (not recognised under English law) and successfully resisting an injunction application to prevent such settlement.
  • Google LLC v NAO Tsargrad Media [2025] EWHC 94 (Comm) and [2024] EWHC 2212 (Comm): Acted for Google in its successful application for anti-enforcement and ancillary anti-anti-suit relief, against fines issued by the Russian courts of c. $20 decillion (33 zeros), sums described as “larger than the world’s GDP.”
  • Instructed (led by David Joseph KC) in proceedings for the recovery of assets following the declaration of a receivership by a BVI court and worldwide freezing injunction by the English High Court.
  • Delos Shipbuilding SA v Allianz Global Corporate and Specialty SE [2025] EWCA Civ 1019 and [2024] EWHC 719 (Comm): Acting for six major insurers in a CTL claim for $30 million, following the detention of a vessel in foreign waters.
  • Instructed, as sole counsel, in an aviation claim for the recovery of sums owed following a failure to deliver contractually agreed aircraft.
  • Acted as sole counsel in the High Court in successful applications for final third party debt orders.
  • Acted (led by David Peters KC ) in a claim under section 423 of the Insolvency Act 1986, including a successful application for a freezing injunction and its continuation, and various enforcement related applications.
  • Instructed on behalf of the Government of Belize in an application on the admissibility of evidence following judgment on liability, led by Ben Juratowitch KC.
  • Instructed in successful applications for Letters of Requests under Chapters 1 and 2 of the 1970 Hague Convention on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil or Commercial Matters in relation to the taking of evidence in Switzerland for proceedings in the Commercial Court.
Public international law
  • Instructed in proceedings before the Employment Appeal Tribunal on the determination of the Respondent State’s entitlement to State immunity in respect of  an employment claim.
  • Instructed in the first inter-State case before the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, concerning alleged violations of human rights in the context of armed conflict, led by Professor Dapo Akande.
  • Instructed in proceedings before the European Court of Human Rights concerning the dissolution of a political party, freedom of association and the right to vote and to stand for elections under Articles 10 and 11 and Article 3, Protocol 1 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
  • Instructed by the Republic of Chile in the case concerning the Dispute over the Status and Use of the Waters of the Silala (Chile v. Bolivia) before the International Court of Justice, led by Samuel Wordsworth KC.
  • Advised on the legality of the proposed relocation of the UK’s Embassy in Tel Aviv in Jerusalem, led by Alison Macdonald KC.
  • Advised the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office on matters relating to the designations of persons under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 (SAMLA).
  • Previously seconded to the Legal Directorate at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, advising on a range of international law issues including sanctions related matters and matters involving foreign nationals and foreign governments.
  • Instructed (with Alison Macdonald KC, Jackie MacArthur and Naomi Hart) by a group of NGOs to advise on the appropriate characterisation of crimes under international criminal law, including whether crimes of genocide and crimes against humanity were engaged.
Civil fraud & asset recovery
  • General Dynamics United Kingdom Limited v The State of Libya [2025] EWHC 2734 (Comm): securing an order for the sale of State property, following arbitration related proceedings for enforcement of a $27 million judgment debt, involving issues of State immunity and service on foreign States.
  • Instructed (led by David Joseph KC) in proceedings for the recovery of assets following the declaration of a receivership by a BVI court and worldwide freezing injunction by the English High Court.
  • Instructed, as sole counsel, in an aviation claim for the recovery of sums owed following a failure to deliver contractually agreed aircraft.
  • Acted (led by David Peters KC) in a claim under section 423 of the Insolvency Act 1986, including a successful application for a freezing injunction and its continuation, and various enforcement related applications.
  • Acted as junior counsel in In re Gerald Martin Smith / the SFO & Anr v LCL & 45 Ors (the Orb Litigation), in claims for the transfer of shares and the removal of trustees, following the judgment of Foxton J in [2021] EWHC 1272 (Comm), which determined the equitable rights in a variety of assets following a major fraud.
  • Instructed (led) in a dispute arising out of a joint venture agreement, in a claim for US$350 million.
Arbitration & related court applications
  • An LCIA arbitration of a c. $170 million claim in relation to the impact of Russian sanctions on contractual performance.
  • General Dynamics United Kingdom Limited v The State of Libya [2025] EWHC 2734 (Comm): securing an order for the sale of State property, following arbitration related proceedings for enforcement of a $27 million judgment debt, involving issues of State immunity and service on foreign States.
  • An ICC arbitration relating to an application for permission under s.32 of the Arbitration Act 1996, in the context of a dispute over the tribunal’s jurisdiction.
  • An UNCITRAL ad-hoc arbitration in relation to a dispute between an oil and gas exploration and production company and the operator of one of its mining wells.
  • An ICC arbitration of a c. €98 million claim against a telecommunications provider in relation to claims of unlawful means conspiracy and breach of contract, involving State-owned entities.
  • An LCIA arbitration of a c. $50 million claim in relation to the impact of Russian sanctions on contractual performance.
  • An ICC arbitration of a c. $260 million claim against a State for damages under a share purchase agreement for the supply of LPG.
Company & Insolvency Law
  • Instructed on behalf of liquidators of two companies in potential claims against former company directors, including misfeasance claims and claims under sections 242, 243 and 423 of the Insolvency Act 1986.
  • Instructed as sole counsel for a claim under sections 1096 and 1097 of the Companies Act 2005.
  • Acted as sole counsel in an application to set aside a statutory demand.
  • Instructed as sole counsel opposing a winding-up petition.
Employment
  • Junior counsel in several team move employment claims in the High Court, involving claims of unlawful means conspiracy, and breaches of employee contractual and equitable duties, for both Claimant and Defendant companies.
  • Instructed (with Jess Wells and Naomi Hart) in proceedings concerning the determination of a Respondent State’s entitlement to State immunity in a claim for unlawful deduction of wages, before the Employment Appeal Tribunal.
  • Acted as sole counsel in an Employment Tribunal hearing on behalf of a respondent company in a claim for discrimination arising out of something connected with a disability, failure to make reasonable adjustments, direct sex discrimination and victimisation.
  • Acted as sole counsel in an Employment Tribunal hearing on behalf of a respondent company in a claim for unfair and wrongful dismissal.
Shipping & admiralty
  • Instructed (led by Philippa Hopkins KC and David Walsh), on behalf of six major insurers, in a marine insurance claim involving novel issues of law, including the interpretation of exclusion clauses.
  • Acted (led by John Robb) in an LMAA arbitration claim for damages arising out of a ship building dispute.
  • Instructed in an LMAA arbitration claim for demurrage and damages for detention of a vessel.
Insurance & reinsurance
  • Instructed (led by Philippa Hopkins KC and David Walsh), on behalf of six major insurers, in a marine insurance claim involving novel issues of law, including the interpretation of exclusion clauses.
  • Acted, as sole counsel, in claims concerning the frustration of contracts arising from the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • Assisted with advice on whether a business could make a claim on their insurance policies, relying on difficulties stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • Assisted with injunction proceedings brought by an insurance provider against Defendants to whom it paid a ransom in Bitcoin, following a cyber-attack on one of its customers, and the persons to whom the Bitcoin was then transferred to.
Career

2020 Tenant at Essex Court Chambers

2019-2020 Pupil at Essex Court Chambers (with James Willan KC)

2018 Called to the Bar (Inner Temple)

Education

2017-2018 BPTC, City Law School (Very Competent)

2016-2017 LLM in International Law, University College London (Distinction)

2013-2014 Erasmus in French Law, Université de Nantes

2011-2015 LLB in European Legal Studies, University of Southampton (First Class; graduated second in year)

Awards

2017 Major Scholarship, Inner Temple

2017 Duke of Edinburgh Entrance Scholarship, Inner Temple

2017 Best Oralist in Final Round, Philip C. Jessup International Moot Competition (UK National Rounds)

2017 Top 25 Best Oralists, Philip C. Jessup International Moot Competition (International Rounds, Washington DC)

2016 Hilda Martindale Educational Trust Award  

2015 Law School Prize, Second Top Student in Final Year, University of Southampton

Publications

L Aboagye and G Vega Barbosa, ‘A Commentary on the Advisory Opinion of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights on the Environment and Human Rights’ (2018) 34(1) DPCE 291

Lorraine is a contributing editor to the 20th edition of Bullen & Leake & Jacob’s Precedents of Pleadings. She also contributed to the 7th edition of Supperstone, Goudie & Walker: Judicial Review and previously served as an editor of the UCL Journal of Law and Jurisprudence.