Professional practice

Lorraine has a broad practice in commercial dispute resolution (both litigation and arbitration) and international law and appears, both led and unled, before the commercial courts.

She has experience in anti-suit and anti-enforcement injunctions, civil fraud, disputes concerning trusts and asset recovery, marine insurance, disputes arising under s 423 of the Insolvency Act 1986, and Letters of Request under the 1970 Hague Convention provisions, among others. Lorraine is also regularly instructed in high value commercial employment claims in the High Court, both for Claimant and Defendant companies.

Her commercial arbitration experience includes proceedings under the ICC, LCIA and UNCITRAL Rules, involving oil and gas, telecommunications and ship building disputes, as well as share purchase agreements.

Lorraine is currently involved in international law proceedings before the European Court of Human Rights and in the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights. She also has experience in claims for State immunity by Respondent States to employment claims. 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”) where she advised on a range of public international law issues, involving foreign nationals and foreign governments. She continues to advise non-governmental organisations and private parties on public international law matters.

Before coming to the Bar, Lorraine studied European Legal Studies at the University of Southampton, where she graduated ranked second in her year. As part of her degree, she studied French Law at the Université de Nantes. She then completed an LLM in International Law at University College London, followed by the BPTC at City Law School, as a Major Scholar of the Inner Temple.

 

Examples of Recent Cases
  • Google LLC v NAO Tsargrad Media [2025] EWHC 94 (Comm) and [2024] EWHC 2212 (Comm): Acting for Google (led by Stephen Houseman KC) in its application for anti-enforcement and ancillary anti-anti-suit relief, in relation to the enforcement of c. $20 decillion (33 zeros), sums described as “larger than the world’s GDP.”
  • Delos Shipbuilding SA v Allianz Global Corporate and Specialty SE [2024] EWHC 719 (Comm): Acting (as junior counsel) for six major insurers in a CTL claim, 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 as junior counsel 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 (led by David Peters KC) for the claimant company in claims for declarations under s.423 of the Insolvency Act 1986, including the question of the court’s jurisdiction in relation to directors who cause transfers defrauding creditors to be made, whether or not they receive any benefit from such transfers themselves.
Commercial dispute resolution
  • Instructed (led by Stephen Houseman KC) in proceedings for an anti-enforcement injunction and ancillary anti-anti-suit relief, in relation to the enforcement of c. $20 decillion, 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.
  • Instructed (led by James Willan KC) in proceedings concerning the performance of contractual obligation following Russian sanctions.
  • Instructed (led by Philippa Hopkins KC and David Walsh) in a marine insurance claim for over $30 million.
  • Instructed, as sole counsel, in a contractual debt claim in the London Circuit Commercial Court.
  • 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 as junior counsel on behalf of a major international media group, in relation to a professional negligence claim against its former auditors, worth over $10 million.
  • 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.
  • Acted as sole counsel in the County Court for the successful party in resisting an application to set aside default judgment and in relation to an application for specific performance of a contract for the sale of property.
  • Instructed as sole counsel for the Claimant on an application for summary judgment in the County Court and in relation to a commercial rent dispute. The case settled in favour of the Claimant.

 

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 a claim brought by its national for unlawful deduction from wages.
  • 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 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.
  • Provided legal opinion (as junior counsel) 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
  • 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
  • Instructed (led by Ricky Diwan KC) in an ICC arbitration claim for damages for breaches of contract and tortious conduct, worth over £100 million.
  • Instructed (led by James Willan KC) in an LCIA arbitration involving sanctions issues, in a claim for c.$200 million.
  • Instructed (led by Philippa Hopkins KC) in an LCIA arbitration claim arising out of breaches of a Sale and Purchase Agreement.
  • Acted (led by John Robb) in an LMAA arbitration claim for damages arising out of a ship building dispute.
  • Assisted in defending a challenge brought under s. 68 of the Arbitration Act 1996 in respect of an arbitration award.
  • Assisted in resisting an application to set aside a Part 71 Order in relation to the enforcement of an arbitration award.
  • Instructed (with Richard Hoyle) in an LCIA Arbitration on claims arising from an oil and gas joint venture.
  • Instructed in an LMAA arbitration claim for demurrage and damages for detention of a vessel.
  • Assisted with an application to set aside an Order granted ex parte to enforce a foreign arbitration award.
Company & Insolvency Law
  • 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.
Banking & financial services
  • Instructed as sole counsel on behalf of a financial services company in a dispute arising out of a credit agreement.
  • Assisted with a claim arising out of a Deed of Guarantee concluded between a foreign state bank and the buyer in a Sale and Purchase Agreement.
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.