Benedict Tompkins has been admitted to the bar of the British Virgin Islands, with effect from 15 November 2023. Benedict’s practice is focused on high-value commercial litigation and arbitration, specialising in civil fraud, banking and finance, and both commercial and investment arbitration across a range of sectors. He has experience both at first instance in […]
On 15 November 2023, Mr Justice Butcher handed down judgment in RSM Production Corpn v Gaz du Cameroun SA [2023] EWHC 2820 (Comm), continuing an anti-suit injunction granted at a without-notice hearing by HHJ Pelling KC. The anti-suit injunction restrained the defendant (‘GdC’) from pursuing proceedings in Cameroon by which it had frozen about $18 million of […]
Members of Essex Court Chambers are deeply saddened to announce that Jonathan Gilman KC recently passed away. After graduating from Oxford in 1963, Jonathan became a member of Essex Court Chambers in 1966 where he pursued a successful career in insurance and shipping law, taking silk in 1990. Jonathan became widely recognised as an expert […]
The Singapore Court of Appeal (Judith Prakash JCA, Mance IJ and Rix IJ) handed down judgment on 24 October 2023 in Crédit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank v PPT Energy Trading Co Ltd [2023] SGCA(I) 7 allowing the appeal of the appellant, Crédit Agricole with respect to the claim under letter of indemnity. The case […]
The Commercial Court handed down judgment yesterday in Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Process & Industrial Developments Ltd [2023] EWHC 2638 (Comm), finding that arbitration awards against Nigeria had been obtained by fraud and contrary to public policy. The case arose from a Gas Supply and Processing Agreement (“GSPA”) entered into in January 2010 between Process & Industrial Developments […]
Members of chambers have been highly ranked in the Chambers and Partners UK Bar Guide 2024, which was released today. Members of Chambers hold 167 ranking across 25 practice areas. The set has been ranked in 12 practice areas, including a Band 1 ranking in: Commercial Dispute Resolution, Fraud: Civil, International Arbitration and Public International Law. […]
In a judgment handed down in the Commercial Court on 11 October 2023, Master Davison dismissed a challenge by the defendant (Republic of Ghana) to the service of applications by the claimant (GPGC) seeking charging orders and a receivership order in respect of various properties located in London: see GPGC Limited v. The Government of […]
On 6 October 2023, the High Court handed down judgments in The Prestige litigation (The London Steam-Ship Owners Mutual Insurance Association v. the Kingdom of Spain and the French State), the latest in a long-running series of cases in respect of the clean-up costs of the environmental disaster caused by the total loss of the […]
Following a hearing on 3-6 July 2023, the Court of Appeal (Flaux C, Newey and Popplewell LJJ) in PJSC National Bank Trust & anor v Mints & ors [2023] EWCA Civ 1132 dismissed an appeal by the first to fourth defendants against the decision of Cockerill J (at [2023] EWHC 118 (Comm)) in respect of […]
The Legal 500 UK Bar Guide 2024 was released today, Wednesday 4th October. Members of Chambers have received 32 new rankings across 12 practice areas, bringing the total number of rankings to 208. Special mention is given to the following members who have received a ranking in the Rising Star category: Stephen Donnelly in Tax: […]
After being shortlisted for multiple awards, members of Essex Court Chambers are delighted to have won three awards at The Legal 500 Bar Awards 2023 which were held at the London Hilton on Park Lane yesterday evening. The awards recognise sets of chambers and barristers who are at the top of the profession as identified […]
Alison Macdonald KC has been appointed a Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, from 1 October 2023. During her fellowship, for a period of two years, Alison will convene a range of seminars in the field of public international law, drawing together experts from Oxford and beyond to address issues including the response of international […]
