Paul McGrath QC and Ruth den Besten will be speaking on “Freezing Orders: maximising scope and minimalizing the risks; how to capture relevant assets, and how to fund costs” this evening, at the COMBAR lecture series. The talk will consider how freezing orders might best capture all assets controlled by a defendant, and the issues […]

On 20 January 2020, the Court of Appeal delivered its judgment in Kabab-I SAL (Lebanon) v Kout Food Group (Kuwait) [2020] EWCA Civ 6. The case will be of interest to practitioners because: It clarifies the interpretative approach to be applied for determining whether there has been an express choice of law to govern the […]

Essex Court Chambers is delighted to announce the next event in the collaborative programme of events directed at issues of diversity in recruitment to the commercial Bar. Together with Brick Court Chambers, Fountain Court Chambers and One Essex Court, we are hosting an event in Cambridge on 11 February under the headline, “A career as […]

Mr Dennis Saw Teng Sheng and Mr Ho Qi Rui Daniel from ‘Team D&D’ have won the Essex Court Chambers – SAL International Mooting Competition 2020. This year’s competition included 24 teams of accomplished advocates from Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Brunei and the People’s Republic of China. The competition gives young lawyers (those […]

The members of Chambers are delighted to announce that Alison Macdonald QC and Angeline Welsh are joining Essex Court Chambers. Alison Macdonald QC has an extensive practice in public international law, arbitration, human rights, and financial crime, in both domestic and international courts and tribunals. She is described in Chambers and Partners as “a sensational advocate” […]

With effect from 10th January 2020, Joe Smouha QC and Huw Davies QC have been appointed as Joint Heads of Chambers, following the announcement of David Foxton QC’s elevation to the High Court Bench.

Members of Chambers warmly congratulate David Foxton QC on his appointment to the High Court Bench, with effect from 13th January. David has been an inspirational Head of Chambers since 2017 and his leadership will be missed. Called to the Bar by Gray’s Inn in 1989, David took Silk in 2006. He was appointed as […]

On 18 December 2019 the Employment Tribunal delivered its judgment in Forstater v CGD, concluding that the claimant’s views, as expressed on social media, including her refusal to accept that transwomen are women, were not protected under the 2010 Equality Act. Employment Judge Tayler found that the claimant’s views, in their absolutist nature, were incompatible […]

The Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919, which removed the legal bar on women being admitted as barristers in England and Wales, received the Royal Assent on 23 December 1919. This photograph of some of the past and present women members of Essex Court Chambers was taken to mark the 100th anniversary of that landmark event. […]

The Legal 500 have announced the winners of their forthcoming UK Bar Awards 2020, recognising Essex Court Chambers as Commercial Litigation Set of the Year. Lucas Bastin will collect the award for International Arbitration Junior of the Year. The awards ceremony will take place on 27 February 2020. The full shortlist is available to view […]

As part of the celebrations marking the centenary of the admission of women to the Bar, the members of Essex Court Chambers are proud to share a short video produced by the ‘First 100 Years’ project about one of our extremely distinguished former members of chambers, Dame Rosalyn Higgins GBE QC. In 1986, Dame Rosalyn […]

On Tuesday 26 November, the Court of Appeal handed down judgment in the case of Minister of Finance (Inc) & anr v International Petroleum Investment Company & anr [2019] EWCA Civ 2080, allowing the Appellants’ appeal. The case arises out of the well-known 1 MDB scandal, concerning allegations that a multi-billion dollar fraud was carried […]