Richard Millett QC has been appointed as leading counsel to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, assisted by Bernard Richmond QC and Kate Grange QC. The Inquiry, an independent public inquiry into the fire in Grenfell Tower, North Kensington, is chaired by Sir Martin Moore-Bick. The purpose of the Inquiry is to examine the circumstances leading up […]

Jeffrey Gruder QC will give a lecture to the British Insurance Law Association on Friday 21st July at 1pm entitled: Arbitrating Insurance and Reinsurance Disputes: “Transparent and Impartial?”. Many insurance and reinsurance disputes are decided in arbitration. Jeffrey will discuss whether there are any problems arising from privacy, lack of transparency and possible justifiable doubts […]

The London Chamber of Arbitration has recently announced a newly formed panel of arbitrators, consisting of 19 former members of the judiciary and current senior practitioners. The highly experienced panel includes two members of Essex Court Chambers, Roderick Cordara QC and David Scorey QC. The LCCI is London’s largest independent networking and business support organisation. […]

The Members of Essex Court Chambers are delighted to announce the appointment of David Foxton QC as their new Head of Chambers from 1st July 2017. After completing a full four year term as Co-Heads, Richard Jacobs QC and Graham Dunning QC are stepping down. Both will continue in full time practice. David Foxton was […]

The Members of Essex Court Chambers are pleased to announce that James Willan has been appointed directly to the Attorney General’s ‘A’ Panel of Counsel to the Crown. James Willan is widely recognised as one of the leading juniors at the Commercial Bar. He is the only junior to hold top-tier (Band 1) rankings from […]

Following a close and high-calibre final between students of Newcastle and Liverpool John Moores University, Daniel Boal and Joseph Beeney, representing Newcastle University, were presented with the Silver Mace and £1,000 each, as winners of this year’s Essex Court Chambers/English Speaking Union National Mooting Competition, held on 20th June. It is the first time that […]

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) handed down its Judgment on 15 June 2017 in the case that was brought by Ukraine’s national oil and gas company, Naftogaz, against the United Kingdom. The case arose from litigation between Merchant International Company Limited (“MIC”) and Naftogaz. MIC successfully sued Naftogaz in the Ukrainian courts and […]

The High Court has handed down its decision in ICAP Management Services Limited v Berry & BGC holding that the claimant was entitled to a permanent injunction to restrain a former employee, Dean Berry, from breaching a garden leave covenant in his employment contract by going to work for a competitor, BGC. The litigation concerned […]

Jessica Wells is currently appearing in the Supreme Court in an appeal concerning the interaction of the principles of international law on state immunity, Articles 6 and 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Article 47 of the EU Charter on Fundamental Rights and Freedoms, in the context of employment claims against embassies. […]

On Friday 9th June 2017, the Young SIAC group will hold a one-day conference on ‘Evolution and Innovation: Keeping Pace with the Future of Arbitration’. The welcome address will be given by Davinder Singh SC of Drew & Napier (who is also on the SIAC board of directors) and the day’s programme sees participation from […]

On 11 May 2017, Toby Landau QC of Essex Court Chambers was admitted to the Singapore Bar. His application for admission was heard by The Honourable Justice Quentin Loh. Mr Landau QC has a long association with Singapore. He was admitted to the Singapore Bar ad hoc to argue the Astro v First Media / […]

On 21 and 22 March 2017, the Supreme Court heard argument in Taurus Petroleum Ltd v State Oil Marketing Company of the Republic of Iraq. Four members of Essex Court Chambers were involved. The issues in the case include (i) identification of the true creditor of the issuing bank’s obligation under a letter of credit; […]