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 […]
News & publications
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 […]
Members of Chambers are delighted to welcome two tenants to Chambers today. Oliver Goldstein and Ellen Tims have accepted invitations to join after successful completion of pupillage earlier this year. During their pupillage they experienced a broad range of practice areas in line with Chambers’ profile, overseen by senior pupillage supervisors. Congratulations to Oliver and […]
In an ex tempore judgment given on 31 August 2023, Mr Justice Bryan sitting remotely in the Commercial Court granted an interim negative anti-suit injunction (‘ASI’ for short) under section 37 of the Senior Courts Act 1981 to enforce the applicant’s foreign-seat arbitration rights in the context of civil proceedings commenced by the defendant against the claimant […]
At a hearing on 7 September 2023, the Court of Appeal (Nugee, Snowden, Falk LJJ) allowed an appeal by the claimant against the decision of Mr Justice Bright to refuse an interim anti-suit injunction (ASI) under s.37 of the Senior Courts Act 1981. The case concerns an arbitration agreement presumptively governed by English law which […]
On 20 September 2023, the Supreme Court handed down judgment in Republic of Mozambique v Privinvest Shipbuilding SAL (Holding) & Ors [2023] UKSC 32. The Supreme Court (Lords Hodge, Lloyd-Jones, Hamblen, Leggatt and Richards) unanimously allowed the Republic of Mozambique’s appeal, in long-running and complex litigation of an alleged c. US$2 billion fraud, which has become known as the “tuna […]
