Edward Brown QC has a broad practice and acts in matters across a wide spectrum of commercial, employment, media and entertainment, VAT and judicial review disputes. Ed has acted in high value and complex disputes in a range of courts and trials. In addition to trials and heavy applications, Ed frequently acts in appeals up to and including the Supreme Court.
Ed has recently appeared in the following matters.
- R (Aviva and Swiss Re) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. Ed appeared for the United Kingdom Government in a 3-day Court of Appeal hearing concerning insurers’ historic and ongoing liabilities for compensation recovery payments.
- Markel Bermuda v Caesars Entertainment. Ed appeared for insurers in the Commercial Court obtaining an Anti-Suit Injunction to enforce a (disputed) English arbitration agreement in an insurance policy.
- News UK v HMRC. Ed appeared in the Court of Appeal for News UK, publisher of The Times, in relation to a VAT appeal concerning zero-rating of digital supplies. The Supreme Court recently granted permission to appeal.
- Shagang Shipping v HNA Group. Ed appeared for the respondent in the Supreme Court in relation to an appeal concerning a charterparty guarantee alleged to have been procured by bribery.
Ed is instructed in several confidential arbitrations. He has recently conducted a number of high value matters involving African-related disputes.
In 2022 and 2023, Ed will be acting on a range of matters across his principal practice areas. These include an employment dispute as to the status of contractor pilots, a Chancery trial concerning investment properties and a high-value team move dispute. He continues to act for the United Kingdom Government on a range of complex and sensitive matters in relation to social security and human rights, Afghanistan and the Windrush scheme.
Ed is listed in the legal directories as leading practitioner in six areas: commercial dispute resolution, international arbitration, employment law, media and entertainment, VAT and administrative and public law. Recent comments include the following:
- “A class act. He is on the ball, works hard and always delivers.”
- “A strong grasp of English commercial law and legal authorities. He is strong in both his written and oral submissions.”
- “Direct and straight to the point, he grasps issues quickly, analyses them thoroughly and provides straightforward advice.”
- “Great to work with, very much a team player, cuts to the chase on the underlying issues, and excellent on his feet in court and as a cross-examiner”
- “Tenacious, pragmatic and someone with a good eye for detail.”
- “He gives sound, practical advice, is willing to get involved in the detail as needed, and he invariably makes himself available.”
See Edward’s full profile here.
