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International arbitration
Our barristers routinely appear as counsel in international arbitrations covering all areas of Chambers’ practice including disputes relating to commercial contracts, joint ventures and partnerships, trusts, companies, property and projects.
Our members are familiar with the rules of the major arbitration forums including LCIA, ICC, UNCITRAL, SCC, SIAC, WIPO and ICSID. They are particularly well placed to argue cases in offshore jurisdictions, such as the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Cyprus. Other jurisdictions in which recent arbitrations have taken place include Russia, Ukraine, India, the US, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Middle East.
Our barristers often appear in national courts in matters relating to arbitration proceedings, for example, to seek anti-suit injunctions or interim remedies in support of arbitration, or to appeal or challenge awards.
Notable cases
A multibillion-dollar arbitration arising out of a long term gas supply agreement.
Arbitration relating to Chinese commodity fraud. The claim gave rise to a number of issues of English law (ambit of warranty of quiet possession and status of warehouse receipts as documents of title) as well as Chinese law.
A breach of contract arbitration relating to a joint venture for the exploration and development of an oil and gas field in the Middle East.
Dispute between joint venturers concerns ownership of shares. The claimant commenced DIFC/LCIA arbitration and proceedings in the DIFC courts to obtain an injunction in aid of the arbitration.
A claim for substantial sums due under a long-term project agreement under which the applicant provided clinical services to the population of the Turks and Caicos.
LCIA arbitration acting for the claimant bank seeking to recover US$400 million from a defaulting debtor and its guarantors.
Arbitral proceedings in Dubai, and DIFC court proceedings in aid of the arbitration, in a dispute between joint venturers, with an alleged value of US$180 million.
LCIA arbitration for an ‘app’ development company, which was in dispute with a major telecoms manufacturer over breach of an installation contract.
DIFC-LCIA arbitration case to defend a building contractor against a US$10 million claim brought by a sub-contractor. We also helped the contractor oppose an application in the DIFC court for a freezing injunction in aid of these arbitral proceedings.
English arbitration law before the Cypriot court in an application for a worldwide freezing injunction against a Cypriot entity in support of LCIA arbitration proceedings.
Major European spare parts company defend a multi-million pound ICC arbitration claim for breach of warranty following sale of the business.
Major ICC construction arbitration in Saudi Arabia.
Hedge fund involved in complex derivative trading in a LCIA arbitration following a dispute between partners.
Insights View all thought leadership
News
Four wins for Wilberforce at Chambers UK Bar Awards 2023
We are absolutely delighted to have picked up four awards at last night’s Chambers UK Bar Awards! We are proud to announce that Wilberforce Chambers won the highly coveted ‘Set of the Year‘ award, as well as ‘Chancery Set of... Read more
Friday 1 December 2023
View moreRecent Cases
Supreme Court and Privy Council simultaneously deliver important judgments on arbitration stays
Commercial disputes, International / offshore, International arbitration
Thomas Lowe KC
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Monday 25 September 2023Articles
The Separability Principle: the Newcastle Express Case
To read or download this article as a PDF, please click here. Ever since the House of Lords decision in Fiona Trust & Holding Corporation v Privalov [2007] UKHL 40, the principle of the separability of arbitration agreements has been... Read more
By Stuart Isaacs KC | Elizabeth Houghton
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Monday 10 July 2023Articles
Mittal v Westbridge: Singapore Court of Appeal charts a novel course for pre-award arbitrability
To read or download this article as a PDF, please click here. Arbitrability is a hot topic in international commercial arbitration. There is a developing body of recent case-law, of which the most interesting and important is perhaps the decision... Read more
By Stuart Isaacs KC | Jia Wei Lee
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Tuesday 9 May 2023
Barristers: KCs
- John Martin KCSilk: 1991
- Stuart Isaacs KCSilk: 1991
- Ian Croxford KCSilk: 1993
- Terence Mowschenson KCSilk: 1995
- David Phillips KCSilk: 1997
- John Wardell KCSilk: 2002
- Alan Gourgey KCSilk: 2003
- Gilead Cooper KCSilk: 2006
- Thomas Lowe KCSilk: 2008
- James Ayliffe KCSilk: 2008 (Unregistered barrister)
- Paul Newman KCSilk: 2009
- Tim Penny KCSilk: 2016
- Max Mallin KCSilk: 2017
- Nikki Singla KCSilk: 2018
Barristers: Juniors
- Graeme HalkerstonCall: 1994
- Stephen BrownCall: 2013 (Higher Rights: 2001)
- Thomas RobinsonCall: 2003
- Daniel LewisCall: 2003
- James WalmsleyCall: 2007
- Tom RoscoeCall: 2010
- Jonathan ChewCall: 2010
- Bobby FriedmanCall: 2011
- Sri CarmichaelCall: 2012
- James GoodwinCall: 2013
- Elizabeth HoughtonCall: 2014 (2011 W Australia)
- Tim MatthewsonCall: 2014
- Jamie HolmesCall: 2014
- Joseph SteadmanCall: 2015
- Tara TaylorCall: 2015
- Daniel ScottCall: 2016
- Jia Wei LeeCall: 2017
- Francesca MitchellCall: 2017
- Daniel PetridesCall: 2018
- Lemuel Lucan-WilsonCall: 2018
- Caspar BartschererCall: 2019
- Ram LakshmanCall: 2020
- Benjamin SlingoCall: 2020
- Samuel CathroCall: 2021 (2017 New Zealand)
- John Grocott-BarrettCall: 2021
- Theo DixonCall: 2021
- Ernest LeungCall: 2022