Maya joined Quadrant Chambers in October 2021, and since then, she has handled a range of complex commercial cases including international trade, shipping, commodities and insurance disputes.
Maya’s language skills (as a native Russian speaker) and interest in jurisdiction and choice of law issues make her particularly well-suited for work on complex international matters.
Recent experience includes:
- Instructed as junior counsel for a group of claimants (led by Robert Jan-Temmink KC) in a $255m claim against international insurers concerning aircraft stranded in Russia following the invasion of Ukraine, ranked in The Lawyer Magazine’s Top 20 Cases of 2024.
- Making oral submissions in the Supreme Court in JTI POLSKA Sp. Z o.o. v Jakubowski [2023] UKSC 19, one of The Lawyer Magazine's Top 10 Appeals of 2023, led by John Kimbell KC. Maya's submissions in the case can be viewed on the Supreme Court website via this link.
- Acting as junior counsel in the Court of Appeal in Churchill v Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council [2023] EWCA Civ 1416 to successfully overturn the decision in Halsey v Milton Keynes General NHS Trust [2004] EWCA Civ 576.
Maya's approach to case preparation and advocacy is informed by her experience working as an assistant to judges of the Commercial Court, on matters ranging from interlocutory applications to an eight-week trial in the case of PCP Capital Partners LLP v Barclays Bank [2021] EWHC 1852 (Comm).
Prior to joining the Bar, Maya had a career in investment banking, where she advised clients on the valuation of insurance and financial services companies. This experience makes her well-equipped to handle complex commercial disputes with a financial element.
Maya is committed to providing exceptional service to her clients and is happy to accept pro bono instructions when appropriate
Commercial Dispute Resolution
Maya has worked on a wide range of commercial matters including applications for interim relief, stakeholder proceedings and anti-suit injunctions. She has advised on and drafted pleadings in a wide variety of disputes ranging from contractual disputes, fraud and the economic torts, shareholder disputes, the sale and carriage of goods and consumer contracts.
Recent work includes:
- Acting as junior counsel (led by Alex Wright KC) in an LCIA arbitration arising out of a debt financing agreement in relation to a renewable energy asset investment in the Nordics.
- Acting as junior counsel (led by Paul McGrath KC and James Shirley) in a Russian joint venture dispute Rogachev v. Goryainov.
- Acting as junior counsel (led by Yash Kulkarni KC) in a dispute arising out of a COVID vaccine supply agreement with a claim value of $240m.
- Acting as junior counsel in several marine insurance disputes arising out of the detention of a vessel and cargo in Ukraine, following the Russian invasion in February 2022.
- Acting as junior counsel in aviation insurance and jurisdiction disputes arising out of the detention by Russia of commercial aircraft in the aftermath of its invasion of Ukraine.
- Acting as junior counsel (led by Joseph Sullivan) in an application to strike out a claim in unlawful means conspiracy brought against the defendants to previous (discontinued) litigation against the same claimants, their solicitors and barrister (King v Stiefel [2021] EWHC 1045 (Comm)).
- Acting as junior counsel (led by Joseph Sullivan) in the Court of Appeal to clarify the reflective loss rule in Prudential Assurance Co Ltd v Newman Industries Ltd [1982] Ch 204 (Broadcasting Investment Group Ltd v Smith [2021] EWCA Civ 912).
- Acting as junior counsel (led by Poonam Melwani KC) in sale of goods and construction disputes concerning luxury motor yachts.
- Advising and drafting pleadings for owners and cargo-interests in a variety of disputes arising out of contracts for the carriage of cargo by road, sea and air.
Shipping
Maya has experience in charterparty and bill of lading disputes in court proceedings and in arbitrations, particularly under the LCIA and LMAA Rules. She also has experience in relation to wet shipping matters such as collisions and general average.
Recent work includes:
- Advising and drafting pleadings in a variety of disputes arising out of both time and voyage charterparties, including demurrage, unseaworthiness, unsafe port claims and the scope of off-hire provisions, including in the context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
- Advising and drafting pleadings in relation to claims under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 and the Marine Insurance Act 1906.
- Advising and drafting pleadings in a range of sale of goods disputes.
International Arbitration
Maya has worked as junior counsel in arbitration disputes across a range of institutions, such as ICC, LCIA, and LMAA, covering sectors including commodities, shipping, and finance.
Recent work includes:
- Acting as junior counsel in an arbitration involving allegations of breach of a financing agreement for renewable energy projects in Europe.
- Advising and drafting applications to challenge arbitral awards under sections 67, 68, and 69 of the Arbitration Act 1996.
- Successfully securing permission to appeal an award issued by an LMAA tribunal under section 69, related to a shipping arbitration case revolving around a misdelivery of goods claim.
Aviation
- Acting as junior counsel in claims on insurance policies brought by lessors of aircraft in respect of the alleged loss of assets leased to Russian airlines since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
- Advising and settling pleadings in a range of carriage by air disputes, with a particular focus on claims under the Montreal and Warsaw Conventions.
Other Experience
Maya has volunteered for Advocate, a charity which offers advice and representation to litigants in person.
She was a member of the committee for the Commercial Court’s 125th Anniversary.
Maya takes a particular interest in diversity of recruitment to the Bar.