Shipping is one of Ben’s core practice areas, and since completing pupillage he has been instructed as sole counsel and as a junior in cases across the full spectrum of shipping law.
Ben appears in bill of lading and charterparty claims in the Commercial, Mercantile and County Courts, and is regularly instructed in LMAA arbitrations. In recent months, Ben has been instructed as junior counsel in a safe-port claim arising out of the grounding of the "YUN TONG HAI" in Venezuela in 2007, in a series of related claims arising out of a fire on board a container vessel, and in a ship finance dispute arising out of the acquisition of ten tugs and barges operating in the Persian Gulf.
Ben also has a particular interest in the law of international trade. As well as providing drafting and advice for GAFTA and FOSFA arbitrations, Ben has experience of disputes involving ISDA trades, and was instructed as junior counsel in a jurisdictional challenge to a claim against the guarantor of a Forward Freight Agreement in the Commercial Court.
Ben’s practice includes a significant quantity of ‘wet’ shipping work. He regularly advises on Admiralty Court jurisdiction and procedure including arrest, orders for appraisement and sale and priorities.
In April 2011, Ben appeared with Jeremy Russell QC in The SAMCO EUROPE and MSC PRESTIGE [2011] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 579, the trial of a claim arising out of a collision between a container vessel and a VLCC in the Gulf of Aden. Teare J’s decision as to the apportionment of costs (The SAMCO EUROPE and MSC PRESTIGE (Costs) [2011] EWHC 1656 (Admlty)) is also a significant decision on the effect of withdrawing an offer to settle prior to trial.
Ben was instructed in the group litigation arising out of the casualty of the “MSC NAPOLI” in the English Channel in January 2007, and has been instructed in relation to a number of other merchant shipping casualties including the sinking of the barge "YONGHO G-7" in Jeju Harbour in May 2009.
In addition, Ben has been instructed as sole counsel in several claims arising out of yacht casualties, including the fatal capsizing of the “HOOLIGAN V” on 3 February 2007, a collision between two yachts racing under the ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing during Cowes Week in 2009, and a collision inside a marina in Minorca.
Ben has experience of a variety of energy disputes, and is instructed in cases arising out of the construction, sale and purchase and finance of commercial and recreational vessels.
Ben has been instructed in a variety of marine and non-marine insurance and reinsurance disputes. He undertakes drafting and advisory work on a full range of insurance and reinsurance matters.
Ben has experience of maritime and non-maritime arbitrations and of arbitration claims in the High Court under the Arbitration Act 1996.
Ben is regularly instructed to appear in commercial disputes of all shapes and sizes, and undertakes drafting and advisory work in this core area of Chambers’ practice.
Ben has experience of a wide variety of aviation disputes, including a claim for delivery up of mortgaged aircraft, an application for judicial review in relation to the granting of an Air Transport Licence, and claims under the Montreal and Warsaw Conventions.
Ben is also regularly instructed in holiday and travel cases. He represents cruise ship operators and package travel providers in disputes of all levels.
Ben is instructed in disputes arising out of domestic and international carriage of goods by road.
Ben has assisted on several cases within this growing area of Chambers' practice, and has a particular interest in both sports law and media law.
Ben appears for major banks in both trials and interlocutory applications. He also undertakes drafting and advisory work in a broad range of commercial and consumer banking matters.
