Shipping is one of Rob’s core practice areas. He is regularly instructed on charterparty and bill of lading disputes in court proceedings and in arbitrations, particularly under LMAA Rules, and also has experience in relation to wet shipping matters such as collisions.

Examples include: 

• Pan Ocean Co Ltd v Daelim Corp [2023] EWHC 391 (Comm) (led by Michael Davey KC) successfully bringing an appeal under s69 of the Arbitration Act 1996 against the award of an LMAA Tribunal concerning off-hire for the failure of a vessel’s cargo holds inspection.
• The Gravity Highway and The Maritime Maise [2020] EWHC 1697 (Comm) (led by John Russell KC and Benjamin Coffer) resisting an application for strike out for alleged failure to provide further information in relation to a quantum claim arising out of a collision at sea. 
• Premier Marinas v The Double Venus and The Santorini [2020] EWHC 2462 (Admlty) acting as sole counsel for the claimant marina in an admiralty in rem claim for unpaid berthing charges. 
• Assisting John Kimbell KC in an application for a sale pendente lite 
• Led by Michael Davey KC proceedings against a Harbour Authority for alleged negligent maintenance of a dry berth.
• Rob has advised on and drafted pleadings in a wide range of shipping matters including in relation to demurrage, deadfreight, bunker specification disputes, safe port warranties, cargo damage claims, off-hire claims and many others. 

Rob has experience in commercial disputes in court and in arbitration. He has advised on and drafted pleadings in a number of contractual disputes and has assisted with a variety of procedural applications.

Examples include: 

• MAD Atelier International BV v Axel Manes [2021] EWHC 3335: led by Stewart Chirnside and Jasbir Dhillon KC on behalf of the successful claimant in a four week civil fraud trial in the context of a joint venture agreement to develop an international restaurant brand. Sir Michael Burton GBE handed down judgment for the claimant in the sum of EUR 11,383,359.
• Working with Tom Bird on an ICC arbitration, defending a multi-million dollar claim for alleged wrongful termination of a pharmaceutical distributorship agreement. 
• Pinnacle International Freight Limited v K D & Jay Limited [2021] Leicester County Court, acting as sole counsel for the claimant in a one-day trial for the recovery of demurrage fees incurred by a freight forwarder. 
• Walker Morris LLP v (1) Paul Dyson (2) James Wilson [2020] Leeds County Court, acting as sole counsel in a one-day trial for the recovery of unpaid solicitors’ fees. 
• Acting as sole counsel in an ICC arbitration defending a pharmaceutical company under a supply agreement. 
• Drafting submissions (alongside Natalie Moore) on the jurisdiction of an arbitral tribunal under a settlement agreement. Assisting Henry Ellis on an application for an anti-suit injunction to restrain proceedings in Nigeria in breach of an arbitration clause.
• Acting in defence of a motor-home retailer in a £90,000 claim for rejection of goods.
• Acting and advising on a large range of procedural matters such as applications to set aside default judgments; applications for pre-action disclosure; European Enforcement Orders; charging orders; and issues relating to legal privilege.
• Rob has advised on and drafted pleadings in a wide range of commercial matters such as in relation to contracts for the provision of security services, IT services, recruitment agency contracts and claims arising out of the CMR Convention. 

Rob has experience representing airlines in relation to claims under the Montreal Convention.

He has also acted in the County Court for a package holiday provider defending a claim under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018.

Rob is currently instructed (led by Guy Blackwood KC and Tom Bird) by reinsurers under aviation operator reinsurance policies in respect of claims by aircraft lessors arising out of the Russia-Ukraine war. 

Rob is developing his practice in this area of Chambers’ work. He has drafted submissions in multiple GAFTA arbitrations. 
He acted in a DIFC-LCIA arbitration (led by Paul Toms) concerning alleged repudiatory breaches of an international sale agreement for gasoil and gasoline. 
 

Rob has appeared in a number of insolvency matters including bankruptcy petitions; contested winding-up applications; applications for the rectification of the register under the Companies Act; and has successfully resisted an application to set aside a statutory demand.

Rob is developing a practice in a range of gaming disputes. He has acted in the defence of a number of online gambling operators, in which issues relating to the companies’ regulatory obligations and their terms and conditions of use have arisen.

Rob has drafted defences in cases where fraudulent ID has been used to register accounts with gambling operators and claims where it has been alleged that gambling operators have failed in their regulatory duties to protect consumers from pathological behaviour.