Caroline Pounds KC
Arbitrator
Called: 2003
Silk: 2026
Caroline is an experienced and sought-after practitioner, particularly in the shipping and energy/offshore fields. She is praised by Chambers UK and Legal 500 for her “clear, strategic thinking .. effective communication and .. pragmatic approach [which] ensures the best possible outcomes for clients" and as being "responsive, available and highly intelligent" and "tough as nails, very bright and very succinct"
In the course of her career, Caroline has been awarded Shipping Junior of the Year at the Chambers UK Bar Awards in 2023, 2020 and 2015 and was named one of the top 10 maritime lawyers of 2020 by Lloyd’s List. She was appointed King’s Counsel in 2026.
Caroline’s practice encompasses the broad range of general commercial litigation and arbitration. Her particular areas of specialism include shipping, carriage of goods, energy/offshore, shipping and commodities. She undertakes drafting and advisory work in all areas of her practice and regularly appears both in Court (Commercial Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court) and in arbitration. Caroline has particular experience of ‘heavy’ cases (both in terms of documents and technical issues) and is known both for her skill in effectively managing, dissecting and presenting such cases and also her collaborative and user-friendly approach.
Caroline accepts appointment as arbitrator and has recently been appointed as sole, presiding and co-arbitrator in a number of SIAC and LCIA arbitrations.
International Arbitration
A significant proportion of Caroline's practice comprises cases dealt with by way of arbitration, in particular on the LMAA and LCIA terms, of which Caroline has extensive experience. Caroline is a persuasive and effective oral advocate, with a wealth of experience both in terms of substantive hearings and interlocutory applications. A number of LMAA arbitrations proceed to an award on a documents-alone basis, where Caroline's skill lies in identifying the important issues and producing clear, focused and persuasive written submissions.
Caroline’s LMAA experience as Counsel covers the full spectrum of issues arising under charterparties, bills of lading and associated documents, including claims for damages to and / or misdelivery of cargo, unsafe port cases, claims for early / late redelivery, off-hire disputes, claims for demurrage / damages for detention, claims in respect of off-spec bunkers, claims under letters of indemnity, claims under the NYPE Inter-Club Agreement and cases concerning the application and effect of the Hague/Hague-Visby Rules and speed and consumption claims.
Caroline's LCIA experience as Counsel includes the following:
Caroline has also been instructed in a number of cases concerning applications to the Court under the 1996 Act, in particular applications under section 68 and 69. Her cases include W Ltd v M Sdn Bhd [2016] EWHC 422 (Comm), in which Caroline acted (with Luke Parsons Q.C.) and successfully resisted a s. 68 challenge to an arbitration award on the grounds of alleged apparent bias on the part of the arbitrator, notwithstanding that the conflict in question fell within the Non-Waivable Red List of the IBA Guidelines.
Caroline accepts appointment as arbitrator and has recently been appointed as sole, presiding and co-arbitrator in a number of SIAC and LCIA arbitrations, including: