• "Jakob is user-friendly and works great as part of a counsel team. He is very responsive, and his drafting is very good." (Chambers UK, 2026)
• "He has an impressive ability to grasp large amounts of content and detail and convert these into meaningful work product. His written work is excellent and misses nothing." (Chambers UK, 2026)
• "Jakob is a truly excellent junior barrister, who is an asset to any team. He is technically excellent, and adept at spotting the key issues." (Legal 500, 2026)
• Jakob is a conscientious, committed and clever barrister who produces exceedingly high-quality work at speed." (Legal 500, 2025)

Jakob has a broad commercial practice, including banking, insurance, international trade and shipping disputes. Recent cases include the following:

• Acting as sole counsel in a USD 35 million ICC arbitration relating to the breach of a mezzanine loan facility.
• Appearing in a USD 90 million LCIA arbitration relating to the breach of a loan agreement; led by a partner in the New York office of instructing solicitors.
• Advising a Swiss trading house in a USD 100 million dispute concerning repudiation of a set of crude oil sale contracts on the basis of US sanctions.
• Acting for a major oil company in Commercial Court proceedings relating to a conspiracy to deprive the company of ultra-low-sulphur diesel oil worth in excess of USD 23 million; led by Bobby Friedman of Wilberforce. Acting in related contempt of court proceedings brought against directors of two of the defendant companies; also led by Bobby Friedman of Wilberforce.
• Acting for a metals trader in a dispute arising out of hedging losses incurred during the nickel price spike in 2022.
• Acting for owners in a set of four related arbitrations, concerning four different vessels, where it is alleged, among other things, that charterers fraudulently sought to obtain title to the vessels. There are ancillary court proceedings in numerous foreign jurisdictions. Owners seek damages in excess of USD 60 million as well as delivery up of two vessels. Led by James Turner KC.
• Acting for an insured in a USD 23 million coverage dispute concerning the interpretation of a misappropriation clause; led by Nicholas Craig KC of 3VB.
• Acting for an international crane manufacturer in a EUR 68 ICC arbitration concerning the catastrophic failure of a heavy-lift crane when it was installed on an off-shore support vessel; led by Simon Rainey KC and Mark Stiggelbout.
• Acting in a EUR 18 million dispute concerning a complex prepayment financing transaction in the forage commodities sector. The borrower was to repay substantial loans by way of discounts on future sales of forage commodities to the lender, with the lender failing to take the contracted commodities but seeking repayment of the loan. Led by Chirag Karia KC.
• Acting for the buyer in a dispute concerning the non-contractual delivery of fuel oil off-shore leading to detention of the vessel being supplied and damages in excess of USD 24 million; led by Nigel Cooper KC.
• Advising a contractor in respect of termination of a contract for the supply of a generator set in the context of a large engineering/construction project.
• Advising a major container shipping line on whether agreeing to extended liability terms amounts to the provision of insurance under English law.
• Acting for a garage in a dispute concerning the restoration of a classic car.
   

Jakob has appeared in arbitrations under ICC, LCIA, LMAA, GAFTA and SAL rules as well as being instructed in arbitration claims in the Commercial Court. Recent cases include the following:

• Acting as sole counsel in a USD 35 million ICC arbitration relating to the breach of a mezzanine loan facility.
• Appearing in a USD 90 million LCIA arbitration relating to the breach of a loan agreement; led by a partner in the New York office of instructing solicitors.
• Acting for an insured in a USD 23 million coverage dispute concerning the interpretation of a misappropriation clause; led by Nicholas Craig KC of 3VB. Drafting a successful section 44 application for disclosure of document by a third party outside the jurisdiction in support of the arbitration; led by Sarah Martin of 7KBW.
• Acting for an international crane manufacturer in a EUR 68 ICC arbitration concerning the catastrophic failure of a heavy-lift crane when it was installed on an off-shore support vessel; led by Simon Rainey KC and Mark Stiggelbout.
• Acting for the technical managers of a vessel in two linked arbitrations that have, to date, given rise to a section 67 and a section 24 challenge; led by Stewart Buckingham KC.
• Acting in a EUR 18 million arbitration concerning a complex prepayment financing transaction in the forage commodities sector. The borrower was to repay substantial loans by way of discounts on future sales of forage commodities to the lender, with the lender failing to take the contracted commodities but seeking repayment of the loan. Led by Chirag Karia KC.
• Acting for owners in a set of four related arbitrations, concerning four different vessels, where it is alleged, among other things, that charterers fraudulently sought to obtain title to the vessels. There are ancillary court proceedings in numerous foreign jurisdictions. Owners seek damages in excess of USD 60 million as well as delivery up of two vessels. Led by James Turner KC.
• Instructed in defending a section 67 challenge to an arbitration award.
• Instructed in defending an anti-suit injunction brought on the basis of an alleged exclusive jurisdiction clause; led by John Russell KC.
• Acting for owners in a USD 4 million LMAA arbitration concerning charterers’ failure to give contractual redelivery notices; led by David Lewis KC of Twenty Essex.
• Acting for the buyer in a dispute concerning the non-contractual delivery of fuel oil off-shore leading to detention of the vessel being supplied and damages in excess of USD 24 million; led by Nigel Cooper KC.
• Acting for the buyers in a USD 5.5 million LMAA arbitration concerning a ship sale dispute. The case involved extensive metallurgy and marine engineering expert evidence. Led by Michael Davey KC.
• Acting for owners in a USD 35 million dispute arising out of a fire onboard a container vessel caused by an undeclared shipment of lithium-ion batteries that self-ignited; led by John Russell KC.
   

Jakob practises across both marine and non-marine insurance law. Recent cases include the following:

• Acting for an insured in a USD 23 million coverage dispute concerning the interpretation of a misappropriation clause; led by Nicholas Craig KC of 3VB.
• Advising a major container shipping line on whether agreeing to extended liability terms amounts to the provision of insurance under English law.
• Acting for the owner of a superyacht in a AUD 8 million coverage dispute concerning extensive interior damage due to the ingress of water; led by John Kimbell KC.
• Acting for a P&I Club in a USD 6.5 million coverage dispute relating to SCOPIC payments under a LOF salvage contract and sums for wreck removal; led by Robert Thomas KC.
• Advising on the scope of a “left unattended” provision of a goods in transit policy.
• Advising on the scope of a combined marine insurance policy, including considering whether property damage at a boatyard falls within the subsequent damage “carve back” and whether a “reasonable care” condition in the policy amounts to a condition precedent to liability and the applicability of Section 11 of the Insurance Act 2015.
   

Jakob has a thriving commodities and international trade practice. He is ranked as a "Rising Star" in Commodities by Legal 500 and is also the most junior barrister to be ranked at Tier 4 in Shipping and Commodities by Chambers & Partners. He is familiar with a range of trade arbitration rules, including GAFTA/FOSFA and SAL/RSA. Recent cases include the following:

• Advising a Swiss trading house in a USD 100 million dispute concerning repudiation of a set of crude oil sale contracts on the basis of US sanctions.
• Advising a Swiss trading house on whether a right to terminate an LNG sale and purchase agreement had arisen on the basis of a material adverse change clause.
• Acting in a EUR 18 million dispute concerning a complex prepayment financing transaction in the forage commodities sector. The borrower was to repay substantial loans by way of discounts on future sales of forage commodities to the lender, with the lender failing to take the contracted commodities but seeking repayment of the loan. Led by Chirag Karia KC.
• Acting for the buyer in a USD 1.6 million sugar arbitration under the SAL rules; led by Ben Gardner.
• Advising a Swiss trading house on claims relating to substantial unpaid bunker invoices.
• Acting for a major oil company in Commercial Court proceedings relating to a conspiracy to deprive the company of ultra-low-sulphur diesel oil worth in excess of USD 23 million; led by Bobby Friedman of Wilberforce. Acting in related contempt of court proceedings brought against directors of two of the defendant companies; also led by Bobby Friedman of Wilberforce.
• Acting for a metals trader in a dispute arising out of hedging losses incurred during the nickel price spike in 2022.
• Acting for the buyer in a dispute concerning the non-contractual delivery of fuel oil off-shore leading to detention of the vessel being supplied and damages in excess of USD 24 million; led by Nigel Cooper KC.
• Acting for owners of a cargo of naphtha said to be damaged by the carrier during transport with losses amounting to USD 1.5 million; led by Michael Davey KC.
• Acting for owners in a USD 6 million dispute with charterers concerning settlement with receivers of a cargo claim relating to a cargo of soybeans; led by John Passmore KC.

Jakob has extensive experience in shipping and maritime disputes. He is the most junior barrister to be ranked at Tier 4 in Shipping and Commodities by Chambers & Partners. Recent cases include the following:

• Réseau de Transport d’Électricité v Costain Limited and others [2025] EWHC 73 (Admlty) – Acting for the French electricity transmission system operator Réseau de Transport d’Électricité in a dispute concerning EUR 28 million damage to a set of two sub-sea power cables connecting France and England, caused by anchor dragging of a dumb barge. Appeared in a successful strike out/summary judgment application where the court clarified that limitation under the Limitation Convention 1976 was a cause of action for the purposes of res judicata; Led by Chirag Karia KC.
• Instructed in the appeal to the Supreme Court in The Lila Lisbon [2025] EWCA Civ 1210. The case concerns the question whether, under a SALEFORM 2012 MOA, the buyers are entitled to loss of bargain compensation when terminating the contract pursuant to a contractual termination clause in the absence of a repudiatory breach by the seller, with the High Court and Court of Appeal having reached different conclusions on this point. Led by John Russell KC.
• Acting for an international crane manufacturer in EUR 68 million dispute concerning the catastrophic failure of a heavy-lift crane when it was installed on an off-shore support vessel; led by Simon Rainey KC and Mark Stiggelbout.
• Acting for owners in a USD 35 million dispute arising out of a fire onboard a container vessel caused by an undeclared shipment of lithium-ion batteries that self-ignited; led by John Russell KC.
• Acting for owners in a set of four related arbitrations, concerning four different vessels, where it is alleged, among other things, that charterers fraudulently sought to obtain title to the vessels. There are ancillary court proceedings in numerous foreign jurisdictions. Owners seek damages in excess of USD 60 million as well as delivery up of two vessels. Led by James Turner KC.
• Acting for charterers in a dispute concerning an off-shore construction vessel taking on bunkers within territorial waters, rather than off-shore as ordered, leading to prolonged detention of the vessel and damages in excess of USD 24 million; led by Chirag Karia KC.
• Acting for owners in a USD 4 million LMAA arbitration concerning charterers’ failure to give contractual redelivery notices; led by David Lewis KC of Twenty Essex.
• Acting for the buyers in a USD 5.5 million LMAA arbitration concerning a ship sale dispute. The case involved extensive metallurgy and marine engineering expert evidence. Led by Michael Davey KC.
• Advising a major container shipping line on whether agreeing to extended liability terms amounts to the provision of insurance.
• Acting for owners in an off-spec bunker dispute where damages in excess of US 10 million were sustained by the vessel on account of burning the fuel in question. The case involved extensive engineering and chemistry expert evidence. Led by Chirag Karia KC.
• Acting for owners in a USD 6 million dispute with charterers concerning settlement with receivers of a cargo claim relating to a cargo of soybeans; led by John Passmore KC.
• Acting for the technical managers of a vessel under a ship management agreement dispute; led by Stewart Buckingham KC.
• Acting for owners of a cargo of naphtha said to be damaged by the carrier during transport with losses amounting to USD 1.5 million; led by Michael Davey KC.
• Acting for owners as sole counsel in a USD 1.3 million general average dispute arising out of a breakdown of the vessel’s main engine inside a high risk area.
• Acting for the buyers in a USD 1 million LMAA arbitration concerning a ship sale dispute. The case concerns the correct interpretation of Clause 6 of SALEFORM 2012 (the underwater inspection regime). Led by Chirag Karia KC.
• Acting for owners in a dispute with charterers under the Inter Club Agreement in respect of a settlement reached between owners and receivers in relation to a cargo of soybeans discharged in China.
• Acting for charterers in a claim arising out of engine damage to a refrigerated cargo vessel carrying tropical fruit; led by Stewart Buckingham KC.
• Acting for charterers in a dispute concerning the effective date of hire payment where owners’ bank delayed crediting sums transferred to owners’ bank account.
• Acting for charterers in an off-spec bunker dispute where substantial damage to the vessel’s engine is alleged. The case involves extensive chemistry and marine engineering evidence.
• Advising charterers on whether owners were responsible for making a vessel cold-ironing compatible where ports require this for the vessel to call.
• Acting for charterers in an off-hire claim relating to a missed berthing slot on account of breakdown of machinery; led by James Leabeater KC of 4 Pump Court.
• Acting for charterers in a dispute concerning losses arising out of the vessel encountering freezing spray and failing to take adequate mitigating actions.
• Acting for the seller of a yacht in a dispute concerning alleged defects discovered after delivery.
• Advising charterers on general average liability following a grounding of the vessel.
• Advising a carrier on a claim for container detention and demurrage against a freight forwarder under its standard terms of business.
• Acting for a marina in a dispute concerning berthing charges.