Maya Chilaeva
Maya Chilaeva
Called: 2020

Maya Chilaeva

Academic
BPP Law School London: BPTC (2019)

City University London: GDL, Distinction (2017)

London School of Economics: BSc in International Relations and History (2013)
Awards
Winner, The Times 2TG Mooting Competition (2020)

Advocacy Scholarship, BPP Law School (2018)

Lord Denning and Hardwicke Scholarships, Lincoln’s Inn (2017-2018)
Publications
Co-authored (with Pia Dutton, 3 Verulam Buildings): “Smart Contracts: can they be aligned with traditional principles or are bespoke norms necessary?” Butterworths Journal of International Banking and Financial Law (September 2018)
Languages
Maya is fluent in Russian and Chechen.

Maya Chilaeva specialises in commercial and international trade disputes. She has experience in a wide range of practice areas including commodities, shipping, civil fraud, financial services, insurance, partnership and aviation.

Despite her level of call, she has appeared at every level from first instance to the Supreme Court and in arbitration.

Her recent work includes:

  • Acting (led by Paul McGrath KC and James Shirley) in Andrey Rogachev v Mikhail Goryainov [2024] EWHC 2436 (Ch), a 12-day Chancery trial arising out of a partnership dissolution.
  • Acting (led by Michel Kallipetis KC) in a landmark Court of Appeal case about non-court-based dispute resolution processes, Churchill v Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council [2023] EWCA Civ 1416, which successfully overturned the decision in Halsey v Milton Keynes General NHS Trust [2004] EWCA Civ 576.
  • Acting (led by John Kimbell KC) in JTI POLSKA Sp. Z o.o. v Jakubowski [2023] UKSC 19, one of The Lawyer Magazine's Top 10 Appeals of 2023. Maya's submissions in the Supreme Court can be viewed via this link.
  • Acting (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.

After graduating from the London School of Economics in 2013, Maya had a successful career in investment banking before transitioning to the Bar in 2020. She completed her law conversion course with Distinction.

During the Bar Professional Training Course, her advocacy skills were recognised with the BPP Advocacy Scholarship and the Lord Denning and Hardwicke Scholarships from Lincoln’s Inn. She further honed her advocacy by winning The Times 2TG National Mooting Competition in 2020. 

Her approach to case preparation and advocacy is informed by her year-long experience working in the Commercial Court, where she assisted judges 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). 

Maya is dedicated to delivering exceptional service to her clients and is willing to accept pro bono instructions when appropriate.

Maya is fluent in Russian and Chechen

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.