Michael Nguyen Kim
Michael Nguyen-Kim
Called: 2023

Michael Nguyen-Kim

Academic
2022 - 2023: Postgraduate Diploma in Bar Vocational Studies, City, University of London (Distinction)
2021 – 2022: Bachelor of Civil Law, Wolfson College, University of Oxford (Distinction)
2018 – 2021: BA Law, Trinity College, University of Cambridge (First Class in all Parts, highest mark in year in Criminal Law)
Awards
Sir Thomas More Scholarship, Lincoln’s Inn (2022)
Senior Scholarship, Trinity College Cambridge (2021)
Lizette Bentwich Prize, Trinity College Cambridge (2019, 2021)
Glanville Williams Prize for best performance in Criminal Law, University of Cambridge (2019)
Clark Miller Prize for best performance in Part IA of the Law Tripos, Trinity College Cambridge (2019)
F.W. Maitland Prize for best performance in Constitutional Law, Trinity College Cambridge (2019)
Junior Scholarship, Trinity College Cambridge (2019)
Cambridge Trust Scholarship, University of Cambridge (2018)
Publications
“The Rule Against Enforcing Foreign Public Laws” [2024] CLJ 17 (case note on SKAT v Solo Capital Partners [2023]UKSC 40)
Appointments
2022 – 2023: Teaching Fellow, SOAS, University of London (taught and assessed undergraduate contract law)

Michael joined Quadrant Chambers in October 2024 following the successful completion
of pupillage and will be developing his practice across Chambers’ core areas.

He graduated from the University of Cambridge with a First in Law, obtaining the highest mark in his year for Criminal Law as well as various college prizes. He then completed the BCL at the University of Oxford, graduating with a Distinction, followed by the BPTC at City, University of London.

Prior to pupillage, Michael was a Teaching Fellow at SOAS, University of London for the 2022-23 academic year, specialising in the subject of contract law.

During pupillage, Michael was exposed to work across the breadth of Chambers’ practice areas.

International Arbitration
  • Assisting in an appeal against an LMAA arbitration award under s.69 of the Arbitration Act.
  • Assisting in a challenge against a FOSFA arbitration award under s.68 of the Arbitration Act.
Aviation & Travel
  • Assisting in the Russian Aircraft Commercial Court litigation, involving claims by various aircraft lessors under insurance and re-insurance policies for losses arising out of the detention of commercial aircraft in Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.
  • Drafting position papers for a mediation concerning damage to an aircraft engine during delivery maintenance.
  • Assisting with the preparation of position papers in a mediation concerning a personal injury claim arising out of the crash of a small plane.
Banking
  • Assisting in an application for a worldwide freezing order against the alleged perpetrator of a multi-million dollar crypto-currency fraud (Chu v Je & Anor [2024] EWHC 90 (Ch)).
  • Assisting in defending a claim by a trader against his former employer for bonuses that were allegedly due to him.
Shipping
  • Drafting pleadings in various charterparty disputes, involving issues such as agency, off-hire, demurrage, termination and port safety
  • Drafting pleadings in various cargo claims
  • Assisting in a two-week LMAA arbitration concerning an allision between a vessel and a berth. The trial concerned complex issues of fact and law and revolved around highly technical expert evidence.
  • Assisting in an Admiralty Court claim concerning the allision of a vessel with cranes at the port of Djibouti
  • Assisting in a successful application for an anti-suit injunction in the Commercial Court against Indian cargo interests
  • Assisting in an LCIA Arbitration concerning payments made under commodity supply contracts which had been blocked and frozen as a result of US sanctions against Russia
  • Advising (as a pupil) as to whether a seller could recover damages (worth potentially in excess of 100 million USD) against a buyer in relation to breaches of a long-term coal supply contract
  • Advising (as a pupil) on the effect of a bespoke clause purporting to exclude a shipowners’ liability for the carriage of deck cargo aboard its vessel
  • Advising (as a pupil) on whether a shipowner could rely on a Himalaya clause contained within slot charterers’ standard bill of lading terms to prevent claims being brought against them by cargo interests
  • Advising (as a pupil) as to whether a charterparty had been lawfully terminated on the grounds that the relevant vessel was no longer licensed to perform voyages between China and Taiwan
  • Advising (as a pupil) on the correct interpretation of the Shelltime 4 off-hire clause, specifically with respect to its effect in relation to delays arising out of Covid-related quarantine.