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: 

• Monford Management Ltd v Afina Navigation Limited [2026] EWCA Civ 251 (led by Nigel Cooper KC) acting for the successful Respondent in the first appellate decision to directly consider the application of Rule 14 of the 1972 Collision Regulations, the “head-on situation”.
• The Stema Barge II [2025] EWHC 73 (Admlty) (led by John Passmore KC) in which the Court considered the application of res judicata principles to claims made under the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims 1976.
• 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. 
• 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 several 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. 
• Latham Machinery Ltd v Dior Heavylift BV [2022] EWHC 525 (Comm). Acted as sole counsel in a summary judgment application concerning the application of joint and several liability to settlement agreements under the CMR Convention. 
• 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. 
• Acting as sole counsel in an ICC arbitration defending a pharmaceutical company under a supply agreement. 
• 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 acted for certain “All Risks” reinsurer Defendants in multi-billion dollar Operator Policy Claims arising out of the alleged loss of aircraft due to the Russia-Ukraine war. He acted in two jurisdiction challenges in those proceedings: Zephyrus Capital Aviation Partners 1D Limited v Fidelis Underwriting Limited [2024] EWHC 734 (Comm) (led by Guy Blackwood KC and Tom Bird) and Ukrainian Aircraft Operator Policy Claims (Jurisdiction Applications) [2024] EWHC 1365 (Comm) (led by Chris Hancock KC). 

He has also been instructed in relation to several marine insurance disputes, led by Guy Blackwood KC, including Berytus Insurance & Reinsurance Company SAL v Golden Adventure Shipping SA [2025] EWHC 664 (Comm) which concerns the alleged total loss of a vessel as a result of attacks by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea.

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 was 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. 

He has also been instructed in an LCIA arbitration concerning alleged breaches of cargo description in a sale of scrap metal. 

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.

In Foreign Representative of Samyung ENC Co Ltd v United Kingdom Hydrographic Office [2025] EWHC 3245 (Ch) (led by Yash Kulkarni KC), Rob acted for a South Korean company seeking a stay of English proceedings in support of Korean “rehabilitation” proceedings under the Cross-Border Insolvency Regulations.