Rob has developed a busy practice spanning the breadth of Chambers’ practice areas including shipping, commercial disputes, international arbitration and aviation. He has appeared as sole counsel in the High Court and County Court and as a junior in several high value matters.
Prior to joining Chambers, Rob was a judicial assistant to Lord Justice Longmore in the Court of Appeal and worked on a number of large commercial disputes such as Banco Santander Totta SA v Companhia de Carris de Ferro de Lisboa SA [2016] EWCA Civ 1267, in which the Court addressed the proper interpretation of Article 3 of the Rome Convention
Recent cases of note include:
- The Gravity Highway and The Maritime Maise [2020] EWHC 1697 (Comm) (led by John Russell QC 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.
- Working with Tom Bird on an ICC arbitration, defending a multi-million dollar claim for alleged wrongful termination of a pharmaceutical distributorship agreement.
- Walker Morris LLP v (1) Paul Dyson (2) James Wilson [2020] Leeds County Court, acting as sole counsel in a one-day trial for the recovery of unpaid solicitors’ fees.
Shipping
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. Examples include:
- The Gravity Highway and The Maritime Maise [2020] EWHC 1697 (Comm) (led by John Russell QC 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.
- Advising on the application of the BIMCO Infectious or Contagious Diseases Clause to a Covid-19 related quarantine.
- Advising on bunker prices on redelivery in a context where the time charterparty does not make express provision.
- Drafting submissions (alongside Natalie Moore) on the jurisdiction of an arbitral tribunal under a settlement agreement.
- Regularly drafting LMAA small claims submissions in a variety of charterparty disputes.
- Acting for a marina operator in Admiralty in rem proceedings in respect of unpaid marina dues.
Commercial Dispute Resolution
Rob has experience in commercial disputes in court and in arbitration. Recent and ongoing cases include:
- Working with Tom Bird on an ICC arbitration, defending a multi-million dollar claim for alleged wrongful termination of a pharmaceutical distributorship agreement.
- Walker Morris LLP v (1) Paul Dyson (2) James Wilson [2020] Leeds County Court, acting as sole counsel in a one-day trial for the recovery of unpaid solicitors’ fees.
- Drafting a claim arising out of alleged wrongful termination of a contract to provide IT services.
- Advising on a recruitment agency contract.
- Pleading in relation to a number of claims relating to carriage of goods by road and concerning the CMR Convention.
Aviation & Travel
Rob regularly appears in the county court defending airlines against claims under EU Regulation 261/2004 in respect of flight delays and cancellations. He also has experience of drafting pleadings in relation to claims under the Montreal Convention for personal injury and loss of and damage to baggage.
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.
Commodities & International Trade
Rob is developing his practice in this area of Chambers’ work. He has drafted claim submissions in a GAFTA arbitration seeking damages for a seller’s failure to provide satisfactory goods.
Insolvency
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.