Tom joined Quadrant Chambers in October 2023, upon successful completion of his pupillage. He accepts instructions across Chambers’ core areas, including commercial litigation, shipping, insurance, banking, and commodities.
Before pupillage, Tom completed the BCL at Oxford, obtaining a Distinction overall and the Peter Birks Prize for coming top of the year in Restitution of Unjust Enrichment. Tom achieved a Distinction in both the GDL and the Bar Course, and was awarded the William Rose Prize for obtaining the highest mark in his year for Drafting. Before coming to law, Tom graduated with a first-class degree in History.
His work so far has included:
- Appearing (as sole counsel) for the successful claimants in two contempt applications in the High Court.
- Acting (as sole counsel) for the successful claimants in a multi-million dollar sale of goods GAFTA arbitration. The central issue was whether a shortage of local currency was a force majeure event excusing the buyer’s failure to open a letter of credit in the seller’s favour.
- Acting in Zavarco plc v Nasir before the UK Supreme Court, in which judgment is awaited (led by Paul Downes KC) (Tom was also led at an earlier stage by Robert-Jan Temminck KC and Tom Nixon);
- Acting in a long-running, multi-million dollar arbitration concerning issues of frustration and foreign law (led by Philippa Hopkins KC of Essex Court Chambers and Emmet Coldrick);
- Acting in a week-long LMAA arbitration concerning a multi-million dollar cargo claim and counterclaim for general average (led by Benjamin Coffer);
- Acting as sole counsel in several LMAA, GAFTA and FOSFA arbitrations;
- Appearing as sole counsel in the Commercial Court, Admiralty Court and County Court for trials and a range of applications;
- Assisting (as a pupil) Stewart Buckingham KC and Ben Gardner on the successful appeal to the Supreme Court in JTI Polska Sp Z o.o. and Ors v Jakubowski & Ors [2023] UKSC;
- Settling pleadings and arbitration submissions in a range of charterparty disputes, cargo claims and commodities cases;
- Advising on a range of insurance matters, including the construction of various professional indemnity policies."
Tom has a particular interest in cases involving claims for restitution of unjust enrichment and has experience of this area in both a professional and academic setting.
Shipping
- Acting in a long-running, multi-million dollar arbitration concerning issues of frustration and foreign law (led by Philippa Hopkins KC of Essex Court Chambers and Emmet Coldrick);
- Acting as junior counsel (led by Ben Coffer) in a week-long LMAA casualty dispute worth c. $1.5 million.
- Acting as junior counsel (led by Yash Kulkarni KC) in a Commercial Court dispute revolving around performance guarantees and the rule in Holme v Brunskill.
- Assisting Caroline Pounds as a pupil in preparation for The Ever Given dispute in the Court of Appeal.
- Acting as sole counsel in a range of LMAA arbitrations concerning issues of off-hire, unseaworthiness, underperformance and cargo damage.
- Advising across the full gamut of shipping law issues.
Commodities & International Trade
- Acting (as sole counsel) for the successful claimants in a multi-million dollar sale of goods GAFTA arbitration. The central issue was whether a shortage of local currency was a force majeure event excusing the buyer’s failure to open a letter of credit in the seller’s favour.
- Acting (as sole counsel) in an ongoing multi-million dollar GAFTA arbitration concerning the scope of a CIF buyer’s obligation to buy goods afloat.
- Acting (as sole counsel) in a GAFTA arbitration revolving around a seller’s alleged failure to ship within the shipment period.
Commercial Dispute Resolution
- Acting (as sole counsel) for the Respondents in an LCIA arbitration involving complicated sanctions issues.
- Acting as junior counsel (led by Paul Downes KC) in Zavarco plc v Nasir before the UK Supreme Court, in which judgment is awaited.
- Acting as sole counsel in a complex share-transfer dispute which involved complex legal points on the law of unjust enrichment.
Interlocutory
- Tom has experience with many different types of application. He has acted (successfully) in, and advised on, anti-suit injunctions, summary and default judgment applications, jurisdictional challenges, and ship arrest applications.
Aviation & Travel
- Tom has represented parties in several aviation disputes, including delay, cancellation and baggage claims.
Insurance
- Tom has advised on a number of insurance-related matters.