Graham Dunning KC

Graham Dunning KC is a leading specialist as an advocate and arbitrator in substantial international and commercial disputes.

Graham has appeared in the Supreme Court, the Privy Council and in all levels of the English courts and in international arbitrations globally. His clients have included states and state entities, banks, major commercial corporations and high net-worth individuals. He acts as lead counsel in major international arbitrations, including investment arbitrations in Washington, Stockholm and Paris and substantial international commercial arbitrations (e.g. ICC, UNCITRAL, LCIA, LCIA India, SIAC, SCC, DIAC, ADGM, AIAC) in seats across the world concerning a wide range of industries, including finance, insurance, mining, oil and gas, commodities, energy, transport, construction and manufacturing.

Graham frequently sits as arbitrator in international arbitrations of all kinds, having been appointed in more than 90 cases. He has extensive experience of disputes relating to investments in oil and gas, mining, international trade in all types of commodities, energy and infrastructure, as well as shareholder disputes.

From 2013-2017 he was Co-Head of Essex Court Chambers, after which he resumed full time practice.

Graham is widely recognised by directories and has been listed for over 21 years with recognition as a leading expert on international arbitration, Band 1, International Arbitration: Arbitrators and the “International Arbitration Silk of the Year” by Chambers Bar Awards 2014.

‘Graham applies his extensive knowledge and experience as counsel to his practice as arbitrator: always immaculately prepared and ready to engage on the difficult questions.’ Legal 500 2025

Emily Wood KC

Emily has sat as an arbitrator since 2006 and regularly accepts appointment as sole, presiding and co-arbitrator under all major institutional rules with Chambers and Partners (International Arbitration 2022) describing Emily as having an “excellent reputation”.

Emily is also a leading barrister practising in Commercial Dispute Resolution, International Commercial Arbitration, Banking & Finance, Civil Fraud and Art & Cultural Property. She is recognised as such by the legal directories in each of those practice areas. She was nominated for “Banking and Finance Junior of the Year” in 2021; awarded “International Arbitration Junior of the Year” in 2017; named a “Future Leader in Arbitration” by Who’s Who Legal in successive years; and identified as one of the Hot 100 by The Lawyer in 2017, which reported “If Emily Wood isn’t at the top of everyone’s list for major litigation and arbitration cases, she should be.”

David Joseph KC

David joined Essex Court Chambers in 1985, took silk in 2003. He acts as a barrister, advocate and arbitrator. He is a member of the Bars of England and Wales and the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. He has also been called ad hoc to argue cases before the Court of Appeal in Singapore and the Court of Appeal and Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong.

David accepts arbitral appointments under all major rules (LCIA, ICC, SIAC, UNCITRAL and other ad hoc arbitrations) in London and overseas. His arbitration practice covers a wide range of work from joint ventures, shareholder disputes, mobile telephones, satellite television insurance, reinsurance, aerospace, mining, construction and shipbuilding.  He has also advised and acted in a series of investment treaty disputes and LMAA arbitrations both as Counsel and arbitrator.  David is highly ranked in all directories as both arbitrator and Counsel.

He is well-recognised not only in the English courts but across the common law world as a leading authority in the twin fields of international arbitration and jurisdiction disputes. He is consistently recommended in the top tier of each of the UK, Singapore and global directories in the field of international arbitration.  He is also recommended in commercial litigation, general insurance and aerospace. In 2013 he was chosen as Silk of the Year in International Commercial Arbitration by both Chambers Directory and the Legal 500. He was also short-listed by Chambers Directory in this category in 2012,  2017 and most recently in 2021.  He has also acted and appeared as Counsel in complex and lengthy leading cases in his fields of specialism.

Andrew Hochhauser KC

Andrew Hochhauser KC is a barrister at Essex Court Chambers, a Harmsworth scholar and Bencher of Middle Temple, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a Deputy High Court Judge, ticketed in both the Chancery and Queen’s Bench Divisions. He specialises in commercial and employment litigation, with a substantial court and advisory practice. For over twenty five years he has been highly recommended by all the legal directories in both commercial dispute resolution and employment. He was recently described by Chambers UK as “The best cross-examiner in the business”  who “sets the standard for dedication to the cause” And the  Legal 500 said “He can win the unwinnable cases, he can terrify the opposition with his name  alone and he can make the court dance to his tune” .

As a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Andrew has knowledge and experience of national and international arbitration both as Counsel and as Arbitrator. Andrew also accepts Mediator appointments.  He has delivered lectures to Chancery Bar Association, the Employment Lawyers Bar Association, the Bar Conference, the Institute of Barristers’ Clerks, the Singapore Bar Association and Bristol University.  Between 2007-2018, he has chaired first the Middle Temple Scholarship and Prizes Committee and then its Education Committee, fostering young talent and promoting excellence at the Bar. Andrew is Vice Chair of the Inns of Court College of Advocacy, with responsibility for Specialist Bar Associations and, in that capacity, he has run several specialist courses on handling expert evidence for experienced practitioners. For 15 years, together with fellow IAA trainer Colin Edelman KC, ran the Middle Temple New Practitioners Civil Programme, overseeing advocacy training for new barristers. He is Treasurer of Middle Temple. Together with Lord Justice Bean, he set up the Inn’s Access to the Bar Awards, which enables those from underprivileged backgrounds to spend time in chambers and shadowing a Judge.

He is honorary Counsel to Westminster Abbey. In 2011 he obtained an MA from the Courtauld Institute of Art, where he specialised in British Modernism. He was a Trustee of the V&A from 2011-2019, and he is currently Chair of the Samuel Courtauld Trust, Chair of Paintings in Hospitals, a Governor of the University of the Arts London, a Trustee of the National AIDS Trust, Ballet Black and Courtauld Institute of Art.

Claire Blanchard KC

Claire Blanchard KC has a specialist commercial practice. She is known for her robust advocacy, skillful cross examination and pragmatic, forthright approach.  Experienced across a broad range of commercial disputes, both in Court and in arbitration (LCIA, ICC, LMAA, ad hoc), Claire has particular expertise in matters relating to energy and natural resources, insurance and reinsurance, international trade and shipping. With “a stellar intellect” and an “amazing” ability to “focus and drill down to the issues”, she has a “wonderfully reassuring yet creditable manner with clients”.

Claire’s clients have included state owned entities, financial institutions and other major commercial corporations and high net-worth individuals.

Claire is a contributing editor to Arnould: Law of Marine Insurance and General Average 17th Ed (2008), 18th Ed (2013), 19th Ed (2018) and 20th Ed (2021). She is also an experienced advocacy trainer and former Master of Advocacy at Gray’s Inn.

Christopher Smith KC

Chris Smith has a broad based practice covering all aspects of domestic and international commercial work, with particular emphasis on wet and dry shipping, professional negligence and related areas such as marine and non marine insurance and reinsurance. Chris’ practice involves advisory work, mediation, arbitration in England and Wales and abroad, and litigation in the Court of Appeal and all divisions of the High Court. He also has extensive experience of acting as co Counsel in disputes involving litigation in more than one jurisdiction. Chris is a CEDR accredited mediator and also accepts appointments as arbitrator both on ICC, LCIA, LMAA, SCMA and ad hoc terms. He is a member of the Baltic Exchange, supporting member of the LMAA, a member of the SCMA Panel of Arbitrators and a member of the Association of Average Adjusters.

Chris has been one of the editors of Scrutton on Charterparties and Bills of Lading since 2008.

David Scorey KC

David Scorey KC, described as ‘ferociously intelligent’ and ‘a real fighter’, is a commercial litigator who is a ‘ruthless opponent’ and a ‘polished advocate.’ Instructed by both UK and international clients, David specialises in complex disputes and is ‘commercially focused’ and ‘savvy’. He is ‘a deft advocate on his feet’ and ‘a stylish lawyer’ who has ‘an immense presence both in court and when dealing with clients.’ He acts in domestic and international arbitrations in addition to court litigation (where he has significant appellate experience in the Court of Appeal, House of Lords (as was) and Supreme Court), in addition to the CJEU and ECHR.

David’s experience of commercial litigation and arbitration regularly involves jurisdictional issues and aspects of foreign law. He has acted in a wide variety of commercial cases, with a particular emphasis on commercial disputes, contracts, financial services and fraud, including dishonest assistance and tracing claims against well-known banks currently being litigated in the Financial List of the High Court. David is particularly familiar with heavy and complex cases, often involving coordination of litigation in various jurisdictions and working with teams of lawyers. In addition to large and complicated financial litigation, David has extensive expertise in insurance and reinsurance matters, injunctive relief, asset tracing, cryptocurrency (tracing, property, ownership) and anti-suit injunctions, banking disputes and regulatory matters.

David usually acts as leader of a team of barristers or as co-chair with foreign lawyers and has particular experience of working with US attorneys from a variety of jurisdictions. First and foremost, David is a practical lawyer which ‘is one of the things that set him apart from other barristers.’ He is a team player, ‘very approachable and is excellent with clients’ and is able to ‘inspire confidence both with practitioners and in-house teams.’ David’s broad practice means that he is ‘an incredibly good, deep thinker. He is adept at thinking across issues.’

In addition to his commercial work, David also has particular expertise in high-level excess liability insurance and reinsurance written on the Bermuda Form. He is the co-author of a book on the Bermuda form published by Oxford University Press, The Bermuda Form: Interpretation and Dispute Resolution of Excess Liability Insurance, joint winner of the 2012 BILA Book Prize awarded for the most notable contribution to literature in the field of insurance law.

David also has considerable experience in VAT, Insurance Premium Tax and other duties, instructed by solicitors, accountants and other professionals under the direct access rules. His tax practice includes both advisory work and litigation where he has appeared on behalf of taxpayers at all levels, taking appeals from the FTT, through to the House of Lords / Supreme Court and on to the CJEU.

David also accepts instructions as arbitrator and is a member of the ARIAS(UK) Panel of Arbitrators.