Dominic Happe

Dominic Happé’s practice focuses on all aspects of international trade, particularly shipping (both dry and wet) and commodities, as well as ship sale and purchase and shipbuilding.

He acts in arbitration, in the Commercial Court and in the Court of Appeal. He has wide experience in interlocutory applications, particularly anti-suit injunctions.

He advises on all aspects of his practice, including the drafting of large scale commodity, mining and mineral exploitation contracts.

Dominic is particularly experienced in assisting in devising and co-ordinating an effective strategy over multiple jurisdictions.

Dominic Happé is recommended as a leading barrister for commodities in the Legal Experts and the Legal 500, where he is described as ‘very good on the details’ and  ‘good when you’ve got a tough case’.

Practice Areas:

• Shipping and International Trade
• Dry shipping
• Wet shipping
• Ship Building/Sale & Purchase
• Carriage of Goods by Sea
• Commodities, all commodities soft and hard
• Banking
• Insurance/Reinsurance

Selection of Recent Cases of Note:

Novasen v Alimenta [2011] 1 Lloyd’s Rep. 390 Commodities; FOSFA Appeal.

The “Kallang” No. 2 [2009] 1 Lloyd’s Rep. 124; The “Duden” [2009] 1 Lloyd’s Rep. 145 Anti-suit injunction; scope of arbitration agreement and anti-suit relief in the context of arrest proceedings.

Samsun Logix v Oceantrade [2008] 1 Lloyd’s Rep. 450 Shipping; nature of lien over sub-hire; interrelation of lien and arbitration award.

Recent or current arbitrations have included the following:

• Disputes over the entitlement to freight of a disponent owner from whom the vessel has been withdrawn;
• Entitlement of a disponent owner who has suspended the service of the vessel to sub-hire/sub-freight under a lien; 
• Force majeure in the export of steel from Canada;
• Cargo damage in Nigeria;
• Major crane damage, allegations of stevedore negligence and latent defect;
• Breach of arbitration agreement by commencement of proceedings in the United States;
• Entitlement to brokers’ commission in major long-term COA;
• Entitlement to brokers’ commission in fleet sale.