Jeremy Lightfoot

Jeremy Lightfoot was a law scholar at New College, Oxford, graduating in 2005. He was awarded the highest Lincoln’s Inn scholarship for his Bar Vocational Course, the Lord Mansfield Scholarship, together with the Hardwicke Entrance Award. Jeremy was graded ‘Outstanding’ in his bar school exams, in recognition of which he was awarded a Buchanan prize. He was named ‘Student of the Year’ by Lincoln’s Inn and was called to the Bar in 2006.

Since joining Chambers in 2007, Jeremy has established a broad commercial practice. Jeremy undertakes advisory and drafting work for both court and arbitration proceedings, as well as appearing regularly for appeals, trials, CMCs and interim applications. Jeremy’s clients are based around the world and range from major financial institutions and insurers to small businesses and individuals.

Education

New College, Oxford - academic scholarship and music exhibition

Winchester College - combined academic and music exhibition

Leeds Grammar School

Shipping & International Trade Recent Cases

• A US$10million dispute arising out of a failure to perform voyages under a charter.
• A US$9million arbitration regarding the provision and shipment of defective iron ore.
• Acting as junior in two related shipbuilding disputes concerning US$50million.
• Acting as junior in a US$40million ship sale dispute.
• A US$6million dispute for alleged non-performance of a ship sale agreement.
• A €2million dispute concerning the performance of a long term time charter.
• Guarantee claims against parent companies following the failure of charterers to perform (US$9million) and following the failure of a subsidiary company to repay a loan agreement (US$25million).
• Dealing with the aftermath of a fraudulent claim for collision damage to vessels as junior to Timothy Hill QC, including setting aside the adverse costs orders by reason of fraud (reported at [2010] 2 Lloyd’s Rep. 247), the successful application to displace privilege and secure disclosure from the underwriters ([2011] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 291) and the application against the underwriters for the payment of costs.
• Ship arrests, including jurisdictional issues arising out of foreign registered mortgages and multi-party disputes.
• A US$4million dispute concerning the alleged loss of oil-major approvals.
• Advising on a €3million dispute over cargo ownership.
• A US$2.5million claim for a vessel’s non-compliance with charter description.
• Acting as junior in a breach of charterparty dispute worth US$4.5million.
• Jurisdictional issues arising out of acts committed aboard vessels, including the discovery of £35million of illegal drugs on a tugboat.
• Advising on insurance issues in a wide variety of contexts, including in particular marine and off-shore construction. Jeremy recently assisted in connection with a €10million marine insurance coverage dispute.
• Speed and performance disputes, including an ongoing US$0.5million dispute concerning alleged bottom fouling.
• Demurrage claims, NOR issues and off-hire disputes, including a recent US$2million dispute concerning delayed discharge and a US$1million claim for detention by port authorities.
• Claims for breaches of ship-management agreements and a failure to pay for services supplied to vessels.
• Cargo claims for delay, short-delivery, non-delivery and contamination.
• The salvage of precious cargoes from recently discovered sunken wrecks.
• A fatal accident concerning a nuclear submarine proceeding under pilotage in UK waters.
• Injuries suffered by stevedores when unloading vessels, including issues of jurisdiction and attempted claims for indemnities by owners.
• International and domestic road haulage contracts, distribution agreements and warehousing arrangements.

Jeremy is the Shipping and Maritime editor of the Law Brief Update, a monthly publication received by about 15,000 legal professionals.

Commercial Recent Cases

• A £8million dispute concerning an international manufacturing/supply agreement.
• High value and complex mortgage applications, trials and appeals for both commercial and residential property, including fraudulently obtained mortgages, allegations of undue influence, overriding interests and disputed mortgage administrative charges. Jeremy appeared for the lender at first instance and in the Court of Appeal in the reported case of First Plus v Hewett ([2010] 2 F.L.R. 177; [2010] 23 E.G. 108).
• A US$9million arbitration concerning the supply of defective goods.
• Hire purchase agreements for business equipment, including providing urgent assistance regarding the repossession of manufacturing equipment worth £2.5million.
• A multi-faceted dispute arising out of a large-scale residential and commercial property development comprising more than 100 properties.
• Providing urgent assistance concerning a supply chain manufacturing agreement for the food industry.
• Advising on insurance issues in a wide variety of contexts, including in particular marine and off-shore construction. Jeremy recently assisted in connection with a €10million marine insurance coverage dispute.
• Acting as junior to Steven Gee QC on jurisdictional elements of an international insurance/re-insurance dispute.
• Acting for a bank in relation to the alleged loss of a high value safety deposit box.
• Succeeding at trial for a distribution company claiming damages against a record company.
• International fraud concerning vintage cars purchased on the internet.