Stone Chambers | Barristers

MA (Hons) (First Class),University of Edinburgh [1998-2002]

CPE (Distinction), City University [2006-2007]

BVC (Outstanding), BPP Law School [2007-2008]

Year of Call: 2008

Introduction

Peter has a broad commercial practice. He is regularly instructed to appear in the High Court and in arbitrations (both LMAA and LCIA) and has been led in a number of cases in the appellate courts. Most recently he has appeared in the Supreme Court, led by Steven Gee QC, in The Cendor Mopu [2011] UKSC 5, and in the Court of Appeal (as sole counsel) in JFC v Star Reefers [2011] EWCA Civ 1052 and as junior to Steven Gee QC in Star Reefers v JFC Group [2012] EWCA Civ 14. Prior to being called to the Bar, Peter Stevenson worked on the foreign desk at The Times newspaper and as an aide to a US presidential candidate. He teaches International Trade on the Bar Vocational Course at BPP.

The following are some examples of recent work that he has undertaken:

Shipping & Maritime:

Led by Steven Gee QC, Peter is presently acting for charterers, in a $10million claim in arbitration brought by owners following the alleged early redelivery of three vessels.

Instructed on behalf of charterers, in a $13 million dispute relating to the failure of owners to maintain vessels during the life of a charter.

Instructed as sole counsel for charterers in multi-million dollar LMAA arbitration claim arising from failure of owners to perform COA shipments.

Instructed on behalf of Chinese ship-owners in a number of speed and performance claims.

Acting for charterers in large off-hire dispute relating to the refusal of owners/master to comply with voyage instructions.

Acted for charterers in high value dispute concerning late delivery of vessel and subsequent cancellation of charterparty.

Charterparty disputes make up a large proportion of Peter’s practice. He is very familiar with the issues that arise therein.

Insurance and reinsurance:

Led by Steven Gee QC, Peter acted for the insurers in The Cendor Mopu,[2011] UKSC 5, the first marine insurance case to reach the Supreme Court. The case turned on the scope of the inherent vice exclusion in the Institute Cargo Clauses.

Acted for shipowners in multi-million pound insurance dispute arising from grounding of vessel off US coast.

Advised insurers in relation to multi-million dollar claim brought by shipowners for General and Particular Average losses.

Acted for cargo-owners in various small claims.

Jurisdiction Disputes:

Instructed as sole counsel for the defendant applicant in JFC v Star Reefers [2011] EWHC 339 (Comm), Times, June 9, 2011, an application before Andrew Smith J in which the defendant sought to dispute the jurisdiction of the Commercial Court to determine a $13m guarantee claim.

Provided written advice on jurisdiction of the High Court to Financière Meerschaert S.A in their high profile dispute with the liquidators of Madoff Securities International Ltd. which was decided in Financiere Meerschaert’s favour in Madoff Securities International Ltd (in liquidation) v Yacht Bull Corporation [2010] EWHC 133 (Ch).

Peter has acted for various parties seeking to dispute the jurisdiction of the courts and arbitral tribunals. He is very familiar with the Part 11 procedure.

Commercial Injunctions:

Led by Steven Gee QC, Peter appeared for the Russian defendants in Star Reefers Pool Inc v JFC Group Co Ltd [2010] EWHC 3003 seeking the discharge of an anti-suit injunction.

Peter has been led by Steven Gee QC on various other emergency injunction applications including applications for freezing injunctions, anti-suit injunctions, mandatory injunction and prohibitory injunction.

Other Maritime Disputes:

Acted in his own capacity and led by senior counsel in large commercial case relating to the arrest of a vessel in India.

Instructed by owners in dispute with charterers following wrongful arrest of vessel by third party.

Peter is familiar with all aspects of General Average and Particular average disputes. He recently drafted arbitration submissions in multi-million dollar General Average dispute between insurers and owners.

Other Commercial Work:

Regularly instructed to appear in the County Court on a wide range of commercial matters. Peter often acts for major banks and finance companies in disputes relating to guarantees and consumer credit. In addition, Peter is often instructed in debt recovery and enforcement actions.

Peter has appeared on behalf of lenders at all stages of the possession process. He has defended numerous non-standard applications to suspend warrants and several appeals from such applications.

In appearing in such proceedings, Peter has dealt with a wide variety of issues relating to mortgage lending. He has successfully fought off allegations of mis-selling, undue influence, excessive fees and charges, and non est factum.

In addition to appearing in possession proceedings, Peter has advised on a number of high value disputes relating to the rights of mortgagees and charge-holders more generally. Specifically, Peter has advised in relation to overriding interests, the effect of the bankruptcy/liquidation of a borrower, the imposition of constructive trusts on payment by mistake, the rectification of the title register and the enforcement of floating charges.

Peter has a busy consumer credit practice, appearing in various applications for the return of goods and advising on more complex aspects of debtor-creditor-supplier contracts. He has recently advised in relation to a high value fraud perpetrated against a major lender and instructed to appear in the forthcoming proceedings in that matter.

Peter has a particular expertise in the new Unfair Relationships provisions of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 and regularly lectures on the subject.

Peter has also been instructed in a number of professional negligence claims including claims brought against solicitors and surveyors.

Insolvency:

Peter completed his pupillage at 3-4 South Square, the pre-eminent insolvency chambers. There he assisted in the preparation of a number of high profile insolvency related matters including the administration of Lehman Brothers International (Europe).

Peter has since advised in relation to a number of cross-border insolvencies involving charterers and owners.

He advised in relation to the scope of the Insolvency Regulation in the dispute between Financière Meerschaert S.A in their high profile dispute with the liquidators of Madoff Securities International Ltd. which was decided in Financiere Meerschaert’s favour in Madoff Securities International Ltd (in liquidation) v Yacht Bull Corporation [2010] EWHC 133 (Ch).