Stone Chambers | Barristers

BA (Hons) History (First Class) Trinity College, Cambridge (1996)

CPE/Diploma in Law (2000)

MA (Cantab) (2000)

Bar Vocational Course (2001)

Inner Temple Major Scholarships, 1999 and 2000

Practice:

Philip Riches has a broad commercial practice and considerable advocacy experience in the Commercial Court, the Court of Appeal and in ICC, LCIA, SCC, HKIAC and LMAA arbitrations.

Philip’s practice covers a wide range of general commercial work including energy, arbitration, international trade and shipping, insurance, civil fraud and joint venture disputes. His work often focuses on jurisdiction disputes and on disputes from emerging markets, particularly Russia and China, and regularly involves applying for injunctions or other urgent relief.

Prior to being called to the Bar, Philip was based in China and Japan working in the commodities trade.

Languages: Advanced Spanish and French. Spoken Mandarin.

Recommendations

Philip is recommended as a leading junior for international arbitration, shipping & commodities and insurance and as an up and coming barrister for commercial dispute resolution in Chambers & Partners and for commercial litigation, international arbitration and fraud: civil in the Legal 500. Philip is also recommended for dispute resolution in the Chambers & Partners Global Edition.

Philip Riches takes his bow in this year's rankings in recognition of his increasing prominence in the shipping and commodities market. He has a broad general commercial practice, but has had a busy year in terms of disputes and arbitrations within the shipping sphere. His recent cases include acting for a Chinese shipyard in an arbitration dispute with German buyers of vessels regarding delayed delivery following an explosion on one of the ships. (Chambers & Partners 2013)

Philip Riches is a "very impressive" junior at this set. His widespread commercial practice sees him instructed on a range of arbitration, and he is particularly recommended for his focus on emerging markets and jurisdiction-related issues. (Chambers & Partners 2013)

Philip Riches is an up-and-comer at Gee's set who impresses sources with his ability to remain "entirely unflappable and highly confident when dealing with even the most challenging of legal work under severe time pressures." (Chambers & Partners 2013)

Philip Riches, a "personable and easy to work with" junior commended for his timely advice and excellent responsiveness. Riches has an impressive body of experience in freezing injunction litigation. (Chambers & Partners Global Edition 2012)

Philip Riches is a top pick for arbitrations focused on issues of jurisdiction. He has a strong track record in Russia and China-related disputes, and is experienced in LCIA, ICC and LMAA proceedings. (Chambers & Partners 2012)

“…Philip Riches, who is considered to be “an exceptionally clever and hard-working young barrister.” He has worked on a number of Russia-related arbitrations and, as a speaker of Mandarin, is also attracting an increasing amount of work from China.” (Chambers & Partners 2011)

Philip Riches, an up-and-coming junior who has impressed with his “prompt and commercial advice.” Riches’ practice has a significant international element as witnessed by his recent appearance in a USD400 million dispute arising from a Kazakh bank’s loan guarantee. (Chambers & Partners 2011)

Main Practice Areas:

International commercial litigation and arbitration
Jurisdiction and conflicts of law
Shipping and international trade
Energy
Civil Fraud

Development and Governance Work

Philip regularly advises in cases raising jurisdiction and conflicts of law issues in trans-national disputes, particularly advising victims of corporate wrongs in the developing world (including climate change and pollution victims) on bringing claims in the English courts. He also advises on issues arising out of resources exploitation in developing countries.

Building on his previous development work with the Rwandan Ministry of Justice, Philip has co-founded and is a Director of the Africa Justice Foundation (www.africajusticefoundation.org).

Philip is also a Director of the ICE Coalition – which works to promote international environmental governance (in particular within the Rio + 20 and UNFCCC process) and to develop the case for an international court for the environment (www.icecoalition.com).