Stone Chambers | Barristers

Philip Riches Commercial Profile

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 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 Chambers & Partners Global Edition.

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

Cases of Note:

LCIA Arbitration (ongoing): $2 billion LCIA dispute concerning the Russian and Ukrainian mining and metals industry involving questions of fraud, reflective loss and entitlement to injunctive relief.
LCIA Arbitration (2010): multi-million dollar LCIA dispute arising out of non-performance of an underlying loan contract for a Russian textile company based in Hong Kong and of the loan guarantee. Issues included the validity of a guarantee when the underlying contract has been amended and the power of an arbitrator to order a party to put up security for the claim in LCIA arbitration.
Netherby v Toreador Resources Corp [2010] EWHC: Commercial Court dispute in relation to a US$20 million pay-out under an investment agreement relating to a Turkish oil field project.
LMAA Arbitration (ongoing): marine insurance arbitration dispute concerning grounding damage to methanol products carrier off North Carolina. Issues include the burden of proof, the jurisdiction of arbitrators and rights of appeal from arbitration.
SCC Arbitration (ongoing): US$450m joint venture dispute in the SCC arising out of development of Ukrainian gas fields and concerning recent political and economic developments in Ukraine.
HKIAC jurisdiction (2010): HKIAC jurisdiction dispute in US$63 million shipbuilding contract involving Hong Kong shipbroker, Korean buyers and Shanghai shipyard raising questions of proper law (Chinese employment law or HK law), jurisdiction and forum non conveniens.
Natixis SA v Mediterranean Holdings Invest Co [2010] EWHC: Commercial Court dispute arising out of breaches of a ship financing contract and subsequent litigation in Singapore and Luxembourg with a particular focus on issue estoppel and also on compliance with Unless Orders under the English Civil Procedure Rules.
LMAA Arbitration (2009): acting for a state-owned Chinese chemical company in a LMAA dispute with an Indian commodities supplier.
LCIA Arbitration (2010): multi-million dollar LCIA disputes arising out of share sale agreements in the Russian electricals retail sector.
Costa Coffee International Ltd v SC Coffee Management [2010] EWHC: acting for the Defendant in a Commercial Court claim by Costa Coffee for franchise infringement, with issues including the application of the Judgments Regulation in Romania.
Starzacher v Goodwin [2009] EWHCL: successful application for freezing injunction in relation to drag along share sale rights of Independent News & Media Plc, pending registration in England of German interim order under the Judgments Regulation.
O v T [2009]: Commercial Court dispute arising out of arbitration concerning the extent of the Court’s powers under s.44(3) of the Arbitration Act 1996 to grant urgent interim relief in support of arbitral proceedings relating to a failure to discharge cargo in Saudi Arabia.
ICC Arbitration (2009): Multi-million dollar ICC dispute concerning the Portuguese cement industry and questions of conflict between the tribunal’s jurisdiction and the jurisdiction of Swiss courts.
LCIA Arbitration (2008): LCIA dispute concerning the bulk cargo rice trade between China and West Africa and a related appeal to the Singapore Court of Appeal (with Steven Gee QC).
LCIA Arbitration (2007): US$120m LCIA fraud dispute between Ukrainian and Russian shareholders in a Ukrainian energy sector joint venture (with Steven Gee QC).
T v G (2007): successful Commercial Court application for a worldwide US$100m freezing injunction arising out of a Russian fraud dispute (with Steven Gee QC).
Dollfus, Mieg & Co v CDW [2004] unreported: US$50m Commercial Court dispute between Hong Kong and French textile groups concerning cotton manufacturing operations in Zhejiang, China.

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, including recently advising the Afghan Government in relation to the terms governing the award of mining concessions in the country.
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).