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Stone Chambers Recommended as a Leading Set in Chambers & Partners 2011
In the latest 2011 edition of Chambers & Partners, Stone Chambers receives the following recommendations:
Shipping & Commodities: - Stone Chambers - leading set
Steven Gee QC - leading silk
Elizabeth Blackburn QC - leading silk
Vasanti Selvaratnam QC - leading silk
Timothy Hill QC - leading silk
Rachel Toney - leading junior barrister
Ravi Aswani - leading junior barrister
THE SET Although traditionally known for its wet work, Stone Chambers actually does more dry work, which accounts for up to 80% of its shipping practice. The set is home to some excellent shipping barristers and, while smaller in size than its competitors, often handles work of equal quality and importance. The set benefits from being well organised and having clerks who "have a full understanding of what's going on with a case at all times."
SILKS Elizabeth Blackburn QC is particularly strong on wet shipping where she has a reputation for excellence when handling technical salvage and collision matters. "Utterly dedicated and with a detailed knowledge of the law, she is everything a QC should be," according to one solicitor. No less favoured, Steven Gee QC is known for his "encyclopaedic legal knowledge" and, whilst highly talented across the board, excels in charter party cases. Testament to his skills generally, he is due to appear in one of the very few shipping-related cases to reach the Supreme Court, Global Process Systems v Syriakat Takaful Malaysia Berhad. In this he is acting for the insurers in a case looking at the effect of cover provided by standard marine insurance policies for cargoes the world over.
The market's admiration further extends to Timothy Hill QC, whose promotion to silk has been well received. A "bright and tenacious, yet measured advocate," he acted on the 'Ocean Crown' salvage case at the High Court, and has also done well on ship finance matters. Fellow silk Vasanti Selvaratnam QC is known for her tenacity and recently acted in the 'Wadi Sudr' case, which has become the leading case on the enforcement of a foreign judgment in the UK that is in breach of the EU Judgments Regulation.
JUNIORS Rachel Toney is a favourite junior at the set, whose practice covers both dry and wet matters. She impresses with her "ability to communicate legal detail at an understandable level," and with her "good technical mind which allows her to assimilate complex information coming at her from different perspectives." Also impressive, the "bright, personable and articulate" Ravi Aswani has been particularly active in dry shipping matters concerning the liability for late, short or damaged cargo delivery.
Commercial Dispute Resolution:
Steven Gee QC - leading silk
Philip Riches - up and coming junior barrister
Head of Stone Chambers Steven Gee QC is a "creative thinker" whose unique mind and tremendous experience make him a popular choice for commercial clients. He has a broad practice which regularly features commercial fraud cases, anti-suit injunctions and work for private equity funds. His set incorporates 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.
Employment Law:
Rachel Toney - leading junior barrister
...wins good market support as does Rachel Toney of Stone Chambers, "a barrister with phenomenal attention to detail" who appeared in the high-profile Wooster case.
Fraud: Civil:
Steven Gee QC - leading silk
Steven Gee QC of Stone Chambers is highlighted for his superb work in relation to commercial injunctions, an area he has an extensive knowledge of. Gee has been heavily involved in the BTA Bank litigation.
International Arbitration: General Commercial & Insurance
Steven Gee QC - leading silk
Philip Riches - leading junior barrister
Head of Stone Chambers Steven Gee QC has a significant arbitration practice focusing on commercial contractual disputes of all descriptions. "He is extremely knowledgeable about arbitration processes and injunctive relief and is a creative thinker and advocate." Gee's chambers include 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.