i-Law Congress

Francis Rose is a graduate of the University of Oxford, holds a PhD from the University of London, and is a barrister and associate of chambers at Quadrant Chambers.

He is general editor of Lloyd's Maritime and Commercial Law Quarterly and author of a number of major works in the area of maritime law, including Marine Insurance: Law and Practice and General Average: Law and Practice.

Andrew Baker QC - 20 Essex Street

Andrew's principal areas of practice are shipping, international sale of goods,commodities, insurance and reinsurance, conflicts of laws, arbitration and international banking/derivatives. He appears in the High Court, Court of Appeal and House of Lords, and before legal and commercial arbitrators. He was called to the Bar in 1988 and took silk in 2006.

Tim Young QC - 20 Essex Street

Tim's principal area of practice is international trade embracing shipping, commodities, insurance,the carriage and sale of goods, banking and related disciplines. He appears principally in the High Court and the Court of Appeal before various arbitration tribunals. He also acts as an arbitrator. He was called to the Bar in 1977 and took silk in 1996.

Edward Watt, Partner - HBJ Gateley Wareing, Edinburgh

Edward has specialised in the sale, purchase and registration of vessels for six years and in that time has acted on behalf of clients in the acquisition or disposal of more than 100 vessels. Ed has particular expertise and experience in the dual registration of vessels in the Caspian Sea.

Richard Coles, Partner - HBJ Gateley Wareing, London

Richard has specialised in the financing, sale and purchase and registration of ships since 1973 and is a regular speaker at conferences and seminars on these and other aspects of maritime law. For the past 15 years Richard has sat on several committees of the UK Chamber of Shipping and is a Member of the Institute of Logistics and Transport and the Baltic Exchange.

Clare Ambrose, 20 Essex Street

Clare has been in practice since 1993 at 20 Essex Street specialising in international and domestic commercial matters, including shipping, admiralty, conflict of laws, arbitration, international trade and carriage of goods, oil and gas, commodities, banking, insurance, reinsurance and professional negligence. She has appeared before the High Court, Court of Appeal and a variety of arbitral tribunals including LMAA, LCIA, ICC and UNCITRAL tribunals. She has frequently been appointed as an arbitrator, including recent appointments by the LCIA , ICC and on LMAA Terms, acting as sole arbitrator, umpire and also as co-arbitrator. In 2007 she was appointed a Deputy District Judge and became a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, and in 2008 Junior Counsel to the Crown (B Panel).

Karen Maxwell - Practical Law Company

Karen practised at the bar for ten years from 20 Essex Street, appearing in cases at all levels from the House of Lords down. She specialises in arbitration and has co-written two editions of a well-received book on arbitration law, Ambrose & Maxwell, London Maritime Arbitration, published by Lloyd's of London Press. Karen joined PLC Dispute Resolution in February 2006 and is head of Arbitration.

Angharad Parry - 20 Essex Street

Angharad specialises in advisory and advocacy work in a wide range of commercial and private international law disputes concerning arbitration, sale of goods, carriage of goods, shipping, admiralty, public international law work (particularly involving contracts between states and private entities). She has been involved in a number of high value arbitrations, including before the ICC.

The Right Honourable Lord Justice Aikens

Sir Richard Aikens has been a judge in the High Court, Queen’s Bench division, since 1999. Called to the Bar (Middle Temple) in 1973, he subsequently became a pupil of the current Lord Chief Justice, Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers.

After 11 and 1/2 years in practice, Sir Richard became a QC in 1986; was a recorder from 1993-99; became a High Court Judge in 1999 and was presiding judge for the South Eastern Circuit between 2001 and 2004.

Following a year as the judge in charge of the Commercial Court (2005 - 2006), Sir Richard is presently on the Project Board for the Rolls Building, which will be the home of the Commercial Court and other business courts from 2010 and will be beginning his new role at the Court of Appeal in late November 2008. Somehow, he has managed to find time in-between to co-author our Bills of Lading title.