Source: https://7kbw.co.uk/barrister/alistair-schaff-qc/
Timestamp: 2018-12-14 13:35:08
Document Index: 72112055

Matched Legal Cases: ['UKHL ', 'UKPC ', 'UKSC ', 'EWCA ', 'EWCA ', 'EWCA ', 'UKHL ', 'EWCA ', 'EWCA ', 'EWCA ', 'EWCA ', 'EWCA ', 'UKSC ']

Alistair Schaff QC | Barrister at 7KBW
"A brilliant advocate." "He has a very powerful, analytical mind and he is utterly unshakeable
aschaff@7kbw.co.uk
Alistair Schaff QC practises both as a barrister and as an arbitrator specialising in international commercial law. He is a leading commercial Silk, particularly in the fields of international arbitration, insurance and reinsurance, and shipping/international trade.
In 2018, Alistair was named the Chambers Bar Awards Shipping Silk of the Year (in 2015 he was named the Legal 500 Awards Shipping Silk of the Year).In 2009, Alistair was named the Chambers Bar Awards Insurance Silk of the Year and has been frequently short-listed ever since.
As Counsel, he has just been leading for the insurance market in the recently settled billion dollar SBM/MOPUstor Commercial Court action involving sub-sea and topsides damage to a North Sea platform; and he led for the shipowners in the “B Atlantic,” an appeal to the Supreme Court in a war risks insurance claim concerning the total loss of a vessel which was detained by the Venezuelan authorities after a large consignment of cocaine had been found strapped to the hull; the decision is a leading one on war risks perils and exclusions. Pending cases include a substantial total loss action; an appeal to the Court of Appeal concerning the allocation of mesothelioma losses at the reinsurance level; and an arbitration involving liabilities for medical products. Other recent cases include acting for super-yacht underwriters in an over-valuation case; for a financial services firm, establishing the principle that ‘res judicata’ principles preclude complainants from accepting a FOS award in their favour and then suing for additional compensation over and above the limits of the FOS monetary jurisdiction in respect of the same cause of action; for insurers in litigation surrounding Standard Life’s Sterling Pension Fund and its claim under its professional liability policy; and for insurance brokers in litigation involving the alleged loss of gold bullion in Turkey and its disputed insurance coverage. He acted in the long-running jurisdictional contest known as the Masri litigation and the even more long-running jurisdictional and substantive contest known as the Metro litigation. And he also appeared in the Privy Council, on appeal from the Guernsey Court of Appeal, in a very significant case involving the discount rate to be applied to lump sum awards for personal injuries. Although outside his normal area of practice, this latter case exemplifies both the range of his abilities and his refusal to limit his work to discrete areas of specialisation. Landmark successes included the seminal decisions of the House of Lords in Wasa v Lexington [2009] UKHL 40 and of the Commercial Court in Equitas v R&Q [2009] EWHC 2787 (Comm).
As an advocate, he has argued cases before the European Court of Justice, the Supreme Court, the House of Lords, the Privy Council and the Court of Appeal and makes frequent appearances in the Commercial Court and in commercial arbitrations, both in London and overseas, and whether in long complex trials or arbitrations involving lengthy cross-examination of factual witnesses or experts or in short interlocutory hearings involving difficult points of law. At the pre-trial stage, he operates a very ‘hands-on’ approach to his cases. He believes that being an advocate is not just about presenting a case in court or in arbitration but is also about being involved in, and being on top of, a case from an early stage and about helping to shape its eventual outcome through the necessary tactical, procedural and evidential decisions on the way. He is both accessible and ‘user-friendly.’
He has also acted as an expert on English law for use in foreign proceedings and has appeared as counsel before the Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong and the Supreme Court of Gibraltar.
As an arbitrator, he is regularly appointed in all manner of international commercial arbitrations, both institutional (ICC, UNCITRAL and LCIA) and otherwise, and as sole or party-appointed arbitrator or chair. He has considerable experience as an arbitrator not merely in insurance and shipping matters but in commercial disputes more generally. Recent appointments as arbitrator include disputes relating to alleged banking fraud, bribery in relation to large commercial contracts, product liability, gas pricing, oil pollution and the transfer of shares, as well as insurance and shipping disputes by the dozen.
Alistair Schaff QC has just been involved in the major Commercial Court action involving damage to a North Sea platform (the YME MOPUstor) which was fixed for 12 weeks in October 2018 and in which the claim was allegedly worth about $1bn. The claim involved highly complex factual and expert issues concerning causation of loss and the quantum of repair and settled in September 2018. He is also currently involved in a complex total loss case which is fixed for trial for 8 weeks next year.
More generally, and although a personal injury action would not normally be regarded as a ‘commercial dispute,’ he was instructed by the insurance market in what was a landmark ruling on the discount rate in relation to the award of lump sum damages. In Helmot v Simon, the Guernsey Court of Appeal had assessed damages by reference to an unprecedented negative discount rate which had the effect of increasing the multiplier to unprecedented levels. The Privy Council dismissed insurers’ appeal: [2012] UKPC 5.
He also acted in a major dispute involving Forward Freight Agreements. An important issue arose as to whether a settlement agreement could be construed in the light of statements allegedly made in the course of ‘without prejudice’ negotiations. The Supreme Court has held that they can be relied on for that purpose, reversing the Court of Appeal who had ruled to the contrary. Oceanbulk v TMT [2010] 3 WLR 1424 is an important authority on the (reduced) scope of the ‘without prejudice’ rule.
More historically, in Great North Eastern Railway v Railcare , he acted for the successful claimant in its claim for substantial damages for negligence against a supplier of rail parts arising out of a derailment, vindicating a very substantial claim of approximately £3m in the face of an unsuccessful plea of contributory negligence.
Alistair Schaff QC has a pre-eminent insurance and reinsurance practice. In 2009, he was named the Chambers Bar Awards Insurance Silk of the Year. He has been frequently short-listed ever since.
In Atlas Navios v Navigators (the “B Atlantic”) [2018] UKSC 26,the Supreme Court has now dismissed Owners’ appeal in relation to a claim for a total loss of a vessel which had been detained (and ultimately confiscated) by the Venezuelan authorities prior to sailing after a large consignment of cocaine had been found professionally strapped to the underwater hull. Owners, represented by Alistair Schaff QC, had claimed on their war risk policy, for a total loss by perils insured, and insurers relied on the standard ‘customs infringement’ exclusion. Although Flaux J rejected Owners’ case that there had been wrongful political interference in the judicial process, the Judge upheld the claim on the policy on the grounds that (1) as was common ground at trial and on appeal, the affixing of the drugs which had caused the detainment recklessly subjected the vessel to the risk of detainment and accordingly amounted to ‘malicious acts’ by persons unknown within the cover and (2) as a matter of construction, the standard policy exclusion did not apply where the relevant customs ‘infringement’ was no more than the manifestation of those insured ‘malicious acts’. The decision was reversed on appeal, as a matter of construction: [2106] EWCA Civ 808. However, the Supreme Court permitted insurers to withdraw its previous concession that the relevant acts amounted to ‘malicious acts’ and has now held that the ‘malicious acts’ cover was not engaged at all, the acts of the drugs smugglers (albeit reckless) lacking the necessary spite or ill will towards the vessel to qualify as ‘malicious acts’. The decision has significantly narrowed the scope of the malicious acts cover although the exclusion was also upheld on alternative construction grounds.
Alistair Schaff QC has recently been and continues to be involved in a string of high value and complicated liability insurance or reinsurance claims which are the subject of London arbitration and in which he has acted for insurers or reinsurers. Frequently governed by New York law, and often on the Bermuda Form, these arbitrations have ranged from pharmaceutical liabilities, liabilities for patent infringement, liabilities for personal injury (mesothelioma) and maritime pollution. In the case of Equitas v MMI [2018] EWCA (Civ) 991, the Court of Appeal has now given permission to appeal in the latest case involving mesothelioma liabilities within the ‘Fairchild enclave,’ this time at the reinsurance level. The appeal from the award of the judge arbitrator, Flaux LJ, will be heard next year.
In Involnert v Aprilgrange (the “Galatea”) [2015] EWHC 2225 (Comm), a superyacht had been inadvertently insured for 13m euros when it was known by its owners and managers to be worth no more than 8m euros. Leggatt J. upheld the defence of Insurers, represented by Alistair Schaff QC, that the policy had ben avoided for material non-disclosure. Standard Life v Ace [2012] EWHC 104 (Comm) involved a claim for £100m on Standard Life’s professional liability policy in respect of a cash injection made to top up the value of the Pension Sterling Fund as a result of falls in value in the Fund. Alistair Schaff QC acted for the insurance market. The litigation raised significant issues of fact and law, including the scope of Mitigation Costs coverage in a professional liability policy and novel and difficult questions of apportionment where mitigation costs are alleged to have been incurred for both insured and uninsured purposes. The Court of Appeal dismissed Insurers’ appeal from the first instance judgment in Standard Life’s favour: [2012] EWCA Civ 1713. Aioi v Heraldglen [2013] EWHC 154 (Comm) involved an appeal from an arbitration award in which the tribunal had held that the losses arising from the attacks on the World Trade Center arose from two events, rather than one event. Alistair Schaff QC acted for the Respondent who successfully upheld the award before Field J.
Two landmark victories were for the successful reinsurers in the leading case of Wasa v Lexington [2009] UKHL 40 in which the House of Lords considered the nature of a ‘back to back’ facultative reinsurance contract and held that reinsurers were not liable to indemnify the reassured in respect of an underlying liability for property damage which had occurred outside the policy period (see [2010] J.B.L. page 9 for an article which he has written on this case); and in Equitas v R&Q [2009] EWHC 2787 (Comm) in which Gross J. upheld the use of actuarial models as a means of kick-starting the LMX spiral in the aftermath of the incorrect aggregation and/or settlement of KAC / BA and Exxon Valdez losses.
Orient Express Hotels v Generali [2010] EWHC 1186 (Comm) which involved business interruption claims arising out of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the 'other circumstances' clause and the vexed question of wider 'vicinity' damage (the case was appealed to the Court of Appeal but settled).
Mopani Copper Mines v Millennium [2009] Lloyd’s Rep IR 158, which involved principles of construction concerning the admissibility of deleted words.
Enterprise v Strand [2006] 1 LLR 500 in which he acted for the successful reinsurers in litigation involving the liability section of an energy policy.
CGU v Astrazeneca [2006] Lloyd’s Rep. IR 409 which involved the scope of a ‘back to back’ reinsurance.
GE Re v New Hampshire / Willis [2004] Lloyd’s Rep. IR 404, a film finance case in which he acted for the successful Claimant whose declining of liability on grounds of breach of warranty was upheld.
Super Chem Products Ltd v American Life & General Insurance Co. Ltd [2004] Lloyd’s Rep. IR 446, in which he acted for the successful insurers on an appeal from the Court of Appeal of Trinidad and Tobago to the Privy Council in a case which upheld the insurers’ right to rely on timebar and claims co-operation conditions to deny liability for a claim on fire policies.
Jan de Nul v Royale Belge [2002] 1 LLR 583 (CA) in which he acted for the successful insured who claimed under a third party liability policy in respect of liabilities for negligence and nuisance.
Kingscroft v Nissan [1999] Lloyds’ Rep. IR 603, in which he acted for the successful Weavers stamp companies in their claim against their quota share reinsurers in a case which raised important issues as to how underwriting pools operated.
Royal Boskalis Westminster v Mountain [1997] 2 All ER 929 (CA) in which he acted for the successful insurers in a claim involving illegality and duress arising out of the first Gulf War.
The State of the Netherlands v Youell [1998] 1 LLR 236 (paint damage to submarines and issues of sue and labour).
Fraser v Colton [1997] 1 LLR 586 (marine insurance - total loss)
Alistair Schaff QC has a major international arbitration practice. He has acted as Counsel in commercial arbitrations for over 30 years, both in London and overseas, including in the Far East and in the Caribbean. His arbitration practice ranges from disputes involving insurance or shipping to more general commercial disputes. He has recently been and continues to be actively involved as Counsel in a number of significant New York law and Bermuda Form arbitrations concerning liability insurance involving a wide range of subjects such as pharmaceutical products, patent infringement and maritime pollution, as well as an English law arbitration involving liability for mesothelioma at the reinsurance level which is now before the Court of Appeal: Equitas v MMI [2018] EWCA (Civ) 991.
Alistair Schaff QC regularly sits as a commercial arbitrator in ICC, LCIA, UNCITRAL and other arbitrations, as sole or party-appointed arbitrator or chair, dealing with a wide range of commercial disputes. Recent or ongoing cases as arbitrator include disputes involving product liabilities in the United States and elsewhere, alleged banking fraud, bribery, gas pricing, pollution, and the transfer of shares, as well as all manner of maritime and (re)insurance disputes.
On behalf of a Middle East government in a major ICC arbitration involving the successful defence of a two billion dollar dispute concerning an oil production sharing agreement with oil majors.
On behalf of political risk underwriters in an LCIA arbitration concerning energy business in Argentina.
On behalf of Far Eastern hotel resorts in Singapore and Bangkok arbitrations arising out of business interruption losses consequent on the tsunami.
On behalf of personal accident reinsurers in a London reinsurance arbitration concerning the personal accident spiral.
On behalf of London market insurers concerning hurricane damage in the Caribbean.
On behalf of liability insurers concerning pharmaceutical liabilities, patent infringement liabilities and maritime pollution liabilities.
On behalf of shipping interests concerning the commissioning and operation of a new port facility in Latin America
Selected cases as Arbitrator:
Arbitration concerning procurement of large shipbuilding contract by bribes and secret commissions
Arbitration concerning aggregation of 9/11 World Trade Center losses
Arbitration concerning maritime pollution on French and Spanish littoral (reported on appeal as London Steamship v Spain and France [2015] EWCA Civ 333).
Arbitration concerning proper construction and application of gas pricing formula in long term agreement
Arbitration concerning policy coverage for water contamination
Arbitration concerning switching of hull numbers of new shipbuildings
Arbitration concerning delayed demobilisation of drilling rig
Arbitration concerning transfer of shares in overseas company
Arbitration concerning loss of client funds and claim under E&O policy
Arbitration concerning alleged fraudulent signature of banking documents
Alistair Schaff QC has always enjoyed and is experienced in handling difficult jurisdictional issues. In 2011, he acted in the long-running Masri litigation in connection with difficult issues concerning the scope and application of Articles 27 and 28 of the Brussels 1 Regulation: Masri v CCI [2011] EWHC 1780 (Comm).
ICSOP v Equitas [2013] EWHC 3713 (Comm)
Equitas v Allstate [2009] Lloyd’s Rep. IR 227.
Metro litigation (see, by way of example, [1999] 2 LLR 724)
The “Tatry” / “Maciej Rataj” [1999] 2 WLR 181, in which he represented cargo interests before the European Court of Justice in the leading case involving Articles 21 and 22 of the Brussels Convention.
Surzur v Koros [1999] 2 LLR 611 (a Court of Appeal decision on conspiracy by unlawful means) arose in a jurisdictional context, as did:
Ocarina v Marcard Stein [1994] 2 LLR 524, the latter then proceeding into a major trial between the bank and its customer which was only concluded on appeal in 1999.
Professional negligence experience involves claims against financial service providers, solicitors, accountants/auditors and insurance brokers. In Clarks v In Focus [2014] EWCA Civ 118, Alistair Schaff QC led on a very important appeal to the Court of Appeal concerning claims for professional negligence against a financial adviser which had been previously been referred to and determined in the complainants’ favour by the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). The Court of Appeal reversed Cranston J. and accepted the submission that the application of res judicata and merger principles prevent a complainant from bringing subsequent court proceedings for claims in excess of the maximum amount awardable under the FOS jurisdiction, in circumstances where the complainant has previously accepted a FOS determination for the maximum sum awardable and thereby rendered it final and binding under the Financial Services Act. Hehas acted for insurance brokers in relation to significant commercial litigation, first involving the insurance against product liability risks and and secondly concerning the alleged loss of over $400m worth of gold in Turkey and the disputed insurance arrangements surrounding that gold. He is currently acting for liability insurers in relation to a number of mis-selling claims against financial advisers, concerning the question of aggregation.
Environcom v Miles Smith [2011] EWCA Civ 1152. The brokers had been found not liable on grounds of causation. The appeal was dismissed, essentially because the pleadings did not support the case sought to be argued.
Dunlop Haywards (DHL) Ltd v Barbon Insurance Group Ltd [2010] Lloyd's Rep. IR 149. Acting for Nationwide Building Society in a professional negligence action against insurance brokers in a case raising issues as to the extent of brokers’ duties, contributory negligence and causation of loss.
In the shipping context, Alistair Schaff QC he has over 30 years of experience in litigation and arbitration, beginning with demurrage disputes and culminating in several of the leading cases on shipping law. He has recently been named the Chambers Bar Awards Shipping Silk of the Year for 2018 (and he was also named Legal 500 Awards Shipping Silk of the Year for 2015).
Alistair Schaff QC is currently acting for insurers in a complex total loss case. He recently acted for the shipowners in Atlas Navios v Navigators (the “B Atlantic”) [2014] EHHC 4133 (Comm); [2016] EWCA Civ 808; [2018] UKSC 26, in which the Owners claim for a total loss on their war risk insurance in circumstances where cocaine had been found strapped to the vessel’s hull and the Venezuelan authorities had consequently detained the vessel was ultimately dismissed. He acted for the successful super-yacht insurers in Involnert v Aprilgrange (the “Galatea”) [2015] EWHC 2225 (Comm), where the policy was avoided for non-disclosure of the fact that the yacht had been over-valued. He acted for shipowners in a major piece of Commercial Court litigation involving microbially induced corrosion and whether such corrosion amounted to or arose from ‘perils of the seas’ or ordinary wear and tear or poor maintenance.
In other recent cases, he has also acted for shipping interests in relation to the commissioning and operation of new port facilities in Latin America and for ship purchasers in a Singapore arbitration concerning alleged illegality in the form of alleged non-compliance with IACS shipbuilding regulations. He acted for shipowners in the latest recent case on Letters of Indemnity in The “Songa Winds” [2018] EWHC 397 (Comm) and in a case on COGSA 1992 in The “Baltic Strait”.
MacWilliam v Mediterranean Shipping Company (The “Rafaella S”) - He successfully represented the cargo claimants in in what is now the leading case on the status of ‘straight’ bills of lading made out to a named consignee without the addition of the words ‘to order.’ Overturning the first instance judge (who, in turn, had upheld the decision of the arbitrators), the Court of Appeal held in [2004] QB 702 that ‘straight’ bills of lading are nonetheless ‘bills of lading’ for the purposes of the Hague-Visby Rules. The House of Lords upheld the Court of Appeal’s decision: [2005] 2 AC 423.
Carewins v Bright Fortune (FACV no 13 of 2008) - He successfully represented the cargo claimants before the Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong in a decision which not only reaffirms the presentation rule for ‘straight’ bills of lading but holds that an exceptions clause which excludes liability for the consequences of ‘misdelivery’ is not to be construed as protecting the carrier for breaching the presentation rule.
Effort Shipping v Linden [1998] AC 605 - In this shipping case which went to the House of Lords, he acted for the successful shipowners in what is the leading case on dangerous cargoes.
Joint Honours (1st class) in history and law at Magdalene College, Cambridge
"Very bright and a really good advocate." "A pleasure to work with. He is very client-friendly and very good on his feet."
‘His written advice is always decisive, I trust his advice and experience implicitly.’
‘Easy to work with and provides excellent analysis.’
‘Very thoughtful, extremely smart, commercial and gives an honest assessment of the merits.’
‘Deadly on his feet and the judges are captivated by his oratory; his written advice is always decisive, and he is prepared to give commercial guidance on the merits.’
‘Incredibly experienced and an excellent advocate.’
‘Deadly on his feet, the judges are all captivated by his oratory.’
‘An excellent advocate and a quality act who, more than anyone, has an eye for strategic considerations.’
‘His work includes insurance arbitrations.’
‘A quality act; an excellent advocate.’
‘Excellent advocate.’
"Very, very bright." "An outstandingly able advocate, who can turn his hand to anything."
"A fantastic advocate and an exceptional thinker, who is very strategic in his approach." "He is extraordinarily focused, exceedingly bright, very well-prepared and very realistic. He marshals his arguments in a way that makes one's case very cogent and attractive."
"Calm and meticulous, he is an exceedingly good silk."
"Extraordinarily focused and exceedingly bright." "User-friendly and excellent."
Absolutely first-rate; a top-notch silk, who provides first-class service.
An excellent advocate, who judges his presentation perfectly.
A go-to silk for complex insurance coverage disputes.
"He's simply a class act. Hugely bright, hugely articulate and a real pleasure to work with, he has a wonderful ability to make a complex problem understandable and straightforward."
"He has the knack of being able to make judges sit up and listen."
"Extremely methodical and very, very good."
"Possesses outstanding analytical and advocacy skills, and is a first choice for any complex reinsurance dispute."
"He's incredibly perceptive and a very shrewd tactician."
"He is very user-friendly, hard-working and an impressive lawyer."
"A phenomenal mind, an excellent and subtle advocate, a real pleasure to work with and totally reliable."
A wonderful advocate, always at the top of his game.
He has a phenomenal mind.
The go-to silk for must-win heavyweight cases.
"He is extremely user-friendly and very, very smart. He is an excellent counsel who offers really good guidance."
"You don't know whether to laugh or cry when you're using him - laugh because he is on your side, and cry because his intellect is so frightening."
"He's brilliant, sharp-witted, decisive and tremendously intelligent."
"An intellectual battering ram." "He has a top reputation and is a real force to behold."
A deep strategic thinker who is highly intelligent, practical and very client-friendly.
A compelling advocate, a winner and an all-round player.
A high-level intellect, a strong adviser and a great orator.
An excellent advocate, able to establish an easy rapport with panels.
A first-class intellect
He is very clever and has a pleasant, engaging style
"He engenders confidence and you feel he totally gets to grips with the arguments." "He has an understated and measured style, and is also incredibly bright."
"I rate him very highly because of his deep analysis of detailed and complicated insurance coverage points." "His openness to my needs as a client is matched by his intellectual rigour and his disarming and incredibly insightful presentation."
"He is very smart and analytical. He breaks down problems issue by issue, and helps you see all the steps in the road while at the same time being far and away the most user-friendly barrister to work with."
"A very easy-going and bright advocate."
‘One of the pre-eminent barristers for complex disputes.'
‘Does not promise what he cannot deliver, but always delivers what he promises.’
‘Good legal brain and client friendly.’
‘Good to have on your team.’
‘A superb advocate with a great strategic sense; very well known to London arbitrators.'
"One of the leading insurance coverage silks in London at present." "He's superbly clever, and really knows his insurance law.
Has a broad-based international arbitration practice. His insurance expertise is a particular asset to him, and he tackles disputes for a range of parties. He has notable experience in offshore jurisdictions "His work is always of the highest quality."
"He is a good advocate and a clever barrister, who's good at identifying the key issues in a case."
A lawyer with a long-established profile in the world of insurance, who regularly handles energy disputes. He is highly cerebral and sought after for hard-fought commercial battles. "He's extremely bright and has a very good knack for coming up with the right way of putting things."
‘Heavy-hitter’ Alistair Schaff QC is ‘fiendishly good’.
‘an absolutely top-drawer advocate’
the ‘outstanding’ Alistair Schaff QC, who is ‘an absolutely top-drawer advocate’
Alistair Schaff QC of 7 King's Bench Walk is well known in the market for his "excellent" insurance and energy practice and is a barrister "people turn to for a big case." Instructing solicitors love "his superpower brain," and the fact that they "can direct any problem to him" as he "always delivers the solution."
Alistair Schaff QC is "a formidable insurance lawyer," according to both clients and instructing solicitors. "He is exceptionally bright and gifted, thinks very deeply about issues and always gets it right."
"an outstanding advocate" His commercial international arbitration practice is "always of the highest quality," and he is also developing noted expertise sitting as arbitrator.
The "terribly good" Alistair Schaff QC has developed a significant international practice, particularly in the Far East and the Caribbean.
Solicitors are quick to praise the "fantastic work" provided by Alistair Schaff QC on complex energy disputes. Schaff has extensive experience of oil drilling disputes, both at sea and on land, and in recent years has been involved in high-value disputes
The "extremely quick-thinking and articulate" Alistair Schaff QC is a "first-rate opponent" as "formidable and tenacious as he is bright." Solicitors add: "He leaves no stone unturned in his approach and comes up with creative solutions."
The ever-popular Alistair Schaff QC is “the kind of advocate you really want on your side.” His skills are in considerable demand from instructing solicitors, who commend his “pragmatic and sensible advice” as well as his “down-to-earth attitude.” He has enviable experience in all kinds of maritime and international trade disputes.
The Commercial Court has just upheld a successful avoidance defence by London market marine insurers (represented by Alistair Schaff Q.C.) in a case in which a super yacht (the Galatea) was badly damaged by fire while berthed at a marina. The Galatea had been over-insured for an agreed value of 13m euros in circumstances where […]
Orient-Express Hotels Limited -v- Assicurazioni Generali SPA t/a Generali Global Risk
[2010] Lloyd’s Rep. IR 531 Simon Picken Q.C. and Sushma Ananda represented insurers in a three-week business interruption arbitration involving the impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on the New Orleans luxury hotel industry. The decision has been the subject of a section 69 appeal to the High Court, and is now on appeal to […]
Oceanbulk Shipping and Trading SA -v- TMT Asia Ltd and others
[2010] 3 All ER 282; [2010] 2 All ER (Comm) 176; [2009] 2 All ER (Comm) 1021; [2009] 1 WLR 2416; [2009] 2 All ER (Comm) 1021 Alistair Schaff QC – Evidence – Without prejudice negotiations – Scope of without prejudice rule – Construction of terms of settlement agreement – Whether evidence of without prejudice […]
Equitas -v- R&Q
[2009] EWHC 2787 (Comm) Alistair Schaff Q.C. and Simon Kerr acted in these actions concerning claims by the Claimant (“Equitas”), as assignee of the rights of Lloyd’s Syndicates (“the syndicates”), under various contracts of retrocessional excess of loss (“XL”) reinsurance (“the reinsurance contracts”), written by the Defendants (“R&Q” and “Ace” respectively) within the London Market […]
[2009] Lloyd’s Rep. IR 227; [2009] 1 All ER (Comm) 1137 Alistair Schaff Q.C. and Simon Kerr – Reinsurance – Conflict of laws – Dispute between reinsured and excess of loss reinsurers in arbitration in the US – Further dispute between excess of loss reinsurers and quota share reinsurers – QS reinsurers commencing judicial proceedings […]
[2009] Lloyd’s Rep IR 158; [2008] 2 All ER (Comm) 976 Alistair Schaff QC led Rebecca Sabben-Clare in Reinsurance matter – Slip scratched for Construction/Erection and Operational Risks – Condition for extension of coverage running from date of commissioning of final building and for operational risks inserted subject to approval by reinsurers – Condition later […]
[2007] Lloyd’s Rep IR 186; [2006] 1 Lloyd’s Rep. 500 Alistair Schaff Q.C. and Simon Kerr – The decision of Aikens J in Enterprise Oil Limited v. Strand Insurance Co Ltd confirms that what is required for recovery under a liability insurance policy is actual liability to a third party in at least the amount […]
[2005] 2 A.C. 423 Appeal to the House of Lords concerning whether a “straight” bill of lading was a “bill of lading or similar document or title” under the Hague-Visby Rules. Alistair Schaff Q.C. and Alex MacDonald successfully represented the cargo claimants in in what is now the leading case on the status of ‘straight’ […]
Super Chem Products Ltd -v- American Life & General Insurance Co. Ltd
[2004] Lloyd’s Rep. IR 446 Alistair Schaff Q.C. acted for the successful insurers on an appeal from the Court of Appeal of Trinidad and Tobago to the Privy Council in a case which upheld the insurers’ right to rely on timebar and claims co-operation conditions to deny liability for a claim on fire policies. Insurance […]
[2003] EWHC 1608 (Comm) Alistair Schaff Q.C. and Simon Picken acted for the successful claimant in its claim for substantial damages for negligence against a supplier of rail parts arising out of a derailment, vindicating a very substantial claim of approximately £3m in the face of an unsuccessful plea of contributory negligence.
[2004] Lloyd’s Rep. IR 404 Alistair Schaff Q.C. acted in this film finance case in which he represented the successful Claimant whose declining of liability on grounds of breach of warranty was upheld. Reinsurance – Film finance – Fronting – Reinsurance agreement containing warranty – No equivalent warranty in direct insurance – Reinsurance stated to […]
[2002] Lloyd’s Rep IR 589; [2002] 1 Lloyd’s Rep. 583; [2002] 1 All ER (Comm) 767; [2001] Lloyd’s Rep IR 327; [2000] 2 Lloyd’s Rep. 700 Alistair Schaff Q.C. and Simon Kerr acted for the successful insured who claimed under a third party liability policy in respect of liabilities for negligence and nuisance. Insurance (Third […]
“Abt Rasha”
[2000] 2 Lloyd’s Rep. 575; [2000] 1 Lloyd’s Rep. 8 Alistair Schaff QC and Adam Fenton – General average – Non-separation agreement – Construction – Bigham clause – Vessel carrying cargo of oil from Saudi Arabia to Rotterdam – Vessel encountered severe weather and hydraulic steering pumps became heavily damaged – Vessel diverted to port […]
Comatra Ltd And Another –v- Various Underwriters
[2000] 2 All ER (Comm) 609; [1999] 2 All ER (Comm) 1002 Alistair Schaff QC and Adam Fenton – Shipping – General average – Contribution by cargo owners – Bigham clause – Underwriters insuring claimants’ vessel for its proportion of general average – Vessel suffering damage during voyage and claimants making non-separation agreement with cargo […]
Kingscroft Ins. Co. Ltd. & Walbrook Ins. Co. Ltd & others -v- The Nissan Fire & Marine Insurance Company Limited.
[2000] 1 All ER (Comm) 272; [1999] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 603 Gavin Kealey Q.C. led Alistair Schaff Q.C. – Reinsurance – Facility quota share treaties reinsuring reinsurance pool – Pool consisting of stamp companies and other members acting as whole account quota share reinsurers – Whether companies later joining pool were parties to reinsurance – […]
Sierra Leone Telecommunications Co. Ltd. -v- Barclays Bank plc
[1998] 2 All ER 821 Timothy Saloman Q.C. led Alistair Schaff in a Conflict of laws matter – Contract – Proper law of contract – Bank – English bank holding account for Sierra Leone company owned by Sierra Leone government – Company’s articles of association providing that board of directors to consist of eight members […]
“Giannis N.K” Effort Shipping -v- Linden Management S.A. and Others
[1998] 2 WLR 206; [1998] 1 Lloyd’s Rep. 337; [1998] AC 605; [1998] 1 All ER 495; [1996] 1 Lloyd’s Rep. 577 In this shipping case which went to the House of Lords, Alistair Schaff acted for the successful shipowners in what is the leading case on dangerous cargoes. Shipping – Bill of lading – […]
Fletamentos Maritimos SA –v- Effjohn International BV
[2003] Lloyd’s Rep PN 26; [1997] 2 Lloyd’s Rep. 302; [1997] 1 Lloyd’s Rep. 295; [1996] 2 Lloyd’s Rep. 304; [1995] 1 Lloyd’s Rep. 311 Alistair Schaff – Solicitors – Counsel – Wasted costs – Principles applicable – Claim for contribution.
[1997] 2 LLR 259 Alistair Schaff acted for the operators of the ‘Piper Alpha’ platform in respect of negligence actions involving the ‘Piper Alpha’ explosions. Negligence – Professional negligence – Application to strike out – Piper Alpha rig disaster – Plaintiff alleged he suffered serious psychiatric harm which caused him loss and damage – Claim […]
Fraser Shipping Ltd. -v- Colton and Others
[1997] 1 Lloyd’s Rep. 586 Alistair Schaff – Insurance (Marine) – Actual total loss – Non-disclosure – Vessel’s destination changed from Shanghai to Huang Pu – Typhoon Koryn threatening area – Vessel proceeded away from Huang Pu and stranded on Wuzhu Zhou – Whether vessel an actual total loss – Whether defendants estopped from asserting […]
“Anangel Express” Adriatic Mare Enterprises S.A. -v- Newco A.G.
[1996] 2 Lloyd’s Rep. 299 Alistair Schaff and Charles Priday – Charter-party (Time) – Performance guarantee – Validity – Shipowners alleged defendants guaranteed performance obligations of charterers under time charter – Charterers failed to comply with obligations – Shipowners claimed under guarantee – Whether binding contract of guarantee entered into.
Hegarty –v- E. E. Caledonia Ltd.
[1996] 1 Lloyd’s Rep. 413 Alistair Schaff – Damages – Personal injury – Breach of statutory duty – Breach of duty of care – Piper Alpha disaster – Support vessel went to assistance – Plaintiff on support vessel claimed to be suffering from symptoms of post traumatic stress syndrome – Whether defendant owners of Piper […]
[1996] LRLR 8 Alistair Schaff – Reinsurance – Notice of loss clause – Inspection of records – Construction – Notification of claims and inspection of relevant documents – Whether contractual inspection refused – Whether claims properly notified – Whether plaintiffs entitled to summary judgment against defendant reinsurers.
[1996] LRLR 259 Alistair Schaff – Insurance (Public Liability) – Indemnity – Negligence – Plaintiff constructing new runway – Plaintiff liable for collision between U.S. aircraft and plaintiff’s tractor – Plaintiff claimed indemnity – Whether plaintiff negligent in failing to maintain tractor in efficient and roadworthy condition – Whether defendants had to establish recklessness on […]
Mcfarlane –v- E.E. Caledonia Ltd. (No. 2)
[1995] 1 Lloyd’s Rep. 53; [1995] 1 WLR 366; [1994] 1 Lloyd’s Rep. 16; [1994] 2 All ER 1 Alistair Schaff – Practice – Costs – Contingency fee basis – Piper Alpha disaster – Plaintiff retained services of non-party to process claim against defendant – Defendants held not liable – Defendants awarded costs – Whether […]
[1996] LRLR 156 Alistair Schaff – Reinsurance – Arbitration – Aviation quota share treaties – Marine excess of loss treaties – Reinsured claimed under treaties – Allegation that reinsured failed to operate portfolio transfer clause and made claims for non-marine losses – Whether dispute should be referred to arbitration – Whether reinsured entitled to summary […]
“Jay Ganesh” United Nations/Food And Agriculture Organisation-World Food Programme –v- Caspian Navigation Inc.
[1994] 2 Lloyd’s Rep. 358 Alistair Schaff – Charter-party (Voyage) – Notice of readiness – Laytime – Commencement – Vessel gave notice of readiness – Vessel delayed by non-availability of berth and infestation of insects requiring fumigation – Whether notice of readiness valid – Whether shipowners entitled to claim demurrage.
“Sargasso” Stargas S.P.A -v- Petredec Ltd.
[1994] 1 Lloyd’s Rep. 412 Alistair Schaff – Charter-party (Time) – Indemnity – Measure of damages – Contamination of cargo – Voyage charterers awarded damages for breach of voyage charter against time charterers – Whether disponent owners exercised reasonable care over carriage and discharge of cargo – Whether time charterers entitled to be indemnified by […]
[1994] 1 LLR 16 Alistair Schaff acted for the operators of the ‘Piper Alpha’ platform in respect of negligence actions involving the ‘Piper Alpha’ explosions. Negligence – Personal injury – Duty of care – Defendants operators of Piper Alpha Rig – Fire broke out on rig – Plaintiff suffered psychiatric injury – Whether defendants owed […]
“Linardos” Cobelfret N.V. -v- Cyclades Shipping Co. Ltd.
[1994] 1 Lloyd’s Rep. 28 Alistair Schaff – Charter-party (Voyage) – Notice of readiness – Validity – Vessel gave notice of readiness – No loading berth available but vessel not ready to load because holds insufficiently clean – Whether notice of readiness valid – Whether award should be remitted.
“Maria” Everglade Maritime Inc. V. Schiffahrtsgesellschaft Detlef Von Appen M.B.H
[1993] 2 Lloyd’s Rep. 168; [1993] 3 WLR 176; [1993] QB 780; [1993] 3 All ER 748; [1993] 3 WLR 176 Alistair Schaff – Arbitration – Award – Costs – Sealed offer – Arbitrators found in favour of owners – Arbitrators made order as to costs – Effect of sealed offer on order as to […]
“Kyriaki” Bank Of America National Trust And Savings Association –v- Chrismas And Others
[1994] 1 All ER 401; [1993] 1 Lloyd’s Rep. 137 Alistair Schaff – Practice – Limitation of time – Jurisdiction -Amendment to writ – Writ amended to substitute new defendant for defendant named in writ – Whether amendment made in time – Whether Court had jurisdiction to make ex parte order extending time for effecting […]
Mannesman Handel A.G. –v- Kaunlaran Shipping Corporation And Others (Third Parties)
[1993] 1 Lloyd’s Rep. 89 Alistair Schaff acted in this letter of credit case Banking – Letter of credit – Sale of goods of Russian origin to Chinese buyers – Difficulties in trade between Russia and China – Letter of credit issued by Swiss bank – Documents falsely describing origin of goods issued to knowledge […]
“Maciej Rataj”
[1992] 2 Lloyd’s Rep.552 Alistair Schaff led David Bailey; and Charles Priday acted in this Important Court of Appeal (later European Court) decision on 1968 Brussels Convention on ‘lis alibi pendens’. Carriage by sea – Stay of action – Forum non conveniens – Damage to goods – Actions brought in Rotterdam and England – Whether […]
[1993] 1 Lloyd’s Rep. 75 Alistair Schaff – Charter-party (Voyage) – Demurrage – Free pratique – Master to obtain free pratique on arrival of vessel – Time charterers alleged master failed to comply with orders – Whether free pratique granted promptly – Whether vessel owners in breach of time charter – Whether breach caused time […]
Trinity Insurance Company Limited –v- Singapore Aviation & General Insurance
(1993) 2 Re LR 111 Alistair Schaff – Aviation reinsurance – Quota share treaties – Whether quota share treaties constituted partnership – Inward excess of loss risk – Whether misrepresentation or lack of fair presentation of terms of contract to underwriter by plaintiffs existed in placing insurance risk – Dispute over way in which terms […]
[1991] 2 Lloyd’s Rep. 546 Alistair Schaff – Insurance (Marine) – Construction – Insured vessel suffered damage in collision on July 16, 1982 – Plaintiffs claimed under policy – Underwriters alleged policy expired July 15, 1982 – Whether phrase in policy “until July 16, 1982” inclusive.
[1991] 1 Lloyd’s Rep. 573 Alistair Schaff – Charter-party (Time) – Hire – Equitable set-off – Charterers alleged owners’ breach of charter caused delay to vessel – Charterers suffered loss and expense – Whether such loss and expense could be deducted from hire due to owners.
[1991] 2 Lloyd’s Rep. 143 Alistair Schaff – Reinsurance – Construction of slip – Defendants failed to pay any claims – Allegations of breach of premium warranty – Defendants sent demands for premiums – Whether defendants affirmed contracts – Whether defendants precluded from relying on breaches of premium warranties.
“Jordan Nicolov” Montedipe S.P.A. And Another –v- Jtp-Ro Jugotanker
[1990] 2 Lloyd’s Rep. 11 Alistair Schaff – Arbitration – Award – Remission – Technical misconduct – Arbitrators found against charterers on title to sue and that insurers’ claims time barred – Arbitrators declined to entertain claim made by insurers – Whether technical misconduct – Whether award should be remitted.
“Takafa” President Of India -v- Hariana Overseas Corporation
[1990] 1 Lloyd’s Rep. 536 Alistair Schaff – Charter-party (Voyage) – Delay – Vessel to proceed with all convenient speed – Charterers alleged various periods of delay – Whether owners in breach of obligation to proceed with all convenient speed – Whether charterers entitled to damages.
“Arras” And “Hoegh Rover” Mosvolds Rederi As -v- Food Corporation Of India
[1989] 1 Lloyd’s Rep. 131; [1986] 2 Lloyd’s Rep. 597 Alistair Schaff and Charles Priday – Arbitration – Limitation of time – Dispute as to demurrage – Whether revised claims “new claims” – Whether claims time barred – Whether owners entitled to damages representing currency loss – Whether charterers liable to pay interest on demurrage […]
“Junior K” Star Steamship Society -v- Beogradska Plovidba.
[1988] 2 Lloyd’s Rep. 583 Alistair Schaff – Charter-party (Voyage) – Negotiation – Stipulation in telex that fixture subject to details – Meaning – Whether binding charter-party concluded – Whether application to set aside writ should be granted
“Albion” President Of India -v- Davenport Marine Panama S.A.
[1987] 2 Lloyd’s Rep. 365 Alistair Schaff – Charter-party (Voyage) – Laytime – Commencement – Time to count from 24 hours after receipt of notice of readiness vessel also having been entered in Customs House – Vessel’s inward entry application filed – Final entry granted on berthing – Time at which laytime commenced.
[1987] 1 Lloyd’s Rep. 270 Alistair Schaff and Julia Dias – Arbitration – Award – Remission – Application to set aside – Interim award made in favour of owners – Whether arbitrators had misconducted themselves – Whether procedural mishap occurred – Whether award should be set aside or remitted.
7KBW are very happy to congratulate Alistair Schaff QC and Alexander MacDonald for winning at this years Chambers Bar Awards 2018. 7KBW were nominated for 8 awards, and are very happy to say we won the following: Insurance: Junior of the Year – Alexander MacDonald Shipping: Silk of the Year – Alistair Schaff QC More […]
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