Source: https://essexcourt.com/barrister/peter-webster/
Timestamp: 2018-12-14 12:34:33
Document Index: 19309326

Matched Legal Cases: ['EWCA ', 'UKPC ', 'UKPC ', 'art 20', 'UKSC ', 'UKPC ', 'art 20', 'EWCA ', 'EWCA ', 'EWCA ', 'UKPC ', 'UKPC ', 'Art 8', 'EWCA ']

Peter Webster - Essex Court Chambers
HomeBarristersJuniorsPeter Webster
Peter is an experienced lawyer with a broad practice in both English and international law. He has particular expertise in commercial disputes before the English courts or arbitral tribunals, in appellate work, and in international law, where his experience to date has focused on immunities, sanctions and investment law matters. He also has experience of human rights/public law and employment law matters.
Peter acts both in an advisory and a contentious context, and has experience of all stages of the dispute resolution process, from pre-issue to interim relief, trial and enforcement. His commercial case load arises from a range of sectors, including energy, financial services, life sciences, media/art, property and shipping/commodities.
Equally comfortable acting as part of a larger legal team or as sole counsel, examples of Peter’s recent sole advocacy experience include: (i) successfully representing a State in an ICC arbitration regarding a €50m bilateral investment treaty claim (five day hearing on jurisdiction, merits and quantum; January 2018); and (ii) successfully representing 11 claimants in a complex damages action for human trafficking in an application for freezing relief. Recent expertise as junior counsel includes: (i) representing Citibank, instructed by Hogan Lovells, in a significant Financial List claim regarding carbon credit trading; (ii) acting, instructed by Linklaters, in a dispute regarding alleged breach of a shareholders’ deed, including in respect of an urgent application for anti-suit relief.
Peter has experience at all levels of the English legal system and has also appeared in a number of Commonwealth appeals to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council and assisted foreign lawyers in respect of disputes before foreign courts, particularly in the appellate context. As far as arbitration is concerned, his experience encompasses proceedings under a variety of institutional rules (ICC, LCIA, UNCITRAL and ICSID). In addition to his experience as counsel in arbitration, he is working as an assistant to the chair of an ICSID tribunal.
He has been working as a lawyer for around 10 years. He trained from 2008 to 2010 as a solicitor at a leading Scottish commercial law firm, where he gained particular experience in commercial and employment law matters. From 2010 to 2011 he worked as a Judicial Assistant at the U.K. Supreme Court, in which role he worked on various high profile appeals and applications for permission to appeal in respect of commercial, employment and public law matters. Thereafter he was an associate in the disputes team of an international law firm in London, working on a range of court and arbitration matters. Having graduated top of his year, before qualifying he undertook postgraduate research and taught a variety of subjects at Edinburgh University. He has also published on a range of legal topics.
In addition to acting for commercial and State parties, Peter will in appropriate cases act pro bono. He has good French.
Notable matters which are typical of Peter’s practice include:
Junior counsel (to Vernon Flynn QC and Edmund King, instructed by Linklaters) in respect of (i) an urgent confidential application for an anti-suit injunction to restrain foreign proceedings allegedly brought in violation of the jurisdiction clause in a shareholders’ deed and (ii) a claim for various other alleged breaches of that deed.
BILTA & ors v Citibank: junior counsel (to David Scorey QC, instructed by Hogan Lovells) in a significant Financial List case regarding allegations of dishonest assistance and fraudulent trading (s 213 Insolvency Act) relating to alleged VAT fraud in the carbon credit market.
Investor v State: successfully represented, as sole counsel, a State in an ICC arbitration in January 2018 regarding a €50m bilateral investment treaty claim, cross-examining eight fact witnesses and a quantum expert.
Junior counsel in a High Court dispute regarding a pharmaceutical licence and, in particular, whether a multi-billion dollar takeover of the licensee breached provisions restricting change of control / assignment.
Acted as sole counsel, instructed by Leigh Day, to obtain freezing relief in respect of a ground-breaking claim by 11 agricultural workers for damages relating to human trafficking / modern slavery.
Representing, as junior counsel, a French city in respect of a claim for the return of various stolen pieces of art.
Stein v Chodiev [2014] EWHC 1201 (Comm): junior counsel in 11-day Commercial Court trial regarding the bonus entitlement of a corporate financier.
Al Jazeera v Egypt: acting for Al Jazeera with Toby Landau QC and Sean Aughey as part of the counsel team, instructed by Carter Ruck, in respect of this high-profile ICSID claim regarding Egypt’s treatment of Al-Jazeera and its journalists following the Arab Spring.
Hydro srl & others v Albania: acted as part of the team representing Albania in respect of this c. €700m ICSID claim involving alleged investments in the energy and media sectors. The claim involved a significant application for provisional measures to restrain domestic criminal proceedings. Previously also acted as part of the team that successfully defended Albania from a parallel ICC arbitration regarding a failed hydroelectric dam concession.
Various advices on State immunity matters.
Janah v Libya [2015] EWCA Civ 33: junior counsel in this appeal to the Court of Appeal regarding the compatibility of UK law on state immunity in respect of employment law claims with the ECHR and EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
Mauritius Revenue Authority v Chettiar [2015] UKPC 48: junior counsel in appeal to Judicial Committee of the Privy Council regarding the constitutional law of Mauritius and the position of the Vice President.
Peter has substantial experience, acting alone and as junior counsel, in both commercial and international law arbitrations and matters arising out of them, under a wide variety of arbitral rules, including ICC, LCIA, UNCITRAL and ICSID. His commercial arbitration experience includes both claims governed by foreign law as well as English law. This experience includes:
Investor v State: acted alone for the successful respondent in respect of a €50m BIT claim in respect of two failed construction projects, which had been abandoned after the eruption of civil unrest. The claimant advanced claims under various treaty standards (including full protection and security, fair and equitable treatment and a “war damage” clause). The claim was dismissed following a five-day hearing on jurisdiction, merits and quantum in 2018.
Hydro srl and others v Albania: acted as part of the counsel team representing Albania in respect of this c. €700m ICSID claim, which involves alleged investments in the energy and media sectors. The claims related in particular to allegedly wrongful domestic criminal and tax proceedings and involved a significant application for provisional measures.
Investor v State – acting for the claimant, as junior to Sam Wordsworth QC and alongside Fietta Law. Peter appeared as part of the counsel team at a jurisdiction hearing in The Hague in 2017. The case is now at the merits stage.
Secretary to Sir Franklin Berman, President of Tribunal in ICSID case MOL v Croatia.
Assisting three leading international law counsel with the preparation of detailed advice regarding the effect of an international investment arbitration award. This matter raised various complex questions of international law, including questions of issue estoppel and res judicata and whether one state would act in breach of international law if it failed to give effect to the award and instead gave effect to other judgments rendered in the state against which the investment award was made.
Sovereign Wealth Fund v Joint Venture Partner: Peter acted, initially as sole and subsequently as junior counsel (instructed by Squire Paton Boggs UK) for the claimant in this long-running English law ICC arbitration. It involved claims under a Shareholders’ Agreement and Subscription Agreement and various related tort claims for misrepresentation and conspiracy, all arising out of a failed joint venture in Eastern Europe. The claimant maintained that the investment had been procured by fraud and then misappropriated. Peter cross examined witnesses at the hearings and made oral closing submissions.
Junior counsel (to Vernon Flynn QC) representing a commercial party in a 6-day LCIA arbitration relating to a gas supply contract (foreign applicable law).
Junior counsel to (Vernon Flynn QC) in LCIA arbitration regarding a power purchase agreement (foreign applicable law). The case involved a challenge to the tribunal’s jurisdiction because of alleged non-compliance with the dispute resolution provisions in the contract followed by a merits hearing.
Acting as junior counsel for a State in an LCIA arbitration (English applicable law) in respect of claims arising out of a consultancy agreement.
Assisting Toby Landau QC with advice in respect of the effect of withdrawal of claims after a peremptory order was made by a tribunal.
Sole counsel for claimant in an LCIA arbitration claiming under a guarantee in respect of Share Purchase Agreement (English applicable law).
Sole counsel for claimant in a claim for commission earned under an agency agreement (LCIA arbitration; English applicable law).
Sole counsel for award creditors seeking permission to enforce award under s 66 Arbitration Act 1996 and related freezing and asset disclosure relief.
Assisting with the preparation of a very complex appeal before a foreign court regarding the enforcement of an arbitration award. In addition to raising issues regarding the basis for the enforcement of foreign awards in the relevant jurisdiction, the case raised complex points of constructive trusts and economic torts and related choice of law questions.
Junior counsel in pending appeal to Judicial Committee of Privy Council regarding application to set aside award (Mauritius seat).
Before joining chambers, Peter was involved as an associate solicitor in various arbitration matters, including a High Court application for recognition and enforcement of an arbitral award and for an interim freezing injunction.
He co-authored a chapter regarding the LCIA Rules in Cordero-Moss (ed) International Commercial Arbitration: Different Forms and their Features (CUP, 2013) and is part of the team working on a new edition of Mustill and Boyd on Commercial Arbitration. Peter is focusing on the text regarding challenges to arbitration awards.
Peter is currently representing Citibank in a significant Financial List claim regarding carbon credit trading, instructed by Hogan Lovells (BILTA & ors v Citibank). In addition to that, his experience includes:
Todaysure Matthews Ltd v Marketing Ways Services: junior counsel (to Richard Millett QC) in a Commercial Court claim regarding allegedly improper draw-down on a performance guarantee and related claims under an international sale of goods contract.
Junior counsel (to Edmund King) for defendants to a High Court claim by a bank for sums due under an invoice financing agreement and associated guarantee.
Sole counsel for claimant in High Court claim for payment under a letter of credit, including advising in respect of set-aside of default judgment.
Advising, as junior counsel, a foreign enterprise which was subject to an investigation by the relevant foreign financial services authority in respect of compliance with takeover rules.
Assisted counsel team with the preparation of an appeal to the Privy Council in Rainbow Insurance Company Ltd v Financial Services Commission [2015] UKPC 15, a judicial review into the withdrawal of a licence for a financial services company.
Sole counsel (instructed by Jones Day) in a stakeholder (interpleader) claim raised by a bank in respect of a disputed account.
Acted for claimant in LCIA arbitration in respect of a claim to enforce a guarantee provided in respect of a share sale.
Advising in respect of ex parte relief available to freeze an account and disclosure remedies available against a bank in respect of a substantial prospective contractual claim.
Prior to joining chambers, assisted with advice as to the operation of an escrow account in connection with a contact relating to the operation of an oil-well.
Peter has experience in this type of litigation and also enforcement work. This includes:
Acted as sole counsel for a group of 11 claimants to obtain ex parte freezing relief in respect of a complex damages claim, which advances numerous contractual, tortious and statutory causes of action. Peter also to advised on compliance with / enforcement of the freezing order, which was continued by consent.
Acting as junior counsel to David Scorey QC in BILTA & ors v Citibank (brought following the Supreme Court’s decision in BILTA v Jetivia), defending claims of dishonest assistance and fraudulent trading under s 213 Insolvency Act.
Acting as sole, and then junior, counsel for claimant in a long running ICC arbitration (English applicable law) concerning the allegedly fraudulent sale of and conduct of a business. The case involved various claims under a Shareholders’ Agreement and Subscription Agreement and related tort claims for fraudulent misrepresentation and conspiracy.
Advising alone in respect of potential claims against a contract party which allegedly absconded with substantial sums and relief available against its bank.
Junior counsel (to Edmund King) for defendant in substantial Chancery Division claim arising out of property transactions carried out by (allegedly sham) corporate vehicles in the 1980s and 1990s, advancing conspiracy and trust claims. The claim was listed for an 8 week trial but settled.
Sole counsel for Part 20 Defendants in a Chancery Division claim for breach of fiduciary duty / unlawful distributions.
Acting as sole counsel for various claimants in respect of enforcement of a Tomlin Order.
Peter’s experience of commercial chancery work includes:
Instructed by Hogan Lovells, junior counsel for Citibank in BILTA & ors v Citi, a significant Financial List claim for dishonest assistance and fraudulent trading under s 213 Insolvency Act.
Sole counsel, instructed by Jones Day, for claimant bank in “stakeholder” (interpleader) action.
Junior counsel (to Edmund King) for defendant in substantial Chancery Division claim arising out of property transactions carried out by (allegedly sham) corporate vehicles in the 1980s and 1990s, advancing conspiracy and trust claims.
Acting as sole counsel for defendant company in respect of claim by former CFO that he is entitled to shares pursuant to an option agreement.
Acting as sole counsel for claimant (former employee) in respect of claim for transfer of shares.
Drafted particulars of claim for unfair prejudice petition in respect of the conduct of a joint venture company working on an undersea cable project.
Instructed to assist with the preparation of an appeal to a foreign court regarding the court’s jurisdiction to challenge the determination of shares’ value by expert appraisers appointed under statute.
Peter acts in and advises on a wide variety of commercial disputes in both litigation and arbitration for clients from a wide range of industries as both sole and as junior counsel.
Examples of his court or arbitration instructions include:
BILTA & ors v Citibank: junior counsel (to David Scorey QC) instructed by Hogan Lovells in respect of this Financial Claim arising out of carbon credit trading. The claim is one of a number of such claims brought following the Supreme Court’s decision in BILTA v Jetivia [2015] UKSC 23.
Urgent anti-suit injunction: junior counsel (to Vernon Flynn QC and Edmund King), instructed by Linklaters, in respect of (i) an urgent anti-suit injunction to restrain foreign proceedings allegedly brought in violation of the jurisdiction clause in a shareholders’ deed and (ii) a claim for various other alleged breaches of the shareholders’ deed related to a takeover and refusal to issue shares.
Freezing injunction: Acting as sole counsel for a group of 11 claimants to obtain ex parte freezing relief in respect of a complex damages claim, advancing numerous contractual, tortious and statutory causes of action. Peter has continued to advise on enforcement of the freezing order, which was continued by consent.
Pharmaceutical licence dispute: junior counsel (to Edmund King) for the defendants in a High Court dispute regarding a pharmaceutical licence. The defendants were one of the world’s largest generic drug manufacturers. The case involved both claims for unpaid royalties under a licence agreement and a substantial claim for damages, alleging that a takeover rendered the licensee in breach of a prohibition on assignment.
Sovereign Wealth Fund v Joint Venture Partner: acting as sole, and then junior, counsel for claimant in a long running ICC arbitration (English applicable law) concerning the allegedly fraudulent sale of and conduct of a business. The case involved various claims under a Shareholders’ Agreement and Subscription Agreement and related tort claims for misrepresentation and conspiracy.
Stein v Chodiev [2014] EWHC 1201 (Comm): junior counsel (to Vernon Flynn QC) in an 11 day Commercial Court trial of a claim by a corporate financier against three oligarchs regarding his bonus entitlement.
Todaysure Matthews Ltd v Marketing Ways Services: junior counsel (to Richard Millett QC) in a Commercial Court claim relating to an international sale of goods contract and allegedly improper draw-down on a performance guarantee. This included an application to set aside an order on the basis that it had been obtained by material non-disclosure: [2015] EWHC 64 (Comm).
Rivnu v United Docks [2017] UKPC 24: junior counsel in this Privy Council appeal regarding proper construction of the option in a shareholders’ agreement.
Junior counsel (to Vernon Flynn QC) in 6-day LCIA arbitration relating to a gas supply contract (foreign applicable law), including various arguments regarding a “take or pay” clause.
Junior counsel (to Vernon Flynn QC) in LCIA arbitration (foreign applicable law) relating to a power purchase agreement.
Instructed to assist with the preparation of an appeal to a foreign court regarding the jurisdiction to challenge the determination of shares’ value by expert appraisers appointed under statute.
Assisting with an application for permission to appeal to Judicial Committee of Privy Council regarding claim to enforce foreign judgments and whether the defendant had submitted to jurisdiction.
Sole counsel for two Part 20 Defendants in a claim for breach of fiduciary duty / unlawful distributions.
Sole counsel resisting challenge to enforcement of a Spanish judgment.
Research / advice regarding remedies for repudiatory breach of a pharmaceutical licence. Drafting submissions regarding time bar in respect of claims for breach of a sale of goods contract.
Sole counsel for claimant in respect of High Court claim under letter of credit, including advising in respect of application to set aside default judgment.
Sole counsel in various cases regarding failure to transfer / issue shares.
Appeared as sole counsel in various commercial claims in the County Court.
He also has an active advisory practice in respect of general commercial matters, including such matters as:
Advising (junior counsel to Paul Stanley QC, instructed by Covington & Burling) in respect of potential grounds to appeal a Commercial Court decision regarding a financing agreement.
Advising on a discrete point in respect of conspiracy claim brought by Chevron against Woodsford Litigation Funding in Gibraltar.
Advising alone whether commission was due to an agent appointed under a contract for the sale of a business.
Advising alone in respect of the proper construction of an agreement regulating an investment syndicate and the operation of buy-out provisions.
Assisting with advice regarding the effects of termination of a share purchase agreement including, in particular, whether deposits could be retained.
Advising alone in respect of the termination of an agency agreement and impact of counterparty being placed in administration.
Advising alone in respect of claims for repayment under a services contract and potential interim relief available against counterparty and its bank.
Peter has an interest in, and experience of, employment law.
Soon after commencing practice, he was junior counsel in an 11-day high profile commercial court trial regarding a corporate financier’s bonus arrangements (Stein v Chodiev [2014] EWHC 1201 (Comm)).
Junior counsel for Libya in its appeal to the Court of Appeal in Janah v Libya [2015] EWCA Civ 33, which concerns state immunity in respect of embassy employees.
Acted (as sole counsel) for 11 claimants seeking ex parte freezing relief in respect of a ground breaking claim for damages for human trafficking / modern slavery – the underlying proceedings involve numerous heads of statutory and common law employment claim.
Peter appeared unled in the Employment Tribunal for the claimant in an unfair dismissal, breach of contract and unlawful deduction of wages claim.
Currently acting in various cases involving former employees claiming to be entitled to shares.
He had previous experience of employment matters when training as a solicitor, having worked as part of a highly ranked employment law team on the defence of various tribunal claims and an appeal to the EAT.
Examples of Peter’s practice in this area are:
In a ground-breaking claim for damages by 11 claimants who say they were subject to human trafficking / modern slavery, Peter acted as sole counsel (instructed by Leigh Day) to obtain freezing relief and has also advised in respect of other matters.
Advised, as sole counsel, in respect of the compatibility of an asset freezing regime with the ECHR and international law.
Al Jazeera v Egypt: acting for Al Jazeera with Toby Landau QC and Sean Aughey as part of the counsel team, instructed by Carter Ruck, in respect of this high-profile investment treaty claim regarding Egypt’s treatment of Al-Jazeera and its journalists following the Arab Spring.
Junior counsel in Janah v Libya [2015] EWCA Civ 33 in the Court of Appeal and initially on appeal to the Supreme Court, which concerned the compatibility of UK law on state immunity in respect of employment law claims with the ECHR and EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
Application relating to the conduct of a High Court trial which required the right to privacy to be balanced against the right to a fair trial.
Junior counsel in application for permission to appeal in ZZ v Home Secretary (raising Article 8 issues).
Assisted various senior counsel (both within and outside chambers) with preparation of opinion considering, among other things, the compliance of trial in absentia with Article 14 ICCPR, the reliance that could be placed on a conviction in absentia to request mutual legal assistance from other states, and whether other states would themselves breach international law by providing such assistance.
In his role as judicial assistant at the Supreme Court, when he was involved in such cases as Al Rawi v Security Service / Tariq v Home Office (Article 6 ECHR), Cadder v Her Majesty’s Advocate (Article 6 ECHR), London Borough of Hounslow v Powell (Article 8 ECHR), Adams v Secretary of State for Justice (Article 14(6) ICCPR), McCaughey & Anr (Re an application for judicial review) (Article 2 ECHR)
Peter previously was an Assistant Editor of the European Human Rights Reports. He has also published (as part of an edited collection of essays) a chapter on the impact of the Human Rights Act and the European Convention on contract law.
Advised a foreign seller of goods who had been the subject of fraud in respect of potential claims against an English based carrier who had delivered goods to the fraudster.
Junior counsel in Commercial Court claim (Todaysure Matthews v Marketing Ways Services) regarding sale of goods contract and allegedly improper draw-down on related performance guarantee.
Junior counsel in LCIA arbitration relating to a gas supply contract (foreign applicable law) regarding, in particular, functioning of “take or pay” clause.
Junior counsel in LCIA arbitration regarding power purchase agreement (foreign applicable law).
Sole counsel for claimant in LCIA arbitration relating to commission due under agency agreement for sale of metal.
Sole counsel for claimant in High Court claim regarding payment under letter of credit.
Peter has experience acting for clients in the media, art and entertainment sector.
Representing, as junior counsel, a French town in respect of its claim for the return of various stolen works of art.
Advised, as sole counsel, a foreign TV station in respect of potential claims against an English advertising agency.
Acting for Al Jazeera, instructed by Carter Ruck, in its claim against Egypt before an ICSID tribunal in respect of its treatment of Al Jazeera journalists during the Arab Spring.
Peter has been involved in various public law matters, including:
Advising in respect of the compatibility of an asset freeze with the ECHR.
Advising (as junior counsel) a foreign company that was subject to an investigation by the relevant foreign financial services authority in respect of its compliance with takeover rules, including advice in respect of the conduct of the investigation and potential public law grounds for challenging the authority’s decision.
Junior counsel in Court of Appeal case of Janah v Libya [2015] EWCA Civ 33 concerning the compatibility of the UK State Immunity Act with Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Article 47 EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
Junior counsel for defendant resisting High Court claim by DEFRA for repayment of agricultural subsidy.
Assisting larger counsel team preparing an appeal in a judicial review of regulator’s decision to suspend the registration of a financial services business: Rainbow Insurance Company Ltd v Financial Services Commission [2015] UKPC 15.
Junior counsel in Mauritius Revenue Authority v Chettiar [2015] UKPC 48, a Privy Council appeal concerning the Mauritian constitution and the position of the Mauritian Vice-President.
Junior counsel in application to Court of Appeal for permission to appeal in ZZ v Home Secretary (concerning Art 8 ECHR and EU Citizenship Directive and involving an application by respondent for interim relief).
While working at the Supreme Court, Peter gained considerable experience of public law matters, being involved in such cases as Al Rawi v Security Service / Tariq v Home Office (Article 6 ECHR), Cadder v Her Majesty’s Advocate (Article 6 ECHR), London Borough of Hounslow v Powell (Article 8 ECHR), Adams v Secretary of State for Justice (Article 14(6) ICCPR), McCaughey & Anr (Re an application for judicial review) (Article 2 ECHR), Brent LBC v Risk Management Partners (EU public procurement rules), Patmalniece v SoS for Work and Pensions (discrimination and compatibility of “right to reside” test with EU law).
Peter has considerable experience in international law matters, both before international tribunals and in a domestic context, in particular in investment law, immunity and sanctions matters. Examples of Peter’s work in this field include:
Janah v Libya [2015] EWCA Civ 33: junior counsel to Toby Landau QC and Prof Dan Sarooshi in Court of Appeal; case concerned whether UK law regarding state immunity from employment claims was compatible with the ECHR and EU law.
Investor v State: instructed as sole lead counsel for the State in respect of a BIT claim for US$165m.
Hydro srl and others v Albania: acted as part of the counsel team representing Albania in respect of this c. €700m ICSID claim, which involves alleged investments in the energy and media sectors. The claims related in particular to allegedly wrongful domestic criminal and tax proceedings and involved a significant application for provisional measures to restrain domestic criminal proceedings. In addition to being principally responsible for drafting large parts of the written submissions, Peter cross-examined foreign law experts at the hearing.
Investor v State: acting for the claimant, as junior to Sam Wordsworth QC and alongside Fietta Law. Peter appeared as part of the counsel team at a jurisdiction hearing in The Hague in 2017. The case is now at the merits stage.
Sole counsel advising in respect of legality of an asset freeze.
Junior counsel, giving urgent advice to foreign State regarding sensitive immunity matter relating to seizure of State property.
Junior counsel in respect of opinion on State immunity matter, concerning in particular the application of the commercial transaction exception.
Junior counsel in respect of opinion concerning the effect of sanctions on a ship purchase contract.
Assisting three leading international law counsel with the preparation of a detailed advice regarding the effect of an international investment arbitration award and the enforceability abroad of a domestic court judgment in light of the award. This matter raised various complex questions of international law, including questions of issue estoppel and res judicata and whether one state would act in breach of international law if it failed to give effect to the award and instead gave effect to other judgments rendered in the state against which the award was made.
Assisting with preparation of an opinion regarding potential BIT claims in respect of substantial construction project, including issues of the scope of the FET obligation and umbrella clause and questions of attribution.
Assistant to Sir Franklin Berman in ICSID case MOL v Croatia.
Peter gained a good deal of experience during pupillage (with Nigel Eaton QC) in dry shipping matters and related insurance law points. Since commencing practice his experience has included:
Advised, as junior counsel, in respect of potential frustration of a ship purchase contract because of EU sanctions.
Assisted with the preparation of submissions in respect of a preliminary issue regarding the jurisdiction of a tribunal in a dispute arising under various ship management contracts.
Various matters in which Peter has been involved have raised unjust enrichment points including, in particular, questions regarding the fate of deposits or part payments following termination of a contract.
2012 – 2013 Pupillage at Essex Court Chambers (with Nigel Eaton QC)
2011 – 2012 Associate, International Disputes team of Baker Botts (UK) LLP, London
2010 – 2011 Judicial Assistant to Lord Hope of Craighead and Lord Walker of Gestingthorpe, UK Supreme Court
2008 – 2010 Trainee Solicitor, Brodies LLP (Edinburgh) with a particular focus on commercial dispute resolution and employment law
2004 – 2010 Part-time tutor and lecturer at the Universities of Edinburgh and Strathclyde (2009) in commercial, company and contract law
2008 Ph D, The University of Edinburgh
2007 Dip LP, The University of Edinburgh
2004 LL B (Hons), First Class, The University of Edinburgh
2012 Shelford Scholarship (Lincoln’s Inn)
2008 Munkman Prize (for public international law)
2005 – 2007 Arts and Humanities Research Council award (to fund Ph D)
2004 – 2007 Edinburgh Legal Education Trust Scholarship (to fund Ph D)
2000 – 2004 A variety of academic prizes, including:
Lord President Cooper Memorial Prize Scholarship (awarded to law student graduating top of year)
First John Hastie Scholarship (for best performance in first and second year subjects)
Tods Murray Prize (for commercial law)
McGrigor Donald Prize (for commercial law)
Margaret Balfour Keith Prize (for constitutional law).