Douglas Grant

Douglas Grant

Call: 2018

‘Doug is clearly extremely intelligent with an eye for detail.‘

Insurance and Reinsurance, Legal 500 2024

Practice Profile


Douglas is a commercial barrister specialising in arbitration, insurance, civil fraud, commodities, shipping and general commercial disputes. He is listed in The Legal 500 2024 as a “rising star” in insurance and reinsurance.

Douglas’ current and recent work includes:

  • Russian aircraft claims, acting for aircraft lessors in claims worth c.US$500m for the loss of aircraft following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, led by Stephen Hofmeyr KC, Josephine Higgs KC and Stephen Du.
  • A v B, an arbitration concerning insurance cover for corporate liabilities arising out of a large-scale fraud in the US, led by Rebecca Sabben-Clare KC.
  • Tyson International Company Ltd v Partner Re Insurance Europe SE [2023] EWHC 3423 (Comm), acting for the successful defendant in obtaining a stay of English proceedings under s.9 of the Arbitration Act 1996 and resisting an anti-arbitration injunction, led by James Brocklebank KC.
  • C v D, a Bermuda Form arbitration concerning defective products sold in the US market, led by Gavin Kealey KC and Sushma Ananda.
  • Technip Saudi Arabia Limited v The Mediterranean and Gulf Cooperative Insurance and Reinsurance Company [2023] EWHC 1859 (Comm), acting for the successful defendant in a US$31m claim under a policy of offshore construction all risks insurance, led by James Brocklebank KC.
  • R (Manchikalapati & Ors) v Financial Services Compensation Scheme[2022] EWHC 2228 (Admin); [2023] EWCA Civ 1006, a judicial review of a decision by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, led by James Drake KC.
  • Greggs Plc v Zurich Insurance Plc[2022] EWHC 2545 (Comm), a preliminary issues trial concerning the aggregation of Covid-19 business interruption losses and deductions for government support, led by Peter MacDonald Eggers KC and Sandra Healy.
  • FCA v Arch [2021] UKSC 1, a leapfrog appeal to the Supreme Court concerning insurance cover for business interruption losses arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic, led by Jonathan Gaisman KC and Adam Fenton KC.
  • X v Y, an LCIA arbitration between two Ukrainian businesspeople involving allegations of fraud and forgery, led by Stephen Hofmeyr KC.

As sole counsel, Douglas’ current and recent work includes several LMAA arbitrations concerning charterparty disputes and a claim for over £500,000 in unpaid insurance broker’s commission.

Before coming to the Bar, Douglas graduated from the University of Oxford with a First Class degree in Modern Languages. He speaks French, German and Swedish.

  • Tyson International Company Ltd v Partner Re Insurance Europe SE [2023] EWHC 3423 (Comm), acting for the successful defendant in obtaining a stay of English proceedings under s.9 of the Arbitration Act 1996 and resisting an anti-arbitration injunction, led by James Brocklebank KC.
  • A v B, an arbitration concerning insurance cover for corporate liabilities arising out of a large-scale fraud in the US, led by Rebecca Sabben-Clare KC.
  • C v D, a Bermuda Form arbitration concerning defective products sold in the US market, led by Gavin Kealey KC and Sushma Ananda.
  • Acting in a hard-fought LCIA arbitration between two Ukrainian businesspeople involving allegations of fraud and forgery, led by Stephen Hofmeyr KC.
  • Acting as sole counsel in a multi-million-dollar commodities arbitration concerning the effect of a certificate final clause.
  • Acting as sole counsel in a multi-million-dollar commodities arbitration involving a dispute as to whether a binding contract had been concluded.
  • Acting as sole counsel in a GAFTA arbitration, including a successful appeal to the GAFTA Board of Appeal.
  • Acting in and advising on a number of LMAA arbitrations, including in relation to charterparty, ship sale and purchase, and superyacht disputes.
  • Russian aircraft claims, acting for aircraft lessors in claims worth c.US$500m for the loss of aircraft following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, led by Stephen Hofmeyr KC, Josephine Higgs KC and Stephen Du.
  • Tyson International Company Ltd v Partner Re Insurance Europe SE [2023] EWHC 3423 (Comm), acting for the successful defendant in obtaining a stay of English proceedings under s.9 of the Arbitration Act 1996 and resisting an anti-arbitration injunction, led by James Brocklebank KC.
  • Technip Saudi Arabia Limited v The Mediterranean and Gulf Cooperative Insurance and Reinsurance Company [2023] EWHC 1859 (Comm), acting for the successful defendant in a US$31m claim under a policy of offshore construction all risks insurance, led by James Brocklebank KC.
  • Greggs Plc v Zurich Insurance Plc [2022] EWHC 2545 (Comm), a preliminary issues trial concerning the aggregation of Covid-19 business interruption losses and deductions for government support, led by Peter MacDonald Eggers KC and Sandra Healy.
  • FCA v Arch [2021] UKSC 1, a leapfrog appeal to the Supreme Court concerning insurance cover for business interruption losses arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic, led by Jonathan Gaisman KC and Adam Fenton KC.
  • Acting in a hard-fought LCIA arbitration between two Ukrainian businesspeople involving allegations of fraud and forgery, led by Stephen Hofmeyr KC.
  • Acting, as sole counsel, for the Defendant in a multi-million pound breach of warranty claim arising out of the sale of shares in a professional services firm.
  • Russian aircraft claims, acting for aircraft lessors in claims worth c.US$500m for the loss of aircraft following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, led by Stephen Hofmeyr KC, Josephine Higgs KC and Stephen Du.
  • A v B, an arbitration concerning cover for corporate liabilities arising out of a large-scale fraud in the US, led by Rebecca Sabben-Clare KC.
  • Tyson International Company Ltd v Partner Re Insurance Europe SE [2023] EWHC 3423 (Comm), acting for the successful defendant in obtaining a stay of English proceedings under s.9 of the Arbitration Act 1996 and resisting an anti-arbitration injunction, led by James Brocklebank KC.
  • C v D, a Bermuda Form arbitration concerning defective products sold in the US market, led by Gavin Kealey KC and Sushma Ananda.
  • Technip Saudi Arabia Limited v The Mediterranean and Gulf Cooperative Insurance and Reinsurance Company [2023] EWHC 1859 (Comm), acting for the successful defendant in a US$31m claim under a policy of offshore construction all risks insurance, led by James Brocklebank KC.
  • R (Manchikalapati & Ors) v Financial Services Compensation Scheme [2022] EWHC 2228 (Admin); [2023] EWCA Civ 1006, a judicial review of a decision by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, led by James Drake KC.
  • Greggs Plc v Zurich Insurance Plc [2022] EWHC 2545 (Comm), a preliminary issues trial concerning the aggregation of Covid-19 business interruption losses and deductions for government support, led by Peter MacDonald Eggers KC and Sandra Healy.
  • FCA v Arch [2021] UKSC 1, a leapfrog appeal to the Supreme Court concerning insurance cover for business interruption losses arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic, led by Jonathan Gaisman KC and Adam Fenton KC.
  • Acting as sole counsel in a £500,000 claim for unpaid insurance broker’s commission.
  • Acting as sole counsel in a £800,000 insurance broker’s negligence claim.
  • Acting as sole counsel for the insured in a £2m property insurance dispute.
  • Advising on the effect of US-Iran sanctions on a claim under a marine insurance policy.
  • Advising in relation to professional indemnity cover for cladding-related claims following the Grenfell Tower disaster.
  • Acting in a hard-fought LCIA arbitration between two Ukrainian businesspeople involving allegations of fraud and forgery, led by Stephen Hofmeyr KC.
  • Assisting in the successful appeal from a three-week civil fraud trial in the Commercial Court on the grounds that the judge had failed to give adequate reasons for his decision: Simetra Global Assets Limited v Ikon Finance Limited [2019] EWCA Civ 1413.
  • Acting for the sellers in a claim under a dishonoured letter of credit.
  • Acting as sole counsel in a GAFTA arbitration, including a successful appeal to the GAFTA Board of Appeal.
  • Acting as sole counsel in a multi-million-dollar commodities arbitration concerning the effect of a certificate final clause.
  • Acting as sole counsel in a multi-million-dollar commodities arbitration involving a dispute as to whether a binding contract had been concluded.
  • Advising an EU commodities trader in relation to compliance with global anti-corruption and sanctions regimes.

Douglas has experience of acting in and advising on a wide range of shipping disputes, and has spent six months on secondment at a leading shipping firm. Recent work includes:

  • Acting for the owners in a claim for general average, led by Stephen Kenny KC.
  • Acting in a LMAA arbitration concerning an agreement for the sale and purchase of a ship terminated during the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • Advising on the negligent management defence under the Hague-Visby Rules.
  • Advising on a dangerous cargo claim relating to the shipment of Indonesian coal.
  • Acting as sole counsel for the insured in a £800,000 broker’s negligence claim.
  • Acting for the Financial Reporting Council in an investigation into the audits of a FTSE 100 company, led by Noel Casey.
  • Assisting in a claim regarding auditors’ failure to detect fraud by the company’s director.
  • Assisting in advising on a claim against a solicitor for failure to restrain the presentation of a winding-up petition.
  • Assisting in advising on a claim against the trustees of a pension fund.

‘Doug is clearly extremely intelligent with an eye for detail.‘

Insurance and Reinsurance, Legal 500 2024

  • Bar Professional Training Course, City University, London: Very Competent (2018)

    Graduate Diploma in Law, City University, London: Distinction (1st in year) (2017)

    BA Modern Languages, University of Oxford: First Class (2015)

    Scholarships & Awards

    Winner, City University Senior Moot (2018)

    Winner, Lincoln’s Inn Inter-Provider Mooting Competition (2018)

    Winner, European Law Moot Competition (2017)

    Winner, QUB/HSF Corporate Law Moot (2017)

    3 Verulam Buildings Prize for Best Overall Performance on the GDL (2017)

    Jean Monnet Prize for Best Performance in EU Law (shared) (2017)

    Denning, Haldane and Hardwicke Scholarships (Lincoln’s Inn)

    Languages

    French, German, Swedish

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