Douglas is a commercial barrister specialising in arbitration, insurance, civil fraud, commodities, shipping and general commercial disputes.
Douglas’ recent led work includes Financial Conduct Authority v Arch Insurance (UK) Ltd and others [2021] UKSC 1, a leapfrog appeal to the Supreme Court concerning insurance cover for business interruption losses arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic; a US$30m claim under an offshore CAR insurance policy; and an LCIA arbitration between two Ukrainian businesspeople involving allegations of fraud and forgery.
As sole counsel, Douglas’ recent work includes advising on the effect of US-Iran sanctions on a claim under a marine insurance policy, acting in a multi-million-dollar commodities arbitration, and advising on a breach of warranty claim arising out of the sale of shares in a professional services firm.
Before commencing practice, Douglas spent three months as a Judicial Assistant in the Commercial Court where he worked on Avonwick Holdings Ltd v Azitio Holdings Ltd [2020] EWHC 1844 (Comm), a multi-billion-dollar civil fraud claim concerning the sale of a major Ukrainian corporation.
Douglas has also spent time on secondment at a Magic Circle law firm working on banking and insurance disputes, and in the shipping department of a leading City firm.
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.
Douglas has acted in and advised on a wide range of arbitrations, including under LCIA, LMAA, GAFTA and FOSFA rules. These include:
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:
Supreme Court gives judgment in business interruption insurance test case: 7KBW team acts for Hiscox
COVID-19: Insurance Bulletin 2
COVID-19 BULLETIN: AGGREGATION IN INSURANCE AND REINSURANCE
Article by Douglas Grant – Coronavirus: legal implications for the shipping industry
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)
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)
French, German, Swedish