Insurance, Chambers UK Bar 2024
Chambers & Partners
Peter MacDonald Eggers KC is a “very user-friendly and commercial barrister” who specialises in all aspects of commercial law, with a particular focus on insurance and reinsurance , shipping and transport, energy, commodities and international trade, financial services, professional negligence, and international investment projects. Peter appears before the Commercial Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court and in commercial and international arbitrations. Peter has also appeared before Courts in other jurisdictions. Peter also accepts appointments to act as an arbitrator.
During 2017-2023, Peter MacDonald Eggers KC was appointed by the Lord Chief Justice as a Deputy High Court Judge, assigned to the Queen’s/King’s Bench Division.
Peter has appeared in a number of the recent leading commercial cases, including Technip Saudi Arabia Ltd v The Mediterranean and Gulf Cooperative Insurance and Reinsurance Company (WELCAR insurance; collision with platform); Aercap Ireland Ltd v AIG Europe SA (aviation insurance; leased aircraft in Russia); Greggs plc v Zurich Insurance plc (business interruption insurance; COVID-19); Piraeus Bank AE v Antares Underwriting Ltd (mortgagees interest insurance); Quadra Commodities SA v XL Insurance Co SE (cargo insurance; warehouse fraud); ABN AMRO Bank NV v Royal and Sun Alliance Insurance plc (cargo insurance); Royal and Sun Alliance Insurance plc v Textainer Group Holdings plc (container insurance and subrogation); Enemalta plc v Standard Club Asia Ltd (collision and jurisdiction); Axis Corporate Capital UK II Ltd v ABSA Group Ltd (jurisdiction and reinsurance); Aegean Baltic Bank SA v Renzlor Shipping SA (ship mortgage and hull insurance); Generali Italia SpA v Pelagic Fisheries Corp (hull insurance, jurisdiction), Aspen Underwriting Ltd v Kairos Shipping Ltd (hull insurance, jurisdiction), Cultural Foundation v Beazley Furlonge Ltd (professional indemnity insurance, third party rights against insurers), The Cape Bari (Limitation Convention and collision with sea berth), Suez Fortune Investments Ltd v Talbot Underwriting Ltd (constructive total loss of an oil tanker ), Rathbone Brothers plc v Novae Corporate Underwriting (insurance claim for breach of trust and subrogation), The Princess of the Stars (reinsurance claim for the loss of a vessel in a typhoon), Sea Glory Maritime Co v Al Sagr National Insurance Co (The Nancy) (duty of utmost good faith, ISM warranty and public policy relating to a hull insurance claim), Arash Shipping v Groupama (impact of EU sanctions against Iran on a fleet insurance policy), Masefield v Amlin (insurance claim for cargo seized by Somali pirates), Gard v Tunnicliffe (reinsurance claim relating to Hurricane Rita losses), The WD Fairway (insurance claim relating to vessel damaged by collision), Limit v AXA (energy reinsurance treaty claim), and AIG v Faraday (D&O reinsurance).
In 2019 Peter was awarded Insurance Silk of the Year at the Chambers Bar Awards 2019.
Peter is recognised as a leading silk in Chambers & Partners, Legal 500 and Who’s Who Legal, being described as “The finest lawyer and a superb advocate, with an engaging and authoritative courtroom presence”, “a great person to work with, and a real team player”, a “fearsome advocate and a fantastic lawyer”, and “is praised for his winning combination of deep legal knowledge, great interpersonal skills and astute understanding of clients’ needs”.
Peter has practised as a commercial barrister at 7KBW since 2000. Prior to that, he practised as a commercial litigation solicitor for 10 years at a City law firm, where he was a partner for 4 years. Having practised as both barrister and solicitor has given Peter “the advantage over many of his peers of being able to converse fluently with solicitors and lay clients”. Peter teaches at UCL, KCL and Queen Mary University and has published widely, regarded as having “Strong academic credentials and pronounced creative streak”.
Selected cases:
International Arbitration: General Commercial & Insurance
Insurance, Chambers UK Bar 2024
Shipping & Commodities, Chambers UK Bar 2024
Commodities, Legal 500 2024
New publication: Carver on Charterparties, Third Edition
Political violence cover in the context of seizure by the Taliban
Court of Appeal considers WELCAR wording and the construction of composite policies
Commercial Court delivers a “Win Win” judgment for 7KBW counsel team
Peter MacDonald Eggers KC and Richard Sarll contribute to the new “Research Handbook on Marine Insurance Law”
Deputy High Court Judge – 2017-2023
Immediate Past Chair, Member of Committee, British Insurance Law Association
University of Sydney, LL.B. First in year (1986), winner of John George Dalley Prize and Butterworth Prize Member of Editorial Committee, Sydney Law Review
Magdalene College, Cambridge, LL.M.
Solicitor (England and Wales): 1991-1999
Hill Dickinson: 1988-1989
Hill Taylor Dickinson, London: 1989-1999; Partner 1995-1999
Barrister (England and Wales): since 2000, practising at 7 King’s Bench Walk
King’s Counsel: since 2011
Visiting Professor, University College London
Honorary Professor, University of Nottingham
Honorary Fellow, Institute of International Shipping and Trade Law, Swansea University
Visiting Lecturer, Queen Mary University of London
Visiting Lecturer, King’s College London
Admitted New South Wales (solicitor) – 1987
Admitted Eastern Caribbean (British Virgin Islands) (barrister) – 2006
Admitted Gibraltar (barrister) – 2007
Admitted Bahamas (barrister) – 2013 (single case)
Admitted Bermuda (barrister) – 2022 (single case)
Admitted New South Wales (solicitor) – 1987
Admitted Eastern Caribbean (British Virgin Islands) (barrister) – 2006
Admitted Gibraltar (barrister) – 2007
Admitted Bahamas (barrister) – 2013 (single case)
"Peter is a pleasure to work with. He is down to earth and is clear in explaining his view and approach." "He is very user-friendly, has great intellect, is great with clients and is commercially astute."
Insurance, Chambers UK Bar 2024