Shipping, Legal 500 2025
Commercial Litigation, Legal 500 2025
Ralph practises across all areas of commercial law, with a particular focus on commercial disputes, international arbitration, jurisdiction and civil procedure, enforcement and contempt proceedings, wet and dry shipping, insurance, and professional negligence. Ralph acts both led and unled.
High-profile recent work includes acting as sole counsel in limitation proceedings concerning the “EVER GIVEN”, assisting the team acting for AIG in connection with insurance claims brought by lessors of aircraft operated in Russia, acting (as junior to Michael Holmes KC) in the successful challenge to jurisdiction of claims brought by the Libyan Investment Authority (Libyan Investment Authority v Credit Suisse & others [2021] EWHC 2684 (Comm) and acting as junior counsel for KPMG in a variety of matters relating to the collapse of Carillion, including in KPMG’s successful challenge to a pre-action disclosure application [2020] EWHC 1416 (Comm) and in FRC v KPMG, one of The Lawyer’s top 20 cases of 2022.
He has a particular interest in Admiralty Court work, having gained practical experience of navigation and seamanship over three years as a member of Cambridge University Royal Naval Unit. He regularly acts in cases which depend on technical questions of expert evidence across a range of disciplines and tribunals, including the Commercial Court, the Technology and Construction Court and the Admiralty Court.
Ralph has been published in the Lloyd’s Maritime and Commercial Law Quarterly (on admiralty law) and has written for LexisPSL (on insurance arbitration).
In 2021, Ralph was appointed to the Attorney-General’s London C Panel of junior counsel to the Crown.
The Legal 500 has named Ralph as a “Rising Star” in both commercial litigation and shipping.
Sustained experience in international arbitration includes led and unled representative and advisory work across a range of arbitral rules and sectors, as well as relief in support of arbitration, including anti-suit injunctions, “Vasso” orders and jurisdiction challenges:
Shipping is a core part of Ralph’s practice: he is ranked as a “Rising Star” in shipping by the Legal 500. Ralph regularly acts in both wet and dry shipping matters, including charterparty disputes, cargo claims, salvage, limitation and collision work. Ralph has acted (either on the record or providing advice) in respect of a number of high-profile casualties over recent years. Work highlights include:
Ralph’s experience in a wide range of high-value and high-profile commercial litigation has seen him recognised as a “Rising Star” in commercial litigation by the Legal 500. Highlights include:
Ralph has been appointed to the Attorney-General’s C Panel and has provided advice across private and public law areas, including contract, maritime law, the international law of the sea, and public law issues in judicial review.
Ralph has acted in a number of complex and high-profile professional negligence cases, including:
Professional Negligence, Chambers UK Bar 2025
Shipping, Legal 500 2025
Insurance and Reinsurance, Legal 500 2025
Commercial Litigation, Legal 500 2025
The Lawyer features 9 members in their Top 20 Cases of 2022
Michael Holmes QC and Ralph Morley succeed in jurisdiction challenge on multi-million-dollar Libyan Investment Authority fraud claim
Ralph Morley appointed to Attorney-General’s C Panel of Counsel
Carillion v KPMG: 7KBW teams act in pre-action disclosure application
Five members of 7KBW instructed in Carillion/KPMG litigation
“Make me a (narrow) channel of your peace: the narrow channel and crossing rules reconsidered” [2019] LMCLQ 242
“An alteration of course?” [2022] LMCLQ 1
Ralph contributes the English merchant shipping and Admiralty section to the Lloyd’s International Maritime and Commercial Law Yearbook.
Ralph has also drafted Practice Notes for LexisPSL on insurance arbitration and assisted LexisPSL in developing content concerning service out of the jurisdiction.
2015-16: Bar Professional Training Course at City University, London (Outstanding, ranked sixth out of over three hundred candidates)
2014-15: Graduate Diploma in Law at City University, London (Distinction)
2011-2014: MA in Classics, Trinity College, Cambridge (double First)
While at Cambridge, Ralph was captain of the Trinity College team which won the 2014 series of the BBC television quiz programme University Challenge.
Ralph was formerly Assistant Editor of the Journal of International Comparative Law (published by Sweet & Maxwell)
'One of the most accomplished juniors I've ever worked with, he's easy to deal with and an excellent team player.'
Professional Negligence, Chambers UK Bar 2025