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Rebecca Jacobs

Practice Profile

Rebecca practises across all areas of commercial law, with a particular emphasis on insurance and reinsurance, shipping and shipbuilding, commodities, private international law, and general commercial disputes. She has been instructed in matters spanning Chambers’ practice areas, both on her own and as junior, in court and in arbitration. She has appeared successfully as sole counsel in the High Court.

Current and recent instructions include acting for the successful respondents in a 60-million-pound contractors’ all risks insurance arbitration; obtaining (as sole counsel) a Norwich Pharmacal Order in the High Court on behalf of a multinational pharmaceutical company; acting (as sole counsel) for the successful freight forwarder in a dispute concerning alleged breaches of various contracts under the BIFA terms; successfully resisting summary judgment in respect of payment under a guarantee; a multi-million pound dispute involving allegations of fraudulent misrepresentation in the context of a property regeneration scheme; and a trade credit insurance arbitration.

Rebecca has a strong interest in the conflict of laws and has advised on issues of jurisdiction and choice of law in a broad range of commercial contexts.

Rebecca has also completed a secondment in the shipping department of a major solicitors’ firm, where she worked on a variety of charter party claims, as well as a shipbuilding dispute.

  • Acting (led by Sioban Healy QC) for the respondents in a multi-million-pound trade credit insurance arbitration under the LCIA rules.
  • Acted (led by Gavin Kealey QC) for the successful respondents in a 60-million-pound contractors’ all risks LCIA arbitration concerning defective construction work at a major deep-water port.
  • Advising various businesses (including a gallery and an outdoor tourist attraction) on claims under business interruption policies for losses arising out of Covid-19.
  • Advised on coverage under an offshore construction policy for alleged damage to a section of a subsea gas pipeline.
  • Instructed to assist in an insurance arbitration concerning coverage for mass tort claims arising out of the use of medical equipment.
  • Assisted in advising on Bermuda Form coverage for claims arising out of the sale of prescription drugs. Advice covered a range of issues, including the application of various exclusions, notification and aggregation.
  • Assisted in a trial in the Circuit Commercial Court concerning the scope of cover under a legal expenses insurance policy (as a pupil).
  • Assisted with a Commercial Court claim under a marine cargo insurance policy arising out of the misappropriation of sugar consignments exported to Ghana (as a pupil).
  • Assisted with a liability reinsurance claim, raising issues of the construction and alleged breach of claims co-operation and notification provisions (as a pupil).
  • Experience of a wide range of other insurance matters, include hull and war risks, aviation, and D&O insurance.
  • Advised on jurisdiction in a claim arising out of a collision between vessels on the Danube river in Romania.
  • Instructed to draft a reply addressing the jurisdiction of the English Court to hear a direct-action claim (arising out of an accident in Spain) pursuant to the insurance provisions of the Brussels Recast Regulation.
  • Assisted with giving advice on jurisdiction under the Brussels and common law regimes in a professional negligence claim against multiple potential defendants.
  • Conducted research into the English private international law rules on the proper law governing the payment of interest.
  • Assisted with giving advice on jurisdiction and choice of law under the EU regulations in a subrogated claim by marine hull insurers (as a pupil).
  • Acted (as sole counsel) for the successful defendant in a claim for alleged breaches of various freight forwarding agreements under the BIFA terms and conditions.
  • Instructed in an Admiralty Court claim concerning damages payable as a result of a collision.
  • Instructed on behalf of Owners in an LMAA arbitration concerning claims for offhire and alleged breach of contract relating to the breakdown and towage of a vessel.
  • Advised (as sole counsel) on time bar in a high value cargo damage and short delivery claim where cargo had been transhipped following an explosion.
  • Advised on the construction of a laytime exception under a tanker voyage charter party.
  • Instructed in an LMAA arbitration claim for apportionment of a settlement paid to cargo interests under the Inter-Club Agreement in a sub charter.
  • Advised in a vessel underperformance claim.
  • Instructed to draft defence and counterclaim submissions in an LMAA Arbitration concerning early redelivery and whether Owners had the right to refuse voyage orders owing to Iranian sanctions risks.
  • Instructed (led by Stephen Kenny QC) in a Commercial Court dispute concerning the construction and validity of a settlement agreement arising out of a grounding of a vessel, raising issues of rectification and unilateral mistake.
  • Drafted pleadings in a claim for demurrage under a CFR sales contract.
  • Advised (as sole counsel) on liability for a collision which occurred on the Danube River in Romania, involving multi-million-euro damages claims.
  • Instructed to advise on liability for demurrage arising out of the arrest of a vessel in New Zealand.
  • Instructed to advise on the compliance of documents presented under a letter of credit in respect of consignments of clothes exported from Bangladesh.
  • Assisted with a dispute involving a claim against insurance brokers in the context of obtaining cover and notifying claims (as a pupil).
  • Assisted in a dispute involving negligence claims brought against insurance brokers and solicitors, in the context of a clause providing additional cover in a cargo insurance policy (as a pupil).
  • Obtained (as sole counsel) a Norwich Pharmacal Order in the High Court on behalf of a multinational pharmaceutical company.
  • Acting in a multi-million-pound Commercial Court dispute arising out of a geotechnical survey of a jack-up rig drill site in Cameroon.
  • Successfully set aside default judgment under CPR Part 13, and subsequently drafted a defence, in a Euro 300,000 claim against two German companies for allegedly unpaid recruitment commission, involving issues of rectification and authority under English and German law (as sole counsel).
  • Acting in a dispute concerning allegations of misrepresentation and fraudulent breach of duty in the context of investment in a 140-million-pound property regeneration scheme.
  • Advised in a dispute concerning whether binding agreement had been reached for purchase by a bank of identity verification services, raising issues of incomplete agreement and unilateral mistake.
  • Successfully resisted summary judgment in a claim under a bank guarantee, running a defence of undue influence (pro bono via Advocate).
  • Instructed in a claim against an ex-director for alleged breach of fiduciary duties, concerning whether certain business activities amounted to a conflict of interest and whether such activities had been authorised.
  • Instructed to draft particulars in a claim for restitution of funds paid into the wrong account as a result of a man-in the-middle fraud.
  • Assisted with a successful application for permission to appeal to the Court of Appeal in a claim for deceit and dishonest assistance in relation to a Ponzi scheme (as a pupil).
  • Assisted with giving advice in a dispute arising out of a contract for the supply and installation of a biogas plant (as a pupil).
  • Acting in a multi-million-pound Commercial Court dispute arising out of a geotechnical survey of a jack-up rig drill site in Cameroon.
  • Instructed in a dispute concerning coverage under an offshore construction insurance policy for alleged damage to a subsea gas pipeline.
  • Assisted with giving advice in a dispute arising out of a contract for the supply and installation of a biogas plant (as a pupil).
  • Assisted in a dispute concerning the construction of an oil rig (as a pupil).

  • City University London: BPTC, Very Competent (2018)

    City University London: GDL, Distinction (2017)

    University of Cambridge: MPhil Renaissance Literature (2015)

    Pembroke College Cambridge: BA English, Double First (2013)

    Awards and Prizes

    Foundation Scholarship (Pembroke College)

    Foundress Prize (awarded for a very strong first-class performance)

    College Prize (Pembroke College)

    Winner, Maitland Advocacy Prize

    Finalist, Lincoln’s Inn Internal Mooting Competition

    Lord Bowen Scholarship (Lincoln’s Inn)

    Lord Denning Scholarship (Lincoln’s Inn)

    Levitt Scholarship (Lincoln’s Inn)

    Additional Information

    As a student, Rebecca volunteered for the Company Insolvency Pro Bono Scheme, which offers advice and representation to litigants in person in the Winding Up Court. She represented City University at the XXIV Willem C Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot in Vienna.

    Rebecca has written book reviews for the Times Literary Supplement, amongst other publications.

Portfolio