Legal 500
Stephen Phillips practices exclusively in commercial law, both as an advisor and at trial and appellate level, often leading large multi-disciplinary teams. Known for his cross-examination skills, he is acknowledged as one of the leading advocates in high value cases in both the Commercial Court and international arbitration, where much of his work lies. Extensively experienced in shipping, insurance and reinsurance, he was recently named as Barrister of the Week by The Lawyer following a lengthy Commercial Court trial involving long and complex cross-examination exposing a €27 million conspiracy.
He was appointed as a Recorder of the Crown Court in 2009 and sat as a Member of Parliament between 2010 and 2016. He has acted pro bono as an advisor to various governments, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as an expert witness in the United States and elsewhere. He accepts appointments as a sole or party-appointed arbitrator and has also chaired a number of arbitration tribunals sitting in England and Wales. Stephen does not make submissions to, and thus does not appear in, the various legal directories.
Most of Stephen’s work is in confidential insurance and reinsurance arbitrations, including several Bermuda Form cases in England and overseas. These include:
Reported cases in court include:
Most of Stephen’s work is in confidential arbitration, usually under the auspices of the LMAA. His most recent reported trial is:
7KBW in landmark Russian aviation trial
Lakatamia Shipping Co Ltd v Tseng [2023] EWHC 3023 (Comm)
Stephen Phillips QC named Barrister of The Week by The Lawyer
7 King’s Bench Walk team secures €27m judgment in conspiracy claim
Court of Appeal restores €27m worldwide freezing order
Oriel College, Oxford, 1988 to 1992, B.A. (Jurisprudence) 1991 – M.A. (Oxon.) (2002), B.C.L. (1992)
Lincoln’s Inn/ICSL, 1993, Hardwicke Scholarship, Thomas More Scholarship
School of Oriental and African Studies, 2018-2020, M.Sc. (African Political Science)
“Demanding, but conspicuously fair cross-examination …”
The “C Challenger” [2020] EWHC 3448 (Comm)