Commercial Litigation

7KBW possesses strength in depth across all areas of commercial law. Members act in cases whenever clients require the best representation possible in a commercial dispute – anywhere in the world.

We work regularly with all the leading law firms practising in this area, including those in the City of London and across the UK. We also receive instructions from leading international law firms. Our members have worked in all the major global dispute resolution centres.

We also work closely with general counsel and in-house legal teams in key business sectors, such as aviation, banking and financial services, construction and infrastructure, ecommerce and logistics, energy, insurance, and shipping and commodities.

All members aim to ensure the cost-effective resolution of commercial disputes. They are skilled in providing informed, practical and commercial advice on the whole range of dispute resolution issues, from advice on the legal merits of a claim, to devising appropriate settlement strategies, to preparation and presentation at trial or appeal.

Members are familiar with the appropriate use of alternative dispute resolution (ADR), including mediation.

Where no reasonable settlement is possible, members will prepare for key preliminary stages in the litigation, seeking to advance the case strategy and gain tactical benefits for the client, if possible. This includes interlocutory hearings covering a broad spectrum of judicial responses, ranging from summary and default judgment, jurisdictional disputes, requests for disclosure, security for costs, seeking declarations, or enforcement of judgments. Properly prepared, they will represent clients in court, handling evidence, conducting cross-examinations and presenting written and oral arguments as required.

We are very highly-regarded for our conduct of hearings, with members regularly instructed in the largest and most complex cases proceeding in the Commercial Court, the Court of Appeal, and the UK Supreme Court and the Privy Council. The advocacy of our counsel is recognised for its force and quality. We are also equally sought after for our work in regional courts and for work in smaller disputes, where flexible fees can be agreed.

Chambers can supply individual counsel, or teams of barristers, including senior and junior counsel, to both claimants and defendants in any litigation, and to third parties.

Selected highlights of recent cases can be seen below:

• AerCap Ireland Ltd v AIG Europe SA & Ors (Russian Aircraft Lessor Policy Claims) [2025] EWHC 1430 (Comm)
• FCA v Arch (the Covid-19 Business Interruption Test case) [2021] UKSC 1
• Manchester Building Society v Grant Thornton [2021] UKSC 20
• Harcus Sinclair LLP v Your Lawyers Ltd [2021] UKSC 32
• The Brillante Virtuoso (Suez Fortune Investments & another v Talbot Underwriting & ors.) [2019] EWHC 2599 (Comm)
• The Autonomy litigation [2019] EWHC 249 (Ch)
• The SKAT litigation [2020] EWHC 2161 (Comm)
• Group Seven v Notable Services [2019] EWCA Civ 614
• Petrosaudi Oil Services (Venezuela) Ltd v Novo Banco  [2017] EWCA Civ 9 and [2017] EWCA Civ 32
• HSBC Bank PLC v Pearl Corp [2019] EWHC 231 (Comm)
• Republic of Djibouti v Boreh [2016] EWHC 405 (Comm)
• Cattles v PWC