Edward has a wide-ranging commercial practice, with a particular focus on disputes with an international element, including those with a public international law element, disputes involving allegations of civil fraud, and disputes in the energy, insurance and shipping sectors. Examples of Edward’s current and recent work include:

General Commercial

• Representing the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in a dispute concerning the sale of gas power turbines to a Pakistani research lab allegedly involved in secretive nuclear weapons development. The case raised significant issues of state and diplomatic immunity.
• An LCIA arbitration acting for a Ukrainian businessman. The proceedings concerned a US$50+ million dispute under a financing agreement and involved a heavy application to discharge a world-wide freezing injunction.
• Representing (unled) a major clothing brand in an urgent application for injunctive relief against a well-known celebrity following an alleged breach of an exclusive endorsement agreement.
• Acting on behalf of a leading developer of online video-on-demand platforms in a multi-faceted dispute concerning the delivery-up of source code and related claims and counterclaims for breach of contract.
• Acting for the excess insurers in a $25 million Bermuda Form arbitration concerning claims by an insured drug company following their settlement in the USA and Nigeria of mass tort product liability litigation.
• Advising upon a wide range of issues (including unlawful means conspiracy, unjust enrichment and mistake, and the fraud exception to privilege) arising from the termination of an exclusive distribution and licensing agreement between Hong Kong and English wine merchants.
• Acting for the H&M insurers in a claim by the insured following the seizure of the insured vessel by pirates.
• An LCIA arbitration acting for the majority shareholder in a shareholder / joint venture dispute raising issues of unfair prejudice.
• An LMAA arbitration arising from the contamination of cargoes of sulphuric acid with mercury.
• Acting alone for the claimant in a Hong Kong seated arbitration for the recovery of management fees due from a construction project in Clearwater Bay.
• Advising on a finance dispute arising from a German KG financing structure.
• Advising defence companies in a number of confidential/classified matters concerning (by way of example) the sale of intelligence gathering equipment; the sale of radar components; and the development of an IT system for a government department.
• Advising and acting alone for the Claimant in a claim for the advisory fees due following the sale of a JMW Turner painting.

International investment

• Federal Elektrik Yatirim ve Ticaret A.S. and others v. Republic of Uzbekistan, Case No. ARB/13/9 (ICSID) – Edward acted for the Claimants in an ICSID arbitration against Uzbekistan seeking millions of dollars of compensation under the Energy Charter Treaty and the Turkey-Uzbekistan bilateral investment treaty. Edward cross-examined a number of factual witnesses and one expert in the course of the two week hearing.
• Edward acts for the claimants in a highly confidential on-going dispute under a BIT concerning, amongst other things, the expropriation of investments by the Respondent state.

• Acting for the Claimants (led by Neil Calver QC and Stephen Midwinter QC) in a US$1 billion+ deceit claim arising from misrepresentations allegedly made by the Claimant’s former business partners during the sale of the Claimant’s share in one of Ukraine’s largest industrial corporations. The Defendants have made a number of wide-ranging counterclaims which include allegations of conspiracy, dishonest assistance and breach of trust (under both English and Ukrainian law).
• Acting for one of four defendants (led by Thomas Plewman QC) in a dispute concerning the collapse of the claimant company (a developer of autonomous underwater drones and mobile sensors for use in the oil and gas, and defence industries). The Claimant seeks approximately US$180m in damages and has advanced claims which include dishonest assistance, conspiracy (lawful and unlawful means) and intentionally causing harm by unlawful means.
• Acting for one of Romania’s wealthiest men in relation to the discharge of a worldwide freezing order (with Mark Howard QC and Joanne Box).
• Edward was instructed on various parts of the BTA Bank v Ablyazov litigation (one of the largest pieces of litigation then before the Commercial Court) – including Pukhlikov v. Ablyazov & Another, concerning the purchase and ownership of an oil and gas trans-shipment facility and port in northern Russia; and JSC BTA Bank v Ablyazov & Ors [2011] EWHC 2500 (Comm) a complex application for security for costs.
• Acting for two of the Part 20 Defendants in Antonio Gramsci Shipping Corporation v. Recoletos & Others advising generally and resisting an application for the appointment of a receiver;
• An LCIA arbitration acting for a Ukrainian businessman in a US$50+ million dispute under a financing agreement. The matter raised claims of illegality and deliberate asset stripping.
• Acting and advising on a range of confidential interim applications spanning injunctions to prevent the replacement of a company's director following his physical intimidation, to freezing injunctions and preservation of property orders to resisting the continuation of a passport delivery up order and the granting of an electronic quasi-search order.

• A five-week, LMAA arbitration concerning the construction and sale of two semi-submersible drilling rig. The dispute involved a wide range of issues including allegations of misrepresentation, deceit, delay and breach of contract.
• Representing a major national oil company in a US$300+ million UNCITRAL arbitration in a dispute under a drilling services contract.
• Representing the Claimant financier in a US$40 million+ LCIA arbitration arising under a trade credit and supply agreement related to the operation of a tank farm and refinery.
• National Iranian Oil Company v Crescent Petroleum Company International Ltd & Anor [2016] EWHC 510 (Comm): Edward acted for NIOC in a substantial s.67 and s.68 Arbitration Act 1996 challenge.
• CH Offshore Ltd v PDV Marina SA & Ors [2015] EWHC 595 (Comm): Acting for PDVSA Petroleo SA on an application challenging the jurisdiction of the English court to hear an approx. US$90 million claim arising under a Services Contract for the supply of two AHTS vessels & a platform supply vessel.

• Tedcom Finance Limited & Another v. Vetabet Holding Limted & Others [2011] EWCA Civ 191: Edward appeared alone in the Court of Appeal for the successful appellants on an urgent without notice appeal concerning the service of arbitration claim forms outside of the jurisdiction.
• Acting for two of the respondents to an application for the examination of an English domiciled witness in support of Californian court proceedings concerning a joint venture between Boeing and various Russian entities for the development of an off-shore platform for the launching of satellites and spacecraft
• CH Offshore Ltd v PDV Marina SA & Ors [2015] EWHC 595 (Comm): Acting for PDVSA Petroleo SA on an application challenging the jurisdiction of the English court to hear an approx. US$90 million claim arising under a Services Contract for the supply of two AHTS vessels & a platform supply vessel.
• Prior to joining Chambers worked as a research assistant at the British Institute of International and Comparative Law and co-drafted seven chapters for R. Plender & M.Wilderspin, The European Private International Law of Obligations, (3^rd ed., 2009). Edward also sat as a Co-Rapporteur on the International Law Association's Committee on Civil Litigation and the Interests of the Public. The Committee studied the private international law aspects of civil litigation for human rights violations.

• An LMAA arbitration acting alone for the Claimant buyers in a three day trial for damages following the non-delivery of a vessel under a ship-sale contract.
• An ad hoc ship sale arbitration raising issues of frustration and the assessment of damages.
• An ad hoc ship sale arbitration raising issues as to the physical and legal readiness of the vessel for delivery.
• An ad hoc US$40+ million shipbuilding arbitration, acting for the Claimant yard following the termination of four related shipbuilding contracts.
• An LMAA arbitration concerning liability for the carriage of deck cargo following shifting after adverse weather conditions.
• A series of related arbitrations concerning the laytime and demurrage consequences of a national and local transport strike at a Spanish discharge port.

Edward has a broad range of arbitration experience ranging from acting in ICSID, LCIA, UNCITRAL, LMAA, GAFTA, FOSFA, Bermuda Form and Ad Hoc arbitrations (for more details see the Commercial tab), to applications and appeals/challenges in court under the Arbitration Act 1996. Examples of the latter include:

• National Iranian Oil Company v Crescent Petroleum Company International Ltd & Anor [2016] EWHC 510 (Comm): Edward acted for NIOC in a substantial s.67 and s.68 Arbitration Act 1996 challenge.
• ED&F Man Sugar Ltd v. Belmont Shipping Ltd. [2012] 1 Lloyd's Rep. 206: Edward acted alone for the respondents in a s.68 Arbitration Act 1996 challenge in which the appellant unsuccessfully sought to establish an obligation on arbitrators to bring un-argued points to the parties' attention.
• Tedcom Finance Limited & Another v. Vetabet Holding Limted & Others [2011] EWCA Civ 191: Edward appeared alone in the Court of Appeal for the successful appellants on an urgent without notice appeal concerning the service of arbitration claim forms outside of the jurisdiction.
• Various confidential appeals/challenges under s.67, 68 & 69 Arbitration Act 1996, confidential applications under s.44 AA 96 (interim relief) and s.70(7) AA 96 (payment in of award debt).

In April - June 2009 Edward undertook a research internship at the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre and amongst other things worked on examining the implications of the Hong Kong Arbitration Bill 2009 enacting the UNCITRAL Model Law (as amended in 2006).

'Civil Litigation for Human Rights Violations', ILA Committee on Civil Litigation and the Interests of the Public Interim Report, August 2010.

Co-drafted chapters for R. Plender & M.Wilderspin, The European Private International Law of Obligations, (3^rd ed., 2009) on the choice of law rules governing assignment (Rome I), product liability, unjust enrichment and negotiorum gestio (Rome II), public policy and mandatory rules and the scope of the Rome I and Rome II Regulations.

• BA (Law), Downing College, Cambridge, (Double First Class Hons.)
• BVC, Inns of Court School of Law, (Very Competent)
• Hague Academy of International Law (Directed Studies in Private International Law)
• Senior Harris Scholar & College Prize, Downing College (2007)
• Queen Mother Scholar, Middle Temple (2007)
• Harris Scholar & Harris Prize for Especial Distinction, Downing College (2006)
• Rebecca Flower Scholar, University of Cambridge (2006)
• The Times Law Awards, Runner Up (2007, 2005, 2004) 

"Great instinct." "He is very hardworking and the quality of his written work is very, very high." (Chambers & Partners 2019)

"Extremely thorough in his approach, and his input and guidance on strategy is excellent." (Legal 500 2018-19)

"Brilliant. Very clever indeed and not afraid of getting into the mind of the case and digging out all the difficulties and addressing them head on." (Chambers & Partners 2018)

"Very user-friendly and bright." (Legal 500 2017)

"An excellent junior; very bright, quick and responsive." (Chambers & Partners 2017)

"Excellent – really bright and his written product is astonishing." (Legal 500 2016)