Christopher Hancock QC

MA, LLM, FCIA

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Christopher Hancock QC was educated at Trinity College Cambridge and Harvard Law School. He was called to the Bar in 1983, became a tenant at what was then 3 Essex Court (now 20 Essex Street) in 1985, and took silk in 2000. He was appointed as a Recorder in 2004, and a deputy high court judge in 2008.

He has appeared before Courts at all levels, including the High Court, Court of Appeal, House of Lords and Privy Council. He is a CEDR accredited mediator and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He is currently Chairman of COMBAR, having been vice chairman between 2007 and 2009, and is a member of the BMLA (having sat on its Carriage of Goods by Sea Committee for many years) and a supporting member of the LMAA.

Specialisations: 

  • COMMERCIAL LAW
  • INSURANCE AND REINSURANCE
  • SHIPPING (CARRIAGE BY SEA, SHIP SALE AND PURCHASE, SHIPBUILDING)
  • SALE OF GOODS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE (INCLUDING COMMODITIES AND BANKING)
  • JURISDICTIONAL DISPUTES
  • GENERAL CONTRACTUAL DISPUTES

Education and Career: 

Trinity College Cambridge, MA, 1st Class Harvard Law School LLM.

Publications: 

Contributor to McGillivray on "Insurance Law".

Appointments and Society Memberships: 

  • Current Chairman Commercial Bar Association (COMBAR)
  • Vice Chairman Commercial Bar Association (COMBAR) 2007-2009
  • Chairman North American Committee COMBAR 2005-2007
  • Chairman BMLA EDI Subcommittee 2000 Member BMLA Committee on Carriage of Goods by Sea 1987-2002
  • Member BMLA Subcommittee on Charterers' Rights to Limit Liability 2008
  • Member Legal Advisory Group of the Electronic Commerce Association 1996-2000
  • Supporting Member LMAA.

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