Simon Milnes

Areas of expertise

Talk to a clerk

Clerks' direct contact:
+44 (0)20 7842 1200
Clerks [at] 20essexst [dot] com
Request a call back

Since joining chambers in 2006, has undertaken a wide variety of commercial cases, primarily in dry shipping, insurance, commodities, derivatives, and shipbuilding (and off-shore installations) disputes. Simon's practice has developed a particular focus on international commercial arbitration. He has recently acted as junior counsel in two ICC arbitrations, one of them against a sovereign state, which proceeded to the final award stage. He is currently acting as junior counsel in the ongoing MSC Napoli group litigation 2008 Folio 85 (structural failure of a container vessel subsequently beached on the English coast), led by Tim Brenton QC and Philip Edey QC. Simon also regularly appears alone in Commercial Court (and other High Court) cases and applications, and has also conducted several full county court trials. Simon has recently joined the team of authors of MacGillivray on Insurance Law.

Specialisations: 

  • Arbitration
  • Commodities (international sale of goods)
  • EU and competition law
  • Insurance and reinsurance
  • Shipping (bills of lading, charterparties, long term contracts of affreightment)
  • Derivatives (including forward freight agreements)
  • Private international law
  • General commercial

Principal Cases: 

Arbitration

ICC arbitration against a sovereign state concerning a contract for the supply of intelligence equipment (claim of over 44 million euros), which proceeded to the final award stage (led by David Owen QC).

ICC arbitration arising out of a co-investment in a Bulgarian bank (claim of over 30 million euros), which also proceeded to the final award stage (led by Duncan Matthews QC).

ICC arbitration relating to a long term electricity supply contract between German and Romanian entities (claim of c. 50 million euros) (led by Andrew Baker QC).

Commodities

Ad hoc arbitration concerning contracts for sale and export by river of oil from Russia.

EU & competition law

Easyjet Airline Co. Ltd v Liverpool Airport PLC, 2006 Folio 1019 (complex competition law dispute), instructed as second junior to Stephen Morris QC and Thomas Raphael of 20 Essex Street.

Insurance

Munich Re Capital and others v Mareb Yemen Insurance Co. 2009 Folio 703 - claim for declaration of non-liability under a reinsurance contract.

Shipping

Van Rees BV v Maersk Line UK Ltd 2007 Folio 1056 - claim arising from alleged contamination of cargo of Kenya tea. MSC Napoli Group Litigation 2008 Folio 85 - claim arising from catastrophic hull failure of container vessel leading to intentional grounding and demolition.

Banking

Cello Electronics UK Ltd v Bank Leumi UK plc 2008 Folio 1397 - dispute concerning application of the UCP 600 terms and the requirements for individual letter of credit terms to vary or override the UCP 600.

Derivatives

Marine Trade SA v Pioneer Freight Futures Co Ltd 2009 Folio 368, a high value dispute concerning forward freight derivative contracts on the ISDA 1992 form (led by Guy Morpuss QC).

Deiulemar Shipping SpA v Pioneer Freight Futures Co Ltd 2009 Folio 336 - dispute concerning concerning forward freight derivative contracts on the ISDA 1992 form.

Education and Career: 

Simon was educated at Lincoln College, Oxford (BA, History, First Class) and the London School of Economics (MSc, International Relations, Distinction) before being awarded the Postgraduate Diploma in Law from City University London.

He was awarded the David Karmel Scholarship (2004) and the Bedingfield Scholarship (2005) by Grays Inn.

Before being called to the Bar, Simon spent two years in the UK civil service, as a policy adviser and later as speechwriter to the Chief Secretary of the Treasury.

Appointments and Society Memberships: 

  • COMBAR
  • LCLCBA

Members with similar specialisations...

Many other members specialise in similar fields. A selection is below.

Queen's Counsel

Junior Counsel