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Contact with chambers should be made through the Practice Management Team. They are happy to discuss client requirements and provide further information on such matters as the expertise and experience of individual members, fees, working practices and languages spoken. We have members able to work in French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Swedish, Greek and Chinese (Mandarin).

Outside working hours, a member of our team is always available to be contacted on matters of an urgent nature. Contact should be made using the Chambers main number or email.

For our Singapore office, for client enquiries please contact our Head of Business Development for Asia Pacific, Katie-Beth Jones, and for all other queries please contact Lynn Quek. Out of office hours calls will automatically be diverted to our practice management team in London.

London

20 Essex Street
London
WC2R 3AL

enquires@20essex.uk
t: +44 20 8133 3810

Singapore

28 Maxwell Road
#02-03 Maxwell Chambers Suites
Singapore 069120

enquires@20essex.uk
t: +45 36988379

Contact

Contact with chambers should be made through the Practice Management Team. They are happy to discuss client requirements and provide further information on such matters as the expertise and experience of individual members, fees, working practices and languages spoken. We have members able to work in French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Swedish, Greek and Chinese (Mandarin).

Outside working hours, a member of our team is always available to be contacted on matters of an urgent nature. Contact should be made using the Chambers main number or email.

For our Singapore office, for client enquiries please contact our Head of Business Development for Asia Pacific, Katie-Beth Jones, and for all other queries please contact Lynn Quek. Out of office hours calls will automatically be diverted to our practice management team in London.

London

20 Essex Street
London
WC2R 3AL

enquires@20essex.uk
t: +44 20 8133 3810

Singapore

28 Maxwell Road
#02-03 Maxwell Chambers Suites
Singapore 069120

enquires@20essex.uk
t: +45 36988379

Sudhanshu Swaroop KC

Sudhanshu Swaroop KC

Silk: 2016 Call: 1997

Sudhanshu practices arbitration, commercial and public international law. He has acted in leading and landmark cases across his areas of practice.

Sudhanshu’s commercial practice encompasses shipping, international trade, energy, natural resources, banking and insurance and sanctions. He has particular experience of group and tort claims against multinational corporations, having acted in several of the important English cases. His work often involves challenges to jurisdiction, enforcement and applications for freezing orders and other urgent relief. He also has significant experience of cases with a connection to India and is co-chair of the India Committee of the Commercial Bar Association.

His public international practice has included some of the leading cases of recent times, both in the English courts and in international courts and tribunals. His practice includes investment arbitration and related court proceedings, immunities, foreign act of state, law of the sea, international environmental law and human rights. He has acted for various states (including as lead counsel for the United Kingdom), for state officials, for corporations and for NGOs.

Drawing on his background in public international and commercial law, Sudhanshu has developed expertise in climate change. He has been acting in several of the major international test cases (see “Recent work” below), which have attracted worldwide media coverage. He has also lectured extensively on climate change law, both in relation to states and corporations.

Sudhanshu has been shortlisted for “International law Silk of the Year” (The Legal 500 Bar Awards 2024) and has previously been recognised as one of The Lawyer magazine’s “Hot 100” lawyers. He has been described as a “superb strategist and technician, one to keep on speed-dial for important cases” (The Legal 500 UK Bar 2020) and as an advocate who is “calm, clear and commands great respect” (The Legal 500 UK Bar 2024).

Sudhanshu accepts appointments as an arbitrator.

Recent work includes:

  • Republic of Mozambique v Credit Suisse AG, Privinvest and Others – claims of over US$2 billion concerning allegations of bribery and corruption, acting in the English Courts for Privinvest, including on issues of jurisdiction and the immunity of a serving head of state.
  • Challenge to enforcement of investment treaty arbitration award – acting in the English courts for the State, with related proceedings in several countries.
  • Re Al M – high-profile proceedings concerning the children of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Her Royal Highness Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, acting in the English courts for Sheikh Mohammed (the Prime Minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai) on issues of International Law, including immunity and foreign act of state.
  • Euro Asian SA v Credit Suisse AG and Abilo – dispute about oil trading under cif contracts, letters of indemnity and alleged fraud, acting in the Commercial Court and the Court of Appeal for Euro-Asian.
  • The Enrica Lexie Incident, Italy v India – landmark law of the sea dispute, acting in the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and the Permanent Court of Arbitration for Italy.
  • Duarte Agostinho v Portugal and others – the first case on climate change in the European Court of Human Rights, acting for the United Kingdom. Over 30 states from across Europe adopted Sudhanshu’s oral submissions in the Grand Chamber.
  • Case No. 31, Request for an Advisory Opinion on Climate Change and International Law, International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.
  • Torres Strait Islanders v Australia – complaint about Australia’s failure to protect the islands from rising sea levels caused by climate change, acting in the United Nations Human Rights Committee.
  • Reyes v Al-Malki – a leading case on diplomatic immunity and human trafficking, Supreme Court
  • R v Reeves Taylor – a leading case on the meaning of “torture” under international law, Supreme Court.
  • Freedom and Justice Party v FCO – a leading case on immunity and customary international law, Court of Appeal.
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Arbitration

Banking and finance

Commercial law

Energy and natural resources

Insurance

Private international law

Public international law

Shipping and international trade

Sectors and services

Publications

Professional memberships

Lectures / talks

Education

On his feet, Sudhanshu is calm, clear and commands great respect. He also listens and works collaboratively.

The Legal 500 UK Bar 2024

He reads the lay of the land and assists to build a case from the very outset.

The Legal 500 UK Bar 2021

A superb strategist and technician, one to keep on speed-dial for important cases.

The Legal 500 UK Bar 2020

Well regarded in the field of public international law.

The Legal 500 UK Bar 2018

A highly rated barrister.

The Legal 500 UK Bar 2017

He prepares advice that is very easy to read and gets to the crux of the issues.

The Legal 500 UK Bar 2017

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