Sean is an experienced dispute resolution lawyer who frequently represents clients in complex multi-jurisdictional disputes. He has acted for clients in relation to English, Swiss, Canadian and Australian court proceedings, as well as LCIA and ad-hoc arbitrations. Many of his matters have related to mining and energy projects around the world, as well as soft and hard commodities.
Sean also has significant expertise in insurance and reinsurance disputes across a broad range of insurance areas including Latin American Reinsurance, Political Risk, Trade Credit, Political Violence, Cyber and Financial Lines. He is fluent in written and spoken Spanish and also has intermediate Indonesian skills.
Before joining Signature Litigation, Sean held an in-house role as Legal & Claims Counsel at Aspen Insurance UK for three years, where he supervised and managed multi-million dollar cases and claims on behalf of the company. Prior to that he was a Senior Associate in the Insurance Litigation department of Clyde & Co’s London office for five years. Sean qualified as a Western Australian lawyer in February 2003 and formally qualified as an English solicitor in 2010, having worked at Clyde & Co since 2007.
EXPERIENCE
Commercial Litigation
- Acting for London Specie insurers in Commercial Court proceedings in relation to a US $130 million claim for alleged rough diamond losses.
- Representing a global security transport company in Commercial Court and Court of Appeal proceedings with respect to a bailment claim for US $20 million of Asian gold bullion.
- Acting for London Marine Cargo insurers in Swiss court proceedings in relation to a US $30 million claim for alleged soft commodities losses.
- Acting for one of the world’s largest iron ore companies in Western Australian Court of Appeal proceedings with respect to a dispute with a junior mining company over an AU $100 million iron ore tenement.
Arbitration
- Acting for an international telecoms company with respect to a €300 million arbitration claim in relation to a joint venture telecommunications project with another telecoms company.
- Representing a London insurer in LCIA proceedings with respect to a claim under a Trade Credit Policy due to the insolvency of a key debtor.
- Representing a Colombian defence procurement company in two London arbitration proceedings with respect to a defence supply contract with the Colombian government.
Insurance
- Advising a London insurer on the investigation, handling and settlement of a EUR 130 million Trade Credit insurance claim in relation to multiple Russian losses.
- Advising and handling several multi-million dollar Trade Credit insurance claims for a London insurer in relation to separate mining projects in South Africa, Panama, USA and Botswana.
- Representing and advising London Property Reinsurers on a property damage claim due to the occupation of a Chilean hotel by protestors.
- Representing a London insurer in relation to a Political Violence claim under an Equity Form Political Risk policy in connection with conflict damage to Ukrainian assets.
- Advising London Reinsurers on Property and Business Interruption claims with respect to damaged oil pipelines in Colombia and Argentina.