Eric Shi
Call 2024
Instruct Eric
To instruct Eric please contact our clerks on +44 (0)20 7842 5555 or email [email protected].
Eric Shi is building a diverse practice with a focus on commercial litigation and international arbitration across Chambers’ areas of expertise, including: shipping and commodities; sanctions; technology and cryptocurrency; construction; and financial services, banking, and insurance.
Prior to being called to the Bar, Eric completed his undergraduate studies and qualified as a solicitor in Australia. Eric then worked in the Disputes & Investigations team at leading international law firm Allens for 15 months and served as a Judicial Associate to Chief Justice Allsop of the Federal Court of Australia (the Commercial Court) for two and a half years. In these roles, Eric gained experience in a wide range of disputes, including admiralty, class actions, competition, contractual interpretation, intellectual property, insurance, and regulatory matters.
After ranking first in his LLM cohort at the University of Cambridge, Eric moved to London and practised as an Associate at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan UK LLP for two years, working on a variety of complex commercial litigation and international arbitration matters including energy, shipping, and technology disputes.
Commercial Litigation
Eric has experience acting in complex commercial disputes in both England & Wales and in Australia, including class action, competition, and civil fraud matters.
Featured Commercial Litigation cases
Acting as sole counsel in relation to making and resisting various applications for interim remedies including strike out, summary judgment, relief from sanctions, setting aside default judgment, and amendment applications.
Acting as sole counsel for a drinks company in relation to an invoice dispute with a former logistics partner.
Acting as sole counsel for a digital marketing agency in relation to a dispute concerning the alleged misapplication of advertising funds.
Acted as junior counsel (led by Laurence Page) in relation to applications for a stay and/or an extension of time for service of the Claim Form and Particulars of Claim in two related proceedings brought by TfL against various manufacturers of diesel vehicles.
Assisted (as a pupil) with all aspects of the preparation for a four-day trial in the Business List in relation to a USD 2 million breach of trust claim.
Acted (at Allens) for a construction company in relation to a shareholder class action.
Acted (at Allens) for a major bank in relation to a criminal cartel prosecution by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions in respect of a share placement.
International Arbitration
Eric has experience acting in disputes under various arbitral rules, including the LCIA Arbitration Rules and the LMAA Terms.
Featured International Arbitration cases
Acting as junior counsel (led by Ed Jones) for shipowners in two related LMAA arbitrations against charterers and a guarantor for unpaid sums arising from a time charterparty.
Acting as sole counsel for charterers in an LMAA arbitration involving a claim for a refund of overpaid sums and a counterclaim for unpaid sums arising from a time charterparty.
Acted (at Quinn Emanuel) for an investment fund in an LMAA arbitration in relation to the withdrawal of five vessels from a pooling agreement.
Acted (at Quinn Emanuel) for an energy company in an LCIA arbitration in relation to the termination of two production sharing contracts.
Shipping and Commodities
Eric has experience acting in shipping and commodity disputes. Prior to being called to the Bar, Eric won the International Maritime Law Arbitration Moot and coached two teams (finalist and winner respectively) in subsequent iterations of the competition.
Featured Shipping and Commodities cases
Acting as junior counsel (led by Ed Jones) for shipowners in two related LMAA arbitrations against charterers and a guarantor for unpaid sums arising from a time charterparty.
Acting as sole counsel for charterers in an LMAA arbitration involving a claim for a refund of overpaid sums and a counterclaim for unpaid sums arising from a time charterparty.
Advised shipowners on the merits of an apportionment claim brought by charterers under the Inter-Club New York Produce Exchange Agreement 2011.
Advised shipowners on whether potential cargo counterclaims were time-barred under the Hague-Visby Rules and the Limitation Act 1980.
Assisted (as a pupil) with:
- preparing an advice on whether head charterers were unreasonably withholding consent to a proposed sub-charter;
- preparing cross-examination notes for an EU law expert in an LMAA arbitration in relation to the effect of Regulation (EU) 833/2014 on the sale and purchase of three container ships;
- drafting Particulars of Claim in relation to a claim for outstanding payments under a contract of sale in respect of a cargo of diesel oil; and
- preparing a strike-out application in relation to a Part 20 claim brought against a government agency in respect of three linked claims arising from alleged damage to undersea property caused by a maritime incident.
Acted (at Quinn Emanuel) for an investment fund in an LMAA arbitration in relation to the withdrawal of five vessels from a pooling agreement.
Sanctions
Eric has experience advising on sanctions issues arising under The Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 and the Export Control Order 2008.
Featured Sanctions cases
Acted as junior counsel (led by Alex Haines) for a British company in relation to the creation of a methodology for, and conduct of, an investigation into potential breaches of trade sanctions arising from the export of goods to Russia.
Assisted (as a pupil) with preparing cross-examination notes for an EU law expert in an LMAA arbitration in relation to the effect of Regulation (EU) 833/2014 on the sale and purchase of three container ships.
Technology and Cryptocurrency
Eric has experience acting in technology and cryptocurrency disputes, including a complex and high-profile dispute in the Technology and Construction Court.
Featured Technology and Cryptocurrency cases
Acting as sole counsel for a major cryptocurrency exchange in successfully obtaining summary judgment in relation to a claim of c. GBP 100,000 arising from the deposit of FTM tokens into an unsupported wallet.
Acting as sole counsel for a multinational technology company in defending various contract, tort, and consumer law claims that involve making strike out and summary judgment applications, and attending mediations.
Acted (at Quinn Emanuel) for IBM UK in relation to a software licensing dispute, including interim hearings and a 10-week trial in the Technology and Construction Court: see the reported decisions in [2023] EWHC 1183 (TCC), [2023] EWHC 2072 (TCC), [2023] EWHC 2142 (TCC), [2023] EWHC 3015 (TCC), [2024] EWHC 423 (TCC), and [2025] EWHC 532 (TCC).
Construction, Engineering and Energy
Eric has experience acting in disputes in the construction, engineering and energy sectors.
Featured Construction, Engineering and Energy cases
Assisting with the second-level extended disclosure review for a final account dispute in the Technology and Construction Court arising out of two prison facilities management contracts.
Assisted (as a pupil) with:
- preparing a research note on the measure of damages recoverable following the demolition of an existing defective building; and
- drafting sections of the Written Opening Submissions and preparing cross-examination notes for a valuation expert in a DIAC arbitration in relation to the termination of a subcontract for MEP works.
Acted (at Quinn Emanuel) for an energy company in an LCIA arbitration in relation to the termination of two production sharing contracts.
Financial Services, Banking and Insurance
Eric has experience acting in disputes and regulatory matters in the financial services, banking, and insurance sectors in both England & Wales and in Australia.
Featured Financial Services, Banking and Insurance cases
Acting as sole counsel for an insurer in relation to a claim brought in respect of an income protection policy for disability discrimination, breach of contract, and mis-selling.
Acting as sole counsel for an insurer in relation to a claim concerning sums payable in respect of a pension plan.
Acted as sole counsel for an insurer in relation to a claim brought in respect of a residential landlords insurance policy for damage alleged to have been caused by an escape of water.
Advised a foreign national in relation to the regulatory compliance requirements in the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 applicable to the acquisition of a FCA-authorised company by a foreign entity.
Assisted (as a pupil) with drafting an advice and submissions in relation to a complaint made to the Channel Islands Financial Ombudsman in respect of an insurer’s decision to avoid or cancel an ATE insurance policy.
Acted (at Allens) for a major bank in relation to civil penalty proceedings brought by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission in respect of two superannuation rollover telephone campaigns.
Acted (at Allens) for a major bank in relation to the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry.
4 Pump Court at Dubai Arbitration Week 2025
Simon Davenport KC, Sanjay Patel KC, Luke Wygas, Laurence Page, Katy Handley, Eric Shi, Sym Hunt-Brady and Liam Williams...
Eric Shi and Sym Hunt-Brady join 4 Pump Court following the successful completion of their pupillages
We are delighted to welcome Eric Shi and Sym Hunt-Brady as tenants following the successful completion of their...
Instruct Eric
To instruct Eric please contact our clerks on +44 (0)20 7842 5520 or email [email protected].
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