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.
Prior to being called to the Bar, Eric completed his undergraduate studies and qualified as a solicitor in Australia. As an Australian lawyer, Eric 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 almost 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 completing his postgraduate studies at the University of Cambridge, Eric moved to London and practised as an Associate at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan UK LLP. As an Associate, Eric worked on a variety of complex commercial litigation and international arbitration matters, including energy, shipping, and technology disputes.
In the second six of his pupillage, Eric was regularly instructed as sole counsel in contested applications and trials in the County Court, including in relation to RTA, credit hire, and consumer rights claims.
Eric’s experience includes:
- Commercial Litigation
- Construction, Engineering and Energy
- Financial Services, Banking and Insurance
- International Arbitration
- Shipping
- Technology & Telecoms
Commercial Litigation
Eric has experience acting in complex commercial disputes in both England & Wales and in Australia, including in relation to class action, competition, and fraud matters.
Featured Commercial Litigation cases
Acting as sole counsel in relation to various types of applications, including strike out, summary judgment, setting aside default judgment, and relief from sanctions.
Acted as junior counsel (with 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:
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- 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; and
- preparing an advice on the prospects of a potential injunction application in respect of conduct allegedly amounting to harassment.
Acted (as an Australian solicitor) for a construction company in relation to a shareholder class action.
Acted (as an Australian solicitor) for a major bank in relation to a criminal cartel prosecution by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions in respect of a share placement.
Construction, Engineering and Energy
Eric has experience acting in disputes in the construction, engineering and energy sectors.
Featured Construction, Engineering and Energy cases
Assisted (as a pupil) with:
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- 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 DIAC arbitration proceedings in relation to the termination of a subcontract for MEP works.
Acted (as a foreign-qualified solicitor) for an energy company in LCIA arbitration proceedings 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 a income protection policy for disability discrimination, breach of contract, and mis-selling.
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.
Managed (as a judicial associate) the Insurance List of the Federal Court of Australia.
Acted (as an Australian solicitor) 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 (as an Australian solicitor) for a major bank in relation to the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry.
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
Acted (as a foreign-qualified solicitor) for an investment fund in LMAA arbitration proceedings in relation to the withdrawal of five vessels from a pooling agreement.
Acted (as a foreign qualified solicitor) for an energy company in LCIA arbitration proceedings in relation to the termination of two production sharing contracts.
Shipping
Eric has experience acting in shipping 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 cases
Assisted (as a pupil) with:
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- preparing an advice on whether head charterers were unreasonably withholding consent to a proposed sub-charter;
- preparing an advice on the merits of various off-hire and breach claims made by Charterers against Owners in relation to a time charter;
- preparing cross-examination notes for an EU law expert in LMAA arbitration proceedings in relation to the effect of sanctions 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;
- 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; and
- preparing research notes on various issues, including in relation to the construction of net loss of time off-hire clauses, unjust enrichment, misrepresentation, rescission, and the availability of declaratory relief.
Acted (as a foreign-qualified solicitor) for an investment fund in LMAA arbitration proceedings in relation to the withdrawal of five vessels from a pooling agreement.
Technology & Telecoms
Eric has experience acting in a complex and high-profile dispute in the technology & telecoms sector.
Featured Technology & Telecoms cases
Acted (as a foreign-qualified solicitor) 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).
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].
Would you like to know more?
For help and advice talk to a member of our clerking team. They can advise on the best options for your matter.
Call: +44 (0) 20 7842 5555
