Emile Yusupoff

The core of Emile’s practice is shipping and international trade work. He has an extensive practice in dry shipping, particularly in handling charterparties and cargo disputes, and commodities. He also has experience in wet shipping and other maritime issues.

Outside of contentious and advisory work, Emile is contributing to an upcoming shipping law encyclopaedia, assisted with the development of the “Blue Visby Solution” (an innovative maritime decarbonisation project utilising new technology and multi-lateral contracts), has written articles for leading journals, was part of the editorial team for the 2022 edition of Volume 3 of Atkin’s Court Forms, and has spoken at international conferences on maritime law.

Emile’s cases have included:

• Unity Ship Group S.A. v Euroins Insurance JSC (The “Happy Aras”) [2026] EWHC 7 (Admlty): Emile acted in this matter from drafting Particulars of Claim through to trial. A general average dispute that involved issues of navigation, seaworthiness, crew competence, due diligence, passage planning, admissibility of evidence, and quantum.
• A super yacht LMAA arbitration: Emile appeared at the 4-day in-person final hearing, handled various costs issues, and successfully resisted a section 69 application. Issues arose concerning interpretation of the MYBA form charterparty, crew conduct, contractual termination, and the approach to damages in contracts for enjoyment.
• An ongoing safe port dispute, concerning damage suffered by a vessel at berth in bad weather conditions (led by Vasanti Selvaratnam KC).
• An ongoing collision claim.
• An ongoing dispute over withdrawal and an anti-technicality clause.
• Four linked LMAA arbitrations concerning a 9-figure dispute over alleged breaches of multiple contracts of affreightment. The case raised issues including on mistake and rectification, contractual construction, illegality, and jurisdiction. (Emile was seconded to a leading London shipping firm on a part time basis for the duration)
• Cases involving war risks and sanctions clauses, including one where a vessel refused to call at a Venezuelan port and one involving a dispute over a terminated FOB contract.
• A dispute concerning a vessel refusing to call at a Venezuelan port due to war risks and sanctions.
• Successfully seeking leave to appeal under s.69 of the Arbitration Act 1996 in respect of an award regarding a dispute under the Inter-Club Agreement.
• Acting for the Defendant in a personal injury claim regarding an accident on a sailing yacht.
• Advising a local authority regarding navigation rights on a river.
• Advising on a naval architect’s employment contract and restrictive covenants therein.
• A marine insurance dispute concerning the wreckage of a barge.
• Various charterparty disputes arising from: conditions precedent; quarantines; vessel repairs following re-delivery; safe port undertakings; anti-technicality notices; dangerous cargo; off-spec bunkers; wrongful arrest; off-hire clauses; demurrage claims; speed and consumption warranties; and bunker adjustment factor claims.
• Various cargo claims arising from shortage, delay, and damage.

Emile has experience of a wide range of commercial litigation and arbitration, both domestic and international.

Emile’s cases have included:

• Piraeus Bank SA v Archival and Ors: Acting for the claimant/respondent in successfully resisting an application to set aside default judgment in a Commercial Court banking dispute which involved allegations of dishonesty against a background of previous fraudulent conduct.
• Advising a port on a potential insurance claim following damages suffered as a result of civil unrest.
• Arbitration claims in the Commercial Court, including pursuing and resisting section 67 and section 69 applications, as well as advising on remedies under section 12 of the Arbitration Act 1996.
• Assisting with discovery in a US company law dispute concerning ownership of a clean energy company.
• A banking dispute concerning a mistaken payment.
• An Abu Dhabi seated arbitration concerning a pipeline construction dispute.
• Professional negligence claims against accountants and solicitors.
• A dispute over whether a sale of goods contract was validly terminated for breach of an exclusivity provision.
• A claim for rectification of a hire agreement for mistake.
• A dispute over an agreement for services relating to a fashion auction.
• Aviation disputes.
• Acting for Amazon in several disputes with sellers on their marketplace.
• Claims for defective building works, including related insurance disputes.
• Various partnership and company law disputes.

Emile has worked on various matters involving civil fraud and asset tracing. These include:

• Gable Insurance AG v Dewsall & Ors: Part of the team executing a search and imaging order at one of several sites being searched simultaneously.
• An ongoing case in the Chancery Division Business List concerning an alleged advance fee scheme and allegedly guaranteed debts. The dispute has encompassed the granting of a freezing injunction, and allegations including duress and sham contracts as well as deceit and unjust enrichment.
• Piraeus Bank SA v Archival and Ors: Acting for the claimant/respondent in successfully resisting an application to set aside default judgment in a Commercial Court banking dispute which involved allegations of dishonesty against a background of previous fraudulent conduct.
• A dispute concerning loans made under a joint venture shareholders agreement between parties involved in property development, involving claims for conspiracy, misrepresentation, and dishonest assistance.
• Advising on issues including forum non conveniens and the corporate veil in a multijurisdictional dispute concerning the conversion of oil.
• A crypto-currency case, where Emile successfully applied for a freezing injunction.

Emile has worked on a range of insolvency, chancery, and property matters (in court and mediations) including:

•  Howe v Leck Holdings Limited [2024] EWHC 1842 (Ch): Dispute over a statutory demand for payment of an assigned debt arising from an unpaid costs order. Issues included notice of assignment and equitable set off.
• Contempt of court proceedings in the Chancery Division, arising from breaches of orders in a probate dispute. Emile acted for the two defendants and successfully avoided any sentence by negotiating satisfactory undertakings with the claimants and satisfying the Court that the breaches had been remedied.
• Bankruptcy petitions and winding up petitions (variously for creditors and debtors).
• Disputes concerning property ownership and trusts of land, including a 3-day trial over the existence of a constructive trust and proprietary estoppel.
• Possession claims, including in the context of section 283A of the Insolvency Act 1986.
• Conversion claims.
• Service charge disputes.
• Disputes over rights of way.