Vasanti Selvaratnam KC

Vasanti acts in high-value commercial litigation and international arbitration across shipping, commodities, energy, banking and finance. She is regularly instructed in disputes involving sanctions, foreign governing laws, jurisdictional conflicts and technically complex factual issues. Her recent work includes appearances before the UK Supreme Court and leading authorities on force majeure, collision liability, guarantees and arbitration agreements.

Representative matters include:

• RTI Ltd v MUR Shipping BV [2024] UKSC 18 – Supreme Court appeal concerning the meaning of reasonable endeavours in a force majeure clause in the context of Russian sanctions and contractual payment obligations.
• Alexandra 1 v Ever Smart [2021] UKSC – leading authority on the scope of the Crossing Rule under the International Collision Regulations.
• Rubicon Vantage v KrisEnergy [2019] EWHC 2012 (Comm) – first reported case to consider a hybrid guarantee comprising both “on demand” and “see to it” obligations.
• ETA v PMEPL (2015) – leading authority on whether a contractual obligation to engage in “friendly discussions” could operate as a condition precedent to arbitration.
  Regularly instructed in confidential high-value international commercial arbitrations involving foreign governing laws and multi-jurisdictional disputes.

Recognised as one of the leading commodities silks at the English Bar, Vasanti advises on complex disputes arising from international trade, commodities, sanctions, trade finance and contracts of affreightment. Her practice is international in scope, acting for traders, shipowners, charterers, financial institutions and commercial counterparties across global markets.

Representative matters include:

• Multiple disputes concerning the impact of Russian sanctions on commodities and shipping contracts.
• RTI Ltd v Cargill Ocean Transportation Singapore Pte Ltd & Cargill International SA – dispute concerning the applicability of sanctions as a defence to performance under a contract of carriage.
• RTI v MUR – multimillion-dollar contract of affreightment dispute concerning shipments of bauxite.

Vasanti is recognised as one of the leading shipping silks at the English Bar. Her practice spans the full spectrum of wet and dry shipping disputes, including collisions, charterparties, shipbuilding, ship sale and purchase, salvage, sanctions and international trade. She is particularly noted for her advocacy, strategic judgement and ability to navigate technically complex maritime disputes.

Representative matters include:

• RTI Ltd v MUR Shipping BV [2024] UKSC 18 – Supreme Court appeal concerning force majeure, sanctions and contractual payment obligations.
• Alexandra 1 v Ever Smart [2021] UKSC – leading Supreme Court authority on the application of the Crossing Rule.
• FMG Sydney (2023) – Court of Appeal proceedings concerning the Head-On Rule.
• Rubicon Vantage v KrisEnergy [2019] EWHC 2012 (Comm) – landmark guarantee dispute concerning the distinction between “on demand” and “see to it” obligations.

Vasanti advises on energy and natural resources disputes across the UK, Middle East and Asia. Her work encompasses commodities trading, sanctions-related disputes, energy-linked financial products and major cross-border commercial disputes. She acts both as counsel and arbitrator in matters involving complex technical, financial and regulatory issues.

Representative matters include:

• Dubai-seated arbitration concerning margin calls, hedging obligations and the scope of a bank’s duty of care in relation to oil and gas futures trading.
• Representing claimant buyers in a dispute arising from the alleged failure to deliver steel products from Mexico to China.
• Multimillion-dollar contract of affreightment dispute concerning shipments of bauxite.

Vasanti maintains a substantial international arbitrator practice and is regularly appointed as sole arbitrator, chair and co-arbitrator in high-value disputes across the shipping, commodities, energy, infrastructure and commercial sectors. Her appointments span both ad hoc and institutional arbitrations and frequently involve complex technical issues, specialist expert evidence, foreign governing laws and substantial damages claims.

A former Recorder of the Crown Court (2000–2018) and accredited mediator, she accepts appointments under LMAA and LOF Rules, as well as the major institutional rules, including ICC, LCIA, UNCITRAL, SIAC, SCMA, HKIAC, DIAC, APIAC and BICAM. She has particular experience in disputes raising novel legal issues, technically demanding factual questions and complex assessments of quantum.

Recent Appointments:

• Sole arbitrator in LOF disputes, including one of the largest salvage disputes since records began.
• Frequent appointments under LMAA Rules in shipping, commodities, shipbuilding, and ship sale and purchase disputes.
• Frequent appointments under SIAC Rules, including expedited proceedings requiring the issuance of an award within six months of tribunal appointment.
• Regularly selected as chair in LCIA arbitrations involving complex commodities and contractual dispute
• Chair of an ICC tribunal in a dispute governed by Iraqi law concerning the removal of unexploded materials at Basrah Port.