Isabelle has a busy practice across Chambers’ core areas, including commercial litigation and international arbitration. She is currently instructed in several high-value commercial disputes, as well as in civil fraud, public international law, shipping, insurance and commodities matters.
Isabelle has recently appeared in the Court of Appeal, acting for the Defendants in The Czech Republic v Diag Human SE and Josef Stava [2023-], one of The Lawyer’s ‘Top 20 Cases of 2024’ (led by Lord Verdirame KC and Philip Riches KC). She has also acted for a NASDAQ-listed tech company in a c.US$70 million commercial dispute arising out of a Share Purchase Agreement (led by Paul Lowenstein KC).
Isabelle has experience of a variety of interim applications in the Commercial Court and Chancery Division, including disclosure orders, freezing orders, various forms of injunction, and Bankers’ Trust relief.
Isabelle is regularly instructed as sole counsel in shipping and commodities disputes, in court and in arbitrations under the LMAA, LCIA and GAFTA Rules.
Before joining Chambers, Isabelle spent a year working as part of a team at an international commercial law firm with expertise in the arbitration, shipping, and commodities sectors. She also worked as a research assistant for Sir Richard Aikens.
Isabelle studied Classics at Christ Church, University of Oxford. She graduated with a double first class degree and was awarded various scholarships and prizes.
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Example cases
- The Czech Republic v Diag Human SE and Josef Stava [2023-] (Commercial Court; Court of Appeal) (led by Lord Verdirame KC and Philip Riches KC). Acting for the defendants in Commercial Court litigation in which the Czech Republic brings applications under ss. 67 and 68 of the Arbitration Act to overturn a 2022 BIT award against it in the sum of c.US$730 million. The underlying dispute relates to the destruction of the defendants’ blood plasma business in the 1990s.
- Greenslade and five others v Everbridge Holdings Ltd and Everbridge Inc. [2023-] (Commercial Court) (led by Paul Lowenstein KC and Sam Goodman). Acted for NASDAQ-listed tech company Everbridge in its defence of a substantial c.US$70 million commercial dispute. The dispute involved allegations of breach of contract by alleged delay in providing tradable shares to the sellers as part of the consideration for the sale. Settled in advance of five week trial listed for April–May 2024.
- Tonstate Group Limited and others v Wojakovski and others [2023-] (ChD) (led by Andrew Fulton KC and Sam Goodman). Acting for the Claimants, a prominent property investment company, in a long-running fraud claim. Recently succeeded in securing permission to extend an asset disclosure order against a third party to proceedings ([2024] EWHC 1245 (Ch)) and in obtaining a contempt judgment against that third party ([2025] EWHC 673 (Ch)).
Arbitration
- Acted for the charterer in an LCIA arbitration in a dispute concerning the hire of a private jet. The dispute raised questions about the construction of an aircraft charter agreement and the recoverability of losses under that agreement.
Banking and finance
- Advised a high-net-worth individual in relation to restrictions on a bank’s receipt of funds.
Civil fraud and asset tracing
- Tonstate Group Limited and others v Wojakovski and others [2023-] (ChD): acting for the claimants, a prominent property investment company, in a long-running civil fraud claim (led by Andrew Fulton KC and Sam Goodman). Recently succeeded in securing: (i) permission to extend an asset disclosure order against a third party to proceedings ([2024] EWHC 1245 (Ch)); and (ii) a finding of contempt of Court against a third party to proceedings and obtaining an order for 12 months’ imprisonment ([2025] EWHC 673 (Ch)). In related proceedings, successfully defended a Part 11 jurisdiction challenge to a claim under s.423 of the Insolvency Act 1986 (led by Tony Beswetherick KC).
- Successfully resisted an application to discharge a proprietary injunction over stolen cryptocurrency (led by Julian Kenny KC).
Commercial disputes
- The Czech Republic v Diag Human SE and Josef Stava [2023-] (Commercial Court); [2025] EWCA Civ 588 (Court of Appeal): acting for the defendants in Commercial Court and Court of Appeal litigation in which the Czech Republic brings applications under ss. 67 and 68 of the Arbitration Act to overturn a 2022 BIT award against it in the sum of c.US$730 million (led by Lord Verdirame KC and Philip Riches KC). The underlying dispute relates to the destruction of the defendants’ blood plasma business in the 1990s.
- Greenslade and five others v Everbridge Holdings Ltd and Everbridge Inc. [2023–] (Commercial Court): acted for NASDAQ- listed tech company Everbridge in its defence of a substantial c.US$70 million commercial dispute (led by Paul Lowenstein KC and Sam Goodman). The dispute involved allegations of breach of contract by alleged delay in providing tradable shares to the sellers as part of the consideration for the sale. Settled in advance of five week trial listed for April–May 2024.
Jurisdiction, conflicts and enforcement
- Eternity Sky Investments Ltd v Zhang [2023] EWHC 1964 (Comm): (as a pupil) assisted David Lewis KC with research and written submissions opposing a challenge to an arbitral award on grounds of public The court considered a novel point about whether the enforcement of a Hong Kong arbitral award under the New York Convention could be set aside on the basis that the arbitration/applicable law clause in the underlying contract breached UK statutory consumer legislation.
- Succeeded in an application for permission to serve out of the jurisdiction and to serve by alternative means in a commodities dispute.
Commodities and international trade
Isabelle is instructed in a range of led and unled commodities disputes, in Court and in arbitration proceedings. By way of example:
- Acting as sole counsel for a leading commodities trader in a dispute with buyers in relation to the non-acceptance of a cargo.
- Acting as sole counsel for a metals trader in a dispute with buyers in relation to the non-acceptance of a cargo.
- Acting for buyers in a dispute with sellers in relation to the non-delivery of a petroleum product, led by Oliver Caplin KC.
- Acted for sellers in an LCIA arbitration against buyers concerning the non-payment of the purchase price for a cargo. The dispute also raised sanctions issues.
- Acted for sellers in a c.US$72m dispute with buyers in relation to non-payment under a contract for the sale of grain, led by Matthew McGhee.
- Drafted pleadings and undertook research for an LCIA arbitration representing a leading commodities trading house. The matter involved a contract for the sale of LNG cargo.
Insurance
- Acting for the claimant assured in a dispute with three global insurance companies arising out of business interruption losses suffered in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shipping
Isabelle is instructed in a range of led and unled shipping disputes, in Court and in arbitration proceedings. By way of example:
- Acting for the owners of a vessel against the charterers in a c.£23m dispute arising out of a time charterparty, led by Alexander Wright KC and Colleen Hanley. The dispute concerns a stow collapse and the loss of a cargo.
- Acting for the owners of a vessel against the charterers in an LMAA arbitration concerning hull-cleaning prior to redelivery.
- Acted for the owners of a vessel against the charterers in a dispute arising out of a voyage charterparty, led by Chris Hancock KC and Susannah Jones. The dispute concerns damage to the vessel during a period of heavy weather.
- Drafted opinion advising on the recoverability of losses under a contract for the hire of a superyacht. Advised the charterer of the superyacht in relation to settlement.
- Acted for owners in a dispute relating to the redelivery of a vessel with unclean holds.
