Philip Burns

Arbitrator and Mediator

Welcome

Black and white head shot of Philip Burns Since 2018 I have been a full time arbitrator and mediator and I endeavour to apply my experience and commercial common sense to dispute resolution.

I started my career as a solicitor and worked for two well-known international law firms in London and Athens. In addition, I spent four years working for a ship owner and charterer based in Italy and I also spent a decade in the insurance industry where I was the head of a claims syndicate for an IG P&I Club.

Arbitrator Appointments

I have been appointed as an arbitrator more than 450 times and have drafted over 75 Awards. I have experience of a wide variety of disputes with pleaded claim values ranging from USD 10,000 to USD 19.5 million.

I have experience of live oral hearings, both in person and virtual.

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Mediator Appointments

I am a certified mediator practicing facilitative mediation to help resolve disputes in a cost effective and time efficient manner.

I help individuals and organisations to resolve their disputes in maritime, insurance, construction, professional and commercial sectors.

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Contact

Please contact me directly:

Email: burnspk@gmail.com

Tel: +44 (0) 1483 338 650
Mob: +44 (0) 7855 315 257

Overdale House
Northchapel
GU28 9HP
West Sussex

Maritime Arbitration

I take appointments on LMAA, SCMA and ad hoc terms. I have acted as sole arbitrator and sat on panels of two and three arbitrators. I have determined disputes on documents only and following live hearings, whether in person, fully virtual or semi-virtual.

I have been appointed on a wide variety of references arising under many different types of contracts including charter parties, COAs, bills of lading, sale and purchase contracts, MYBA yacht charters and agency agreements with pleaded claim values up to USD 19.5 million.

I endeavour to use my personal and professional experience and apply commercial common sense to the tribunals I sit on. My career started in law, working for international law firms in London and in Athens. I spent a decade in the P&I industry culminating as the Head of a Claims Syndicate with responsibility for P&I and FDD claims for members based in mainland Europe, Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, the Indian sub-continent, the Middle East and Africa. I dealt with high profile cases involving piracy, pollution, cargo damage, ship fires, collisions as well as ship sale and purchase, construction disputes and a full array of charter party matters. I gained a wealth of experience working in-house for a ship owner and charterer which had a fleet of bulk carriers, tankers, inshore and offshore tugs and semi-submersible barges.

I am a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, an Aspiring Full Member of the LMAA, a Member and Panel Arbitrator of the SCMA and a Member of the Baltic Exchange.

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Mediation

I am an independent commercial dispute mediator and will work with diligence and energy to assist you to resolve your dispute without the cost, stress and time burden of protracted litigation.

I work in the maritime, construction, commercial and professional sectors and can draw from real world experience to assist you to find a resolution at mediation.

I am a certified mediator with accreditation recognised by the International Mediation Institute, the Civil Mediation Council and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. I am also a member of the Society of Construction Law and the Baltic Exchange.

I offer a bespoke service with a competitive fee structure which adapts to suit the needs of each mediation. I offer half day, full day or multi day sessions with additional time charged at an hourly rate agreed by the parties in advance. Please contact me for more information.

A formal complaints procedure is also available on request.

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