Christopher Symons QC

Call 1972; QC 1989; BA (Kent)
Email: cs@3vb.com

Christopher Symons specialises in insurance/reinsurance and professional negligence work but also practises in general commercial and common law work, financial/banking disputes, aviation, pensions and administrative law. He has considerable experience in acting both as an advocate and arbitrator in domestic and international arbitration. He also has experience acting as a mediator. He is a member of the Irish, Northern Ireland, Gibraltar and Brunei Bars.

Christopher was head of chambers from 1999 to 2009.

Christopher sits as a deputy High Court Judge in the Queen's Bench, Chancery Division and in the Administrative Court.

Christopher has recently being appointed (2010) as the President of the Lloyd's Appeal Tribunal - a part time appointment hearing appeals arising from internal decisions made at Lloyd's.

Christopher regularly accepts appointments to act as an arbitrator in domestic and international arbitrations and has considerable experience of the Bermuda form arbitration agreement.

His recent work as a mediator has involved mediating in two high profile disputes one involving the Lloyd's insurance market and one involving a dispute over rights, ownership and value of the shares in a large private company.
Christopher also has acted and continues to act as an expert witness on English law matters overseas.

What the Directories say:

Chambers and Partners UK Guide 2012: Commercial Dispute Resolution
Commentators recognise Christopher Symons QC as a man of great experience who commands the ear of judges and opponents alike with his authoritative advocacy. He negotiates a broad commercial practice and has recognised expertise in insurance, reinsurance and professional negligence cases.

Chambers and Partners UK Guide 2012: Insurance
Christopher Symons QC brings tremendous gravitas to proceedings as a consequence of his illustrious track record in representing both insurers and reinsurers. The former head of chambers is much admired for his "pragmatic and sensible attitude" and has recently been acting for insurers in connection with the allegedly fraudulent activities of a law firm

Chambers and Partners UK Guide 2012: Professional Negligence
Christopher Symons QC is a highly respected silk with a huge depth of experience across the range of professional negligence. Impressed clients praise his "ability to always pick the right advocacy style" and especially recommend his "very good judgement where tribunals are concerned."

Legal 500 2011: Insurance and reinsurance
Major player' Christopher Symons QC is also highly rated.

Legal 500 2011: Professional negligence
Christopher Symons QC, who is ‘first rate' and is advising in an action brought by shipowners against a major City firm alleging negligent advice

Legal 500 2010: Commercial Litigation
Christopher Symons QC ‘impresses clients and judges with his gravitas and sensible commercial approach'

Legal 500 2010: International Arbitration
The ‘user-friendly' Christopher Symons QC is ‘very impressive, has gravitas and takes a sensible commercial approach'