11 January 2010
New Paralegal
The Ross & Co team grows further as we welcome our new case handler Emma Treseder to 1 New Square.
1 December 2009
We are pleased to announce that Ravi Shankar has joined Ross & Co as a Consultant. His areas of expertise are insurance, aviation and employment. Ravi qualified as a solicitor in 1991 while practising at Beaumont & Son. Following a merger between Beaumont & Son and Clyde & Co in 2005, Ravi joined Clyde & Co's employment team where he worked until June 2008.
24 November 2009
We are pleased to announce that Angela Maxwell joined Ross & Co today. Anglea was previously a partner at Clyde & Co.
5 October 2009
AG's opinion delivered on Roaming Regulation reference
On 1 October the Advocate General on European Court of Justice case C-58/08, Mr. Poiares Maduro, delivered his opinion. To read his opinion, click here.
We now await the judgment of the ECJ.
30 September 2009
Ross & Co lawyer appointed to High Court Users Committee
This summer James Bresman was appointed to the Admiralty & Commercial Court Users Committee and has been involved in ongoing discussions including the response of the Admiralty & Commercial Court to Lord Justice Jackson's review of civil costs, and the electronic working pilot scheme which allows claim forms, along with other court documents, to be issued and filed online. He has also assisted in the developement of that scheme and Ross & Co are now one of the the very few firms that are registered with the Admiralty & Commercial Court to make use of it.
15 July 2009
New Trainee
Ross & Co is pleased to announce that Kate Wilkinson, who has worked as a paralegal at the firm for the last year, has accepted a training contract at the firm, commencing as of today.
19 June 2009
European jurisdiction disputes and the Brussels Regulation
Ross & Co continues to advise clients in disputes that include questions of jurisdiction under EC Regulation 44/2001 (the Brussels Regulation). For example, our team recently represented Polish clients in the Commercial Court who sought a declaration that the English Court did not have jurisdiction to hear the claim. The Court considered questions relating to Article 23 (and exclusive jurisdiction agreements) and Article 22(2) (relating to the validity of decisions of organs of a company). The judgment of the Commercial Court is awaited with interest.
1 May 2009
Grand Chamber hearing on the Roaming Regulation
On 28 April 2009 Ian Ross and Max Lemanski of Ross & Co attended the oral hearing of case C058/08 in the European Court of Justice. The case, that has attracted considerable press interest due to the political sensitivities surrounding roaming charges made by mobile networks across the EU, was assigned to the Grand Chamber (now located in its new court room). The ECJ heard arguments from various parties including David Anderson QC of Brick Court Chambers who (with David Scannell, also of Brick Court Chambers, and Ross & Co) acted for the Joint Claimants: T-Mobile, O2 and Orange.
The next step is the opinion of the Advocate General assigned to the case, Mr. Poiares Maduro.
23 April 2009
Jane Martineau reappointed to the SDT.
Ross & Co partner, Jane Martineau, has been reappointed as a solicitor member of the Solicitors' Disciplinary Tribunal. Jane's term will run until 30 April 2012. For more information on the SDT, click here.
25 March 2009
Ross & Co partner called to Finnish Court
Jane Martineau was recently called to give evidence in the Helsinki District Court. Acting as an expert witness, Jane was called to give evidence on English marine insurance law. For more details of Jane's practice, click here.
16 March 2009 
Long distance running continues at Ross & Co
Karin Winlöf, Ross & Co's resident Swedish lawyer, yesterday completed the Hastings half marathon for the fourth year in a row, continuing the firm's tradition of middle distance and long distance running (assistants at the firm completed the London marathon in 2006 and 2008).
This summer we hope to raise money for local charity in a fun run.
4 February 2009
Charter cancellations and withdrawals, and the continuing importance of Rule B1
The firm’s shipping work continues to expand with a wide range of disputes currently ongoing. Most recently the impact of the problems in the global economy, and their impact on international trade, has caused a rise in the number of claims involving the cancellation of (and withdrawals from) charters. Charterers that fixed long term time charters at the top of the market in the summer now find themselves stuck with hugely expensive ships and few profitable uses for them. Disputes based on cancellation and withdrawal arguments between those charterers and owners, who have seen their charter rates plummet, look set to increase this year. Problems in charter chains are particularly prevalent.
As one of our clients put it: "Cancellations and delays are the topics everywhere while parties assess their ability to pay, the need for the product and also their chances of clarifying the contract price if they think they have paid too much."
Parallel to that, Ross & Co continues to represent a variety of clients involved in Rule B1 attachment proceedings in the New York courts, working alongside New York firms. Despite the recent increase in the number of challenges to attachments by Rule B1 defendants it looks as if Rule B1 will remain a popular weapon for obtaining security in maritime claims.
3 February 2009
Wildcat strikes and the Viking Line judgment
Recent wildcat strikes and the demands that British jobs be filled by British workers have led to many references in the press to the European Court of Justice decision in the Viking Line case in which Ross & Co acted for Viking Line. It is surprising how many misconceptions there are in relation to the judgment in that case and the reasoning behind it. Details of the judgment can be found by clicking here.
2 February 2009
Record snowfall in London
Ross & Co's London office in Lincoln's Inn was, quite literally, snowed under today as the record overnight snow that fell throughout London and the South East of England continued for the majority of the day.
12 January 2009
Volatile commodity prices lead to increase in trading disputes
The uncertainty in commodity prices last year has led to new instructions from commodity trading companies. The problems arise when pricing structures are focused around future floating dates. Delays in contractual performance make a considerable difference to the purchase and sale price where the market is volatile.
24 October 2008
Costs judgment from Competition Appeal Tribunal in Emerson Electric v Morgan Crucible case
Further to the CAT's judgment earlier this year (see below), the CAT has now also made a costs order in favour of Ross & Co client, Carbone Lorraine S.A. (as well as the other Proposed Defendants). To read the costs judgment, click here.
5 August 2008
New paralegal
We recently bid farewell to Charis Beverton who joined the firm as a paralegal last year. Charis is off to watch the Olympics in Beijing before starting her training contract and we wish her well for the future. Our new paralegal, Kate Wilkinson, joined the firm in July.
1 May 2008
10 Year Anniversary
We are celebrating our 10th birthday and that is no bad time to take stock. What do we do? What do we specialise in? What do we not do? How expensive are we? These are the questions most clients will ask when they come to our site.
What do we do? Litigation is mainly what we do. That and arbitration. What kind of litigation and arbitration? Well the vast majority of our cases have what is usually called a foreign element. Very often we act for overseas clients. Quite often there is a conflict of law issue. Quite often too there is a jurisdiction issue and decisions have to be made quickly about the appropriate jurisdiction for the claim. The Brussels Regulation (and its sections on jurisdiction) is something we look at almost daily. Big stuff or small stuff? Most of the litigation and arbitration we deal with is what some call big ticket litigation/arbitration. We are very fortunate to have four extremely experienced partners all with common training and our clients, who have been built up over many years, understand that we are a firm capable of handling large and complex claims and disputes.
In the last 12 months we have been involved in cases which have gone to the Court of Appeal, cases which have been referred to the European Court of Justice, cases which have gone to the Competition Appeal Tribunal and cases which have been referred to the Administrative courts for a Judicial Review. We have also been involved in numerous arbitrations and mediations in London primarily relating to shipping and trading disputes. We were the law firm who acted in Case C-438/05 – the Viking Line case – which one commentator described as “the Constitutional case of the decade”. We are currently involved in another major reference to Luxembourg, this time on behalf of three of the leading mobile phone operators in Europe.
Lawyers in London are expensive, even to the effect that their charges can be intimidating to sophisticated clients (particularly those from overseas). We know that and try to be sensitive to that concern. We try to give value for money and our charge out rates for our experienced partners are often at the level many London firms charge for their junior partners or even senior assistants.
So nothing stands still. Shipping, insurance and trade disputes remain at the core of our business. Our long term clients and friends in the Nordic countries remain a vital part of our practice. But now in addition we have cases both in Luxembourg and in the Competition Appeal Tribunal. Not to be overlooked in any of these matters is the hugely important role now played by mediation. Many of our cases do now end up being resolved by mediation.
What we have tried to do over the last ten years is to build a reputation as a firm that adopts the highest professional standards, maintains a healthy sense of humour and strives to offer real value for money in assisting our clients to resolve their disputes. The extent to which we have achieved that is not for us to judge but it will remain our aim over the next ten years and beyond.
Ross & Co.
1 New Square
Lincoln’s Inn
28 April 2008
Competition Appeal Tribunal refuses permission on Emerson Electric v Morgan Crucible case
Ross & Co, acting with Counsel from Monckton Chambers, successfully prevents the claimants in case no. 1077/5/7/07 from adding Carbone Lorraine S.A. as a defendant to the proceedings.
To read the full judgment of the CAT, click here.
1 April 2008
ECJ Reference on Roaming Regulation
On 18th December 2008 Ross & Co, acting with Counsel from Brick Court Chambers, obtained a reference to the European Court of Justice seeking a review of the Roaming Regulation for Telefonica O2, T-Mobile and Orange (the Joint Claimants) after successful judicial review proceedings in the Administrative Court.
The Joint Claimants (along with Vodafone) say that the Roaming Regulation is invalid on the grounds that it is ultra vires and that it infringes the principles of proportionality and subsidiarity.
The case has now been assigned case number C-058/08 in the ECJ.
To read the full judgment from the Administrative Court, click here.
1 March 2008
Ian Ross continues his work for the Lord Slynn of Hadley European Law Foundation
Ian Ross continues to work as a member of the Advisory Council of the Foundation whose central purpose is to give support, advice and training to young lawyers from countries of Central and Eastern Europe. The activities of the Foundation have expanded in recent years as the numbers of member states joining the European Union have increased. In addition to arranging fellowships for young lawyers visiting the UK the Foundation also makes visits to the new member states to arrange seminars and training at all levels in aspects of European law and practice.
For more on the Lord Slynn Educational Foundation click here.
12 December 2007
Successful Viking Line Judgment
On 11th December 2007 the European Court of Justice gave its judgment on the Viking Line case (case C-438/05) in which the ECJ decided a number of critical factors in favour of Viking Line.
Ian Ross and John Blacker acted for Viking Line along with Counsel from Brick Court Chambers.
1) The International Transport Workers' Federation 2) The Finnish Seamen's Union v 1) Viking Line ABP 2) OU Viking Line Eesti C-438/05
To read the full judgment click here.