I specialise in commercial litigation and arbitration. I head the Insurance and Reinsurance team which mainly represents policyholders and captives in coverage disputes against (re)insurers.
I have over 25 years' experience of litigation, arbitration and mediation in commercial disputes, often with international and civil fraud elements, with a particular focus in insurance and group actions.
My job is to successfully navigate clients to the end of a dispute process as efficiently and effectively as possible.
I primarily act for policyholders in the financial services, pharmaceutical, energy, retail, manufacturing, construction, utilities and transport sectors to recover insurance indemnities properly due under construction all-risks, product liability / recall, Bermuda Form, professional indemnity, property, business interruption, ATE, D&O, employers' liability, public liability, political risk / political violence / credit risk, corporate crime (1st and 3rd party) and cyber / privacy insurance policies. I’m currently acting in recovery actions relating to political risk and political violence losses in Mozambique and Côte d'Ivoire, in addition to ad hoc arbitration proceedings against excess insurers in a product liability coverage dispute.
I also specialise in reinsurance coverage disputes and have acted in leading cases Wasa v Lexington (last House of Lords’ reinsurance judgment concerning Alcoa pollution losses across the USA) and Aioi v Heraldglen (arising from the 9/11 World Trade Centre losses) and have recently represented reinsurers in a $500 million LCIA political risk expropriation coverage arbitration relating to a loss in South America, and a $100 million political risk coverage dispute relating to the 2021 Zuma riots in South Africa.
My commercial disputes practice involves both defendant and claimant work, such as miss-selling, professional negligence and breach of contract / warranty claims, and I have an established expertise in funded claims, group actions, asset recovery and civil fraud matters.
I have acted in numerous ad hoc and institutional arbitrations, particularly those governed by the LCIA, ICC and SCC Rules, which has become an increasingly popular option for my clients, especially with enforcement to mind.
I speak French / have a French law degree and am part of the French desk at Fladgate.
Outside of work, I have now firmly hung up my rugby boots, but still love watching rugby and currently coach junior players. I am a passionate free-diver and spear-fisherman, fly fisherman and beekeeper. When my kids allow me time off, I also get involved in various field sports!
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Garbhan Shanks is an exceptional lawyer leading an exceptional team. Garbhan gets straight to the point quickly and is absolutely unflappable in contentious situations.
Garbhan Shanks has a first-rate mind, has considerable commercial acumen and is a trusted adviser to clients.
Garbhan Shanks is a very experienced and outstanding lawyer. Unlike many policy holder lawyers, Garbhan is steeped in the London insurance market and experienced in all classes of insurance and reinsurance classes. The combination of such deep experience with his experience of large and very large commercial litigation and arbitration makes his practice exceptionally strong. Garbhan’s advice is always clear and well delivered. If I was a policyholder, or a reinsured, I would want to be represented by him.
In the latest case examining how business interruption (BI) insurance policies respond to losses rel…
Read More
Concrete: the new cladding crisis. Will insurers foot the bill? Unhappily coinciding with the start…
Read More
