The Team

Quentin Bargate qualified as a solicitor in 1981 and has since spent his entire career in top City of London law firms, including running his own highly regarded firm, Bargate Murray, where he is head of the firm’s Superyacht and Dispute Resolution Groups as well as being the firm’s CEO.  Client sources comment on the “huge amount of litigation experience” that Quentin has, adding that he is “very well connected” and “knows his stuff.” A satisfied client appreciates that “Quentin is extremely professional, experienced and knowledgeable in addition to being very approachable.”
Source: Chambers HNW Guide 2023).

Quentin says: “In 2004, I fulfilled a lifetime ambition when I set up my own law firm, Quentin Bargate & Co. (renamed Bargate Murray in 2006).  We incorporated in 2013.  I had been a partner in Simmons & Simmons and Head of its International Trade and Shipping Group and a member of the Litigation Department and Arbitration Groups where I developed specialist skills in superyacht contracts and disputes as well as commercial shipping and trade.  Bargate Murray was a new challenge – to take all that knowledge I had gained over 14 years from a big City of London international practice, and offer it to clients who wanted a nimbler, more responsive service from a specialist firm.”

Bargate Murray is highly ranked in the Chambers HNW Guide for ‘Yachts & Superyachts’, and the Guide recognises Quentin as a Leading Individual for his expertise in this practice.

Quentin is an advocate for alternative dispute resolution (ADR), but he also deals with cases in court when required. He occasionally sits as an arbitrator.

Quentin is a member of the Baltic Exchange, the Maritime Authority of the Cayman Islands yacht committee. He holds a Master’s degree in Marine law, is a member of the LMAA, a Member of the Nautical Institute, a member of the IOD, a member of the Royal Thames Yacht Club, and a Freeman of the City of London.

His other interests include photography (Elsevier has published a technical book on stock photography “Microstock Photography” written by Quentin under his pen name Douglas Freer), music and his family.

Many large cases dealt with by Quentin and his team are arbitrations and thus confidential, so the following matters are merely some examples of the breadth of work as litigators that we handle:

• Goodwood Investments Holdings Inc. v Thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions AG [2018] EWHC 1056 (Comm). This was a large and complex arbitration that briefly went to court and has now settled (2019).
• A substantial cross border ad hoc international arbitration in which the client defeated a $30m counterclaim and settled its own claim for Euro 6 million for Euro 5 million, a near complete success (2019).
• Consolidated Contractors (Oil and Gas) Company SAL (acting by Mr. Lee Manning as receiver) v Canadian Nexen Petroleum Yemen & Others [2011] EWHC 837 (QB).Cross border receivership litigation involving Yemeni, Lebanese and English law (amongst others), concerning the unprecedented attempt by an English court-appointed receiver to gain control of foreign assets located in the Middle East. The case eventually settled.
• Gamit Ltd v Saudi Arabian Airlines Corp & Anor [2011] EWHC 989. Successfully defending the maintenance division of a jet engine manufacturer in a dispute over title to replacement jet engine parts.
• Madoff Securities International Ltd (In liquidation) v Raven & Ors [2013] EWHC 3147. Defending a director allegedly involved in a global Ponzi scheme in litigation brought by the liquidator of an English Company.
• Street v Larkins [2013] EWHC 1408 (Ch). Representing the Defendants in their successful defence of an interim application for a freezing injunction and the Defendants successful application for wasted costs. The Defendants were awarded their wasted costs on the basis of the Claimants’ unreasonable refusal to consent to an adjournment of the trial date. Claimants’ application for freezing injunction was dismissed on the grounds of failing to establish a “good arguable” case during the trial window.
• Charterparty dispute advice.
• Successfully litigating and eventually settling on favourable terms a highly complex and fractious corporate dispute between shareholders, where the majority shareholders sought to exclude our clients from their share of the profits in a real estate investment vehicle by devising elaborate commercial structures across a number of European jurisdictions. The settlement included payment to our clients of a substantial cash payment and the agreement on the part of the Defendants to pay our client’s costs on an indemnity basis.
• Successfully settling a professional negligence action brought by a high net worth individual with considerable real estate investments which were exposed by the repeated failures of a renowned top 20 law firm.

Some of Quentin’s recent transactions include:

• $200m new build contract advice for an award-winning superyacht.
• Advice on Seafarer Employment Agreements, including in regard to the first yacht successfully to pass an MLC audit for the Cayman flag.
• Advice in importation of several yachts in to the European Union for VAT purposes, and on Temporary Admission matters.
• Sale of a 61m superyacht to a Russian buyer.
• Purchase of a 48m Superyacht and its commercial registration and use.
• Yacht management agreements for leading yacht managers.
• Aviation and maritime advice in regard to a UHNW individual.
• Acting for a yacht builder in regard to construction agreements.

For more information, or to get in touch with Quentin, please email quentin@bargatemurray.com

Described in Spears 500 as a “Distinguished Individual”, Elliot is a highly motivated individual, technically adept, with extensive commercial experience, who sees the “big picture” with ease. Analytical and pragmatic, he is known to facilitate innovative and efficient solutions to complex issues.

Elliot is well known in the marine sector and has acted in multi-jurisdictional litigation on behalf of major banks and insurers in respect of policy coverage issues and international enforcement of loan security against pleasure boats and superyachts. In addition, he has considerable experience of charter disputes and dealing with disputed commission payments arising out of the sale and purchase of vessels.

Notable cases include a safe port claim which resulted in a successful outcome for the client following a five day Admiralty Court trial, and a more recent win on behalf of a bank seeking to enforce a personal guarantee.

He has also acted for claimants and defendants in a broad range of marine related personal injury litigation from fast track through to catastrophic injury claims both in the UK and overseas including dealing with a claim by a minor rendered tetraplegic by an accident on board a private yacht in Portuguese territorial waters.

Elliot also has experience in dispute resolution in the art world, relating to defective title, provenance and attribution. He works closely with colleagues in advising artists on their moral rights and copyright of their work, protecting their brand and reputational issues.  He is also a Freeman of the City of London.

Andrew is a Lawyer and Advocate specialising in high-value international litigation and investigations for Bargate Murray’s Superyacht and Dispute Resolution Group.

With over 15 years experience working for leading national firms and having undertaken two secondments for the in-house dispute teams at Lloyds Banking Group and Royal Bank of Scotland, Andrew delivers fast and commercial results for high-net worth individuals and global corporations.

Client’s praise Andrew for his ability to break down difficult issues into clear and concise advice, spot weaknesses in an opponent’s case, and develop practical solutions for complex problems.

As a Junior Advocate, Andrew has assisted Quentin Bargate in successfully resolving a number of high-profile and confidential superyacht and aviation-related disputes at both arbitration and mediation. Other big-ticket cases Andrew has worked on include:

Acting for blue-chip banks and lenders in multi-million pound recovery proceedings, and disputes concerning swaps mis-selling, hedging products and the validity of security.
Resolving the financial and commercial element of personal and family disputes involving ultra-high-net-worth individuals.
Managing the defence of claims in international marine, tax and other shipping-related regulatory investigations.

In the exciting but demanding world of superyachts, Andrew works closely with yacht owners, managers, family offices and key industry stakeholders to ensure the smooth operation of superyachts, and the quick resolution of unexpected issues, disputes and investigations.

Robert has a primary focus on private / corporate jet and superyacht transactions, providing advice to owners, operators and financiers, including in relation to financings (loans, security and finance leases), sale and purchase, charters and operating leases. 

He has experience negotiating sale and purchase agreements, finance agreements, security agreements, finance leases, charters and operating leases and dealing with cross border transactions and international registries (including registrations made under the Cape Town Convention). 

Robert has been described in the industry as a “dealmaker” and has received a number of recommendations by clients in the Legal 500 directory. Robert is quoted by clients as being “very professional, attentive, responsive, and solution-oriented”, and “very communicative, pays attention to details and always available for a call/clarifications, he was keen to understand the financial aspects of the financing transaction which was interesting”. Another client says of Robert, “he gives sound advice and is able to resolve problems in transactions with ease… I think he is ‘one to watch’”.

Isabel joined Bargate Murray as a paralegal in September 2022 and began her training contract in September 2023. She graduated from the University of Leeds in 2020 with a BA Economics and Politics degree and completed her GDL from BPP University in early 2022, achieving a Distinction.

Isabel has previously gained experience as a paralegal within family law and private client law, where she has worked on non-contentious matters such as trusts and wills, probate and conveyancing. On the contentious side, Isabel has attended court a number of times to assist in divorce and children’s proceedings.

When she can, Isabel pursues her love of travel and spent Spring 2022 backpacking around South and Central America, followed by an interrailing trip around Italy. In her spare time, she enjoys the arts, running and playing netball and golf.

Lauren Stephens is Head of Administration, and enjoys a high profile role as one of the firm’s compliance officers and manages the firm’s finances. Additionally, Lauren is ILex trained.  She assists the directors in the management of the Firm.

Lauren, who joined Bargate Murray in 2009, is in charge of the smooth day to day operation of the firm and works alongside the CEO and directors to ensure that each client receives the high level of client care that epitomises Bargate Murray.

Lauren also assists with the organisation and preparation of a number of key events, a number of which have been held over consecutive years at the prestigious Monaco Yacht Show.

For more information, or to get in touch with Lauren, please email lauren@bargatemurray.com