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 “he does the work from the beginning to the end, providing a full and complete service,” and the source adds: “His advice is always helpful and he is very practical.” (Source: Chambers HNW Guide 2019)

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 2019 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

Graham had a long career in banking starting in 1970. He spent 44 years in various roles and managerial positions.

During his career, Graham held positions in Marketing & Sales, organising representation at such profile events as Dunhill British Masters Golf, Burghley Horse Trials and East of England Show.

He went onto to become a successful Relationship Manager / Director working with SME businesses and Corporate Clients.

During this time he specialised in a wide number of sectors including :

• Property development / house building .
• Accountancy and Legal Professions .
• Restaurant and Pub Trade.
• Manufacturing
• Nuclear Industry

Personal Highlights of his career included presenting a daily financial report for local radio and specialist training as a presenter for one of the banks major national change programmes.

Graham retired from banking in 2014 and shortly after established a consultancy business with his wife. He has undertaken project work which has included:

• Establishment of a Hong Kong Office for a London based company.
• Board representation for a High Tech print business which included assisting with an eventual merger .
• Working with an accountancy firm providing a banking perspective for its clients, along with overseeing various projects.

Outside of work, Graham likes to keep fit and active He enjoys walking and gardening .

His hobbies include photography / reading and ultimately would like to write a book (Perhaps finishing the one he started when he retired) He and his wife enjoy travelling.

Dom is a Director in the Firm’s superyacht group based in London. Dom advises owners and their representatives on all aspects of superyacht ownership and management.

This includes the negotiation of new build and refit contracts, interior design contracts, contracts for the purchase of toys, tenders and lifeboats, sale and purchase agreements and sale and charter agency agreements, as well as matters relating to the employment of crew members and operational staff.

Dom also has significant experience in the negotiation of yacht finance agreements and re-financings, having started his career in the transportation finance group at Clyde & Co before moving to Bargate Murray in 2019.

Dom is often called upon to offer real-time support for Captains and yacht managers as matters requiring immediate attention arise onboard.

A life-long sailor himself, Dom has a practical understanding of the reality of life on the water and is able to apply his personal experience as both an owner and a charterer to offer clients practical, pragmatic, and realistic advice.

Dom has been involved in projects ranging from the design and construction of some of the largest new-builds in the superyacht fleet to the complex modification and repurposing of older vessels.

With an undergraduate degree in Conservation Biology and Ecology, Dom has a keen interest in the preservation of marine ecosystems and sustainable use of the World’s waters for recreational purposes. This passion also spills into day-to-day life at Bargate Murray where Dom has championed a number of “green” initiatives to help reduce the Firm’s impact on the environment.

When he is not in the office, Dom can often be found sailing on the south coast of England or enjoying the warmer climes of the Mediterranean and Caribbean seas.

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.

James joined Bargate Murray as a paralegal in early 2022, and became a Trainee Solicitor in September 2022.  He graduated from Leeds Beckett University in 2017, after graduating he travelled to Australia where he worked for a few years as a bar manager on Bondi Beach. Upon return he completed his LPC and gained a Masters in Law from BPP University.

James built experience at Quinn Emanuel LLP within the field of litigation and arbitration on a wide variety of disputes. From international public law to UK competition law. On the non-contentious side he has experience in assisting on corporate transactions, restructurings and de-mergers.

An avid sportsman, James enjoys rugby, golf and football. His main interest is skiing and he particularly enjoys watching the Freeride World Tour. James has also delivered sports coaching to disadvantaged children in the townships surrounding Durban, South Africa.

Isabel joined Bargate Murray as a paralegal in September 2022. 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