Sean Wilken QC

Year called: 1991
Year appointed Silk: 2010
Email: sean.wilken@39essex.com
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Sean has a litigation and advisory practice spanning commercial law in the UK, EU and worldwide (with particular emphasis on the USA, Asia and the Middle East). He has experience in all levels and types of courts and tribunals from arbitration through to ADR through to the Court of Appeal and the House of Lords

His practice focuses on large scale commercial litigation which is often complex, whether legally, technically or factually.

Recommendations

He was consistently named as a leading Junior in Construction Law by Legal 500 2003-2009 and by Chambers & Partners and in Legal Experts 2002-2009. He had been rated as a Leading Junior in Administrative and Employment Law by The Lawyer and Legal Business on three occasions and as one of the top 80 barristers under the age of 40 by Legal Business.

Quotes

"extremely clever and incisive junior"; "always instils confidence" Chambers & Partners 2010
"highly rated" Chambers & Partners 2009
"impresses with his appetite for hard work and his "driven approach" to his cases. He has a particular interest in infrastructure projects, as well as bonds, warranties and guarantees, and is "the man you need if you want a case chiselled away at." Chambers & Partners 2009
"strikes peers and instructing solicitors as "a clever lad" who takes on disputes stemming from major projects..." Chambers & Partners 2008
"phenomenally bright and enthusiastic" who "turns work round fast" and gives "clear statements" of his advice Chambers & Partners 2007
"very impressive senior junior who gives unequivocal high quality advice promptly" Chambers & Partners 2006
"prompt, incisive, well-thought-out advice" Chambers & Partners 2004
"calm, unflappable and diligent", "ferociously bright" and "praised for his 'very clear and unambiguous advice'" Chambers & Partners 2003
"clients find Sean Wilken's "short, pithy and intellectual" approach a tonic in complex many layered disputes. While his prestigious appointment to the Treasury Panel in connection with securities work has, understandably, occupied much of his time, Wilken remains a potent force in the marketplace" Chambers & Partners 2006/7
"absolutely top-notch" "gets it right pretty much all of the time" Chambers & Partners 2005/6
"brilliant on his feet", "infinitely better as an advocate than most of the construction bar" Chambers & Partners 2004/5
"personable and ambitious" and "ferociously bright and with a first-class mind" Chambers & Partners 2003/4

Appointments

Former Treasury "A" Panel Counsel
The Sports Dispute Resolution Panel
Former advisor to the ACPO/Home Office Working Party on Human Rights
Legal Member of the Great Britain Selectors Panel (Skiing) for the 2010 Winter Games
UK Member of the Federation International du Ski Legal Committee

Significant Cases

Motto & Ors v Trafigura, [2009]
Moduleco and Carillion, 11 February 2009, [2009] EWHC 250 (TCC)
Ryanair v SR Technics, 15 December 2007, [2007-8]
Shell UK v Revenue & Customs Commissioners (Sp Comm), 2 August 2007, Lawtel 28 August 2007
Tramtrack Croydon Ltd v London Bus Services Ltd (QBD), 31 January 2007, [2007] EWHC 107 (Comm)

Publications

Construction Contracts: Law and Practice 2nd Edition (Contributor) OUP 2010
The Law of Waiver, Variation and Estoppel, 2nd Edition OUP 21 November 2002
The Law of Entertainment and Broadcasting Sweet & Maxwell 16 December 1999
Judicial Review: Law and Procedure Sweet & Maxwell 1 November 1995

Articles

Seminar Paper - Articles 2 & 3 (February 2006, Sean Wilken)
Damages for Breach of Warranty on the Sale of a Business (May 2005, Sean Wilken and Karim Ghaly)