Duncan Quinan

I am vastly experienced in all well known forms of dispute resolution including litigation, international arbitration and ADR (particularly mediation). My early career concentrated on shipping and international trade, from which I gained experience of international contract and tort work in different jurisdictions and principally through international arbitrations. More recently, I have concentrated in domestic information technology disputes but feel comfortable litigating and arbitrating in most courts and tribunals. ADR is now an invariable constituent of effective dispute resolution and so I have growing experience of mediation. I am increasingly appointed as an arbitrator and enjoy the new perspective that such appointments give me.

More about Dispute Resolution

As a Partner in the Dispute Resolution Department, the tools of my trade are detailed knowledge of the rules and strategies of Commercial Litigation, both in England and internationally. I have handled commercial litigation cases at all levels from the High Court up as well as supervising litigation in the lower courts. Experience has taught me how to deploy these tools to the best advantage of my clients in a wide range of fields. The fields range from the technology disputes that I do now, to the shipping and international trade disputes on which I cut my teeth on as a younger lawyer and plenty in between.

More about Commercial Litigation

Apart from my experience as counsel in arbitrations, I have been appointed as an Arbitrator on numerous occasions.  I received my first appointment shortly after arrival at Lewis Silkin when appointed in September 2008 by the ICC as an arbitrator in an international case.  I have subsequently been appointed as a party-appointed arbitrator in more than 25 LMAA arbitrations and as an arbitrator in LCIA arbitrations.

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My practice has more recently concentrated on IT disputes for both end users and suppliers.  I specialise in contract disputes, including large systems integration and project management issues but has also worked on many disputes arising from software licences and distribution agreements.  I am a member of the Society for Computers and Law (SCL).

More about Technology & Digital

My earlier years were almost exclusively in the shipping and international trade area, resulting in my gaining a good understanding of contract and tort disputes in an insurance context and conflict of laws. In my shipping and international trade practice, I was involved in many arbitrations (over 150), several of which became reported cases when they were appealed to the High Court (eg “Isabelle”, “Nogar Marin”, “Mathew”).  I am a member of the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) and the London Maritime Arbitrators' Association (LMAA).

More about Shipping & International Trade