Chris Zavos
Partner | London,
United Kingdom
Chris.Zavos@kennedyslaw.com
+44 20 7667 9777
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Profile
Chris is a partner in our London office and specialises in complex coverage (across aviation, marine, yachts, energy, war, political risks and political violence) and, where necessary, acting for Underwriters in coverage litigation/arbitration as well as in jurisdictional disputes. He qualified in England and Wales in 1991.
Acting predominantly for Lloyd's and global (re)insurers, he has extensive experience in advising on complex coverage as well as liability defence, subrogation and sanctions issues. Chris has managed many market leading cases through arbitration and litigation both here (up to the Supreme Court) and in international jurisdictions.
He has been ad hoc legal adviser to the London Market’s Joint Hull Committee since 2002 where he advises on market issues and drafts new wordings on discrete issues such as piracy, sanctions and cyber/CL380.
He is a member of the Forum of Insurance Lawyers (FOIL).
Chris Zavos provides a great service and level of expertise.
Qualifications and admissions
- Qualified in England and Wales in 1991
Market recognition
- Recognised in Best Lawyers UK for ‘Insurance Law | Shipping Law'
Best Lawyers UK 2024 - Notable practitioner for 'Insurance: Contentious Claims & Reinsurance (UK-wide)'
"Chris Zavos provides a great service and level of expertise".
Chambers UK 2024 - Notable practitioner for 'Shipping (UK-wide)'
"Chris Zavos has a wealth of experience in shipping".
Chambers UK 2024 - Recommended lawyer for 'Insurance and reinsurance litigation (London)'
The Legal 500 UK 2024 - Recommended lawyer for 'Shipping (London)'
The Legal 500 UK 2024 - Nominated by respondents for delivering outstanding service in the last 12 months
The Gracechurch London Market Insurance Law Monitor 2023 - Notable practitioner for 'Shipping (UK-wide)'
"Chris Zavos is our go-to for complex marine matters".
"Chris Zavos answers questions in great detail and offers considered advice that takes everything on board".
Chambers UK 2023 - Notable practitioner for 'Insurance: Contentious Claims & Reinsurance (UK-wide)'
Chambers UK 2023 -
Recommended lawyer for 'Shipping (London)'The Legal 500 UK 2023
- Notable practitioner (Band 1) for 'Insurance: Contentious Claims & Reinsurance (UK-wide)'
Chambers UK 2022 - Notable practitioner for 'Shipping (UK-wide)'
"Chris has been phenomenal at handling complex, high-stakes, multi-jurisdictional insurance disputes."
Chambers UK 2022 - Recommended lawyer for 'Insurance and reinsurance litigation (London)'
The Legal 500 UK 2022 - Recommended lawyer for 'Shipping (London)'
"Chris Zavos [is a] go-to lawyer for marine legal advice, especially large complex marine casualties."
The Legal 500 UK 2022 - “He's very understanding of clients’ needs, and you know he gets his clients. He's very professional, responds in a timely manner to questions and requests feedback information before giving very precise advice.”
The Gracechurch London Market Insurance Law Report 2019 - “He is dealing with a number of cases that I am involved with and he's dealing with them very well. His technical knowledge is excellent, his recommended strategies are pretty sound and he gives good clear and concise advice.”
The Gracechurch London Market Insurance Law Report 2019 - “Chris takes time to understand our reserving philosophy and commercial considerations and he adapts his advice to suit that. What they are both really good at is they work with the market as opposed with just the lead underwriter. He is always available, and I can email him and nine times out of ten within ten minutes I will get a response which is rare.”
The Gracechurch London Market Insurance Law Report 2019
Awards
Work highlights
- Acting for war risks insurers in AerCap v AIG (2023, Commercial Court and continuing) in defence of claims by aircraft lessors relating to the failure by Russian airlines to return aircraft following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
- Acting for the war market in relation to vessels remaining in Ukraine and Russia following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
- Acting for the Club in UK P&I Club v Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela in defence of claims following sinking of Naiguata (2022,Commercial Court, Court of Appeal and continuing) on jurisdiction, anti-suit injunction
- Acting for the market in Brillante Virtuoso (2019, Commercial Court) in the successful defence of a claim for loss of the vessel in the Gulf of Aden in 2011 and in which the principal defence was fraud.
- Acting for the market in Atlantik Confidence (2017, Commercial Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court), in seeking to recover an H&M claim paid in 2013 following loss of the vessel, which was later found to have been fraudulent.
- Acting for the market in Alexandros T (2011, Commercial Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and continuing), a dispute over jurisdiction/settlement in a claim for damages by an assured following settlement of the original loss.
- Acted for the market in Princess of the Stars (2012, Commercial Court and Court of Appeal), a reinsurance dispute over coverage in respect of liabilities to cargo interests.
- Acted for the market in Arash v Groupama (2011, Commercial Court, Court of Appeal), the first English case to consider the effect of the EU Iranian sanctions on insurance.
- Acted for the market in Youell v Kara Mara (2000, Commercial Court) obtaining an anti-suit injunction to restrain Louisiana proceedings.
Insurance and reinsurance
Shipping and international trade
Transport and logistics