Profile

Patrick is a partner in Kennedys’ London office with over 30 years’ experience specialising in insurance and reinsurance law.

His practice is primarily focused on coverage and disputes work in marine, offshore and onshore energy, political violence/terrorism, trade credit and political risk. Patrick handles litigation before the Commercial Court in London, arbitration mandates and has mediated a significant number of disputes to a successful conclusion. He regularly acts as monitoring counsel for insurers/reinsurers in respect of international claims.  

Predominantly acting for global insurers and Lloyd’s syndicates, a significant proportion of Patrick’s practice sees him advise clients in respect of claims under construction and operational policies, advising on many substantial energy losses worldwide – both offshore and onshore. He is increasingly advising on renewables claims in particular concerning offshore wind.

His experience of handling marine matters includes handling claims under hull and machinery, mortgagee's interest, war, loss of hire, cargo, charterers' liability, ports and terminals, general liability and protection and indemnity (P&I) policies. Patrick also represents insurers and owners, charterers and terminal operators on shipping disputes and casualties. Patrick has handled political violence/risk claims for insurers in jurisdictions including the UK, US, Libya, Algeria, Syria, Thailand, Bahrain, India, Pakistan, Kenya, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Afghanistan and Nepal. 

Patrick is a regular speaker at many of the leading international marine and energy conferences and co-wrote the first three editions of Good Faith and Insurance Contracts (published by Informa).

Qualifications:

  • Qualified in England and Wales in 1989
Patrick Foss is incredibly responsive, thoughtful and adaptive in the ways he is prepared to deliver advice to suit the client's needs

Market recognition

  • Listed in the Hall of Fame and recommended lawyer for 'Shipping (London)'
    The Legal 500 UK 2024
  • Recommended lawyer for 'Insurance and reinsurance litigation (London)'
    The Legal 500 UK 2024
  • Notable practitioner (Band 1) for 'Insurance: Contentious Claims & Reinsurance (UK-wide)'
    "Patrick Foss is incredibly responsive, thoughtful and adaptive in the ways he is prepared to deliver advice to suit the client's needs".
    Chambers UK 2024
  • Notable practitioner for 'Shipping (UK-wide)'
    "Patrick Foss can explain complex issues in clear terms".
    "Patrick Foss has great experience, manages expectations well and is accessible".
    Chambers UK 2024
  • Nominated by respondents for delivering outstanding service in the last 12 months 
    The Gracechurch London Market Insurance Law Monitor 2023
  • Nominated by respondents for delivering outstanding service in the last 12 months 
    The Gracechurch London Market Insurance Law Monitor 2023
  • Nominated by respondents for delivering outstanding service in the last 12 months 
    The Gracechurch London Market Insurance Law Monitor 2023
  • Notable practitioner (Band 1) for 'Insurance: Contentious Claims & Reinsurance (UK-wide)'
    "Patrick Foss has a strong understanding of the client's needs in developing strategy and creating an appropriate team to deliver".
    Chambers UK 2023
  • Notable practitioner for 'Shipping (UK-wide)'
    "Patrick Foss understands the pressures insurers face, so dealing with him is a pleasure".
    Chambers UK 2023
  • Listed in the Hall of Fame and recommended lawyer for 'Shipping (London)'
    "Patrick Foss specialises in coverage and dispute work relating to shipping as well as offshore energy".
    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)'
    "He has a brilliant analytical mind. Patrick is someone who can unravel the most complex claims, ensure nothing is missed and come up with out-of-the-box solutions."
    Chambers UK 2022
  • Listed in the Hall of Fame and recommended lawyer for 'Shipping (London)'
    "Patrick Foss [is a] go-to lawyer for marine legal advice, especially large complex marine casualties."
    The Legal 500 UK 2022
  • Recommended lawyer for 'Insurance and reinsurance litigation (London)'
    The Legal 500 UK 2022
  • Global Leader for ‘Transport – Shipping’ (UK)
    Who’s Who Legal Transport 2021
  • Notable practitioner for 'Insurance: Contentious claims, reinsurance and Volume claims (UK-wide)' 
    "He is an excellent solicitor." "A very strong practitioner for onshore and offshore energy work."
    Chambers UK 2021
  • Notable practitioner for 'Shipping (UK-wide)'
    "He is at the forefront of the marine insurance market, has great client care skills and is also alive to the legal issues."
    Chambers UK 2021
  • Listed in the Hall of Fame and recommended lawyer for 'Shipping (London)'
    The Legal 500 UK 2021
  • Recommended lawyer for 'Insurance and reinsurance litigation (London)'
    The Legal 500 UK 2021
  • “It's an ingrained sense of commerciality to the needs of the insurance market and best servicing of our clients. Very easy to work with and comes back quickly to us and provides structured simple advice.”
    The Gracechurch London Market Insurance Law Report 2019
  • “Superb, sharp, sound legal advice and he is strategically acute.”
    The Gracechurch London Market Insurance Law Report 2019
  • “Because he can turn around complex claims and he thinks outside the box. He's very responsive and we get good results from him.”
    The Gracechurch London Market Insurance Law Report 2019
  • Notable practitioner for 'Shipping (UK-wide)'
    One client says that he "always excels and delivers on complex claim matters."
    Chambers UK 2020
  • Notable practitioner for 'Insurance: Contentious Claims (UK-wide)'
    Patrick Foss "knows marine insurance backwards and combines a thorough knowledge of the law with an extensive knowledge of commercial practices."
    Chambers UK 2020
  • Leading Individual and Recommended Lawyer for 'Shipping (London)'
    The Legal 500 UK 2019/20
  • Leading Individual and Recommended Lawyer for 'Insurance and reinsurance litigation (London)'
    The Legal 500 UK 2019/20
  • Hall of Fame for ‘Shipping (London)’
    The Legal 500 UK 2018/19
  • Notable practitioner (Band 2) for 'Insurance: Contentious claims (UK-wide 2019)'
    Chambers UK 2019
  • Notable practitioner (Band 2) for 'Shipping (UK-wide 2019)'
    Chambers UK 2019
  • "Patrick Foss has a notable dispute resolution practice focused on shipping and energy insurance matters and has experience as a litigator and arbitrator. He demonstrates expertise in marine casualties, including in the investigation and evidence-gathering stage."
    Chambers UK 2019
  • "Patrick Foss offers a wealth of experience handling insurance claims arising in the marine and energy sectors. One source notes him to be a "very smart lawyer who really represents clients' interests very well and offers a nice balance of charm and industry savvy."
    Chambers UK 2019

Work highlights

  • Representing construction all risks insurers on claims arising out of the alleged total loss of the Yme platform, one of the largest insurance claims brought in the English courts.
  • Advising marine liability insurers following the sinking of the vessel Sewol in April 2014 with the loss of 304 passengers and crew. 
  • Advising hull insurers on a constructive total loss claim arising out of the alleged detention of a vessel in Venezuela.  
  • Advising energy liability insurers in relation to claims arising from significant property damage caused by onshore drilling. 
  • Representing hull insurers in proceedings concerning the total loss of the vessel Kapitan Veselkov
  • Advising construction all risks insurers on significant claims arising out of onshore and offshore pipeline damage in Asia.
  • Advising political violence insurers on a number of claims arising from physical damage and business interruption due to the conflict in Syria.