African disputes and international arbitration expert Duncan Bagshaw to 'take silk’ as new King’s Counsel

The announcement that Norton Rose Fulbright partner and international arbitration expert Duncan Bagshaw will ‘take silk’ as a new King’s Counsel is an exceptional professional milestone and a testament to Bagshaw’s outstanding advocacy, says Ruth Cowley, Global Co-Head of the firm’s International Arbitration Group. 

On Friday, the appointments by His Majesty King Charles III of 96 new King’s Counsel were announced, with Bagshaw the only ‘employed barrister’ among the new cohort of silks. Last year, there were no employed barristers among 105 appointments. 

“On behalf of our global arbitration team and the wider firm, we are absolutely delighted that Duncan has been appointed King’s Counsel,” says Cowley. “His skills and experience are a valued part of our international arbitration practice.”

Congratulating the new silks, Monisha Shah, Chair of the independent King’s Counsel Selection Panel that considered all applicants before the Lord Chancellor, David Lammy MP, advised His Majesty, noted the “rigorous and demanding selection process” - which included evidence-based assessments from almost 2,000 peers, clients and judges - recognises strong and consistent excellence in advocacy. 

“I believe that every one of these new silks will be a credit to the profession.”

Baghaw’s legal journey, from being called to the bar in 2003 through to this high honour, is strongly entwined with Africa, where he has lived and worked. 

He has handled many disputes arising from African projects, and worked on many cases involving African law and African seats of arbitration, including acting in long-running oil disputes in Nigeria, appearing in LCIA proceedings on behalf of Kenyan investors in Nairobi property development, and appearing in DIFC-LCIA arbitrations arising out of a major joint venture to develop hotels in East Africa.

In 2012, Baghaw became the first Registrar of the LCIA-MIAC Arbitration Centre in Mauritius, working to establish that nation as an emerging centre for dispute resolution, and to promote international arbitration practice in Africa. 

“I am delighted to have been appointed King's Counsel,” says Bagshaw. “I owe a huge amount to many colleagues who have supported me over the years and who provided kind feedback on my work … I am so grateful to all of them. I look forward to continuing to act in interesting and challenging cases.”

Prior to joining Norton Rose Fulbright as a partner in June last year, Bagshaw had spent several years as Head of International Arbitration at Howard Kennedy LLP. 

In March, The Lord Chancellor will preside over the award ceremony at Westminster Hall, where he will formally bestow the title of KC upon Bagshaw and his fellow appointees, along with eight Honorary KCs who’ve made “a significant, positive impact” on the shape of the law, or on the legal profession, outside the courtroom.