One Essex Court announces with great sadness the death of Peter Leaver KC, distinguished barrister and international arbitrator who was a member of Chambers for 53 years.
Peter was born on 28 November 1944 and was educated at Aldenham School and Trinity College Dublin. He was called to the Bar in 1967, joined One Essex Court in 1973 and took silk in 1987.
Whilst in practice at the Bar, Peter concentrated on heavyweight, commercial work and was regarded by solicitors and clients as a formidable and persuasive advocate. He gained experience across many areas of commercial law, including banking, sale of goods, insurance, financial services, energy and intellectual property, together with related jurisdictional questions. Highlights included appearing in Donohue v Armco Inc and Ors, a landmark House of Lords case on anti-suit injunctions and exclusive jurisdiction clauses; the Walker v Standard Chartered Bank litigation; and the Grupo Torras litigation in the Court of Appeal.
In more recent years, Peter practised as a full-time international commercial arbitrator. He was a member of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre Panel and the Hong Kong Arbitration Centre Panel, as well as HKIAC's Intellectual Property and Financial Disputes Panels. He was a past Chairman of the Board of the London Court of International Arbitration (2008–2012), a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, and was appointed to The Law Society's Accreditation Panel of Arbitrators.
For many years, Peter served as a Recorder of the Crown Court and a Deputy High Court Judge (1994–2017), and he was also a Director of the Investment Management Regulatory Organisation.
Beyond the law, Peter was well known for his role as Chief Executive of the Premier League from 1997 to 1999, and in 2008 he was appointed President of the National Anti-Doping Panel.
Peter is survived by his wife, Jane, and their children, Marcus, Rebecca, James and Benjamin. He will be greatly missed by his colleagues and friends at One Essex Court and across the legal and arbitration communities.