Monika Humphreys-Davies
Managing Associate
Monika is an experienced dispute resolution expert, known for guiding her clients through complex and multi-jurisdictional shipping and commodities disputes.
Managing Associate
Monika is an experienced dispute resolution expert, known for guiding her clients through complex and multi-jurisdictional shipping and commodities disputes.
Languages - English, Estonian
Jurisdictions - England & Wales, Dubai and DIFC, United Arab Emirates
Monika acts for a broad range of clients including traders, charterers, shipowners and their insurers throughout the Middle East and globally. These clients turn to Monika for her strategic insight and deep sector knowledge when navigating high-value, multi-jurisdictional disputes that often involve sensitive commercial issues and significant financial exposure.
Monika plays a key role in many of the firm’s most complex and high-value mandates, advising on a wide range of issues arising under international trade and shipping contracts. These include disputes relating to demurrage, contamination, cargo damage, charterparties and sale contract breaches. Monika's approach combines technical expertise with commercial acumen, ensuring her clients can confidently tackle their most challenging disputes.
She represents clients in arbitration proceedings pursuant to the LMAA, SIAC, DIAC and LCIA rules, and litigation before the English High Court and the DIFC Courts. Her track record includes securing urgent injunctive relief and handling fast-moving, high-pressure disputes with a calm, decisive approach.
Monika also provides trusted day-to-day advice on non-contentious shipping and trade matters.
Clients value Monika for her high-quality, pragmatic advice and commercial focus, making her a trusted advisor on high-stakes disputes and daily matters.
Monika is also a regular contributor to the firm’s Commodities in Focus Weekly newsletter series, where she shares insights on legal developments and trends.
CE Energy v Ultimate Oil and Gas and Mr Bashar
Acting for CE Energy DMCC in multiple disputes against Ultimate Oil and Gas DMCC, and its UBO Mr Bashar, in relation to unpaid gasoil, involving in DIAC and LCIA arbitral proceedings and English High Court proceedings, where we successfully obtained two multi-million-dollar summary judgments.
MT ARIANA
Successfully acting for Dr Rajabieslami, the former owner of the vessel MT Ariana, in a claim against Mr Tariverdi and his two companies in the English High Court which arose out of Mr Tariverdi's unlawful disposal of the vessel in breach of a trust agreement between him and Dr Rajabieslami.
Shipowner and the vessel's P&I club
Acting for the vessel, her registered owners, bareboat charterers and its P&I insurers in respect of an alleged contamination claim advanced under a bill of lading relating to a parcel of 62MT of Gasoil 10ppm worth approximately US$77 million involving Court proceedings in Australia.
MT VICTOR 1
Acting for the bareboat charterers of a vessel in relation to an ownership dispute arising with the registered owners and disputes arising under management agreements with the vessel's former managers in LMAA arbitration proceedings and Part 7 and Part 8 proceedings before the English High Court.
Shipowner and the vessel's P&I Club
Acting for one of the world's largest shipowners and the vessel's P&I insurers in respect of an alleged cargo contamination claim before the Bangladeshi Courts and in LMAA arbitration proceedings involving a chain of three arbitral references.
UAE based shipowner and charterer
Acting for a UAE based shipowner and charterer in a chain of LMAA arbitration proceedings concerning interpretation of charterparty obligations with respect to trading to Russian Ports following the outbreak of the war and related arrest proceedings in Morocco.
UAE based agricultural conglomerate
Drafting a suite of bulk and container sale and purchase contract templates for sourcing and selling on agricultural products based on GAFTA contracts.
Owners, charterers and traders
Reviewing charterparties, sale contracts, specific clauses or other transaction documents for owners, charterers and traders, often on an urgent time-sensitive basis.
UAE-based commodities traders
Providing support with day-to-day commodities and shipping related queries to several UAE-based commodities trading houses acting as an extension of their internal team.
