Nicholas Hamblen, Lord Hamblen of Kersey

Nicholas Archibald Hamblen, Lord Hamblen of Kersey, PC (born 23 September 1957) is British judge currently serving as a justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. Prior to his judicial career Hamblen was a specialist in maritime and commercial law.

Lord Hamblen of Kersey
Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
Assumed office
11 January 2020
Nominated byDavid Gauke
Appointed byElizabeth II
Preceded byThe Baroness Hale of Richmond
Lord Justice of Appeal
In office
2015–2020
Personal details
Born (1957-09-23) 23 September 1957 (age 66)
Alma materSt John's College, Oxford
Harvard Law School

Early life and education edit

He was educated at Westminster School and graduated from St John's College, Oxford in 1979, being the top first in law.[1][2] He later became an Eldon scholar and he sits on the scholarship committee. He was awarded a Kennedy Scholarship to attend Harvard Law School and graduated with a LLM.

Career edit

He was called to the bar in 1981 and took silk in 1997. As a Queen's Counsel, his principal areas of practice were shipping, insurance and reinsurance, international sale of goods, commodities, conflicts of laws and arbitration. He has appeared in the Court of Appeal, the House of Lords and before various arbitration tribunals. He has also acted as an arbitrator in maritime, insurance and international commercial matters; as well as in ICC, LCIA, LAS, LMAA and general commercial disputes. While at the bar, he was a member of 20 Essex Street.[3]

He became an Assistant Recorder in 1999 and a Recorder in 2000. He was appointed to sit as a Justice in the High Court in 2008.[4]

On 24 July 2015, it was announced that he would be appointed a Lord Justice of Appeal to fill one of the vacancies due to arise in the coming autumn.[5] He was officially appointed a Lord Justice of Appeal in February 2016.[6]

On 8 November 2018, at the annual Donald O'May maritime law lecture held at The Law Society in London's Chancery Lane, Hamblen gave an address on the issue of "Indemnity in time charterparties".[7] [8]

Hamblen was appointed as a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom with effect from 13 January 2020,[9] taking the judicial courtesy title of Lord Hamblen of Kersey.

Arms edit

Coat of arms of Nicholas Hamblen, Lord Hamblen of Kersey
 
Crest
Within a circle of estoiles Azure a demi lion Or grasping between the paws a branch of oak Azure leaves Or.
Escutcheon
Azure on a bend cotised Argent between two estoiles Or five water bougets bendwise alternate to the sinster and dexter Azure.
Motto
Sapiens Judicio Constans Consilio [10]

References edit

  1. ^ "The Rt. Hon. Lord Justice Hamblen, (Sir Nicholas Hamblen)". sjc.ox.ac.uk.
  2. ^ ‘HAMBLEN, Rt Hon. Sir Nicholas Archibald’, Who's Who 2017, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 2017
  3. ^ "Twenty Essex".
  4. ^ "Number10.gov.uk » Knighthood for Judge Nicholas Hamblen". www.number10.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 30 December 2008.
  5. ^ Press release: The Queen has approved the appointment of 4 Lord Justices of Appeal 24 July 2015
  6. ^ Court, The Supreme. "Biographies of the Justices - The Supreme Court". www.supremecourt.uk. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  7. ^ CMI programme
  8. ^ IML (Southampton)
  9. ^ "Appointments to the Supreme Court: 24 July 2019".
  10. ^ "Lincoln's Inn Great Hall, Hamblen, NA". Baz Manning. 18 October 2015. Retrieved 19 October 2020.