Poppy watson

Poppy Watson

Year of Call: 2021
Email Address: [email protected]
Telephone: 020 7583 8055

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Clerks Details

  • Clerk Name: David Fielder
  • Clerk Telephone: 020 7583 8055
  • Clerk Email: [email protected]
  • Clerk Name: Matthew Scanlan
  • Clerk Telephone: 020 7583 8055
  • Clerk Email: [email protected]

Overview

Poppy Watson is a commercial barrister based in London with a particular interest in matters involving breach of contract as well as disputes in the energy sector.

She has previously worked in-house at an international energy major and more recently undertook a secondment at an international commercial law firm. As a result, Poppy is well-placed to understand the needs of both professional and lay clients, including the need to balance strong legal stances with ongoing commercial relationships and reputational considerations.

Poppy has a practical and pragmatic approach to legal problems and endeavours to find creative legal solutions when faced with complex factual matrices. She works closely with professional clients to build strong, collaborative relationships and seeks to ensure lay clients feel supported at all times.

Whilst priding herself on her approachable and calm demeanour when advising lay clients, Poppy also offers a strong, persuasive capability as an advocate.

She is regularly instructed to represent clients at interim application hearings and has considerable experience drafting Commercial Court applications pertaining to disclosure, service of documents and matters regarding enforcement. Poppy also frequently appears in the High Court to present winding-up petitions and to represent individuals in bankruptcy proceedings.

Outside of work, Poppy enjoys playing padel, travelling and going to the theatre or the rugby.

Expertise

  • Commercial
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    Poppy is a busy member of 3PB’s Commercial team and advises a range of clients on contractual and commercial matters. Poppy has recently worked on matters such as:

    • Drafting High Court applications concerning disclosure, interim injunctions and service of documents (including retrospective alternative service orders, permission for service out of jurisdiction and extensions of time for service).
    • Drafting pleadings in high value breach of contract claims, including in respect of a defaulting bank under a letter of credit.
    • Appearing on behalf of clients in breach of contract claims concerning:
      • an alleged failure to provide services with the requisite care and skill;
      • alleged defective work and a franchise agreement; and
      • goods alleged to be unsatisfactory and unfit for purpose under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
    • Appearing in the Winding-Up Court and representing individuals in bankruptcy petitions at the High Court.
    • Drafting opinions on breaches of contract and charterparties, limitation provisions and force majeure clauses during the Red Sea crisis.
    • Drafting letters of demand in demurrage claims.

    Poppy also has further experience in commercial matters from her time working in-house, as detailed in the Energy and Natural Resources tab below.

    Energy and Natural Resources

    Prior to the Bar, Poppy worked within the Global Litigation team at an international energy major. During this 12-month internship, her caseload ranged from multi-jurisdictional, high value, complex oil and gas litigation to small-scale domestic disputes across the energy sector. Whilst in this role, Poppy learnt the importance of commercial pragmatism along with a keen understanding of overlapping legal principles. Poppy worked on various matters including:

    • high value oil spill compensation claims concerning parent company liability, negligence, nuisance and the rule in Rylands v Fletcher
    • an anti-suit injunction to enforce an LCIA arbitration agreement
    • applications for injunctive relief at oil terminals and commercial property based on trespass and unlawful means conspiracy
    • an ICC arbitration concerning breach of contract and force majeure in the context of an LNG agreement
    • a judicial review challenge regarding a North Sea gas licence
    • litigation disclosures arising out of the divestment of overseas assets
    • independently leading a successful defence to a contractual claim relating to alleged unpaid water charges
    • working on news and brand-sensitive projects, advising alongside media relations teams on matters with a high reputational exposure

    Poppy utilised this experience during her recent secondment at an international boutique energy firm. Whilst there, Poppy was heavily involved in cases which spanned the energy sector and she was frequently tasked with drafting pleadings, interim applications, opinions and letters of demand.

    Competition

    Poppy previously worked as a trainee (stagiaire) within the competition law team of the European Commission Legal Service (Brussels). In this role, Poppy worked on cases concerning cartels, mergers and abuses of a dominant position. Poppy assisted with legal research, the formulation of legal argument and the review of documents ahead of hearings at both the Court of Justice of the European Union and the General Court.

    One of the most notable cases Poppy worked on at the European Commission was T-799/17 Scania and Others v Commission. That case concerned an appeal by truck manufacturer Scania against a 2017 decision when the European Commission imposed a fine of EUR 880 million on Scania for its participation in a European-wide cartel in the trucks sector, contrary to Article 101 TFEU.

    Poppy has since utilised her knowledge and experience whilst working on competition-related matters during her time working as an in-house counsel.

  • Property and Estates
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    Poppy is a much-in-demand member of 3PB’s Property and Estates team and her practice covers disputes including landlord and tenant claims and real property litigation in both the residential and commercial sphere.

    She has specific expertise in possession matters in the public and private sector including section 8 and section 21 claims and claims against persons unknown. Poppy has also been instructed to attend applications relating to charging orders and the stay of execution of a writ, directions and case management hearings and has appeared in the First Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) on applications to the Tribunal, including those relating to service charges.

    During her pupillage at 3PB, Poppy drafted opinions, mediation position statements and skeleton arguments on matters concerning proprietary estoppel, adverse possession, constructive and resulting trusts and easements.

  • Articles

    • The Federal Republic of Nigeria v Process & Industrial Developments Ltd: $11bn Arbitration Award Successfully Challenged for Serious Irregularity

      10th Nov 2023

      3PB specialist commercial barrister Poppy Watson analyses the recent case of The Federal Republic of Nigeria v Process & Industrial Developments Limited [2023] EWHC 2638 (Comm).

      View Article
  • Recommendations

    “Thank you very much for assisting us with this matter, especially on such short notice. You have been excellent and I will be recommending you to others at my firm.” Instructing Solicitor

    “I just wanted to confirm that I'm highly grateful of how Barrister Poppy Watson dealt with the hearing at Brentford County Court last week. She had prepared well for the case and was thorough and professional. Her attention to detail and listening skills were second to none. I'm very satisfied with the judgement; I couldn't have asked for a better Barrister!”  Lay Client

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