Jonathan Schaffer-Goddard

Jonathan Schaffer-Goddard is an experienced trial lawyer with particular experience in international litigation and arbitration involving high-value infrastructure, shipping, insurance, technology, and luxury assets disputes. Jonathan has conducted over 150 trials and hearings as first or second chair and has significant experience dealing with large quantities of expert evidence and complex factual disputes. Prior to joining Holwell Shuster & Goldberg, Jonathan practiced as a barrister at 4 Pump Court Chambers in London, where he remains a member.

Jonathan completed his LL.M. at New York University School of Law, graduating with the law school’s prize for international litigation and arbitration. He served as a graduate editor of the Journal of International Law and Politics, the Vis Moot chair of the NYU International Arbitration Association, and as a research assistant to Professor Linda Silberman.

Jonathan is a member of the International Committee of the Inner Temple, and is committed to deepening ties between the U.S. and English legal systems.

Jonathan is admitted to practice in New York as well as England and Wales.

Notable Cases

• A billion-dollar ICC arbitration, relating to a “giga-project” in the Middle East.
• Ristorante Ltd v. Zurich Insurance, the leading UK decision on material non-disclosure and waiver under English insurance law.
• An $80 million charterparty dispute.
• A seven-figure agency dispute arising out of the private treaty sale of a classic car.
• A multimillion-pound ad hoc insurance coverage arbitration.
• A Portuguese-held company in a commercial dispute with the Republic of Angola and GE, in the Southern District of New York and international arbitration proceedings under the LCIA and ICC Rules, concerning the termination of contracts worth more than $1 billion and seizure of property.
• Various affiliates of Chubb in nationwide litigation with manufacturers and distributors of opioids, and national pharmacy chains that sold opioids, over insurance coverage for over 3,000 lawsuits brought by governmental entities across the country. HSG is national trial counsel to Chubb in opioid coverage litigation.
• Acting pro bono in proceedings under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction in the Southern District of New York.
• Acting for the plaintiff in major litigation in Federal Court arising out of the termination of PPE orders worth over $500 million by a major multinational retailer.

Writings

• “Unknown Unknowns: The Worldwide Development of the Worldwide Freezing Order Against Persons Unknown,” Butterworths Journal of International Banking and Financial Law (2023)
• Out of Order: Seeking the Court’s Assistance Under Section 42 of the English Arbitration Act, Kluwer Arbitration Blog (2023)
• “A New Frontier for Extraterritorial Disclosure Orders in England & Wales,” Transnational Litigation Blog (2023)
• “Court Orders for Oral Evidence and Disclosure by Non-Parties in Support of Foreign Arbitral Proceedings,” NYU Journal of International Law and Politics (2022)
• “Jurisdiction and Place of Performance Under the Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 1982,” LexisPSL (2022)
• “Digital Dispute Resolution Rules: Challenging Awards Under the Arbitration Act 1996,” Society for Computers and Law (2022)
• “What is Required to Elect to Arbitrate? (Aiteo v. SWST),” LexisPSL (2022)
• “Severability of Adjudicators’ Decisions, and Genuine Belief in Sum Stated as Due,” LexisPSL (2021)
• “When is a Collateral Warranty Not a Construction Contract?,” LexisPSL (2021)
• “The Payment Rules, The Architect’s Legal Handbook (10th Ed), 2021,” with Jessica Stephens KC
• “Case Note: AA v. Persons Unknown: Unmasking the Proprietary Status of Cryptoassets,” Society for Computers and Law (2019)
• “Case Note: Triple Point Technology v. PTT Public Company,” Society for Computers and Law (2019)
• “Set-off Defence to Claim for Unpaid VAT Widens Scope of Adjudication,” LexisPSL (2018)
• “How to Run a Country: A Parliament of Lawmakers,” Reform Research Trust (2015)

Speaking

• “Management and Gathering of Evidence in Cross-Border Litigation,” COMBAR North America (2023)
• “Foreign Arbitration Proceedings: Court Ordered Disclosure in the US and UK,” NYSBA (2023)
• “The Law Applicable to Privilege in International Arbitration,” 3rd NYU Sciences Po Intergenerational Arbitration Symposium (2023)
• “Court Orders for Oral Evidence and Disclosure by Non-Parties in Support of Foreign Arbitration Proceedings: The Changing Picture in England and the US,” NYSBA International Section’s London Global Conference (2022)