Andrew Trotter

Acting for entities in the Cerberus group resisting claims for €365 million brought by one of Spain's largest banks under investment agreements and guarantees (with Andrew Scott KC and Gayatri Sarathy)

Acting for DIFC and DMCC companies in the Liberty Steel Group in substantial claims brought by a former CEO, for alleged breaches of contract under DIFC or onshore UAE law (with Grant Kynaston and Tom Watret)

Acting for the Defendants to a threatened $30 million claim arising out of the divestment of UAE businesses, raising complex issues of jurisdiction and governing law (with Ben Valentin KC)

Acting for the Claimants in claims to enforce a $1bn+ ICC arbitral award against the defendant's $100m+ interest in an oil company operating across the Middle East and North Africa. The matter involves disputes over beneficial ownership and Middle Eastern banking practices, challenges to a charging order and proprietary freezing orders, and a jurisdiction challenge (led by Ben Valentin KC)

Acting for UBS in a claim brought by FDIC (as receiver for failed US depositary institutions) against several major international banks, relating to the alleged manipulation between 2007 and 2009 of the USD LIBOR benchmark interest rate. The claims involve parallel proceedings before the US District Court for the Southern District of New York (with Brian Kennelly KC, Paul Luckhurst and Grant Kynaston)

Acting (unled) for the claimant bringing applications arising out of a worldwide freezing order against the indirect majority owner and Managing Director of a major telecommunications company, in aid of the enforcement of a $1.6 billion arbitration award. The underlying claims, pursued in the DIFC courts and ICC arbitrations seated in the DIFC, concern an elaborate fraudulent scheme, amongst other things, to defraud the claimant of its investment by procuring decisions from local officials by bribery and corruption

Acting (unled) for Glencore in connection with a c.$60 million claim in debt and breach of contract against a Ghanaian purchaser of petroleum products

Acting for a Russian investor and BVI vehicle in a multimillion dollar claim against the founder of the Soneva chain of resorts in respect of a failed investment scheme in Thailand. The claims involve a pending jurisdiction dispute and claims under s.423 of the Insolvency Act 1986 (with Tony Peto KC)

Acting for Morrisons in a complex contractual dispute with a supplier of electric vehicle charging equipment and threatened injunction in respect of a £2.5 billion transaction (with Robert Anderson KC)

Acting for Wintermute Trading Limited, a leading algorithmic trading firm, in a hotly contested application seeking evidence for proceedings in the District Court for the Southern District of New York brought by the SEC against Terraform, concerning $40 billion in losses suffered by retail and institutional investors from the collapse of the cryptocurrency Luna and the purported "stablecoin" Terra USD (with Robert Anderson KC and Peter Head)

Acting for an oil and gas major in relation to a prospective dispute concerning a $2bn+ offshore gas project

Acting for management shareholders in parallel proceedings in the Cayman Islands and BVI resisting winding up petitions brought on just and equitable grounds against three investment fund companies.  The petitioners contend that serious misconduct (including misuse of assets, fraud and charging of unlawful fees) occurred in relation to four funds in which in excess of $500 million have been invested.  The case has also involved various interlocutory applications including pending heavy applications for the discharge of provisional liquidators and Court-appointed receivers over shares in the funds. The litigation involves parallel proceedings in England and LCIA arbitration. The six-week trial in the Cayman Islands was held in the Cayman Islands in 2023 (with Michael Bloch KC, Andrew Hunter KC, Tom Weisselberg KC, Victoria Windle KC, Tom Richards KC, Tom Mountford, Timothy Lau, Marlena Valles and Ava Mayer)

Acting for the respondent to a creditor's winding up petition, in a dispute concerns whether the respondent should be wound up despite its $50m+ cross-claim in Switzerland under Swiss law in light of the decisions in Re Bayoil [1999] 1 WLR 147 and King v Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund [2023] EWHC 1408. Also acting in related parallel proceedings concerning a claim for declaratory relief in aid of the Swiss proceedings, a jurisdiction challenge in that claim, an application for a stay of execution pending resolution of the Swiss cross-claim, and associated appeals (with Tom Richards KC)

Acting for the 20th defendant to a claim by PIFSS, a public institution authorised to operate the State of Kuwait's social-security system and pension scheme. The claim concerns bribes alleged to have been paid by various financial institutions and intermediaries. The payments are said to have been paid over a period of approximately 20 years, in a total amount exceeding US$840 million. The case was featured as one of The Lawyer’s Top 20 cases of 2020 and 2025 (led variously by Robert Anderson KC and Harry Matovu KC).

Advising a litigation funder as to contractual and sanctions issues arising in connection with a $500 million+ claim by a trustee on behalf of noteholders against a Russian bank (with Michael Bloch KC)

Acting for various Defendant fund managers and associated companies in claims brought by liquidators of four offshore funds for losses said to exceed £100 million arising from the alleged fraud, misconduct and mismanagement in the affairs of those funds. The claims are factually and legally complex and raise issues of breach of fiduciary duty and dishonest assistance under English, Cayman and BVI law, unlawful means conspiracy, unjust enrichment and knowing receipt (with Tom Weisselberg KC, Tom Mountford and Tim Lau)

Acting for the Defendants in a $180 million claim in the Courts of the British Virgin Islands and the Dubai International Financial Centre concerning the enforcement of a Sharjah judgment, resisted on the basis that the Sharjah judgment was obtained by fraud. The proceedings have involved a jurisdiction challenge and application to discharge a worldwide freezing order in the DIFC on the basis of material non-disclosure. The WFO has been successfully discharged; the BVI enforcement proceedings are ongoing (with Anthony Peto KC)

Acting for the Provisional Administrator appointed by the Monegasque Court of First Instance in an application pursuant to CPR 19.12 to represent the Estate of the First Defendant in fraud proceedings involving damages claims up to $3 billion (with Robert Howe KC)

Acting for Royal Mail in a Supreme Court appeal arising out of group litigation comprising hundreds of claims worth c.£500 million. The claims concern VAT chargeable on postal services since the UK's entry into the EU in the 1970s. The appeal to the Supreme Court is against a decision on preliminary issues ([2021] EWCA Civ 1173) concerning the application of limitation periods by analogy to a claim for an injunction under s.36(1) of the Limitation Act 1980 (with Javan Herberg KC and Emily Neill)

Acting for the second defendant seeking to intervene to oppose a claim by the purported ultimate beneficial owner of shares in a £200 million fund to rectify the shareholder register; the claim is part of wider cross-border litigation between the investor and fund manager (with Andrew Hunter KC and Marlena Valles)

Advising an international insurance broker in relation to litigation arising from the collapse of Greensill Capital in 2021; a related insurance dispute is being litigated before the Federal Court of Australia (with Andrew Scott KC)

Acting for an English mining company and its director in a dispute over the authority of purported representatives of its Turkish parent company, following the alleged expropriation of Turkish companies worth c.$5-6bn by the Turkish State. Acted in various interlocutory applications including for service out of the jurisdiction and injunctive relief in relation to a substantial North American mining project. The case raises issues of company law, recognition of foreign judgments, and the indirect enforcement of foreign penal laws (with Michael Bloch KC and Andrew Scott KC)

Advising the Defendant to a $16 million claim in respect of the refinancing of a private jet, arising in the context of the high-profile divorce of a Russian businessman; successful at trial and on appeal in the Isle of Man, and in resisting permission to appeal to the Privy Council (as sole English counsel assisting Manx advocate at trial and on appeal; with Shaheed Fatima KC in the Privy Council)

Acting for the Defendants in c.$122 million claims for fraudulent misrepresentation and unlawful means conspiracy, and other Moroccan law claims, arising out of the insolvency of a Moroccan oil and gas company alleged to have been unlawfully expropriated by the Moroccan State (with Andrew Scott KC)

Acting for the Respondents in a c.€100m dispute between shareholders of a mining company in Sub-Saharan Africa, and a claim against its director and shareholder under a guarantee (with Andrew Green KC and Peter Head).

Acting for Claimants in a US$1-2 billion claim for a fraudulent conspiracy to deprive a Thai entrepreneur of a majority interest in the leading renewable energy company in Thailand, including applications for freezing injunctions, permission to serve out of the jurisdiction and other interim relief. The claim involves 17 defendants, parallel ICC arbitrations and ancillary proceedings in the BVI, Belize, Hong Kong and Singapore. The case is one of The Lawyer's Top 20 cases of 2022 (with Anthony Peto KC, Robert Howe KC, Victoria Windle, Peter Head and Shane Sibbel). 

Acting for the claimant bank in a Part 8 claim for injunctive and other relief under s.25 of the Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 1982 against two high-net worth Emirati individuals connected with the Abu Dhabi royal family, and with the collapse of NMC Healthcare group, a substantial UAE healthcare provider.  The relief was obtained in support of substantive claims in UAE proceedings for c.£200 million (with Robert Anderson KC and Harry Adamson)

Acting for several Defendants to claims for over $280 million for fraudulent misrepresentation and unlawful means conspiracy, arising out of the alleged forgery of warehouse receipts relating to nickel traded in a series of transactions between entities in Singapore, Hong Kong, the UK and Australia (with Andrew Scott KC)

Acting for the First Defendant in a $700m+ claim for deceit and unlawful means conspiracy and claims under Monegasque and Panamanian law (with Leona Powell)

Acting for the Claimant financier in c.£20 million claims for breach by Carphone Warehouse of its obligations to market and use reasonable endeavours to promote certain finance products, and concerning the exercise of its contractual discretion in relation to the pricing of those products (with Robert Howe KC)

Acting for the First Defendant in claims for £2.3 billion arising out of the collapse of a Russian bank, including by alleged misappropriation of funds by sham loans and transactions, and in various interlocutory applications and an appeal in relation to the appropriate living expenses allowance under a worldwide freezing order (with Robert Anderson KC, Tom Richards and Celia Rooney)

Acting for a group of investors in a multi-million pound fraud claim against the promoters of the ‘Ingenious Group’ film and video game investment schemes and other intermediaries who recommended the schemes, following decisions of HMRC to deny c.£620m tax relief, upheld by the First-Tier Tribunal: see [2016] UKFTT 521 (TC), [2017] UKFTT 429 (TC). One of The Lawyer's Top 20 cases of 2018 and 2022 (with Robert Anderson KC and Tom Mountford).

Advising a finance company on a c.$5m prospective claim for fraudulent misrepresentation and dishonest assistance in breach of trust, including for search and freezing orders (with Andrew Scott KC)

Advising AXA in connection with claims for c.£265 million under an SPA relating to historic PPI mis-selling from the vendor of subsidiary insurance businesses (with Andrew Green KC and Fraser Campbell)

Acting for Defendants in a dispute concerning beneficial ownership of Cayman and Nevis investment  funds valued at over $700 million, and the alleged misappropriation of $140 million.  The dispute involved a parallel arbitration in Hong Kong, and proceedings in Nevis and the Cayman Islands (with Shaheed Fatima KC)

Acting for Ofcom in four related Part 8 Claims, and appeals to the Court of Appeal, in respect of over £200 million in licence fees levied under regulations held to be ultra vires, concerning counterfactual defences to Woolwich claims in unjust enrichment (with Tom Weisselberg KC and Ajay Ratan).

Acting for UBS in connection with three New York class actions against 11 international investment banks alleged to have engaged in an antitrust conspiracy to restrict trading in the multi-trillion dollar interest rate swap market between 2008 and 2016, in applying for examination and production of documents from UK-based witnesses under s 2 of the Evidence (Proceedings in Other Jurisdictions) Act 1975 (with Andrew Hunter KC)

Acting for Hewlett Packard in claims for trade mark infringement in relation to parallel imports, and inducing breach of contract and unlawful means conspiracy, including obtaining a search and disk imaging order in support of those claims (with Robert Howe KC)

Acting for the Claimant companies in claims against their former auditors and advisers for dishonest assistance in breach of trust, unlawful means conspiracy and professional negligence in connection with the declaration of a fraudulent £11m dividend and misappropriation of various properties in California, Cyprus and Israel by the companies' former director and ultimate beneficial owner (with Robert Anderson KC and Harry Adamson)

Acting for the Claimant companies (all in liquidation) in an £11m+ claim for fraudulent breach of fiduciary duty against their former director, fiduciary and ultimate shareholder. Successful at trial before Fancourt J, who found that the Defendant acted dishonestly by purporting to transfer to herself the beneficial interest in properties which she had held on trust for the Claimants, and awarded costs of the action on the indemnity basis. The matter raised questions regarding the scope of the Duomatic principle. Successfully opposed permission to appeal (with Robert Anderson KC and Harry Adamson).

Advising multichannel broadcaster UKTV (jointly owned by BBC Studios and Discovery Inc) in connection with its advertising arrangements with Channel 4 (with Ian Mill KC)

Acting for the Respondent former Goldman Sachs senior executive in an application for examination under s 2 of the Evidence (Proceedings in Other Jurisdictions) Act 1975 in aid of a New York class action concerning the manipulation of the $5tn-per-day international FX market, brought against 16 international banks (15 of which settled for >$2.3bn) (with Andrew Hunter KC).

Applications arising out of a $1.5 billion lawsuit concerning fraud, intimidation and bribery in connection with transactions entered into by Libya’s sovereign wealth fund under the Gaddafi regime. One of The Lawyer's Top 20 cases of 2017 (with Tom Richards).

Acting for the Claimant in claims for damages and an indemnity in respect of an LCIA award obtained by a fraudulent claim and leading false evidence, as part of a larger fraudulent scheme to deprive the claimant of the beneficial interest in highly valuable property in Moscow (with Tony Peto KC and Rob Weekes KC).

Acting unled for the Claimant in relation to prospective claims for defamation and malicious falsehood arising out of statements made on social media regarding allegations of serious and/or gang-related criminal activity in Vietnam.

Acting for the Defendant and Part 20 Claimant in claims between HSBC and alleged guarantors, raising issues of undue influence, fraudulent misrepresentation, unjust enrichment, and validity of execution under the Law of Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1989.

€200 million claim for breach of warranties in the sale by Nokia Corporation of the ‘Vertu’ luxury mobile phones business and counterclaim for conspiracy to defraud; Appeal regarding costs thrown away and whether allegations of fraud went only to credit or had to be pleaded (assisting Andrew Green KC and Robert Weekes).

Acting for the Claimant in claims arising out of an elaborate fraudulent scheme to deprive its beneficial owner of highly valuable shares in a Russian company (with Tony Peto KC and Rob Weekes KC).

$800m+ claim in the BVI Commercial Court concerning a joint venture in relation to various power generation and distribution assets in Russia (assisting Pushpinder Saini KC and Robert Weekes).

Claim for deceit and breach of warranty relating to a sale and purchase of a pharmaceutical company (assisting Robert Weekes).

£700m claim for deceit against Barclays Bank Plc arising out of the Bank’s recapitalisation at the height of the financial crisis in 2008 (assisting Robert Weekes).

Claim by mobile network operator arising out of the provision of facilities for carrying 3G traffic, known as ‘free carriers’ (assisting Robert Weekes).

Acting for the Commercial Bank of Dubai and other claimants against members of a wealthy Emirati family and companies alleged to be owned or controlled by them in respect of claims for an unlawful means conspiracy and other economic torts, to enforce a foreign judgment debt worth over £78 million, and to resist recognition of another foreign judgment for over £120 million on the basis it was procured by fraud. The proceedings have involved several substantial interlocutory disputes, including regarding a worldwide freezing injunction in respect of assets up to c.£78 million; orders for delivery up and imaging of computers, orders for delivery up of registration documents and/or keys of certain luxury vehicles, related Norwich Pharmacal relief against third parties; two jurisdiction challenges; a strike out application raising various novel points of law; various costs applications; unless orders; and a successful committal application leading to the maximum or substantial terms of imprisonment for the individual defendants and sequestration of assets for the corporate defendants (with Anthony Peto KC and Madelaine Clifford)

Acting for the Claimants in claims to enforce a $1bn+ ICC arbitral award against the defendant's $100m+ interest in an oil company operating across the Middle East and North Africa. The matter involves disputes over beneficial ownership and Middle Eastern banking practices, challenges to a charging order and proprietary freezing orders, and a jurisdiction challenge (led by Ben Valentin KC)

Acting (unled) for the claimant bringing applications arising out of a worldwide freezing order against the indirect majority owner and Managing Director of a major telecommunications company, in aid of the enforcement of a $1.6 billion arbitration award. The underlying claims, pursued in the DIFC courts and ICC arbitrations seated in the DIFC, concern an elaborate fraudulent scheme, amongst other things, to defraud the claimant of its investment by procuring decisions from local officials by bribery and corruption

Acting for a Russian investor and BVI vehicle in a multimillion dollar claim against the founder of the Soneva chain of resorts in respect of a failed investment scheme in Thailand. The claims involve a pending jurisdiction dispute and claims under s.423 of the Insolvency Act 1986 (with Tony Peto KC)

Acting for the 20th defendant to a claim by PIFSS, a public institution authorised to operate the State of Kuwait's social-security system and pension scheme. The claim concerns bribes alleged to have been paid by various financial institutions and intermediaries. The payments are said to have been paid over a period of approximately 20 years, in a total amount exceeding US$840 million. The case was featured as one of The Lawyer’s Top 20 cases of 2020 and 2025 (led variously by Robert Anderson KC and Harry Matovu KC).

Acting for a group of over 400 investors in the fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme "OneCoin" in claims against its fugitive founder Dr Ruja Ignatova and others involved in its promotion and/or laundering of the proceeds. The OneCoin scheme is estimated to have have been one of the largest frauds of all time, defrauding millions of investors worldwide of between $4 and $15 billion (with Anthony Peto KC and Carmine Conte)

Acting for the Defendants in a $180 million claim in the Courts of the British Virgin Islands and the Dubai International Financial Centre concerning the enforcement of a Sharjah judgment, resisted on the basis that the Sharjah judgment was obtained by fraud. The proceedings have involved a jurisdiction challenge and application to discharge a worldwide freezing order in the DIFC on the basis of material non-disclosure. The WFO has been successfully discharged; the BVI enforcement proceedings are ongoing (with Anthony Peto KC)

Acting for the Provisional Administrator appointed by the Monegasque Court of First Instance in an application pursuant to CPR 19.12 to represent the Estate of the First Defendant in fraud proceedings involving damages claims up to $3 billion (with Robert Howe KC)

Acting for Claimants in a US$1-2 billion claim for a fraudulent conspiracy to deprive a Thai entrepreneur of a majority interest in the leading renewable energy company in Thailand, including applications for freezing injunctions, permission to serve out of the jurisdiction and other interim relief. The claim involves 17 defendants, parallel ICC arbitrations and ancillary proceedings in the BVI, Belize, Hong Kong and Singapore. The case is one of The Lawyer's Top 20 cases of 2022 (with Anthony Peto KC, Robert Howe KC, Victoria Windle, Peter Head and Shane Sibbel). 

Acting for the Defendants in c.$122 million claims for fraudulent misrepresentation and unlawful means conspiracy, and other Moroccan law claims, arising out of the insolvency of a Moroccan oil and gas company alleged to have been unlawfully expropriated by the Moroccan State (with Andrew Scott KC)

Acting for several Defendants to claims for over $280 million for fraudulent misrepresentation and unlawful means conspiracy, arising out of the alleged forgery of warehouse receipts relating to nickel traded in a series of transactions between entities in Singapore, Hong Kong, the UK and Australia (with Andrew Scott KC)

Acting for the First Defendant in a $700m+ claim for deceit and unlawful means conspiracy and claims under Monegasque and Panamanian law (with Leona Powell)

Acting for the claimant bank in a Part 8 claim for injunctive and other relief under s.25 of the Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 1982 against two high-net worth Emirati individuals connected with the Abu Dhabi royal family, and with the collapse of NMC Healthcare group, a substantial UAE healthcare provider.  The relief was obtained in support of substantive claims in UAE proceedings for c.£200 million (with Robert Anderson KC and Harry Adamson)

Acting for the First Defendant in claims for £2.3 billion arising out of the collapse of a Russian bank, including by alleged misappropriation of funds by sham loans and transactions, and in various interlocutory applications and an appeal in relation to the appropriate living expenses allowance under a worldwide freezing order (with Robert Anderson KC, Tom Richards and Celia Rooney)

Acting for a group of investors in a multi-million pound fraud claim against the promoters of the ‘Ingenious Group’ film and video game investment schemes and other intermediaries who recommended the schemes, following decisions of HMRC to deny c.£620m tax relief, upheld by the First-Tier Tribunal: see [2016] UKFTT 521 (TC), [2017] UKFTT 429 (TC). One of The Lawyer's Top 20 cases of 2018 and 2022 (with Robert Anderson KC and Tom Mountford).

Acting for the Claimant companies (all in liquidation) in an £11m+ claim for fraudulent breach of fiduciary duty against their former director, fiduciary and ultimate shareholder. Successful at trial before Fancourt J, who found that the Defendant acted dishonestly by purporting to transfer to herself the beneficial interest in properties which she had held on trust for the Claimants, and awarded costs of the action on the indemnity basis. The matter raised questions regarding the scope of the Duomatic principle. Successfully opposed permission to appeal (with Robert Anderson KC and Harry Adamson).

Acting for the Claimant companies in claims against their former auditors and advisers for dishonest assistance in breach of trust, unlawful means conspiracy and professional negligence in connection with the declaration of a fraudulent £11m dividend and misappropriation of various properties in California, Cyprus and Israel by the companies' former director and ultimate beneficial owner (with Robert Anderson KC and Harry Adamson)

Acting (as sole counsel) for the First Defendant to claims arising out of an alleged fraudulent conspiracy concerning the 'Rice Portrait', said to be a rare and valuable portrait of Jane Austen

Acting for the Claimant in claims arising out of an elaborate fraudulent scheme to deprive its beneficial owner of highly valuable shares in a Russian company (with Tony Peto KC and Rob Weekes KC).

Applications arising out of a $1.5 billion lawsuit concerning fraud, intimidation and bribery in connection with transactions entered into by Libya’s sovereign wealth fund under the Gaddafi regime. One of The Lawyer's Top 20 cases of 2017 (with Tom Richards).

$17.5m claim for conspiracy to defraud arising out of contracts for the supply of computer servers; Mr Sage was committed to prison for 18 months for breaches of freezing and search orders, reduced to 12 months on appeal (assisting Anthony Peto KC and Robert Weekes).

Proceedings arising out of the $64bn Ponzi scheme operated by Bernard Madoff (assisting Robert Weekes).

£700m claim for deceit against Barclays Bank Plc arising out of the Bank’s recapitalisation at the height of the financial crisis in 2008 (assisting Robert Weekes).

Acting for the claimant in an LCIA Arbitration against an Asian billionaire in respect of fees due for services in recovering family assets from a former asset manager, following a Swiss asset freeze imposed in light of bribery allegations (with Tom Weisselberg KC and Tom Richards KC)

Advising a European commodities trading group in a dispute against an African State concerning very substantial losses arising from changes in tax treatment over a 20-year period (with Tim Otty KC)

Assisting with expert evidence in relation to EU sanctions issues arising in $800 million SIAC shipping arbitration (with Brian Kennelly KC)

Advising a litigation funder as to contractual and sanctions issues arising in connection with a $500 million+ claim by a trustee on behalf of noteholders against a Russian bank (with Michael Bloch KC)

These LCIA proceedings in respect of substantial wealth management fees form part of a broader commercial dispute arising out of the investment of approx $500 million in offshore funds. The wider dispute involves a further LCIA arbitration, Commercial Court proceedings in England, and winding up petitions brought by receivers of the nominee investor in the BVI and Cayman Islands. The claims each raise issues of serious misconduct, including conspiracy, breach of fiduciary duties and fraudulent misrepresentation and involve claims for hundreds of millions of dollars. They have involved several ex parte applications, the appointment of receivers and joint provisional liquidators, and privilege disputes and injunctions (with Michael Bloch KC, Andrew Hunter KC, Tom Weisselberg KC, Victoria Windle KC, Tom Richards KC, Tom Mountford, Timothy Lau, Marlena Valles and Ava Mayer)

Acting for the Respondents in a c.€100m dispute between shareholders of a mining company in Sub-Saharan Africa, and a claim against its director and shareholder under a guarantee (with Andrew Green KC and Peter Head).

Acting for the Claimant in claims for damages and an indemnity in respect of an LCIA award obtained by a fraudulent claim and leading false evidence, as part of a larger fraudulent scheme to deprive the claimant of the beneficial interest in highly valuable property in Moscow (with Tony Peto KC and Rob Weekes KC).

Claim concerning subordinated loans alleged to have been extinguished by operation of Russian law (assisting Andrew Green KC and Robert Weekes).

Acting for DIFC and DMCC companies in the Liberty Steel Group in substantial claims brought by a former CEO, for alleged breaches of contract under DIFC or onshore UAE law (with Grant Kynaston and Tom Watret)

Acting for the respondent to a creditor's winding up petition, in a dispute concerns whether the respondent should be wound up despite its $50m+ cross-claim in Switzerland under Swiss law in light of the decisions in Re Bayoil [1999] 1 WLR 147 and King v Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund [2023] EWHC 1408. Also acting in related parallel proceedings concerning a claim for declaratory relief in aid of the Swiss proceedings, a jurisdiction challenge in that claim, an application for a stay of execution pending resolution of the Swiss cross-claim, and associated appeals (with Tom Richards KC)

Acting (unled) for the claimant bringing applications arising out of a worldwide freezing order against the indirect majority owner and Managing Director of a major telecommunications company, in aid of the enforcement of a $1.6 billion arbitration award. The underlying claims, pursued in the DIFC courts and ICC arbitrations seated in the DIFC, concern an elaborate fraudulent scheme, amongst other things, to defraud the claimant of its investment by procuring decisions from local officials by bribery and corruption

Acting for the Defendants in a $180 million claim in the Courts of the British Virgin Islands and the Dubai International Financial Centre concerning the enforcement of a Sharjah judgment, resisted on the basis that the Sharjah judgment was obtained by fraud. The proceedings have involved a jurisdiction challenge and application to discharge a worldwide freezing order in the DIFC on the basis of material non-disclosure. The WFO has been successfully discharged; the BVI enforcement proceedings are ongoing (with Anthony Peto KC)

Acting for the Claimants in claims to enforce a $1bn+ ICC arbitral award against the defendant's $100m+ interest in an oil company operating across the Middle East and North Africa. The matter involves disputes over beneficial ownership and Middle Eastern banking practices, challenges to a charging order and proprietary freezing orders, and a jurisdiction challenge (led by Ben Valentin KC)

Acting for management shareholders in parallel proceedings in the Cayman Islands and BVI resisting winding up petitions brought on just and equitable grounds against three investment fund companies.  The petitioners contend that serious misconduct (including misuse of assets, fraud and charging of unlawful fees) occurred in relation to four funds in which in excess of $500 million have been invested.  The case has also involved various interlocutory applications including pending heavy applications for the discharge of provisional liquidators and Court-appointed receivers over shares in the funds. The litigation involves parallel proceedings in England and LCIA arbitration. The six-week trial in the Cayman Islands was held in the Cayman Islands in 2023 (with Michael Bloch KC, Andrew Hunter KC, Tom Weisselberg KC, Victoria Windle KC, Tom Richards KC, Tom Mountford, Timothy Lau, Marlena Valles and Ava Mayer)

Acting for an oil and gas major in relation to a prospective dispute concerning a $2bn+ offshore gas project

Acting for the second defendant seeking to intervene to oppose a claim by the purported ultimate beneficial owner of shares in a £200 million fund to rectify the shareholder register; the claim is part of wider cross-border litigation between the investor and fund manager (with Andrew Hunter KC and Marlena Valles)

Advising the Defendant to a $16 million claim in respect of the refinancing of a private jet, arising in the context of the high-profile divorce of a Russian businessman; successful at trial and on appeal in the Isle of Man, and in resisting permission to appeal to the Privy Council (as sole English counsel assisting Manx advocate at trial and on appeal; with Shaheed Fatima KC in the Privy Council)

Acting for Defendants in a dispute concerning beneficial ownership of Cayman and Nevis investment  funds valued at over $700 million, and the alleged misappropriation of $140 million.  The dispute involved a parallel arbitration in Hong Kong, and proceedings in Nevis and the Cayman Islands (with Shaheed Fatima KC)

$800m+ claim in the BVI Commercial Court concerning a joint venture in relation to various power generation and distribution assets in Russia (assisting Pushpinder Saini KC and Robert Weekes).

Acting for the second defendant seeking to intervene to oppose a claim by the purported ultimate beneficial owner of shares in a £200 million fund to rectify the shareholder register; the claim is part of wider cross-border litigation between the investor and fund manager (with Andrew Hunter KC and Marlena Valles)

Acting for an English mining company and its director in a dispute over the authority of purported representatives of its Turkish parent company, following the alleged expropriation of Turkish companies worth c.$5-6bn by the Turkish State. Acted in various interlocutory applications including for service out of the jurisdiction and injunctive relief in relation to a substantial North American mining project. The case raises issues of company law, recognition of foreign judgments, and the indirect enforcement of foreign penal laws (with Michael Bloch KC and Andrew Scott KC)

Acting for management shareholders in parallel proceedings in the Cayman Islands and BVI resisting winding up petitions brought on just and equitable grounds against three investment fund companies.  The petitioners contend that serious misconduct (including misuse of assets, fraud and charging of unlawful fees) occurred in relation to four funds in which in excess of $500 million have been invested.  The case has also involved various interlocutory applications including pending heavy applications for the discharge of provisional liquidators and Court-appointed receivers over shares in the funds. The litigation involves parallel proceedings in England and LCIA arbitration. The six-week trial in the Cayman Islands was held in the Cayman Islands in 2023 (with Michael Bloch KC, Andrew Hunter KC, Tom Weisselberg KC, Victoria Windle KC, Tom Richards KC, Tom Mountford, Timothy Lau, Marlena Valles and Ava Mayer)

Acting for the Defendants to an unfair prejudice petition arising out of the redevelopment of Witanhurst Mansion, a 1930s Georgian Revival mansion, the second-largest private residence in London after Buckingham Palace (with Andreas Gledhill KC)

Acting for the Claimant companies (all in liquidation) in an £11m+ claim for fraudulent breach of fiduciary duty against their former director. The matter raised questions regarding the scope of the Duomatic principle. Successful at trial before Fancourt J, and in opposing permission to appeal (with Robert Anderson KC and Harry Adamson).

Advising on sanctions issues arising out of a claim before the Moscow City Arbitrazh Court by the receiver in bankruptcy of a Russian politician, for the benefit of sanctioned Russian creditors (with Brian Kennelly KC)

Assisting with expert evidence in relation to EU sanctions issues arising in $800 million SIAC shipping arbitration (with Brian Kennelly KC)

Advising a subsidiary of a US oil and gas company on sanctions issues arising out of a $10 million LCIA insurance arbitration following the loss of equipment on a Russian oil project (with Brian Kennelly KC)

Advising on sanctions issues arising from arbitral proceedings between a US payment services firm and a sanctioned Russian bank

Advising a litigation funder as to contractual and sanctions issues arising in connection with a $500 million+ claim by a trustee on behalf of noteholders against a Russian bank (with Michael Bloch KC)

Advising on sanctions issues arising in the well-known Russian Aircraft insurance litigation, concerning foreign-owned aircraft in Russia with market value of just under $1 billion. One of The Lawyer's top 20 cases of 2024 (with Brian Kennelly KC)

Advising a manufacturing business designated under the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulation 2019 regarding the implication of financial sanctions in connection with a prospective $1bn+ transaction (with Brian Kennelly KC)

Advising a Russian businessman regarding financial planning issues arising in connection with the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulation 2019 (with Brian Kennelly KC)

Advising a Dutch bank on the effect of trade sanctions on its relationship with a state-owned Russian shipping company (with Brian Kennelly KC)

Advising an international commodity trading and mining conglomerate regarding its relationships with Russian firms and issues arising as a result of trade sanctions imposed on Russia (with Brian Kennelly KC)

Representing Scania in relation to UK litigation arising from the Commission's decisions relating to the alleged trucks cartel, encompassing High Court and CAT proceedings, including CPO applications. With claims up to £14.2bn, this is the largest competition litigation currently before the CAT, and was one of The Lawyer's top 20 cases for 2019 (with Brian Kennelly KC and Jason Pobjoy).

Acting for UBS in a claim brought by FDIC (as receiver for failed US depositary institutions) against several major international banks, relating to the alleged manipulation between 2007 and 2009 of the USD LIBOR benchmark interest rate. The claims involve parallel proceedings before the US District Court for the Southern District of New York (with Brian Kennelly KC, Paul Luckhurst and Grant Kynaston)

Acting for the Valeo Defendants in their jurisdiction challenges in these standalone competition law proceedings concerning an alleged cartel in Thermal System Components in the EEA and Brazil from 1999 to 2011, said to have affected a value of commerce as high as €20 billion and to have caused loss to various automobile manufacturers (with Brian Kennelly KC)

Advising an Asian State regarding competition issues arising in respect of the allocation of its natural resources (with Brian Kennelly KC)

Acting for a Defendant to claims for over €660 million arising out of an alleged price fixing cartel in relation to colour display tubes used in computer monitors between 1996 and 2006 (with Brian Kennelly KC and Andrew Scott)

Acting for the Applicant in a challenge to final undertakings accepted by the CMA for the purposes of remedying a substantial lessening of competition in washroom supply services (with Brian Kennelly KC)

The first proposed opt-out class action in the UK concerning infringements of competition law in the sale of mobility scooters (assisting Thomas de la Mare KC, Tristan Jones and Daniel Cashman).

Trial of preliminary issue as to whether a railway training accreditation body is an "undertaking" for the purposes of s 18 of the Competition Act 1998 (assisting Tristan Jones).

Follow-on damages claim by purchasers of automobile bearings after the European Commission imposed a €953 million fine in respect of a 7-year cartel (assisting Thomas de la Mare KC and Tristan Jones).

Advising a well-known technology company in respect of threatened group litigation arising out of events occurring in Asia, including in respect of jurisdiction and applicable law issues (with Shaheed Fatima KC)

Acting for the London Bullion Market Association in a jurisdiction challenge in respect of claims by Tanzanian nationals arising out of incidents at the North Mara Gold Mine in Tanzania (with Andrew Scott KC)

Acting for a foreign mining company in disputing the jurisdiction of the English Court to hear group claims brought against it, raising issues of forum conveniens and the availability of substantial justice in another jurisdiction (with Shaheed Fatima KC)

Representing Scania in relation to UK litigation arising from the Commission's decisions relating to the alleged trucks cartel, encompassing High Court and CAT proceedings, including CPO applications. With claims up to £14.2bn, this is the largest competition litigation currently before the CAT, and was one of The Lawyer's top 20 cases for 2019 (with Brian Kennelly KC and Jason Pobjoy).

Acting for Royal Mail in a Supreme Court appeal arising out of group litigation comprising hundreds of claims worth c.£500 million. The claims concern VAT chargeable on postal services since the UK's entry into the EU in the 1970s. The appeal to the Supreme Court is against a decision on preliminary issues ([2021] EWCA Civ 1173) concerning the application of limitation periods by analogy to a claim for an injunction under s.36(1) of the Limitation Act 1980 (with Javan Herberg KC and Emily Neill)

Acting for a group of investors in a multi-million pound fraud claim against the promoters of the ‘Ingenious Group’ film and video game investment schemes and other intermediaries who recommended the schemes, following decisions of HMRC to deny c.£620m tax relief, upheld by the First-Tier Tribunal: see [2016] UKFTT 521 (TC), [2017] UKFTT 429 (TC). One of The Lawyer's Top 20 cases of 2018 and 2022 (with Robert Anderson KC and Tom Mountford).

Acting for the Defendants to a threatened $30 million claim arising out of the divestment of UAE businesses, raising complex issues of jurisdiction and governing law (with Ben Valentin KC)

Acting for the Claimants in a jurisdiction challenge before the BVI Commercial Court in a dispute over beneficial ownership of a $100m+ interest in an oil company operating across the Middle East and North Africa. The case forms part of wider multi-jurisdictional efforts to enforce a $1bn+ arbitral award against assets of a member of the ruling family of Kurdistan (led by Ben Valentin KC)

Acting for the Valeo Defendants in their jurisdiction challenges in these standalone competition law proceedings concerning an alleged cartel in Thermal System Components in the EEA and Brazil from 1999 to 2011, said to have affected a value of commerce as high as €20 billion and to have caused loss to various automobile manufacturers (with Brian Kennelly KC)

Acting for a Russian investor and BVI vehicle in a multimillion dollar claim against the founder of the Soneva chain of resorts in respect of a failed investment scheme in Thailand. The claims involve a pending jurisdiction dispute and claims under s.423 of the Insolvency Act 1986 (with Tony Peto KC)

Acting for the London Bullion Market Association in a jurisdiction challenge in respect of claims by Tanzanian nationals arising out of incidents at the North Mara Gold Mine in Tanzania (with Andrew Scott KC)

Acting for the Commercial Bank of Dubai in claims for c.£78m against members of a wealthy Emirati family to enforce a foreign judgment and for economic torts. The case has raised various issues of private international law, including successfully resisting two jurisdiction challenges, the latter of which also in the Court of Appeal. The issues raised include CPR gateways, applicable law under the Rome II Regulation, double actionability, service out on Chabra defendants, the application of the default rule / presumption of similarity under Dicey Rule 2, and forum conveniens. There are several parallel proceedings in each of Sharjah, the DIFC and the BVI (with Anthony Peto KC and Madelaine Clifford)

Acting for the claimant in a jurisdiction dispute in respect of her claim against the former King of Spain for harassment in connection with a €65 million payment, raising issues under the Brussels Recast Regulation and of state immunity (assisting Andrew Green KC)

Acting for the Defendants in a $180 million claim in the Courts of the British Virgin Islands and the Dubai International Financial Centre concerning the enforcement of a Sharjah judgment, resisted on the basis that the Sharjah judgment was obtained by fraud. The proceedings have involved a jurisdiction challenge in the DIFC, leading to the discharge of a worldwide freezing order granted there in respect of properties in London (with Anthony Peto KC)

Advising a well-known technology company in respect of threatened group litigation arising out of events occurring in Asia, including in respect of jurisdiction and applicable law issues (with Shaheed Fatima KC)

Acting for the First Defendant in a jurisdiction challenge in respect of a $700m+ claim for deceit and unlawful means conspiracy and claims under Monegasque and Panamanian law. The claims arose in the context of litigation comprising several related civil, criminal and matrimonial proceedings in Monaco, Switzerland, Cyprus, Panama, Russia, France, and the Isle of Man (with Leona Powell)

Acting for the Claimants, an English mining company and its director, in a dispute over the recognition of an allegedly corrupt Turkish judgment. The Turkish judgment appointed 'trustees' to Turkish companies considered to be affiliated with Hizmet, which was declared a terrorist organisation by the Erdoğan Regime following an attempted coup d'état in Turkey in 2016.  It is alleged to have been given corruptly and as part of a campaign by the Turkish state to seize control of the Koza-Ipek group. The dispute concerns whether the English court should therefore decline to recognise the judgment, and accordingly the authority of the 'trustees', as contrary to English public policy and ECHR rights. The case also raises issues of jurisdiction, the indirect enforcement of foreign penal laws, and issues of English company law (with Michael Bloch KC and Andrew Scott KC).

Acting for the 20th defendant to a claim by the Public Institution for Social Security of Kuwait in respect of bribes exceeding US$840 million alleged to have been paid by various financial institutions and intermediaries. The case raises issues of the applicable law under the common law rules, PILA 1995 and the Rome II Regulation over a 20-year period, and whether the claims under Kuwaiti statutory provisions amount to an impermissible attempt by an emanation of the Kuwaiti State to enforce its penal and/or public laws in England. The case was featured as one of The Lawyer’s Top 20 cases of 2020 and 2025 (led variously by Robert Anderson KC and Harry Matovu KC).

Acting for the Defendants to claims for $122 million framed under Moroccan and Greek law, including disputes as to the applicable law under the Rome II Regulation, including on an application for a Letter of Request to the Moroccan authorities (with Andrew Scott KC)

Acting for Claimants in a US$1-2 billion fraud claim, including obtaining permission for service on 17 defendants in six jurisdictions, supported by expert evidence of several foreign laws and of the risk that justice could not be obtained in Thailand.  The claimants include a Thai entrepreneur forced to flee Thailand and charged with lèse-majesté (defaming or insulting the King, Queen or Heir-Apparent), and the parties to the alleged fraudulent conspiracy include the Siam Commercial Bank, which is part-owned by the King of Thailand personally.  The dispute involves three parallel ICC arbitrations, ancillary proceedings in the BVI, Belize, Hong Kong, Singapore, and related civil and criminal proceedings in Thailand. The case was one of The Lawyer's Top 20 cases of 2022 (with Anthony Peto KC, Robert Howe KC, Victoria Windle, Peter Head and Shane Sibbel). 

Advising the Claimant on questions of jurisdiction, forum non conveniens, choice of law and limitation in a prospective $200m+ fraud claim in the BVI, involving prospective defendants in Russia and Estonia (with Tony Peto KC and Rob Weekes KC).

Representing Scania in relation to UK litigation arising from the Commission's decisions relating to the alleged trucks cartel, including questions of applicable law and foreign law limitation periods (with Brian Kennelly KC and Jason Pobjoy).

Acting for a Defendant to claims for over €660 million arising out of an alleged price fixing cartel in relation to colour display tubes used in computer monitors between 1996 and 2006, including disputes regarding applicable law and foreign law limitation defences to contribution claims (with Brian Kennelly KC and Andrew Scott)

Claim concerning subordinated loans alleged to have been extinguished by operation of Russian law (assisting Andrew Green KC and Robert Weekes).

Claims by Libyan/Moroccan family against MI5 and MI6 for complicity in their unlawful abduction in Thailand, rendition to Libya, detention and torture. The claims raised issues of foreign law, including reliance on the default rule or presumption of similarity in Dicey Rule 2 (then Rule 25(2)) (assisting Ben Jaffey KC).

$800m+ claim in the BVI Commercial Court concerning a joint venture in relation to various power generation and distribution assets in Russia (assisting Pushpinder Saini KC and Robert Weekes).

Advising a European commodities trading group in a dispute against an African State concerning very substantial losses arising from changes in tax treatment over a 20-year period (with Tim Otty KC)

Acting for the claimant in a jurisdiction dispute in respect of her claim against the former King of Spain for harassment in connection with a €65 million payment, raising issues under the Brussels Recast Regulation and of state immunity (assisting Andrew Green KC)

Acting for the Kingdom of Bahrain in disputing the jurisdiction of the English Court including on the basis of state immunity in respect of a claim brought by two political activists who claim to have been the subject of attacks using surveillance software (with Shaheed Fatima KC)

Advising UBS and its French subsidiary on questions of EU law and banking secrecy arising in connection with its appeal against fines totalling over €4.5 billion imposed by the Paris Tribunal de grande instance for illegally soliciting French clients and laundering the proceeds of tax fraud. The appeal raises an issue concerning the effect of international agreements between Switzerland, France and the EU on the prosecution of Swiss banks by French authorities (with Brian Kennelly KC)

Claim by domestic worker found to be a victim of people trafficking against Saudi diplomatic agent and his wife for race discrimination and unlawful deductions from wages, raising questions of the scope of diplomatic immunity (assisting Ben Jaffey KC).