Hugo Murphy

For the Defendant in proceedings for breach of contract concerning the rights to broadcast top-division football in Belgium (led by Andrew Hunter KC and Harry Adamson).

For the Tenth Defendant in proceedings concerning an alleged conspiracy to seize strategic Russian assets with a claimed quantum of over US$10 billion (assisting Leona Powell).

For the Claimant in a jurisdiction challenge arising out of proceedings for breach of contract and unlawful means conspiracy, involving issues of Saudi and Canadian law (assisting Anthony Peto KC and Shane Sibbel).

Assisting Tom Weisselberg KC and Harry Adamson, acting for the First and Second Defendants in a civil fraud claim brought by the Kuwaiti Public Institution for Social Security for a claimed quantum of over US$850 million.

For the Severn Trent Defendants in a restitution claim concerning the provision of information by water and sewerage companies to personal search companies, for a claimed quantum of over £150 million (assisting Monica Carss-Frisk KC and Jason Pobjoy). The decision is the first High Court ruling on the scope and application of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.

For the defendant boxer in a claim brought by his former promoter for an alleged failure to honour a matching right in his promotional agreement (with Nick De Marco KC).

Advising a sports agency on its claim for inducing breach of contract, relating to a competitor agency poaching a player under representation (assisting Shane Sibbel).

For the Defendants in a civil fraud claim relating to investments in a resort in Thailand, raising questions of Thai law (assisting Shane Sibbel).

For the Defendants in a conspiracy claim concerning the control of an international sport promoter and commercial rights holder (assisting Fraser Campbell).

For the Claimants in a claim alleging the wrongful retention and dissemination of confidential information in breach of a settlement agreement and equitable duties of confidence (assisting Fraser Campbell).

For the Claimant seeking negative declaratory relief against its former employee, an investment analyst claiming to be entitled to a bonus worth almost £8m (assisting Fraser Campbell).

For the Claimant in a claim against its former employee and competitor companies, seeking relief for the wrongful dissemination of the Claimant’s confidential information and the diversion of business opportunities (assisting Fraser Campbell).

Assisting Andreas Gledhill KC and Harry Adamson, acting for the director in significant director disqualification proceedings brought by the Secretary of State for Business and Trade.

For the Defendant in proceedings for breach of contract concerning the rights to broadcast top-division football in Belgium (led by Andrew Hunter KC and Harry Adamson).

For the Premier League in Rule X arbitral proceedings concerning the validity of the Premier League's APT Rules (led by Andrew Hunter KC and Jason Pobjoy KC).

Hugo has appeared unled in RFU disciplinary proceedings on a pro bono basis.

Hugo regularly advises the Premier League on regulatory, disciplinary, contractual and competition law matters.

Advising UK Deaf Sport on discrimination and public law issues in relation to the Government's decision to cease funding pathways for elite deaf athletes in the UK (pro bono).

For the Premier League in disciplinary proceedings (now settled) against Everton FC concerning alleged breaches of financial fair play regulations in the 2022/23 season (with Jason Pobjoy).

For the Premier League in disciplinary proceedings against Everton FC concerning breaches of financial fair play regulations in the 2021/22 season (assisting Adam Lewis KC and Jason Pobjoy). The case was the first to be decided under the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules.

For the English Football Association (FA) in a challenge to its implementation of FIFA regulations concerning the maximum fees agents can charge for their services (assisting Adam Lewis KC and Jason Pobjoy).

For the defendant boxer in a claim brought by his former promoter for an alleged failure to honour a matching right in his promotional agreement (with Nick De Marco KC).

For a Premier League football club seeking to enforce post-termination restrictive covenants against a departing senior employee who intended to take up a new role at a competitor club (with Nick De Marco KC and Navid Pourghazi).

Advising a sports agency on its claim for inducing breach of contract, relating to a competitor agency poaching a player under representation (assisting Shane Sibbel).

For the Defendants in a conspiracy claim concerning the control of an international sport promoter and commercial rights holder (assisting Fraser Campbell).

For the Appellant in a landmark appeal concerning whether the Investigatory Powers Tribunal has the power to make orders as to costs in its proceedings (led by Ben Jaffey KC).

For the Claimants in a challenge to the Heather and Grass etc. Burning (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (led by Jason Pobjoy KC and Will Perry).

For the Home Secretary in proceedings before the Investigatory Powers Tribunal concerning the powers to issue technical capability notices under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016.

For Ofwat in judicial review proceedings concerning the rationality of its approach to allocating enhancement expenditure to water and sewerage undertakers for the purposes of achieving environmental outcomes.

Advising UK Deaf Sport on discrimination and public law issues in relation to the Government's decision to cease funding pathways for elite deaf athletes in the UK (pro bono).

For the Law Society in its challenge to the UK Government’s failure to implement the findings of the Bellamy Review in the legal aid system (assisting Tom de la Mare KC and Jason Pobjoy).

For the Lord Chancellor in judicial review proceedings concerning the compatibility of legal aid policy with the right to a fair trial under Article 6 ECHR in the context of appeals against permanent school exclusions (assisting Shane Sibbel).

For journalists in a challenge to the European Parliament’s decision to refuse to provide public access to documents relating to expenses of a Member of Parliament who had been found guilty of the crime of membership and leadership of a criminal organisation (assisting Jason Pobjoy).

For the Cabinet Office in an appeal under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (assisting Fraser Campbell).

For the Claimant in an appeal against the Secretary of State’s refusal of a protection claim based on a risk of persecution resulting from the Claimant’s sexual orientation (assisting Fraser Campbell).

Advising the Secretary of State for the Home Department on questions of nullity in the context of mistakenly granted citizenship (assisting Sir James Eadie KC and Shane Sibbel).

Advising Ofwat on the applicability of various environmental duties in the context of its 2024 Price Review (with Ravi Mehta).

Advising the BBC on various matters, including freedom of information (FOI) requests, equality impact assessments and due impartiality obligations (assisting Jason Pobjoy).

For the Secretary of State in an appeal against a decision to deregister an independent special educational institution for failures to meet educational and welfare standards (assisting Fraser Campbell).

Assisting Harry Adamson, acting for the Secretary of State in judicial review proceedings concerning a decision to recategorize the status of a serving prisoner in light of his involvement in a serious incident in prison.

Advising the Cabinet Office on matters of constitutional and contractual law in relation to the UK Covid Inquiry (assisting Shane Sibbel).

For the Severn Trent Defendants in a restitution claim concerning the provision of information by water and sewerage companies to personal search companies, for a claimed quantum of over £150 million (assisting Monica Carss-Frisk KC and Jason Pobjoy). The decision is the first High Court ruling on the scope and application of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.

For Volkswagen in an appeal concerning the application of the presumption against extraterritoriality to the CMA’s enforcement powers (assisting Brian Kennelly KC and Jason Pobjoy).

Advising on the compatibility of proposed leasehold reforms with the protections under Article 1, Protocol 1 ECHR (assisting Jason Pobjoy).

Assisting Andreas Gledhill KC and Harry Adamson, acting for the director in significant director disqualification proceedings brought by the Secretary of State for Business and Trade.

For the Home Secretary in proceedings before the Investigatory Powers Tribunal concerning the powers to issue technical capability notices under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016.

Assisting counsel in a foreign Commonwealth jurisdiction with a Supreme Court appeal in relation to government decisions discriminating against individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation (pro bono, through the Human Dignity Trust, with Tim Otty KC).

Advising UK Deaf Sport on discrimination and public law issues in relation to the Government's decision to cease funding pathways for elite deaf athletes in the UK (pro bono).

Assisting counsel in a foreign Commonwealth jurisdiction on a strategic challenge to laws which persecute individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation (pro bono, through the Human Dignity Trust, with Tim Otty KC and Jessica Boyd KC).

For the Law Society in its challenge to the UK Government’s failure to implement the findings of the Bellamy Review in the legal aid system (assisting Tom de la Mare KC and Jason Pobjoy).

For the Lord Chancellor in judicial review proceedings concerning the compatibility of legal aid policy with the right to a fair trial under Article 6 ECHR in the context of appeals against permanent school exclusions (assisting Shane Sibbel).

For the Claimant in an appeal against the Secretary of State’s refusal of a protection claim based on a risk of persecution resulting from the Claimant’s sexual orientation (assisting Fraser Campbell).

Advising the Secretary of State for the Home Department on questions of nullity in the context of mistakenly granted citizenship (assisting Sir James Eadie KC and Shane Sibbel).

For a UK media group defending claims for alleged religious discrimination by a US evangelistic association (assisting Jason Pobjoy).

Advising on the compatibility of proposed leasehold reforms with the protections under Article 1, Protocol 1 ECHR (assisting Jason Pobjoy).

For the claimant in an expedited LCIA arbitration concerning the enforceability of non-compete agreements in the field of quantitative trading (with Thomas Croxford KC and Zafar Ansari). The claimant succeeded on all issues following a two-week hearing.

For a private equity firm in LCIA Arbitral proceedings concerning the expulsion and post-termination conduct of a former partner (led by Tom Croxford KC).

For the Claimant in a claim for direct disability discrimination by association (unled). Successfully resisted the Respondent's application for strike-out at a one-day hearing.

For a Premier League football club seeking to enforce post-termination restrictive covenants against a departing senior employee who intended to take up a new role at a competitor club (with Nick De Marco KC and Navid Pourghazi).

Advising a former senior employee on issues of territorial jurisdiction and foreign law in a bonus dispute across both the High Court and the Employment Tribunal.

Advising an international partnership on the enforceability of post-termination restrictive covenants agreed between its partners (led by Thomas Croxford KC).

For the Claimant in a claim against its former employee and competitor companies, seeking relief for the wrongful dissemination of the Claimant’s confidential information and the diversion of business opportunities (assisting Fraser Campbell).

For the Claimant seeking negative declaratory relief against its former employee, an investment analyst claiming to be entitled to a bonus worth almost £8m (assisting Fraser Campbell).

Advising and drafting in relation to various whistleblowing and discrimination claims (assisting Craig Rajgopaul KC and Navid Pourghazi).

For the Tenth Defendant in proceedings concerning an alleged conspiracy to seize strategic Russian assets with a claimed quantum of over US$10 billion (assisting Leona Powell).

For the Claimant in a jurisdiction challenge arising out of proceedings for breach of contract and unlawful means conspiracy, involving issues of Saudi and Canadian law (assisting Anthony Peto KC and Shane Sibbel).

Assisting Tom Weisselberg KC and Harry Adamson, acting for the First and Second Defendants in a civil fraud claim brought by the Kuwaiti Public Institution for Social Security for a claimed quantum of over US$850 million.

For the Defendants in a civil fraud claim relating to investments in a resort in Thailand, raising questions of Thai law (assisting Shane Sibbel).

For the Claimant seeking urgent freezing relief on the basis of a conversion claim relating to the alleged theft of jewellery (assisting Fraser Campbell).

For the Premier League in Rule X arbitral proceedings concerning the validity of the Premier League's APT Rules (led by Andrew Hunter KC and Jason Pobjoy KC).

For Ofwat in judicial review proceedings concerning the rationality of its approach to allocating enhancement expenditure to water and sewerage undertakers for the purposes of achieving environmental outcomes.

Advising Greenpeace UK Ltd on costs protection under the Aarhus Convention in proceedings brought by Shell UK Ltd in relation to protesting activities (with Ravi Mehta).

Advising Ofwat on the applicability of various environmental duties in the context of its 2024 Price Review (with Ravi Mehta).

For the Severn Trent Defendants in a restitution claim concerning the provision of information by water and sewerage companies to personal search companies, for a claimed quantum of over £150 million (assisting Monica Carss-Frisk KC and Jason Pobjoy). The decision is the first High Court ruling on the scope and application of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.

For the Secretaries of State in the first appellate consideration of sanctions designations under the post-Brexit Russia sanctions regime (assisting Sir James Eadie KC and Jason Pobjoy).

For the individual in a challenge to a designation by the Council of the European Union under the Belarus sanctions regime (assisting Brian Kennelly KC and Jason Pobjoy).

For the Premier League in Rule X arbitral proceedings concerning the validity of the Premier League's APT Rules (led by Andrew Hunter KC and Jason Pobjoy KC).

For the claimant in an expedited LCIA arbitration concerning the enforceability of non-compete agreements in the field of quantitative trading (with Thomas Croxford KC and Zafar Ansari). The claimant succeeded on all issues following a two-week hearing.

For a private equity firm in LCIA Arbitral proceedings concerning the expulsion and post-termination conduct of a former partner (led by Tom Croxford KC).

For the defendant boxer in a claim brought by his former promoter for an alleged failure to honour a matching right in his promotional agreement (with Nick De Marco KC).

For the English Football Association (FA) in a challenge to its implementation of FIFA regulations concerning the maximum fees agents can charge for their services (assisting Adam Lewis KC and Jason Pobjoy).

For a Premier League football club seeking to enforce post-termination restrictive covenants against a departing senior employee who intended to take up a new role at a competitor club (with Nick De Marco KC and Navid Pourghazi).