Gary Oliver
Senior Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7325
Peter is a commercial barrister who has been involved in some of the largest commercial and civil fraud claims in recent years. He has particular expertise in fraud claims with an insolvency element, as well as insolvency and company law claims more generally. He is also an experienced practitioner in commercial arbitration.
Peter is ranked in Chambers UK, Chambers Global and Legal 500 for commercial litigation, civil fraud and restructuring and insolvency. Recent comments include:
Recent cases include:
Peter's commercial practice takes in a wide variety of disputes including claims for and against financial institutions, joint venture disputes, claims for and against commercial agents, professional negligence claims, company law claims, jurisdiction disputes, and a range of general commercial and contractual disputes. He is frequently instructed in very high value claims as part of a counsel team, and also has considerable advocacy experience as sole counsel.
“He is also excellent with clients and acutely aware of their fragility and need to guide them through the process of complex litigation.”
Legal 500, 2023
“Peter is an incredibly agile thinker and regularly performs beyond his year of call. His legal analysis and drafting is persuasive and impeccable.”
legal 500, 2023
“Bright, pragmatic and clear-thinking. Excellent on his feet.”
Legal 500, 2022
“Very user-friendly and down to earth.”
Legal 500, 2022
“He is incredibly smart and calm under pressure, really gets stuck in, is always available and has a wonderful manner with clients.”
Legal 500, 2021
“truly brilliant”
Chambers UK, 2019
“a really confident, punchy and effective advocate”
Chambers UK, 2019
“He is truly brilliant and a really confident, punchy and effective advocate.”
Chambers and Partners, 2019
“Very fluid in his oral submissions, he is a relaxed and confident advocate.”
Chambers and Partners, 2019
“a very good orator whom judges warm to”
Chambers UK, 2016
“a rising star”
Chambers UK, 2015
“exceptionally confident in court”
Chambers UK, 2015
“real talent”
Chambers UK, 2014
Dispute arising out of the sale of a technology business with claims in deceit and unlawful means conspiracy.
Joint venture dispute with related unfair prejudice and insolvency proceedings in Jersey. With Andrew Hunter KC.
Successful resistance of strike out and summary judgment application in ongoing proceedings alleging a $1.5bn unlawful means conspiracy.
Dispute arising out of a $701 million contract for broadcasting rights in Mainland China and Macau. Successfully obtained summary judgment for the Premier League for over $200 million. With Robert Howe Q.C.
Insolvency proceedings arising out of a €1bn debt restructuring
Acting for a Luxembourg finance company in a dispute arising out of a €1bn debt restructuring.
US$1-2 billion claim alleging a conspiracy to deprive a Thai entrepreneur of a majority interest in the leading renewable energy company in Thailand. The claim involves 17 defendants, parallel ICC arbitrations and ancillary proceedings in the BVI, Belize, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Conspiracy proceedings for in excess of $1.5 billion arising out of a North American mining contract. Related proceedings in the Cayman Islands, Mauritius and New York.
Acting for the successful appellant in an appeal confirming that a freezing injunction is not intended to prevent a company from carrying on its business, even where the business can be described as risky or speculative.
Quantum proceedings following judgment on liability in a claim arising out of the $85 billion bail-out of AIG by the US Federal Reserve in 2008.
Acting for various companies in the AIG Group in this $100 million claim by multiple former banker employees. Led by Andrew Hunter QC.
Acting for the defendant in high value claims relating to alleged bribery of a foreign public official. Parallel investigation by the Serious Fraud Office. Led by Tony Peto Q.C.
Acting for the successful appellant in relation to a £2 million statutory demand. Issues as to the definition of a debt at common law and the meaning of a debt for a liquidated sum under the Insolvency Act 1986.
Acting for a De Beers Sightholder in a claim under the Commercial Agents Regulations 1993 and at common law. Led by Robert Anderson Q.C.
Proceedings to recover monies fraudulently procured by a solicitor.
Acting for the successful appellant in this US$600 million claim relating to one of the world’s largest private construction and infrastructure companies. Part of a Counsel team led by Laurence Rabinowitz Q.C.
Commercial and competition law claims relating to an online property portal. Led by Alan Maclean Q.C.
Multi-party litigation arising out of an alleged property joint venture.
Proceedings relating to the Antigua electricity supply. Led by Michael Bloch Q.C.
Dispute arising out of the sale of the largest onshore oil and gas field in Azerbaijan (8 week trial). Led by Jeremy Cousins Q.C.
Acted for a Cypriot bank in a claim under personal guarantees.
“He is a creative thinker and is great at getting on top of the detail and working with us to help bolster our thoughts and position.”
Chambers UK, 2023
“Peter is very pragmatic.”
Chambers UK, 2023
“Peter is a very good, very engaging advocate.”
Chambers UK, 2023
“Peter is really fantastic with clients; he understands their commercial objectives and gets to the heart of matters.”
Chambers UK, 2023
“Excellent commerciality in understanding the clients’ objectives and pragmatism in conduct of the matter.”
Legal 500, 2023
“He's so on the ball, always on top of the case and his opening statements are very good and methodical.”
Chambers and Partners, 2022
“Phenomenally bright with that gold dust ability to be able to think laterally and see ways around problems that leave most of us flummoxed. Also an absolute pleasure to work with.”
Legal 500, 2022
“A solicitor’s dream – the best example of the modern barrister; extremely bright, user friendly and phenomenal work ethic”
Legal 500, 2021
“He is incredibly industrious and a born strategist who is really useful on technical and difficult cases.”
Chambers and Partners, 2021
“An instructing solicitor's dream – phenomenally bright, incredibly hardworking, and also very user friendly.”
Legal 500, 2019
“a super junior”
Legal 500, 2018
“A superb junior counsel, very easy to deal with and available at all times.”
Legal 500, 2018
“has a winning way with clients and the court”
Legal 500, 2017
Joint venture dispute with related unfair prejudice and insolvency proceedings in Jersey. With Andrew Hunter KC.
Successful resistance of strike out and summary judgment application in ongoing proceedings alleging a $1.5bn unlawful means conspiracy.
US$1-2 billion claim alleging a conspiracy to deprive a Thai entrepreneur of a majority interest in the leading renewable energy company in Thailand. The claim involves 17 defendants, parallel ICC arbitrations and ancillary proceedings in the BVI, Belize, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Dispute arising out of the sale of a technology business with claims in deceit and unlawful means conspiracy.
Conspiracy proceedings for in excess of $1.5 billion arising out of a North American mining contract. Related proceedings in the Cayman Islands, Mauritius and New York.
Acting for the successful appellant in an appeal confirming that a freezing injunction is not intended to prevent a company from carrying on its business, even where the business can be described as risky or speculative.
Acting for the defendant in high value claims relating to alleged bribery of a foreign public official. Parallel investigation by the Serious Fraud Office. Led by Tony Peto Q.C.
£20m + claim by liquidators arising out of an alleged unlawful return of capital, including claims in conspiracy and deceit.
Acting for the successful appellant in this US$600 million claim relating to one of the world’s largest private construction and infrastructure companies. Part of a Counsel team led by Laurence Rabinowitz Q.C.
Proceedings to recover monies fraudulently procured by a solicitor.
Peter acts for office-holders, creditors and debtors across the range of corporate and personal insolvency disputes, both UK and offshore. He is frequently instructed in insolvency cases with a fraud element.
“Peter delivers clear, commercial and strategic advice.”
Chambers UK, 2023
“Peter is an exceptionally able junior who brings a great deal of legal imagination and a careful forensic mind to his cases.”
Legal 500, 2023
“He is technically brilliant, really good on his feet, and his drafting is fantastic.”
Chambers and Partners, 2022
“He is absolutely excellent - extremely clever and also a real pleasure to deal with.”
Chambers and Partners, 2022
“He is excellent. He works exceptionally hard and provides very clear, commercial advice.”
Chambers and Partners, 2021
“He is a reliable and solid junior who's always willing to help and go the extra mile.”
Chambers and Partners, 2019
“He's a very conscientious barrister and a very good advocate.”
Chambers and Partners, 2019
“one of the most promising juniors in insolvency”
Chambers UK, 2018
“excellent drafting and technical skills”
Chambers UK, 2018
Acting for a Luxembourg finance company in a dispute arising out of a €1bn debt restructuring.
Insolvency proceedings arising out of a €1bn debt restructuring
Joint venture dispute with related unfair prejudice and insolvency proceedings in Jersey. With Andrew Hunter KC.
Conspiracy proceedings for in excess of $1.5 billion arising out of a North American mining contract. Related proceedings in the Cayman Islands, Mauritius and New York.
Acting for various companies in the AIG Group in this $100 million claim by multiple former banker employees. Led by Andrew Hunter QC.
£20m + claim by liquidators arising out of an alleged unlawful return of capital, including claims in conspiracy and deceit.
Acting for the successful appellant in relation to a £2 million statutory demand. Issues as to the definition of a debt at common law and the meaning of a debt for a liquidated sum under the Insolvency Act 1986.
£70 million challenge to rejection of proofs. Issues as to the valuation of contingent liabilities.
Acting for the joint liquidators of a removal services company. Misfeasance claim; freezing injunction; limited cross-undertaking for office-holders.
Acting for the administrators of a provider of cosmetic surgery alleged to have produced defective breast implants. One of The Lawyer's Top 20 Cases for 2016.
Setting aside of statutory demand on the basis of "other grounds"; application of the Ex p. James principle to statutory demand served by a company through its voluntary liquidators.
Misfeasance claim against a former director.
Acting for the administrators of the LLP incorporated to stage the Michael Jackson Forever concert at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
COMI/bankruptcy tourism.
Peter has extensive experience of arbitrations under LCIA, SIAC, ICC, SCMA and UNCITRAL rules, and related Court applications.
Dispute relating to a litigation funding agreement. With Lord Pannick QC.
A $10 million dispute arising out of a steel contract.
Delhi-seated arbitration concerning pre-emption rights.
$1bn dispute relating to share subscription agreements. Led by Michael Bloch QC.
€100m dispute between shareholders of a mining company in Sub-Saharan Africa, and a claim against its director and shareholder under a guarantee. Led by Andrew Green QC.
An LCIA arbitration arising out of the breakdown in the relationship between a Cayman based carried interest partner for certain special opportunity funds and a U.S. based placement agency.
A dispute in relation to a Costa Rican joint venture.
A claim by investors arising out of the Madoff fraud. Led by Alan Gourgey Q.C.
A claim seeking to set aside enforcement of a Slovakian arbitration award.
Peter has experience of claims involving football clubs, registered intermediaries, and sponsors.
Dispute arising out of a $701 million contract for broadcasting rights in Mainland China and Macau. Successfully obtained summary judgment for the Premier League for over $200 million. With Robert Howe Q.C.
Acting for Leeds United Football Club in this claim arising out of an abortive shirt sponsorship arrangement.
Claim arising out of a team move of football agents. Resisting injunctive relief; issues relating to scope of Rule K of the FA Rules.
MA (Cantab); LLB (first class)
VAT registration number: 858159484
Barristers regulated by the Bar Standards Board
Gary Oliver
Senior Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7325
Derek Sutton
Deputy Senior Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7327
Adam Sloane
Deputy Senior Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7326
Dean Tolman
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7331
Billy Brian
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7339
Marc Armstrong
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7330
Adam Fuschillo
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7329
Danny Compton
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7338
Sophie Floydd
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7324
Rio Sully
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7299