Experience

Acting for the Province of Balochistan (part of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan) in Commercial Court proceedings concerning an underlying ICC arbitration arising from a gold and copper mining dispute in Pakistan with Tethyan Copper Company Pty Limited (an Australian joint venture company owned by Barrick Gold Corporation and Antofagasta Plc). The dispute is valued at approximately US $6bn. Province of Balochistan v Tethyan Copper Company Pty Limited [2021] EWHC 1884 (Comm)

Acting for a Swiss based financial services company in a $1.5bn dispute concerning allegations of a complex fraud and misappropriation of assets (spanning several jurisdiction) relating to the estate of a Russian oligarch.

Acting for a former shareholder and director of one of Russia’s largest retail banks in proceedings before the Commercial Court in which the bank claims damages of over US$1 billion.

Acting for the subsidiary of a state-owned oil and gas company in Commercial Court proceedings against a major bank involving breach of mandate, breach of contract and negligence claims in respect of a substantial payment fraud.

Acting for a privately owned oil and gas company in proceedings before the Commercial Court involving claims for breach of contract, estoppel and rectification. Vitol E&P Limited v New Age (African Global Energy) Limited [2018] EWHC 1580 (Comm)

Acting for Iranian investors against The Republic of Korea in respect of the state’s unsuccessful challenge to an arbitration award made in favour of the investors arising from unlawful termination of the investment agreement.

Acting for respondent shareholders in multi-million pound unfair prejudice proceedings under s. 994 of the Companies Act 2006, involving allegations of a sale at an undervalue of the company’s assets. Jamie Martin v Hochanda & Ors [2021] EWHC 1988 (Ch)

Advising a charitable company limited by guarantee without share capital in respect of a high-profile dispute arising from a breakdown in Member relations. Children’s Investment Fund Foundation v Sir Christopher Hohn, Jamie Cooper; Dr Marko Lehtimäki and H.M Attorney General [2020] UKSC 33; [2018] EWCA Civ 1605

Acting for a number of defendants in a long-running fraud and conspiracy claim brought in the Commercial Court claim by a Thai property company, involving complex jurisdiction and foreign law issues. Apollo Ventures Co Ltd v Manchanda [2021] EWHC 3210 (Comm); Apollo Ventures Co Ltd v Manchanda & Ors [2020] EWHC 2206 (Comm)

Acting on quasi-enforcement aspects of a US$300 million commercial fraud claim by a group of Kazakh companies against their former directors involving the operation of a worldwide freezing injunction and related committal applications. Kazakhstan Kagazy plc v Zhunus & Ors [2019] EWHC 2630 (Comm)

Acting for one of the claimants in a £300m commercial court action concerning allegations that corporate interests in a Bulgarian telecommunications group were dishonestly misappropriated. LIC v VTB Capital & Ors [2019] EWHC 1747 (Comm)

Acting on a challenge in the Commercial Court against an arbitral tribunal’s award on jurisdiction, involving a claim against a central Asian state.

Acting for a Belarusian individual in relation to a dispute as to beneficial ownership of an English company, which owns valuable property assets in Belarus.

Acting for a Ukrainian high net worth individual in High Court proceedings arising from breaches of a joint venture agreement and related financing arrangements.

Acting for the Azeri beneficial owners of a UK company in insolvency proceedings arising from complex financing structures to facilitate commercial activities in Russia.

Acting on behalf of a Russian high net worth individual to regain control of a complex corporate structure acquired by him using nominee shareholders and directors who had threatened to dispose of his interest without his knowledge or consent.

Acting for a property investment firm in a high value breach of contract claim brought in the Commercial Court against various US-owned Luxembourg companies arising out of the termination of a number of asset management agreements. This claim settled shortly before trial.

Acting for a UK based construction firm in proceedings in the Technology and Construction Court, involving economic tort claims (procuring breach of contract and unlawful means conspiracy). Palmer Birch (A Partnership) v Lloyd & Anor [2018] EWHC 2316 (TCC)

Acting for the developer, licensor and supplier of digital education software in a multi-million pound breach of contract claim brought in the Commercial Court against a multi-national company. This claim settled at trial.

Advising a founding member of a successful investment advisory firm with c.$50bn AUM in relation to a high-profile partnership dispute with the other founding members. Hosking v Marathon Asset Management LLP [2017] 2 W.L.R. 746

Acting for SME clients in claims against a well-known high street bank for losses incurred as a result of fraudulent activity within the Impaired Assets Division of the Bank

Advising the executive members of a leading frontier markets investment bank and brokerage house in relation to an LLP dispute concerning alleged misconduct, expulsion rights under the Members’ Agreement and the inter-relationship of competing rights and interests between members within a complex group structure.

Acting for defendants in related multi-million pound claims for a fraudulent misrepresentation arising from a substantial property development project in London.

Acting for the European joint venture partners of a major household retail group in a dispute as to the valuation of their shareholding upon cessation of the joint venture.

Acting for a shareholder in a high profile corporate litigation with his partner following the breakdown of their business relationship.

Acting for a global engineering and construction company in relation to contentious elements of its banking affairs in light of a restructuring and defending the same company in relation to alleged defaults under performance bonds.

Acting for the subsidiary of a FTSE 100 company in relation to a £100m mis-selling claim brought by the liquidators of an unregulated collective investment scheme and related satellite disputes brought by IFAs.

Acting for defendants in a €35 million fraud claim arising out of a failed oil trading venture, involving a worldwide freezing order and a search order.

Acting for a European Investment Bank in relation to a contested restructuring of a joint venture.

Defending a multi-billion dollar unlawful means conspiracy claim brought by Chevron Corporation in the Supreme Court of Gibraltar and advising on related private client elements. The claims arose due to catastrophic levels of petrochemical contamination in Ecuador which resulted in an US $18bn award being made against Chevron.

Acting for the former director of an AIM listed company defending a £30m breach of directors’ duties claim involving fraudulent misrepresentation and allegations of insider dealing and other undisclosed interests. Pyrrho Investments Limited and MWB Business Exchange Limited vs (1) MWB Property Limited & Ors [2016] EWHC 256

Representing an individual director in a Takeover Panel investigation into an alleged undisclosed Concert Party.

Acting for the former directors of Liverpool Football Club in relation to the disputed sale of the Club from Messrs. Hicks and Gillett to the Boston based Fenway Sports Group (owners of the Red Sox). This case featured in Top 20 cases of 2013 by the Lawyer. (1) Royal Bank of Scotland Plc v Hicks, Gillett & Ors, and (2) Sir Martin Broughton v Hicks, Gillett, Kop Football Limited & Ors [2012] EWHC 2699

Acting on a multi-billion dollar expropriation claim in the CIS region on a highly confidential matter and investigating causes of action arising from bilateral investment treaties and international law.

Acting for hundreds of individual investors pursuing recovery in respect of failed collective investment schemes. This case was listed in the Top 20 cases of 2011 by the Lawyer. Brown v InnovatorOne Plc and others [2012] EWHC 1321 (Comm).

Acting for a UK holding company of assets in Russia and Poland as Claimant in LCIA arbitration proceedings involving claims for fraudulent misrepresentation, breach of warranties and breach of implied terms, following its acquisition of a Russian business from a UK FTSE 100 company.

Acting for a leading Greek energy production and supply company as Claimant in LCIA arbitration proceedings against a subsidiary of a multinational conglomerate involving claims for breach of contract arising from the supply of a defective steam turbine rotor.

Acting for a UK based engineering company in a very substantial dispute relating to the construction of four accommodation platforms for a UAE based company.

Acting for a major Russian insurance company in LCIA arbitration proceedings in respect of construction claims arising from its sales of a substantial commercial real estate development to a major German company.

Acting for a European property company in arbitration proceedings before the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce arising from a failed commercial real estate development in Moscow.

Advising a Russian owned UK based commodities company in a claim against a state-owned Indonesian company for breach of a long-term supply agreement for nickel ore.

Acting for a Chinese glue manufacturer in a London arbitration claim against its supplier of technology and purchaser of glue products for breach of contract.

Acting for a Bulgarian producer of non-ferrous metals in four substantial commodities arbitrations against a global trading business.

Acting for a Moldovan oil and gas exploration company in relation to a dispute with a Canadian provider of seismic survey services arising from a project in Southern Sudan.

Acting for an Italian shipyard in relation to a substantial defects and non-conformity claim brought by the buyer of a luxury superyacht.

Acting for a state-owned company in an ICC arbitration claim with a value of USD 215m arising out of a breach of contract and its unlawful treatment as a minority shareholder in a joint venture company.