Athena Law

Dispute Resolution

Chiva Samani heads Athena Law and specialises in complex corporate, commercial, and trust disputes.

Some examples of Chiva’s work include: Nectrus v Cruz City 1 Mauritius Holdings (2DS 2019/30) judgment 19/06/2020 (appeal - existence of a bare trust re £20m+ corporate entity); IOMFSA v New Earth Recycling and Renewables (CHP 2016/75) judgment 14/01/2019 (directors’ duties to assist liquidator); IOMFSA v The Eco Resources Fund (CHP 2017/28) judgment 14/07/2017 (liquidator’s duty to consider rescue package); Anderson v HMAG (2DS 2015/8) judgment 25/10/2016 (murder appeal); Chancery Trustees v Bricknell (CHP 2017/86) judgment 16/01/2018 (validity of deed of appointment and retirement); Stannard v Harper (CHP 2016/164) judgment 19/06/2018 (strike out); Nectrus v UCP (ORD 2017/27) judgment 09/07/2018 (nominees’ rights/jurisdiction); McNicholas & Power v Reid (ORD 2014/008 and ORD 2014/009) judgments 23/03/2018 an 24/09/2018 (expert evidence), judgment 29/08/2018 (costs); Reid v McNicholas & Power (Appellate Court) (2DS 2018/8) judgment 02/07/2018 (out of time appeal), judgment 24/07/2018 (proceedings in private/anonymised judgments), judgment 24/07/2018 (admissibility of joint expert evidence), judgment 10/09/2018 (costs), judgment 12/10/2018 (time to pay), judgment 17/03/2020 (issue based costs orders).

Chiva regularly writes in various publications and presents on commercial/regulatory litigation.

Called to the Bar of England and Wales (non-practising) 2007; Qualified as an advocate in the Isle of Man 2010; Director – Gough Law 2016; Director – Athena Law 2018.

English, French, German and Persian

BSC Management (UMIST); Graduate Diploma in Law (BPP); Bar vocational course (Manchester Metropolitan University); International Diploma in Anti-Money Laundering