Signature Litigation LLP

Signature Litigation is best known as a new model commercial and financial market litigation practice with a unique “all member” economic structure. The firm has no transactional practice, and therefore very few conflicts of interest, and none of the distractions which come with a multi-practice law firm with offices across many jurisdictions.

The firm: Signature Litigation was founded in 2012 by senior lawyers with many years’ experience in leading international practices, specialising in high-value commercial litigation and arbitration. Headquartered in London and with offices in Paris and Gibraltar, the firm was founded to meet the increased demand for advice and support in complex cases from independent and highly experienced litigators, where the dedication of a niche specialist firm yields results.

The firm has continued its strong growth this year with several high-value cases and an expanding team of high-calibre individuals. By way of example, Signature Litigation is acting for international shipbuilding group, Privinvest, in connection with US$2bn claims brought against it and Credit Suisse by the Republic of Mozambique arising from supply agreements and supporting financial instruments and guarantees alleged to have been entered into by Mozambique due to corruption involving state officials responsible for its international investment into its oil and gas reserves, in what is sometimes known as the “tuna bonds” or “hidden debts” litigation. Signature Litigation is also acting for several Defendants in a $2 billion Claim in the High Court in relation to Thai-based company, Wind Energy Holding. The case forms part of a series of commercial disputes in multiple jurisdictions, including Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong and the British Virgin Islands.

Additionally, Signature Litigation is representing Commission Recovery Limited in a ground-breaking claim for recovery of alleged secret commissions earned from commercial referral arrangements. In February, Signature’s client was granted permission to pursue its claim on a representative basis under CPR 19.6, the first such major decision on CPR 19.6 since the Supreme Court’s judgment in Lloyd v Google.

Signature Litigation’s continued development is evident in recent and significant partner appointments. Most recently, the firm appointed Philipp Kurek to its partnership in London. Philipp specialises in international arbitration with particular expertise in investment arbitration, representing clients and providing strategic legal advice in ICSID and ad hoc arbitration proceedings. In April, Signature Litigation announced the appointment of Jérémie Fierville as a partner in its Paris office to strengthen its corporate and financial dispute resolution expertise. With experience in both Paris and London, Jérémie has developed strong expertise in corporate, shareholder, and financial disputes. In October 2022, Signature Litigation announced the promotion of international commercial arbitration specialist Neil Newing to Partner. He has particular experience in managing high value cross-border disputes, many of which involve multiple parties and multiple jurisdictions. Neil represents clients across numerus sectors, but has particular expertise in the energy sector and oil and gas and infrastructure disputes. Neil’s promotion reflects Signature Litigation’s organic growth and commitment to fostering internal talent. Signature Litigation also appointed Tsegaye Laurendeau as a Partner, who has over 10 years’ experience of international arbitrations under the LCIA, ICC, ICSID, CRCICA, HKIAC and UNCITRAL arbitration rules. Tsegaye regularly represents international corporates, States and State-owned entities in commercial and investment treaty arbitrations arising in various parts of the globe, including North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa.

Signature Litigation is distinct from anything else in the market. The firm has effectively transferred economic ownership in the firm away from the traditional model of equity partners towards every member of the practice. Signature Litigation has developed and implemented the first truly transparent, non-discretionary and universally applicable profit-sharing structure in the legal market.

Put simply, Signature Litigation is governed effectively by the combined voices of all of its people – with guaranteed rights for everyone to enjoy its success, financial and otherwise, and to ensure that its unique culture remains entirely protected.

Signature Litigation ensures its clients are at the heart of everything done by all its members and as such is able to offer clients in the region high quality advice which truly understands their needs, while avoiding the constraints of potential conflict issues. Above all, it has taken advantage of the developments in technology and outsourcing to ensure that its team is dynamic and efficient enough to deliver the very best service and legal outcomes for its clients.

Types of work undertaken: commercial litigation and arbitration; complex, multi-party disputes that challenge the commercial and reputational viability of its clients, and regulatory disputes in the banking and financial services sector.

Signature Litigation's lawyers have resolved some of the most significant and complex disputes involving financial institutions in recent legal history. The firm offers services to investment and commercial banks, funds and asset managers, large corporations, private equity and venture capital houses, hedge funds, professional advisers and private clients.

Signature Litigation’s arbitration practice comprises specialist practitioners across its London, Paris and Gibraltar offices. The team has substantial experience acting for clients on high value and complex international arbitrations pursuant to various institutional rules including LCIA, ICC, ICSID, UNCITRAL, the Swiss Chambers’ Arbitration Institute, the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce and the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC).

Signature Litigation’s insurance and reinsurance practice focuses on complex international insurance disputes. Combining the expertise in its London and Paris offices, Signature Litigation has acted for some of the leading insurers and reinsurers on high value disputes, particularly in Europe, Latin America, the Mediterranean basin, Asia and West Africa.

Complex international trust arrangements and fund management disputes are at the heart of much of the firm’s work, particularly in London and Gibraltar. Some of those arrangements involve formal trust structures in offshore jurisdictions, whilst others involve disputes arising out of informal trust relationships. The firm also advises regularly on the applicability of constructive trusts to the proceeds of fraud. Its practitioners have been involved in almost all the high value contentious trusts and estates matters before the Gibraltar Courts at all levels and regularly seeks directions from the Court on behalf of trustees.

Signature Litigation’s product liability practice is led from its Paris office and focuses on assisting major entities with every compliance issue that may arise with regulators, suppliers or consumers. The firm advises clients on all aspects of liability following their products from the day they are designed until they are placed on the market, handling disputes in France and in London.

Signature Litigation’s insolvency litigation practice is based on significant experience of representing a wide spectrum of clients – creditors, investors, debtors and officeholders – across a range of complex disputes. The practice also regularly undertakes matters in relation to contentious restructuring, bringing and defending claims before the Courts.

Signature Litigation has deep experience in dealing with regulatory disputes in the financial sector and conducting corporate investigations. The firm also advises clients in connection with investigations initiated by the FCA and SFO in the United Kingdom, the Financial Services Commission in Gibraltar and, in France, the anti-corruption agency, the AFA. In Gibraltar the firm has acted for the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission in appeals brought against it by regulated entities in relation to the enforcement powers of the regulator.