Fountain Court Chambers

John Taylor KC has a broad commercial litigation and arbitration practice, including banking, financial services, professional negligence, aviation, commercial fraud, company and insurance. His work includes appearing in international commercial arbitrations and market tribunals as well as in overseas jurisdictions.

Recent banking litigation includes the interest rate swaps and LIBOR litigation, credit card interchange fee disputes, the Court of Appeal case of Smith v Royal Bank of Scotland EWCA Civ 1832 [2022] 1 WLR 2136 concerning the limitation period applicable to unfair credit relationship claims, Cantor Fitzgerald v YES Bank Ltd [2023] EWHC 745 (Comm) concerning a claim for a financing success fee and the DIFC case of Altamimi and Ors v Emirates NBD Bank and Ors (Cooke J, DIFC, 31 March 2022) concerning the recognition of foreign insolvency proceedings by the DIFC.

Recent commercial practice has involved acting in several cases for private equity investors in disputes with the vendors of large corporates, including allegations of negligently inaccurate accounting and breaches of tax and accounting warranties. John represented the defendants successfully challenging the jurisdiction of the English Courts on the grounds of forum non conveniens and the ability to obtain a fair trial in a foreign jurisdiction (Nimer v United Al Saqer Group LLC [2021] EWHC 50 (QB)). He has experience of group litigation and has acted for a well-known companies and institutions defending group litigation claims (including Hamon v UCL [2023] EWHC 1812).

John has advised on and appeared in cases raising issues of contractual frustration (Natixis v Famfa Oil [2020] 2 WLUK 330), MAC clauses in the light of governmental sanctions, and the effect of the Coronavirus on a share sale price adjustment mechanism.

Recent professional negligence claims include acting for liquidators in a High Court claim against a big 4 accountancy firm arising out of the collapse of a lending business and a claim against a City firm of solicitors concerning inadequate security taken for the deferred consideration payable under a share sale agreement.

John’s aviation practice covers aircraft leases, financing, sales, design, manufacture and insurance. Recent practice includes successfully defending Ryanair against claims for damages by a lessor arising out of the termination of long-term leases of Airbus A320 aircraft raising issues of compliance with conditions precedent, contractual construction and mitigation (Peregrine Aviation Bravo v Laudamotion GmbH [2023] EWHC 48 (Comm)).

John’s recent arbitration practice included representing a global oil services company in an ICC arbitration concerning multi-million dollar claims under a cross-border co-operation agreement.

John’s cases regularly involve regulatory matters – including FCA and hearings before Tribunals such as the London Metal Exchange disciplinary panel.

Called to the Bar 1993. Silk 2013. Admitted to the DIFC Courts, Dubai.

Contributor to 'The Law of Bank Payments' (5th ed, Sweet & Maxwell 2018); contributor to 'Carriage by Air' (Butterworths).

Commercial Bar Association; Professional Negligence Bar Association; British Association for Sport and Law.

Cambridge University MA 1st class.

Tennis, football, skiing.