3 Verulam Buildings

Adam is a specialist in financial services disputes. He is regularly instructed on high profile and complex disputes for financial regulators, both in the UK and overseas, including appearances for the Financial Conduct Authority in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal and the High Court. He also advises private clients on regulatory matters and is regularly instructed by banks. Other work includes claims against IFAs, financial services networks, insurance coverage disputes and all manner of other commercial and professional negligence claims.

Adam Kramer KC

Adam Kramer QC is a highly regarded commercial litigator and arbitration advocate specialising in banking and finance, commercial fraud, energy, sale of goods, professional negligence and insurance and reinsurance disputes. He has extensive experience of group/multi-party litigation. He is frequently instructed in large-scale, high-profile matters, most recently in the Covid-19 business interruption insurance test case and subsequent substantial aggregation disputes, CIS v IBM exclusion clause appeal, the Phones 4U alleged collusion dispute, Lehman waterfall litigation, Tesco s90A securities claim, a $1bn Angolan LCIA energy arbitration, the Al-Rajaan fraud dispute, and the VW (and other) Diesel Emissions group claims. Adam is an expert in contract damages, being the sole author of leading practitioner text - The Law of Contract Damages (3rd edition forthcoming). He is consistently ranked highly across multiple practice areas in the legal directories and praised for his sharp analytical skills, in-depth knowledge and courtroom style.

Adrian Beltrami KC

Barrister specialising in commercial law, banking law, insolvency, sale of goods, commercial fraud and professional negligence; particularly accountants, surveyors and solicitors; cases include: BCCI v Price Waterhouse [1997, 1998]; Electra v KPMG [1998]; Box v Barclays Bank [1998]; Middle Temple v Lloyds Banks [1999]; Thyssen v Thyssen [1999-2001]; Grupo Torras v Al-Sabah [2001]; BCCI v Bank of America [2003]; TXU [2004]; JPMorgan v Springwell [2004-2008]; Real Estate Opportunities Ltd v Aberdeen Asset Managers [2005-2007]

Alexia Knight

General commercial work and litigation in line with 3VB’s practice, including banking and financial services, personal and corporate insolvency, professional negligence and civil fraud.

Ali Malek KC

Barrister specialising in commercial law, including banking and financial disputes, insurance and international trade; professional negligence; insolvency; domestic and international commercial arbitration; private international law; aviation; civil fraud; energy law; competition and consumer credit law; and sports law. Cases: XAG [1983]; Cryne v Barclays (1987); Lathia v Dronsfield (1987); R v Southwark Crown Court (1990); Hone v CIBC (1990); EDF Mann v Haryanto (1991); Barclays v Khaira (1992); Tudorgrange v Citibank (1992); Natwest v Daniel (1993); Barclays Bank v Homan (1993); Robertson v CIBC (1994); James v Barclays (1994); Glencore International AG v Bank of China [1996]; National Provincial Building Society v Lloyd (1996); Barclays Bank v Thomson (1997); BCCI v Price Waterhouse (1998); Ispahani v Bank Melli (1998); Box, Brown & Jacobs v Barclays Bank (1998); Bolkiah v KPMG (1999); Yorkshire Bank v Halls (1999); Yorkshire Bank v Lloyds (1999); Young v Robson Rhodes (1999); Halewood v ABC (2000); Turner v RBS [2000]; Sepoong v Formula One (2000); Portman v Dussangh (2000); Alliance & Leicester v Slayford (2000); Casson v Ostley (2001); Montrod v Grundkottor (2002); Nash v Paragon (2002); Eurolife v FSA (2002); Lloyds TSB v Hayward (2002); Dardana v Yukos (2002); Dubai v Salaam (2002); Sabena v SIA (2003); Niru Battery v Milestone (2004); Mann v Coutts (2004); RBC v Rabobank (2004); Financial Institutions v Negril (2004); Valse v Merrill Lynch (2004); OFT v Lloyds (2004); Kayo v Blue Wings [2005]; JP Morgan v Primacom AG [2005]; Paragon Finance v Pender [2005]; Dornoch v Mauritius Union Assurance [2006]; Walnapatrias v Lehman Brothers [2006]; Lopes v Howard Kennedy [2006]; AG of the Cayman Islands v James Cleaver [2006]; AIG Capital v Republic of Kazakhstan [2006]; Republic of Kazakhstan v Istil [2006, 2007 and 2008]; AWB v North American Steamships [2007]; Jafari-Fini v Skillglass [2007]; Akai Holdings v Robson Rhodes [2007]; Sea Emerald v Prominvestbank [2008]; Elaktrim SA v Vivendi Holdings [2008]; Langbar v Rybak [2008]; OFT v Abbey [2009]; Pacific International Sports Clubs v Soccer Marketing International [2009]; Cherney v Deripaska [2009]; Sibir Energy v Tchigirinski [2009]; Pacific International Sports Clubs Ltd v Soccer Marketing International Ltd [2009 and 2010]; Parabola v Browalla [2010]; Linsen v Humpuss Sea [2011]; Standard Chartered Bank v Ceylon Petroleum Company [2011]; Berezovsky v Abramovich and others [2012]; Ferrexpo AG v Gilson Investments Limited and ors [2012]; Royal Bank of Scotland v Hicks [2012]; Abbar v Saudi Economic & Development [2013]; Forsta AP v Bank of New York SA [2013]; Starbev v Interbrew Central European Holdings [2014].

Anca Bunda

Andrew Sutcliffe KC

Principal areas of practice are commercial and business law (including banking, financial services and commercial fraud), intellectual property (copyright, breach of confidence, music, film and television disputes generally), professional negligence, company law/insolvency, conflict of laws and information technology. Major cases include Spice Girls v Aprilia; Hadley v Kemp (Spandau Ballet case); Brighton v Jones (Stones in his Pockets case); Taylor v Rive Droite Music; Saab v Saudi American Bank/JDRP; Precis v Mercer; Oyston v Royal Bank of Scotland; Appleyard v Cheltenham & Gloucester BS; Bank of Scotland v Singh.

Andrew Onslow KC

Andrew Onslow KC specialises in commercial litigation, banking and financial services, fraud, professional negligence and arbitration. He was leading Counsel for claimants in the multibillion pound claim against RBS, Fred Goodwin and others arising from RBS’s 2008 £12bn Rights Issue. He acted for the Defendants in ENRC v Gerrard & Dechert LLP (Judgment May 2022: [2022]EWHC 1138 (Comm)); in SKAT v Solo Capital Partners (acting for lead defendants in US$2bn claim by Danish tax authorities, alleging cum-ex dividend fraud); and in a claim for hundreds of millions of pounds against Clydesdale Bank and its parent company, National Australia Bank. He has also been involved in a number of FSMA s.90A claims; successful at trial and on appeal in Byers v Saudi National Bank (formerly Samba Financial Group), and in two appeals to the Court of Appeal (Libyan Investment Authority v King (acting for LIA) in claim for fraud in relation to Maple Cross hotel development, and Strategic Technology Pts Ltd v Procurement Bureau of the Republic of China (acting for the appellant Taiwan), now the leading case on enforcement of a foreign judgment under Administration of Justice Act 1920). He was Counsel for the SFO in civil/commercial aspects of R v Barclays (2008 capital raising), R v Hayes (LIBOR), R v Bittar (EURIBOR). Andrew is also renowned for art disputes, appearing for the auction house in two of the leading cases this century (Thomson v Christie’s (trial and appeal 2004 and 2005); Thwaytes v Sotheby’s (trial 2014, judgment 2015).

Andrew Fletcher KC

Barrister with particular experience in share purchase agreements (especially misrepresentation and breach of warranty claims); insurance and reinsurance (including involvement in arbitrations relating to the 1993 PA LMX spiral); banking (including disputes as to foreign exchange and margin trading); corporate governance issues; disputes between telecoms carriers and service providers; company and insolvency issues arising out of or inter-relating with commercial disputes; professional negligence, primarily in a financial context; and investigations and inquiries; recent cases include: Larussa-Chigi v C S First Boston Limited [1998] CLC 227 QBD (Comm Ct) (whether foreign exchange margin trading was subject to SFA Conduct of Business Rules); Thornton Springer v NEM Insurance [2000] 2 All ER 489 (dispute as to policy coverage in respect of the costs of an insured’s successful defence of claims brought against it; construction of accountants’ minimum wording professional indemnity policy); Rosedale (JW) Investments Ltd & ors v British Steel Plc (CA 15/11/00) New Law Online 200120603 (construction of provisions in share purchase agreement); Rosedale (JW) Investments Ltd & ors v British Steel Plc (Comm Ct 06/12/00) New law Online (Liability under tax indemnity in share purchase agreement); Elton John & Others v Price Waterhouse & Anr ChD (11/04/01) New Law Online 201047201 (construction of management agreement; rectification; estoppel by convention; effect of settlement; director’s duties; negligence; limitation); Shaker v Bedrawi & Others Ch D 14/06/01 (breach of trust – misappropriation of company’s assets – knowing assistance – Johnson v Gore Wood – preliminary issue).

Angharad Start

Angharad is a commercial barrister specialising in general commercial litigation, corporate and personal insolvency, company law (incl. disqualification), banking and financial services, art and cultural property law, breach of confidence, wide-ranging professional indemnity work, insolvency and arbitration. Having returned to practice after a career break, Angharad has been ranked as a Leading Junior in her specialist fields of Media and Art Law, Art and Cultural Property and Insolvency and in the High Net Worth and Global guides.

Anne Jeavons

General commercial practice, including banking, insurance, civil fraud, professional negligence, financial services, insolvency and company law.

Anthony Pavlovich

Barrister experienced in banking (guarantees, mortgages, bonds, derivatives, sale-and-purchase agreements); financial services regulation; commercial contracts; insolvency; professional negligence (investments and property); civil fraud; and shareholder / partnership disputes.

Calum Mulderrig

Calum has a broad commercial litigation and international arbitration practice encompassing fraud, banking, cryptoasset and finance disputes, investment treaty and commercial arbitration. Calum appears regularly in the High Court, in both the Commercial Court and in the Chancery Division, before arbitration tribunals under various rules, and before the courts of the DIFC.

Cameron Miles

Having previously been named by Legal 500 as one of the top 10 Commercial Litigation Juniors under 8 years call three years in succession, Ian is a former solicitor with particular experience in international arbitration, banking/finance matters, and group / many-party actions. Described in the directories as “Always excellent”, “extremely bright” and “very hands-on and user-friendly”, a “[v]ery thoughtful lawyer whose drafting is first rate” (Legal 500 2021), a “fantastically strong junior” (Chambers and Partners 2022) and “a joy to work with” (Chambers and Partners 2022), Ian is ranked in Commercial Dispute Resolution (Chambers and Partners 2024), and Banking and finance (Legal 500 2025, including consumer credit), and Chambers and Partners 2024)). His led work has included the RBS Rights Issue Litigation, one of The Lawyer’s top 10 cases of 2017 (part of a team led by Jonathan Nash QC), resisting a $1.5bn freezing order on behalf of a third party (led by Adrian Beltrami QC), appearing in the Court of Appeal on a case regarding asymmetric jurisdiction clauses under the Brussels Recast Regulation (led by David Joseph QC and Adam Kramer), and acting for two of the many defendants in the PIFSS v Al Rajaan matter. He has experience of large-scale international arbitration, both as a solicitor and as counsel. Ian’s cases often have a banking or finance dimension. He undertook a part-time secondment to a major bank in the early part of his career, where he worked with the in-house legal teams dealing with claims for consequential loss arising out of alleged interest rate swap mis-selling. He is a contributor to Paget’s Law of Banking, and was co-editor of Byles on Bills of Exchange and Cheques (30th edn). He also has experience of insolvency matters. Before coming to the Bar, Ian was a solicitor in the disputes department of White & Case LLP in London specialising in substantial commercial arbitrations. Ian has also held posts at the School of Oriental and African Studies as a part-time tutor in Equity, and as Teaching Fellow at the Faculty of Laws, UCL.

Can Yeginsu

Can combines a strong practice in international arbitration and commercial litigation (including civil fraud) with professional liability work and a busy commercial judicial review specialism, while also fostering a wider human rights and public international law practice, equivalent in depth and breadth to his commercial work. He is frequently instructed in disputes to the English Court’s jurisdiction. Recent/current work includes: Junior Counsel in Bazhanov and Morrins International v Fosman & Ors, a USD 18m claim brought in the Commercial Court by a former Russian deputy Minister of State in relation to interests in sunflower seed oil productions plants; Counsel for two foreign investors in a USD 125m investor-state arbitration against a CIS State; Junior Counsel in Marathon Asset Management v Seddon & Ors (multi-million Commercial Court unlawful means conspiracy and Wrotham Park damages claim, a Lawyer Magazine Top 20 case for 2016); sole Counsel in $80 million LCIA arbitration involving the operation of an oil terminal connected to the CPC pipeline; counsel for a leading German Bank in a US $75 million A1P1 (property rights) claim before the European Court of Human Rights; First Junior Counsel in £195 million A1P1 claim in Breyer Group Plc & Others v Department of Energy and Climate Change. In 2013, Can was named as one of ten “Stars at the Bar” by Legal Week Magazine.

Catherine Gibaud KC

Barrister specialising in commercial law, in particular banking and finance, insolvency and restructuring, commercial and civil fraud and financial services. Cases include: Springwell v JP Morgan Chase [2007]; Teambrook v Standard Bank London [2005]; Cambridge Gas Transport v Navigator Holdings [2005]; Morris v Bank of America [2003]; BC International v Caprice Bourret [2002]; Sophie Dahl v MarieClaire [2002]; Skrine v Euromoney [2001]; Ahmed v Habib Bank [2000]; Melinda Messenger v Arcadia Management [2001]; Smith v Probyn and PGA European Tour [2000]; Hadley v Kemp (‘Spandau Ballet’ case) [1999]; Hodgson v Imperial Tobacco Ltd [1999]; Morgan Stanley International v Cosentino [1998].

Charlotte Eborall

Barrister specialising in commercial litigation, including banking and finance (including consumer credit), financial services, professional negligence, fraud and insurance. Banking and finance (including consumer credit): Charlotte is regularly instructed on behalf of retail banks in relation to mis-selling claims of investment and insurance products (including payment protection insurance and interest rate hedging products) and other banking disputes concerning guarantees, consumer credit agreements and other secured and unsecured loan facilities. She advises regularly in relation to banking financial services and consumer credit regulation. Reported cases include: Claims Group Direct Ltd v Lloyds TSB Bank plc (t/a Welcome Financial Services) and ors (2009) (PPI claims; champerty; striking out); Anfield (UK) Ltd v Bank of Scotland plc and ors [2011] 1 WLR 2414 (Ch) (subrogation; lender’s charge; registration); Holdstock v Endeavour Personal Finance Ltd [2012] EWCA Civ 1781 (PPI; unfair relationship). Financial services: After two secondments to the Financial Services Authority; Charlotte has a depth of experience in regulatory work and, in particular, insurance business transfers. The type of regulatory work undertaken includes advising on: perimeter and passporting issues; the fit and proper person test; and compliance with the conduct of business handbook. Insurance business transfer decisions include: Royal Sun Alliance Insurance plc and ors and Europa General Insurance Company Ltd [2008] EWHC 3436 (Ch); Sompo Japan Insurance inc and Transfercom Ltd [2011] EWHC 260 (Ch); Direct Line Insurance plc and Churchill Insurance Co Ltd [2011] EWHC 1667 (Ch). Professional negligence: acting on behalf of lenders in mortgage fraud claims brought against a network of solicitors and valuers.

Chinmayi Sharma

Chloe Bell

Christopher Symons KC

Barrister specialising in commercial litigation/arbitration particularly all aspects of insurance, reinsurance, professional negligence work, and actions for and against financial institutions. Now increasingly sitting as an arbitrator in international and domestic arbitrations frequently involving insurance and reinsurance claims but also other commercial disputes. Insurance/reinsurance work includes actions by and against insurance/reinsurance companies, Lloyds etc and for insureds on behalf of their insurers. Professional negligence work includes actions for and against solicitors, barristers, accountants, insurance brokers, surveyors/valuers etc and disciplinary proceedings. Also practises in a wide range of other financial and other commercial disputes. Court work includes acting for company directors in major litigation.

Christopher Harris KC

Barrister specialising in banking, financial services, general commercial litigation and international commercial arbitration.

Christopher Bond

Christopher has a general commercial practice, much of it with an international dimension. He has experience of a broad range of work, including banking and financial services, civil fraud and asset recovery, professional negligence, international arbitration, takeovers and private equity deals, telecoms, insurance, aviation, infrastructure, insolvency and restructuring, company law and private international law. Christopher works both as part of a team with silks and junior juniors, and as a sole advocate. He appears un-led (sometimes against QCs) on multi-day trials and appeals in the Court of Appeal and High Court, as well as interim applications (including freezing injunctions and anti-suit injunctions) and arbitrations (under LCIA, ICC and UNCITRAL Rules). Christopher also has experience of mediation advocacy and has given expert evidence on English law in foreign proceedings. Notable recent cases include: successfully acting for BNP Paribas in a dispute with an Italian municipality over the alleged mis-selling of an interest rate swap; defending fraudulent misrepresentation claims relating to the issue of a cryptocurrency; and acting for a major drinks manufacturer in a dispute arising out of the termination of a cost-sharing agreement and a guarantee.

Christopher Burdin

Barrister specialising in commercial litigation and arbitration, including banking and finance, civil fraud, contractual disputes and professional negligence. Christopher has substantial experience acting as junior counsel in complex and high-value commercial disputes, often involving an international element. He has appeared led in international arbitrations, the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. He also acts as sole counsel in a wide range of commercial disputes, and regularly appears at trials and hearings in the High Court and County Court. Notable reported cases in which Christopher has been instructed include: Walsh v Greystone Financial Services Ltd [2019] EWHC 1719 (Ch) (film finance schemes, financial services, fraud, professional negligence); Deutsche Bank AG v Comune di Savona [2018] EWCA Civ 1740 (swaps, ISDA jurisdiction agreements); Secure Capital SA v Credit Suisse AG [2017] EWCA Civ 1486 (intermediated securities); Dexia Crediop Spa v Comune di Prato [2017] EWCA Civ 428 (swaps, conflict of laws); and VTB Capital plc v Nutritek International Corp [2013] UKSC 5 (piercing the corporate veil, forum conveniens). Christopher is a contributor to Paget’s Law of Banking (15th edition, ed. John Odgers QC).

Clarissa Jones

Cleon Catsambis

Cleon has a strong and well-regarded commercial practice that encompasses commercial litigation and dispute resolution, banking & finance, financial services, regulatory & disciplinary law, company law and insolvency. He also practises in aviation and administrative and public law. He is recognised as a Leading Junior in the legal directories, which state that “he is excellent at practically applying legal concepts and rulings to a situation”. Cleon advises and acts for individuals, firms, investors, banks and regulators on the full range of issues arising under the domestic and European/international legal framework, including compliance and enforcement, judicial review, professional negligence, mis-selling claims and collective investment schemes. In 2014, Cleon worked in-house with the Enforcement and Financial Crime Division of the Financial Conduct Authority. He regularly appears as sole and junior counsel in high-value and complex disputes in the High Court, the Court of Appeal and a variety of Tribunals. His cases often involve an international dimension and he has substantial experience of jurisdictions in the Caribbean (including BVI, the Cayman Islands, the Bahamas, Barbados and Jamaica) as well as the Russian Federation, Cyprus and the Netherlands. Recent notable work includes: Acting for a defendant in worldwide $2 billion litigation brought by the Danish tax authority (SKAT) to recover withholding tax refunds. Acting for the petitioner in a 5-day hearing of a bankruptcy petition where there underlying debt related to the financing and ownership of the ‘Financial City’ complex in Madrid (valued at c.£3 billion). Acting for Cornwall Council in successfully obtaining declaratory relief that it was entitled to lawfully terminate a 10-year £160m public procurement outsourcing contract forthwith on the basis of material breach. Advising a major broadband and telecommunications provider in respect of a prospective benchmarking claim valued at £100m.

Clive Freedman

Barrister specialising in commercial work generally, in particular IT law, banking, building and engineering, professional negligence, and electronic disclosure; cases include: Standard Chartered Bank v Ceylon Petroleum Corporation [2012]; AMF v Hashim [1991]; Docklands Light Railway v Balfour Beatty [1996]; GE Capital v Bankers Trust [1995].

Damien Walker

Damien Walker is a senior junior counsel specialising in commercial dispute resolution. He now has 14 years’ experience of major commercial dispute resolution, having been an associate in the litigation and arbitration division of a leading London firm before being called to the Bar in 2006. Damien practises in the English Courts at all levels; in the Cayman Courts; and before international arbitral tribunals operating under various institutional rules, both in London and abroad. He has acted in commercial cases involving a wide variety of subject matter, such as insurance and reinsurance, banking and finance, oil and gas pipelines, mining and wind farm joint ventures, share sale and shareholder agreements, commodity sale contracts, agency agreements, franchise agreements, high-tech, and civil fraud and asset tracing. While the substantive issues in Damien’s cases are often governed by English law, he also has extensive experience of handling cases governed by foreign law such as, for example, Manx, Cayman, French, Greek, Swedish, Ukrainian, Brazilian, Ghanaian, Syrian, Lebanese and Qatari law. By virtue of their international character, Damien’s cases also typically involve jurisdictional battles, conflict of laws issues or questions concerning arbitral procedure, including those which give rise to arbitration-related proceedings in the English Courts. In recent years Damien has been instructed as the sole junior in a succession of complex and very high value arbitrations. His work has led to him being consistently recommended as a leading junior for International Arbitration by both Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500, where he has been noted for his technical skills (“a highly intelligent and energetic counsel”), approach to dispute resolution (“highlighted for his maturity and tactical judgment”) and user-friendliness (“works hard, is user-friendly and listens to the client’s needs”).

David Quest KC

Barrister specialising in commercial law: banking; international trade and finance; insurance and reinsurance; international arbitration; professional negligence; IT disputes. Reported cases include: Royal Bank of Canada v Rabobank (2004, CA); Niru Battery Manufacturing Co v Milestone (2003, CA); Shiblaq v Sadikoglu (2003); Linklaters v HSBC Bank plc (2003); Customs & Excise Commissioners v National Westminster Bank plc (2003); Credit Industriel et Commercial v China Merchants Bank (Commercial Court) (2002); Prince Jefri Bolkiah v KPMG (1999 HL); Young (Syndicate 190) v Robson Rhodes (1999); Halifax Financial Services Ltd v Intuitive Systems Ltd (1999).

David Simpson

Barrister undertaking general commercial work with particular emphasis to date on financial services, banking, professional negligence and commercial fraud.

David Head KC

David Head is an experienced advocate with a wide-ranging commercial practice, including banking and finance, civil and commercial fraud; professional negligence and liability (especially solicitors, brokers, auditors and surveyors); insurance and reinsurance; insolvency; media, entertainment and sports law. High profile cases include the BCCI employee group litigation (2001-2008), the Zambia v Meer Care fraud litigation (2006-8), the Kyrgyz Mobil Tel v BITEL fraud litigation (Isle of Man, 2011-13), Krys/VDP v New World Value Fund (BVI, 2013-2015) and the Kazakstan Kagazy litigation (2013-date). Many of his cases have an international dimension.

Dominic Kennelly

Dominic is a former solicitor with substantial experience of commercial disputes, particularly in the areas of international arbitration, arbitration-related court applications, oil & gas / energy, and banking and finance. Dominic joined 3VB in late 2016. Prior to transferring to the bar, Dominic qualified as a solicitor at Herbert Smith Freehills LLP and practised as an associate / senior associate in the firm’s international arbitration group in London.

Elizabeth Birch

Commercial barrister since 1980, has sat as arbitrator since 1992 and as mediator since 1996. Since 2003 Elizabeth has focussed her practice on sitting as arbitrator and mediator and this now forms the entirety of her practice. The majority of her work over the past 25 years has been in the commercial and international arena. Receives appointments to sit as arbitrator and mediator under the auspices of ICC, LCIA, CPR (New York), AAA, IPOS/ACI, LMAA, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIA), and ad hoc. Named as one of the top ten mediators in the UK in a survey carried out by ‘In Brief’ in 2002 and again in a survey conducted by Legal Week in September 2005. Comments include ‘gifted mediator’, ‘inspires confidence’, ‘gets results’, ‘the consummate professional’. Types of work handled include: agency, air law, banking and financial services, breach of warranty, brokers, commodities, conflict of laws, derivative trading, environmental disputes, freight forwarding, information technology (IT) and telecommunications, insurance and reinsurance, international trade and transportation, international sale of goods and services, international distributorship and franchise, oil and gas, partnership and joint ventures, professional negligence, shipping and maritime disputes.

Emma Hughes

Emmanuel Sheppard

Ewan McQuater KC

Barrister specialising in commercial work in particular international and domestic banking and finance, commercial fraud and insolvency/corporate restructuring cases include: Queen’s Moat Houses v Capital IRG [2004]; Morgan Grenfell v Arrows [2004]; Morris v Bank of America [2003]; Kensington v Congo [2003]; Phillips v Brewin Dolphin [2001]; State of Brunei v Prince Jefri Bolkiah [2000]; ICIC v Adham [1998]; BBL v Eagle Star [1995]; Re Arrows Limited [1992].

Ewan Mckendrick KC

Barrister specialising in advisory work on general commercial matters, particularly contract law, restitution and professional negligence.

Farhaz Khan KC

Farhaz is a leading advocate at the commercial bar, was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2022 and, in his first year in Silk, named one of the “Hot 100” lawyers in the UK by The Lawyer magazine. Farhaz receives instructions in complex and high-profile commercial litigation, arbitration and regulatory proceedings, with a focus on banking, financial services, and pensions. His cases also take him into different area of law, and he has broad experience in cases involving insurance law, company law, corporate insolvency, partnership, ‘white collar’ crime, employment law, EU and public law. Farhaz also regularly appears in the commercial courts of offshore jurisdictions such as the DIFC and ADGM courts and has acted as a legal expert in foreign proceedings. Farhaz is a founding committee member and former Secretary of the Financial Services Lawyers Association. He writes regularly and is a Contributing Editor to Financial Services Law (4th Ed, OUP), the leading textbook on the subject. Farhaz also acts from time to time as consultant for the OECD on access to justice for businesses projects in emerging market economies.

George McPherson

Barrister with general commercial practice, including insurance and reinsurance, insolvency, commercial fraud, professional negligence and media and entertainment.

Georges Chalfoun

Gopal Subramanium SA

Gregory Mitchell KC

Specialises in commercial litigation, arbitration and advisory work. He has been instructed in substantial domestic and international disputes by a wide range of clients including banks, insurance companies, property companies, insolvency practitioners, foreign lawyers and private individuals. His core areas are commercial litigation, corporate insolvency, banking and finance, solicitor’s negligence in commercial transactions, civil fraud, breach of confidence and disputes between shareholders. He also advises on the drafting and structure of transactions in particular financial instruments, asset and share sale agreements and has given expert evidence on English law. He enjoys dealing with cases which have a substantial technological aspect. Notable cases include: In the Matter of Portsmouth City Football Club Ltd. Acted for HMRC in relation to a winding up petition against POFC. Haugesund & Narvik v Depfa Bank & Wikborg Rein & Co [2009] EWHC 2227 (Comm). Acting for foreign law firm in relation to a claim that Swaps made under ISDA Master Agreements are void. The case raises difficult issues of the capacity of Norwegian Kommunes to make such agreements and whether they are bound to give restitution of the money lent by the bank, in particular whether their losses arising from investment in CDOs amount to a change of position. Ram Media Ltd (In Administration) v Ministry of Culture of the Hellenic Republic [2009] & [2008] EWHC 1835. Acted for the successful claimant (in administration) against the Greek government in a hard fought contractual claim arising out of the cancellation of the FIFPRO World XI Football Awards due to be held in Athens in November 2006 and the resulting insolvency of the claimant and devised a strategy of enforcement against Greek government bonds under CPR 72 overcoming immunity under the State Immunity Act 1978. OBG Ltd v Allan & Stevenson; Douglas v Hello, Mainstream Properties v Young [2007] UKHL 21 [2007] 2 WLR 920. Acted for the invalidly appointed administrative receivers in the first of three appeals on economic tort. The Lords have laid down important guidelines on the torts of inducing breach of contract, and causing loss by unlawful means. The Lords rejected by a majority an extension of the tort of conversion to intangible property in a watershed decision. Shierson v Vlieland-Boddy [2005] EWCA Civ 974. Acted for the trustee in bankruptcy in a case deciding the tests to be applied under EU Regulation 1346/2000 on Insolvency Proceedings in determining jurisdiction under Articles 3(1) and (2) – where the debtor claimed that he had moved his COMl from one EU jurisdiction to another. Abdul Latif Qayoumi v Oakhouse Property Holdings Plc [2003] BPlR 1 & [2003] 1 BCLC 352. Acted for the claimant shareholder who brought a derivative action and claimed a lien over recoveries in respect of the indemnity ordered in his favour in respect of the costs incurred. Phillips v Brewin Dolphin [2001] 1 WLR 143. Acted for Brewin Dolphin in the House of Lords on the question of the meaning of ‘transaction’ under s238 of the Insolvency Act 1986. Acted for an international bank from 2004 – 2008 in a multi-jurisdictional dispute arising out of the exercise by the Department of Justice in New York of its forfeiture powers of US $ deposits under USC 981(k) ‘the Patriot Act 2001’ in connection with a claim to trace the proceeds of money laundering and internet gaming. HSBC v 5th Avenue Partners Ltd, Michael Brown & others [2006]. Acted from December 2005 – June 2006 for four investor defendants and Part 20 claimants in a $60m claim brought by HSBC to protect the investors’ remaining money from further fraud by 5th Avenue Partners Ltd and Michael Brown and to recover the sums lost. The case raised a large number of banking issues as to duties of care owed, whether accounts were trust accounts, and liability in constructive trust. Dresdner Kleinworf Benson Wasserstein (South East Asia) Ltd & others v Shinhan Bank (2003). Acted for a Korean Bank in a claim in the Commercial Court based on a letter of comfort relating to a floating rate note issue of $50m concerning the status and effect under English law of a letter of comfort. Charles William lngram v Who Wants to be a Millionaire Ltd & ITV (2001-03). Acted for ITV and Who Wants to be a Millionaire in the civil claim brought by the notorious ‘coughing Major’ seeking to recover £1m on the cheque provided to him. The civil claim preceded the eventual criminal proceedings brought by the CPS – the civil claim was adjourned shortly before trial so that the criminal case could proceed first. OSI v AVCL & others [1997] RPC 289. Acted for the defendants 1994-97 in a substantial dispute in which the claimant alleged that the entire technology (machinery, lens design programs, operating procedures, computer software) used by the defendants to set up a plant manufacturing disposable contact lenses was proprietary. The decision deals with many important issues in the law of confidential information and the remedies available.

Hannah Glover

Hannah specialises in commercial disputes, with a particular emphasis on banking and finance, and civil fraud. She is instructed regularly as a junior in high-value and complex litigation and arbitration, often with an international element. She also acts as sole counsel in a wide range of disputes in the Commercial Court and Chancery Division, and has successfully appeared in the Court of Appeal. Since joining 3VB in 2015, Hannah has appeared in several of the most important cases before the English courts, including Arcadia v MasterCard and the RBS Rights Issue Litigation (which were listed amongst The Lawyer’s Top 20 Cases of 2016 and 2017, respectively).

Hefin Rees KC

Hefin Rees QC has extensive experience of international disputes in the commercial, civil fraud, construction, banking and financial services sectors. Both Legal 500 UK and Legal 500 Asia Pacific recommend him as a Leading Silk in commercial litigation and in international arbitration, and he is ranked as a Leading Silk UK Bar in offshore litigation. Since taking Silk in 2013, he has developed a very impressive arbitration and litigation practice and has been called to the Bars of six different jurisdictions. Legal 500 describe him as: “Charming, entertaining, commercially astute and frank…” and say: “He throws himself in a case team with tremendous enthusiasm.” He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and has been appointed to sit as Arbitrator by the ICC, LCIA, LMAA, as well as in ad hoc arbitrations in Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean.

Hodge Malek KC

Barrister with an impressive academic and practical background with a successful and heavyweight commercial practice which includes commercial dispute resolution; banking and financial services; fraud and corruption; professional disciplinary, energy, insurance/reinsurance and procurement. He is particularly known for cases with an international element. Hodge travels widely on cases, including Europe, Caribbean, the Far East and the Middle East. He is the general editor of the leading book on the law of evidence, Phipson on Evidence (19th ed. 2018) and the joint author of Disclosure (5th ed. 2017, with Paul Matthews), both of which are often cited in judgments in common law jurisdictions. He is also a contributor to Mithani, Directors Disqualification (Human Rights chapters with James Potts) and various volumes of Atkins Court Forms (Human Rights, Disclosure and Information Requests, Financial Services, and Administrative Court). He was a member of the Commercial Court working party chaired by Lord Justice Cresswell on Electronic Disclosure. Hodge is Chairman of the Competition Appeal Tribunal. He sits as a Recorder in both civil and criminal cases. He regularly sits as chairman of disciplinary panels of the Bar. He is a member of the Inn’s Conduct Committee and a Bencher of Gray’s Inn.

Ian Wilson KC

Barrister specialising in commercial litigation, including banking and finance, commercial fraud, professional negligence, sale of goods, IT and telecommunications law, and insolvency.

Ian Higgins

Ian McDonald

James McWilliams

James is a leading commercial junior with a practice that spans a broad range of commercial disputes, both in litigation in arbitration. A confident advocate and a team player, he is equally happy acting as sole counsel as he is as part of a larger legal team. Much of James’ work has an international element. He has been called to the Bar of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court in the BVI and is a registered practitioner with rights of audience at the AIFC in Kazakhstan. James’ experience includes contractual disputes of all kinds, civil fraud and asset tracing, banking and financial services related litigation, insolvency and restructuring, company and partnership disputes, energy and professional negligence.

James Potts

James specialises in commercial litigation and arbitration, banking and financial services, civil fraud, energy, and regulatory & professional disciplinary law. He has substantial experience of high-value, complex commercial litigation and arbitration, and regularly appears unled in trials and interim applications as well as acting as a junior. Much of James' work is international, including arbitrations under DIFC, LCIA, ICC and GCC Commercial Arbitration Centre rules. He has significant experience of litigation and arbitration in the Caribbean, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and a number of Middle East jurisdictions (including Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain).

Jamie Riley KC

Jane Davies Evans KC

Jane is a renowned commercial barrister, specialising in energy and engineering/construction disputes, in which she is noted as a leader by the principal legal directories.

John Odgers KC

Commercial litigator specialising in banking, financial services, professional negligence, fraud, company sale and purchase agreements and contractual disputes of all kinds.

John Jarvis KC

Commercial work, specialising in banking law both domestic and international, including drafting of banking documentation. Arbitration, business law, commercial fraud, company law, financial services, intellectual property, international trade, insolvency, insurance and reinsurance, private international law, professional negligence; cases: Lehman [2010]; Moulin (HK) [2010]; Wing Fai (HK) [2010]; HSBC v Esquire (HK) [2008]; Base Metals [2004]; Etridge [2001]; Dubai Aluminium [2001]; Polly Peck v Stoy Hayward [1998]; Grupo Torras [1998]; Re: BCCI SA [1996]; Ian Maxwell before the Select Committee (televised); Barclays Bank v O’Brien [1993]; Wadha Bank v Arab Bank [1993]; Arrows [1993].

Jonathan Nash KC

Banking law and insolvency, financial services, professional negligence (solicitors, barristers and accountants), insurance and reinsurance, commercial arbitration; recent cases include: Groupama Insurance Co. Ltd v Overseas Partners Re Ltd. [2003] All ER (D) 300; Gulf International Bank BSC v Albaraka Islamic Bank BSC [2004] All ER (D) 300; Argo Fund Ltd v Essar Steel Ltd. [2005] 2 Lloyds Rep. 203; SEB Trygg Liv Holding v Manches [2006] All ER 437; Pfizer Ltd v Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co Ltd [2006] All ER (D) 172; IFE Fund SA v Goldman Sachs International [2006] EWHC (Comm) 2887.

Jonathan Davies-Jones KC

Jonathan has a broad-based commercial disputes practice with a wide range of experience in the English courts and in international arbitration under different institutional rules. Specialising in banking and finance, general commercial disputes, civil fraud and international arbitration. Recent instructions include: successfully defending one of Thailand’s largest bank’s against fraudulent conspiracy claims for c. US$ 900 million (5-month trial 2022-2023), successfully defending the world’s largest private drinks manufacturer against claims under a guarantee held to have been discharged, successfully resisting enforcement of an ICC award in the energy sector for over US$ 3 billion, currently acting in EUR 150 million securitisation and ISDAMA-related claims for one of the UK’s largest banks, currently acting in various shareholder and partnership disputes, currently acting in various SPA-related disputes, and currently acting for various gambling operators in respect of alleged professional negligence. Other career highlights include: the HIH litigation, the Springwell litigation, the Belmont ‘flip clause’ litigation, and successfully defending various fraud claims in arbitrations in Singapore and London for over US$ 1.5 billion in total.

Judy Fu

Kate Holderness

Experience across the breadth of general commercial law, including in the specialist fields of banking, consumer credit law, financial services, professional negligence, civil fraud, insolvency and insurance.

Liisa Lahti

Liisa’s practice encompasses a broad range of general commercial litigation and arbitration including banking, finance, share and business sales, civil fraud, shipping and international trade disputes. Before coming to the Bar Liisa qualified as a solicitor at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. Since coming to the Bar Liisa has been seconded in-house at an international group P&I Club, the General Counsel’s Division of the (then) FSA and a leading international law firm.

Lisa Lacob

Barrister specialising in general commercial work, including banking and financial services, insurance, professional negligence, civil and commercial fraud and company law. Lisa’s background working as a banking solicitor in a leading global law firm and in the structured products team of a bank, means that she has particular experience of syndicated lending, securitisations and complex derivatives instruments. Lisa has acted as both a junior and sole counsel in numerous high value claims relating to the mis-selling of interest rate hedging products and structured foreign exchange products. Lisa also regularly acts for banks and other mortgage lenders on professional negligence claims in the property finance context, including claims against solicitors and valuers relating to the overvaluation of commercial property developments and solicitors’ duties of care in this context. She has particular expertise in title rectification cases relating to mortgages and regularly represents lenders in the Lands Tribunal and in the High Court. Lisa also has a great deal of experience acting for applicants and respondents on urgent injunction applications, including for freezing orders and search and seizure orders.

Mark Wassouf

Mark Wassouf has a broad commercial and public international law practice. He is frequently instructed as counsel on investment treaty and commercial arbitrations in a number of sectors, including banking, agriculture, oil and gas and telecommunications, as well as on arbitration-related applications in the English courts. Mark also has significant experience acting as counsel in cases and matters involving complex questions of public international law and has advised governments, NGOs and individuals on sovereign treaty obligations.

Matthew Hardwick KC

Barrister specialising in commercial litigation, banking, insolvency, insurance, professional negligence and employment.

Matthew Watson

Matthew Parker

Matthew is a leading practitioner at the commercial Bar. He took silk in 2021. He is a hugely experienced advocate who is frequently noted for his robust submissions and skilful cross-examination. He appears in a wide range of complex and high-value disputes, in the UK and internationally, and has been called to the Bar in the BVI and the Cayman Islands. Matthew’s expertise ranges across the spectrum of commercial law, but he is particularly noted for his excellence in commercial litigation and international arbitration and in disputes involving banking and financial services, civil fraud, IT & telecoms, energy and professional negligence.

Michael Blair KC

Queen’s Counsel in independent practice, specialising in financial services.

Michael Lazarus

Michael's practice includes most areas of domestic and international commercial and business litigation and arbitration with particular emphasis on IT/Telecoms, banking/finance disputes and fraud.

Miriam Schmelzer

Miriam is developing a broad commercial practice in line with Chambers’ profile. She is regularly instructed to appear as sole advocate at hearings in the High Court and in County Courts across the country, with particular emphasis on banking disputes, claims under guarantees, possession proceedings and debt claims. Miriam also undertakes a variety of written work, including drafting pleadings and providing written advice on all areas of general commercial law. During pupillage, Miriam assisted her supervisors (David Quest, Peter de Verneuil-Smith and Sonia Tolaney QC) and other senior members of chambers with a wide range of matters, including in the fields of banking, derivatives, insolvency, contractual disputes, arbitration and conflict of laws. Before coming to the Bar, Miriam qualified as a solicitor at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP (2003-2005). She practised as an associate in Freshfields’ Dispute Resolution Group (2005-2008) and as a senior associate in the Commercial Litigation Department of Olswang LLP (2008-2010). In both roles she acted on a wide range of commercial disputes with a particular focus on banking (including structured finance and derivatives), insurance, financial services, technology and complex contractual disputes, with the majority of her work having an international element. During this time Miriam also completed a seven month secondment to the in-house legal function of a leading international insurance company.

Nicholas Craig KC

Nicholas specialises in complex and high-value commercial and business disputes in a wide range of sectors including banking and finance, life sciences, energy and natural resources, defence, insurance, aviation, international trade and infrastructure projects. He is regularly instructed on interlocutory matters (including jurisdiction disputes, applications for interim remedies such as freezing, search, imaging and Norwich Pharmacal orders and letters of request) and for trial as well as in connection with the enforcement of judgments and arbitration awards (both English and foreign). His practice is thoroughly international. In addition to regular appearances in the Commercial Court and in the Chancery Division, he has appeared before the Courts of the Grand Cayman, the British Virgin Islands and the DIFC. He has appeared as counsel in commercial arbitrations conducted under ICC, LCIA, DIFC-LCIA, SIAC, DIAC, AAA, SCC and UNCITRAL rules (as well as ad hoc arbitrations) in a wide range of disputes with seats in London, New York, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Miami, Hong Kong, Singapore and Stockholm. By virtue of this experience, he is well accustomed to acting as counsel against opponents from other jurisdictions.

Peter De Verneuil Smith KC

Peter is well known for his excellent advocacy and client skills. He is frequently the lead advocate in large and complex litigation (including claimant and defendant GLOs) and arbitration and was the lead counsel in the $350 million claim under s.90A(FSMA) against Tesco which settled in 2020. Between 2016 - 2017 he acted in the RBS Rights Issue litigation. His practice spans pure banking disputes (including derivative, mis-selling, duties of care owed by a bank, and unjust enrichment) and banking related litigation such as shipbuilding finance, performance bonds and guarantees. He has appeared in major fraud cases (including Group Seven Ltd v Nasir, Tatneft v Bogolyubov and NML v Chapman Freeborn) and often seeks urgent injunctive relief to support domestic and foreign proceedings. His commercial work includes company disputes (unfair prejudice, derivative actions, breach of director duty) and breach of trust claims. He is regularly involved in financial services disputes including tax scheme litigation (the GlobalCure scheme), collective investment schemes and FSMA related claims. His cases frequently involve offshore centres and he has worked in Guernsey, the Cayman Islands, BVI, and Bermuda. His arbitration practice is a mix of energy, finance and project disputes with London, Paris, SIAC and DIFC seats.

Peter Ratcliffe

Barrister specialising in commercial litigation and advisory work, with particular emphasis on insurance and reinsurance, banking and financial markets litigation, media and entertainment, commercial fraud, and professional negligence.

Philip Hinks

Philip is a leading junior who is regularly instructed in high-value, complex matters, particularly in relation to general commercial, civil fraud, financial services and insolvency disputes. The directories describe him as “seriously impressive and will no doubt be a star of the future”, “a sophisticated and erudite adviser”, “frighteningly efficient and very bright”, “exudes authority and has the ability to grasp complex issues quickly”, and “a really excellent junior.”Philip’s recent experience includes representing the FCA in the Supreme Court in what is the leading authority on collective investment schemes: FCA v Asset Land, and representing the liquidators in the Supreme Court in Re D&D Wines International, where the court considered the circumstances in which a receipt by an insolvent agent would give rise to a constructive trust. He is currently acting in a $250m claim against Tesco Plc arising from the retailer’s overstatements of profits, and represents one of the Defendants to a $400m fraud claim in a dispute concerning the alleged siphoning off of oil payments in Ukraine and Russia (PJSC Tatneft).

Pia Dutton

Pia is building a general commercial practice in line with Chambers’ profile. She has been instructed as sole advocate in a number of banking and commercial disputes. During pupillage Pia gained experience in a broad range of areas including banking, commercial contracts, arbitration, confidentiality, financial services regulation, consumer credit and insurance. Before joining Chambers, Pia worked and studied in a number of different jurisdictions. After completing an LLM at the University of Chicago Law School, and the BCL at Oxford, Pia taught international law and published work on Burmese politics while working for the Burma Lawyers’ Council on the Thai-Burma border. She also acted as foreign law clerk to Justice Edwin Cameron of the Constitutional Court of South Africa before moving to New York to complete an internship in the commercial litigation and appeals departments in Jones Day.

Rajesh Pillai KC

Barrister specialising in banking, commercial fraud, company, insurance and reinsurance, entertainment, insolvency and general commercial law.

Ravi Jackson

Ravi specialises in commercial litigation, civil fraud and asset recovery, banking and finance, and arbitration. He is regularly instructed in complex, high-value cases, often with an international dimension, and has substantial experience of heavy interlocutory disputes and trials. His practice includes appearing both before the English courts and in foreign jurisdictions, including in the Middle East. Since joining 3VB, Ravi has been instructed in a variety of high-profile cases, including the SKAT litigation (one of The Lawyer’s Top 20 Cases of 2021) and National Bank of Kazakhstan & Republic of Kazakhstan v The Bank of New York Mellon & Ors (one of The Lawyer’s Top 20 Cases of 2020).

Rebecca Zaman

Rebecca has a decade of experience in commercial disputes, with a particular specialty in banking and finance, civil fraud and international arbitration. Rebecca is regularly instructed as junior counsel in complex and high-value arbitrations and litigation. She also acts as sole counsel across a range of disputes in the Commercial Court, Chancery Division and in arbitration. In 2019, Rebecca was appointed to the Attorney General’s C Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown.

Richard Salter KC

Barrister specialising in business and financial law, with particular emphasis on domestic and international banking, financial services, insolvency, insurance and reinsurance, professional negligence, building contracts, fraud claims and general commercial litigation. Cases include: the Bank Charges litigation (Office of Fair Trading v Abbey National Plc and others): [2009] EWCA Civ 116; [2008] EWHC 875 (Comm); [2008] 2 All ER (Comm) 625) (first preliminary issues); [2008] EWHC 2325 (Comm) (second preliminary issues); Lomax Leisure Limited v Miller and Bramston [2007] EWHC 2508 (Ch); [2008] 1 BCLC 262, Ch D (defending liquidators sued for breach of duty and on dividend cheques which they had issued, but then had stopped on discovering that their rejection of a substantial proof was the subject of an appeal); Abu Dhabi Investment Company v H Clarkson & Co Ltd and others ([2008] EWCA Civ 699; [2007] EWHC 1267; (Comm)). Successful appeal in 2008) against the only aspect of the judgment [2006] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 38) (claim for fraud against the vendor company and its directors, and negligence against the vendor’s bankers and the claimants’ own professional advisers, arising from a failed joint venture investment in setting up a container shipping line in the Gulf); Murray v Leisureplay Plc [2005] IRLR 946, CA (appeal concerning the enforceability of a liquidated damages clause in a former director’s service contract, and the extent of the remedies available to the company under the Companies Act 1985 s320 to recover its costs of preparations to acquire a non-cash asset from that director); Racing UK Plc v Doncaster MBC [2005] EWCA Civ 999, CA (whether the Chief Executive of the independent management company of Doncaster Racecourse had ostensible authority to bind Doncaster Council, the owners of the racecourse, to a media rights agreement); HSH Nordbank AG v Barclays Bank PIC (mis-selling of synthetic collateralised debt obligations between banks); MCI Worldcom International v Primus Telecommunications [2004] 2 All ER 833, CA (dispute over telecoms capacity agreement); LME v EIL (LME disciplinary tribunal); Crédit Industriel et Commercial v China Merchants Bank [2002] 2 All ER (Comm) 427 (status of ICC policy statements in determining originality of documents presented under a letter of credit); Habib Bank Ltd v Ahmed [2002] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 444, CA (Resisting enforcement of Pakistani guarantee judgment on public policy grounds); Wilson v First County Trust Ltd (no 2) [2002] QB 74 CA (compatibility of CCA 1974 127(3) with creditor’s Convention Rights under ECHR Art 6 and Art 1 of Protocol 1); Montrod Ltd v Grundkotter Fleischvertreibs GmbH [2001] 1 All ER (Comm) 368 (whether English law recognises a ‘nullity’ exception as well as a ‘fraud’ exception to the obligation of a bank issuing a letter of credit to pay against apparently confirming documents); Christofi v Barclays Bank PIC [2000] 1 WLR 937, CA (extent of banker’s duty of confidentiality); Raiffeisen Zentralbank Oesterreich AG v Crossseas Shipping Ltd [2000] 1 WLR 1135,CA (avoidance of guarantee by material alteration); Credit Suisse First Boston (Europe) Ltd v MLC (Bermuda ) Ltd [1999] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 767 (anti-suit injunction in a derivatives case); Camdex International Limited v Bank of Zambia [1997] Bank LR 43, CA (enforcement of foreign exchange control); Boscawen v Bajwa; Abbey National Plc v Boscawen [1996] 1 WLR 326, CA (mortgage subrogation); Bovis International lnc v The Circle Limited Partnership (1995) 49 Con LR 12, CA (construction finance); Midland Bank Plc v Serter [1995] 1 FLR 1034, CA (constructive notice of wife’s rights).

Richard Hanke

General commercial work, including banking and financial services, civil fraud and insolvency.

Robert Purves

Robert acts for financial services firms, individuals and regulatory bodies seeking advice on a wide range of regulatory issues. Examples of the kind of issues on which Robert is instructed include: all aspects of EC Financial Services legislation, including insurance, reinsurance, banking and investment business directives and regulations; the scope and content of regulation under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, including Collective Investment Schemes, deposit taking, investment activities and insurance business (on the latter, Robert has advised the FSA Enforcement Division, product providers and product distributors); the scope and content of the FSA regime for the regulation of mortgage business; the scope and content of the FSA’s Principles for Business as they apply to regulated firms; the scope and content of the FSA regime for Approved Persons; FSA corporate governance and systems and controls issues in relation to financial services business including banks; compliance with the UK implementation of the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID), including in relation to investment research, best execution, client classification, communications with clients and client money; the interpretation and application of FSA prudential requirements applicable to insurance and reinsurance firms and the valuation of insurance and reinsurance exposures for prudential purposes; the location of reinsurance business under UK law; the interpretation and application of FSA rules restricting the business of regulated insurance firms to insurance business and connected business; money laundering issues under FSA rules and money laundering regulations, including in relation to safe deposit businesses; conduct of business issues under FSA rules, including issues relating to ‘treating customers fairly’ and specialist advice on claims against financial advisers and others for breach of statutory duty under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000; civil liability issues relevant to the obligation of the FSCS to compensate customers of failed firms; the FSA’s Retail Distribution Review (for the FSA); FSA Discussion Paper 08/2 on Transparency, disclosure and conflicts of interest in the commercial insurance market (for the FSA); the powers of a UK-recognised investment exchange in relation to a ‘mis-trade’; regularly instructed by the Financial Services Authority in relation to applications for the sanction by the High Court of transfers of insurance business, under Part VII of the Financial Services and Markets Act; instructed by the Financial Services Authority in relation to an application for the sanction of a Scheme of Arrangement in respect of insurance business, under the Companies Act 2006; instructed by insurance and other firms to advise on the structure and operation of insurance business transfer schemes under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000; general commercial work, for example, claims in contract and tort, particularly in relation to financial services contracts.

Rory Phillips KC

Wide-ranging public and commercial law practice.

Ryan Ferro

Saima Hanif KC

Saima has an expertise in banking and financial services, with a particular expertise in contentious enforcement work. She has represented clients at all levels, from internal committees such as the RDC (and the DMC in Dubai), right through to the High Court and Court of Appeal. In the past she has acted for a major FS institution in the FCA’s investigation of Forex manipulation, a leading payday lender seeking FCA authorisation and a corporate client seeking to judicially review a s166 FSMA appointment. She appears regularly in the Upper Tribunal and has extensive cross-border experience, acting for clients in Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai, the Isle of Man and Guernsey, where she has represented the Guernsey FS regulator.

Sarah Tulip

Sarah has a broad commercial practice, with particular specialisms in banking and finance, civil fraud and international arbitration. Many of her cases have an international element. Sarah has experience (both led and as sole advocate) of interlocutory matters, trials and appeals including in the County Courts, the High Court (particularly the Commercial Court), the Court of Appeal, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Justice. In addition, Sarah is regularly instructed as a junior in high-value and complex arbitrations under the major sets of arbitration rules, including LCIA, SCC and UNCITRAL. Sarah also has considerable experience of working on independent banking reviews and appeals, having been engaged as a legal advisor to the Nat West GRG appeals process (overseen by Sir William Blackburne) and as part of the legal team working on the Cranston Review Appeals process (in relation to the HBOS Reading fraud).

Scott Ralston

Barrister specialising in commercial and banking law.

Sophia Dzwig

Sophia is a commercial barrister with a broad practice spanning litigation and international arbitration, including experience in fraud, art and cultural property, insurance and general commercial disputes of all sizes. Sophia is regularly instructed on high-profile matters, including acting in the ongoing SKAT litigation (The Lawyer Top Cases of 2021 and The Lawyer Top Appeals of 2022).

Sophie Mallinckrodt

Barrister with general commercial practice, including banking, insurance, financial services, insolvency, company law and professional negligence.

Tariq Baloch

Specialises in international arbitration (international investment treaty claims and internationl commercial arbitration), public international law and general commercial litigation. Expert in the English laws of obligations.

Teniola Onabanjo

Barrister specialising in general commercial work, including banking, financial services, contractual disputes, professional negligence, company, insolvency, insurance, civil fraud and conflict of laws. Teniola has particular expertise in financial services, having been seconded to the FSA (as it then was) in 2011. Teniola has been instructed by the regulators on issues arising out of financial regulatory reform, the transfer of consumer credit regulation to the FCA and several insurance business transfers.

Theodor Van Sante

Specialising in regulatory and financial services work, Theodor has extensive experience acting for financial regulators, including the FCA and PRA, as well as regulated businesses and consumers. Frequently instructed by the FCA, recent instructions include the Equitable Life Scheme of Arrangement and the Royal London Scheme of Arrangement, as well as various Part VII insurance transfers of business. Theodor also has a broader regulatory and commercial practice, including having acted on both the multi-billion pound pieces of litigation to arise out of rights issues during the financial crisis, namely in the PCP v Barclays Bank litigation (acting for the SFO) and the RBS Rights Issue litigation (acting for RBS). Theodor also maintains a practice in civil recovery work under proceeds of crime legislation for the NCA.

Tom Rainsbury

Tom has a busy advisory and litigation practice in Civil fraud; POCA & asset forfeiture; banking and finance; crypto-assets; financial services; sanctions; administrative and public law; financial crime He has particular expertise in claims involving allegations of fraud, including APP fraud, advance fee fraud, mortgage fraud, ponzi schemes, procurement fraud, and bribery and corruption. He has a thriving judicial review practice, particularly in cases at the intersection between public and commercial law and claims against the FOS, FCA and FSCS. He is developing a discrete practice in sanctions work, which is complemented by his strong background in public law and proceeds of crime. As a member of the Attorney General’s Panel of Counsel and the SFO’s Panel for Proceeds of Crime and International Assistance, he regularly acts for the NCA, SFO, DPP and HMRC. Recent cases: Hajiyeva [2018] 1 WLR 5887 and [2020] 2 All ER (Comm) (first application for unexplained wealth order); Javadov [2022] 1 All ER 730 (open justice in account freezing order hearings); Briedis [2021] EWHC 3155 (Admin) (whether crypto-assets are property under the proceeds of crime legislation); MAS5 [2022] EWHC 1979 (Admin) (judicial review of decision by the FOS to investigate historic variations to SVRs); and Petrosaudi [2022] EWHC 920 (Admin) (prohibition order over a significant arbitral award held in the CFO).

Tom Weitzman KC

Barrister with a general commercial practice, specialising in insurance, insurance-related and reinsurance work; professional negligence work (including defending accountants, actuaries, architects, brokers, engineers, financial professionals, solicitors, surveyors and valuers); practice also includes arbitration work, insolvency work regulatory work; product liability work (frequently insurance related); recent reported cases include: GE Reinsurance Corp & Others v New Hampshire Insurance Co [2003] EWHC 302 (Comm), [2004] Lloyd’s Rep IR 404; Midland Mainline Ltd & Others v Commercial Union Assurance Co Ltd & Others [2003] EWHC 1771 (Comm), [2004] Lloyd’s Rep IR 22; College Credit Ltd v The National Guarantee Corporation Ltd [2004] EWHC 978 (Comm); Friends Provident Life & Pensions Ltd v Sirius International Insurance Corp & Others [2004] EWHC 1799 (Comm), [2004] 2 All ER (Comm) 707, [2005] Lloyd’s Rep IR 135, [2005] EWHC Civ 601, [2005] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 517; BP plc v Aon Limited and Another [2005] EWHC 424 & 2115 (Comm), [2006] Lloyd’s Rep IR 577; HIH Casualty and General Insurance Ltd v JLT Risk Solutions Ltd [2006] EWHC 485 (Comm), [2006] Lloyd’s Rep IR 493, [2007] EWCA Civ 710, [2007] Lloyd’s Rep IR 717; GNER Ltd v JLT Corporate Risks Ltd [2006] EWHC 1478 (QB); Standard Life Assurance Ltd v Oak Dedicated Ltd & Ors [2008] EWHC 222 (Comm), [2008] Lloyd’s Rep IR 552; Dornoch Ltd & ors v Westminster International BV & ors [2009] EWHC 201 (Admlty), [2009] Lloyd’s Rep IR 496, [2009] EWHC 1782 (Admlty), [2009] Lloyd’s Rep IR 540; Re Commercial Union Life Assurance Company Ltd [2009] EWHC 2521 (Ch).

Tom De Vecchi

General commercial practice, including banking, financial services, insolvency, civil fraud, insurance and conflict of laws.

Tom Montagu-Smith KC

Barrister practicing in commercial litigation and arbitration, including shareholder disputes, civil fraud, banking, insurance and reinsurance and disputes arising out of construction projects. Has particular expertise in cross-border enforcement of judgments and arbitration awards. Appears regularly in London and the DIFC Courts, in addition to arbitration under a wide range of institutional rules. Has also appeared in the ADGM Courts, Singapore International Commercial Court and the Courts of the British Virgin Islands. Sits as a Judge of the Astana International Financial Centre Court, where he wrote the first judgment. Significant cases in England include Kyrgyz Republic v stand Energy [2018] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 66; Watson v Watchfinder.co.uk [2017] Bus LR 1309 and Honeywell International v Meydan [2014] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 133. Has appeared in many leading cases in the DIFC Courts, including SKAT v Elysium Global (2018 – ) [US$2bn fraud claim]; Pearl Petroleum v Kurdistan [2017] DIFC ARB 003 [US$2.1bn arbitration enforcement claim]; Viceroy v Assas Opco (2017 – ) [hotel management]; DNB Bank v Gulf Eyadah [2015] DIFC CA 007 [landmark case on “conduit enforcement”].

Victor Steinmetz

William Day

William is a versatile barrister with extensive interlocutory, trial, and appellate experience. His practice spans all aspects of commercial litigation and arbitration. He has particular experience in banking and financial services disputes, commercial fraud cases, insurance litigation, and company law and insolvency matters. A number of his cases are cross-border in nature and raise complex jurisdiction and choice of law issues. Alongside practice, William is an Associate Professor and Fellow in Law at Downing College, Cambridge. William’s current and recent instructions include acting for Deutsche Bank in a €500m foreign exchange and interest rate derivatives dispute; Liberty Steel in a $400m credit insurance coverage dispute arising out of the collapse of Greensill Bank; Dubai Islamic Bank in a $400m Islamic financing dispute following the administration of NMC Healthcare; the liquidators of Arena TV in a £265m claim in connection with a major asset based lending fraud; and Bernie Ecclestone, defending a claim by Felipe Massa over the circumstances of Lewis Hamilton’s 2008 F1 title win.

William Edwards

Barrister specialising in general commercial work (including sale of goods/supply of services and disputes arising from the sale of businesses); banking (instructed in a range of matters, including mortgage and guarantee actions and customer disputes; acting as junior in a major action arising from the collapse of a bank in a foreign jurisdiction); professional negligence (recent instructions include acting as a junior in Precis (521) Plc v William M Mercer Ltd; insurance (undertakes a range of insurance work, including disputes relating to brokers); and IT ad construction work.

Yash Bheeroo

Yash has a broad and successful commercial practice which encompasses: fraud; commercial dispute resolution; arbitration; banking & financial services; and regulatory & professional disciplinary matters. He is highly experienced as sole and junior counsel in a number of high-value and complex commercial disputes before the English courts and tribunals, courts in other jurisdictions and arbitrations. Much of his practice includes an international element and he has recently undertaken cases (both litigation and advisory work) in a number of jurisdictions in the Middle East (UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait), the Far East (Malaysia, Hong Kong and Singapore), Europe (the Netherlands, France, Switzerland and Cyprus) and Africa (Mauritius). He is also regularly instructed in cases before ad hoc and specialist bodies such as INTERPOL and World Check. The legal directories state he is “an accomplished next generation advocate - strong on forensic, financial-based misconduct cases and a street fighter when needed” and “'clearly a rising star and surely a silk in the making.”

Zachary Douglas KC

Barrister specialising in public international law, conflict of laws and arbitration. Counsel in cases before the International Court of Justice, European Court of Human Rights and other international courts and tribunals, and in investment treaty arbitrations and commercial arbitrations under the ICC, LCIA, SCC, UNCITRAL and ICSID arbitration rules. Arbitrator in more than 40 investment treaties and commercial arbitrations. Counsel in cases before the English courts on questions of international law. Formerly counsel to the IOC on all arbitrations arising from the Olympics. Professor of international law at the Graduate Institute in Geneva. Formerly lecturer in public international law at Cambridge University and Fellow of Jesus College.

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