As a prominent conflict-free firm, RPC represents a diverse clientele of sovereign states, foreign regional banks, asset managers, and high-net-worth individuals. Its broad disputes practice spans debt and equity markets, funds, and structured products, as well as sanctions, crypto, and fraud cases. Contentious restructuring and insolvency matters are another focal point for the ‘top-notch’ group. Tom Hibbert is the firm’s global head of commercial disputes, while Simon Hart leads the banking and financial services disputes team, with particular expertise in contentious restructurings and fraud and asset tracing litigation. Jonathan Cary excels in disputes against large financial institutions and has developed a specialism in crypto disputes. Alan Williams and Chris Ross play key roles in financial disputes with cross-border elements. Jake Hardy is active in disputes related to financial products, fund investments, and trade and asset finance.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Simon Hart - a brilliant banking litigator. Utterly calm in the most difficult situations and able to lead a client through very heavy litigation to a successful outcome. Real foresight as to how the other side and the judge will act. A go to claimant side banking litigator.’
‘Tom Hibbert and Jake Hardy bring vast amounts of experience and gravitas to every situation. They are both heavily into the detail and highly strategic at the same time, which is a rare combination. Emma West and Christopher Wheatley are fantastic associates. Incredibly clever, very pleasant to work with. The clients clearly love them.’
‘The RPC teams acts for and against banks. They are one of the few top-notch teams that does that. They handle litigation across the whole value range (from the very biggest claims in billions of USD to small claims). They are also a joy to work with.’
‘Tom Hibbert (Partner) - enormously experienced, technically excellent, full of strategic and legal wisdom. There is no-one quite like Tom. Jake Hardy (Partner) - tough and pugnacious, unflappable, technically excellent. Emma West (Senior Associate) - also tough, unflappable, technically excellent, great drafting skills, supremely efficient.’
‘Simon Hart - utterly brilliant partner who is hands-on, great with clients, a strategic thinker and reassuringly sensible in his advice. Alan Williams - very clever, well versed in the law and good at thinking ahead. Alexandra Shearer - future superstar of commercial litigation; she is a very strong pair of hands who is very capable of handling very complex litigation intelligently and sensibly. Nadia Asfour - an up-and-coming associate who is clever, hardworking and charming to deal with.’
‘Tom Hibbert is a superb leader of the team. He inspires confidence in any case in which he is involved. Alan Williams and Daniel Hemming are the two stand-out younger partners. Alan has drive and enthusiasm. Daniel combines a fantastic understanding of the detail, coupled with commercial common sense and practicality. I would highly recommend both.’
'Charlotte Henschen is an absolute pleasure to work with. A real team player and a response collaborator. She is truly an exceptional lawyer - not just very clever, but clear headed and strategic. She understands people and she understands business. She provides that all important bridge between what a client needs, and what a court might be prepared to give.’
'Jonathan Cary is a very senior and experienced banking litigator. Davina Given is extremely clever, always on top of the detail, sensible and completely charming with it. Daniel Hemming is highly analytical and calm under pressure. Clients love Alan Williams. He always goes the extra mile.’
Key clients
- Loreley Financing (Jersey) No 30 Limited
- Frasers Group
- Siam Commercial Bank Public Company Limited
- Adderstone Group Limited
- Premia UK Holdings
- Essar entities
- IIFL Wealth
- K1 Chambers LLP
- Utmost International Isle of Man Limited
- Utmost PanEurope DAC
- UniCredit Bank AG
Work highlights
- Defended one of Thailand's largest banks successfully in a fraud and conspiracy claim with a pleaded value of $2-3bn following a 19-week trial in the Commercial Court.
- Representing Frasers Group in a claim against Morgan Stanley for the losses occasioned by moving derivatives, post close-out, as well as loss of profits that would have been earned from continued trading of the derivatives had the client not been forced to move its positions away from the financial institutions.
- Advised Loreley 30 on the credit quality of the Collateralised Debt Obligation from Credit Suisse which was said to be tainted by the residential mortgage-backed securities misconduct.
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Practice head
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Simon Hart