Conflict-free boutique Cooke, Young & Keidan LLP excels in litigation against banks and financial institutions. The firm has also noticed a recent influx of mandates from overseas banks. Specialising in commercial disputes within the finance sector, Sinead O’Callaghan advises a diverse roster of clients, from high-net-worth individuals to UK FTSE 100 companies to international corporates. Stephen Elam is an expert in financial services litigation, bringing in-house experience to the team, and ‘exceptional tactician’ Jon Felce is regularly called upon by clients from Russia and the CIS region. Lydia Danon and Sam Roberts are other names to note, and Rosie Wild was promoted to the partnership in April 2023. Kajal Patel also boasts a broad banking disputes practice.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Sam Roberts - the man is a genius, particularly in respect of crypto disputes. He's also a lot a fun and is very easy-going.’
‘Jon Felce is a highly cerebral litigator who knows the law inside out. Natalie Todd is a brilliant leader who knows how to get results for clients.’
‘Jon Felce, Natalie Todd and Mikhail Vishnyakov are excellent and experienced litigators with particular experience of disputes involving Russia and the former CIS states.’
‘Stephen Elam, Sinead O’Callaghan, Natalie Todd, Jon Felce and Sam Roberts are hungry, tenacious, technically gifted and commercial sensitive. Rosie Wild standouts, too.’
‘The team provides a very high standard of service, with significant levels of partner input.’
‘Stephen Elam (partner) - knows the financial services industry extremely well, is intelligent and very sensible, and is very alert to clients' commercial interests. Kajal Patel (associate) - very intelligent, tough and client-focused.’
‘Sinead O'Callaghan and Lydia Danon are the exceptional standout lawyers! First class!’
‘Jon Felce is an exceptional tactician and fraud litigator who can see angles and approaches that others would miss; Natalie Todd is absolutely someone to watch – she is in high demand from clients and held in high regard by her peers. Rosie Wild is absolutely a name to watch – I have worked with her since she was a junior associate, when she was trusted by the leading partner to run the matter on a day-to-day basis. She is an exceptional leader, with a wealth and depth of litigation expertise of a much more seasoned litigator.’
Key clients
- ThinkMarkets
- JNFX Limited
- Daniel and Toby Ward
- Kai Midgley
- Kemnal Investments Ltd
- Giovanni Rollino
- Fantasia Holdings Group
- Tether Holdings Limited
Work highlights
- Acted for ThinkMarkets group companies in Commercial Court proceedings, brought by IS Prime Limited, which claims that ThinkMarkets executed FX, swap, and other trades elsewhere in breach of an obligation to trade exclusively with IS Prime.
- Advised Fantasia Holdings Group Co., Limited, which missed a $206m bond repayment and filed a notice with the Stock Exchange indicating it was unable to do so.
- Advising Russian bank National Bank Trust on various significant matters arising from the consolidation of bad debts from other Russian banks.
