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Area of Law: Civil Fraud
Dan McCourt Fritz KC and Andrew Gurr act in successful committal application
Read MoreArea of Law: Civil Fraud
The Singapore International Commercial Court (International Judge Bergin) has today handed down judgment following the trial of the dispute between Bidzina Ivanishvili and other plaintiffs and Credit Suisse Trust Limited. The claim stemmed from the long-running fraud committed by Patrice Lescaudron, an employee of Credit Suisse Bank in Geneva.
Read MoreArea of Law: Civil Fraud
The Court of Appeal handed down judgment on Tuesday 25th April 2023 in Floreat Investment Management Limited v Churchill & Ors [2023] EWCA Civ 440, in which it reversed a finding of dishonesty made at first instance and entered judgment in favour of the appellants. The decision also provides useful guidance as to the appropriate content and structure of trial closing submissions.
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The Court of Appeal handed down judgment on Wednesday, 19th April 2023, in Hunt v Ubhi [2023] EWCA Civ 417 in which it reiterated that the default rule is that applicants for freezing orders, including office holders, must provide unlimited cross undertakings in damages and that a departure from the default rule must be justified.
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Mrs Justice Cockerill has recently handed down judgment in PJSC National Bank Trust v Mints [2023] EWHC 118 (Comm) in which she considered the effect of the Russian sanctions on various litigation issues. In short, she held that sanctioned claimants can sue for damages and judgment can be entered in their favour without the regulations being contravened; and payment of costs to and by sanctioned persons (i.e. adverse and favourable) and security for costs to be provided by sanctioned persons are licensable activities.
Read MoreArea of Law: Civil Fraud
In Frain (aka Reeves) v Reeves [2023] EWHC 73 (Ch), Elizabeth Jones KC and Paul Adams successfully opposed the grant of permission to bring committal proceedings in relation to alleged false statements made in pleadings and witness statements containing a statement of truth, and in disclosure statements. Significant aspects of the judgment include (a) confirmation at [26]-[32] that where it can be seen at the permission stage that more than one inference may reasonably be drawn in relation to evidence advanced in support of a committal application, the claimant will be unable to establish a strong prima facie case to the criminal standard at trial, so that permission should not be granted, (b) confirmation at [37]-[39] of the importance of the applicant’s case on a committal application being clearly and fully set out within the four corners of the application and (c) the Judge’s decision at [42] that a judgment made at the trial of underlying proceedings out of which a committal application arises is not admissible in the committal application against a person who was a witness in but not a party to the original proceedings.
Read MoreArea of Law: Civil Fraud
On 26 January, the Court of Appeal handed down its judgment in The Public Institution for Social Security v Al Rajaan & others [2022] EWCA Civ 29. The Court dismissed the Claimant’s appeal, which was heard over three days in December 2021, and confirmed that the English court has no jurisdiction to hear bribery and money-laundering claims against a number of Swiss-domiciled individuals and entities.
Read MoreArea of Law: Civil Fraud
The Court of Appeal has today handed down an important judgment on committal applications in Navigator Equities Limited and Vladimir Chernukhin v Oleg Deripaska [2021] EWCA Civ 1799. The court set aside the order of Andrew Baker J (striking out the committal application against Mr Deripaska as an abuse of process) and has remitted the matter back to the Commercial Court for trial.
Read MoreArea of Law: Civil Fraud
Philip Marshall QC and Matthew Morrison continue to act for Business Energy Solutions (BES) in respect of proceedings arising from the obtaining and execution of search warrants, and an ongoing trading standards investigation into BES’s affairs. The claims, which seek damages for misfeasance in public office and just satisfaction under the Human Rights Act 1998, raise novel points of public and private law including immunity from suit. The 12-day trial commences in November 2021.
Read MoreArea of Law: Civil Fraud
Philip Jones QC and Hugh Norbury QC are each instructed on behalf of separate Defendants in the major commercial fraud case of Vale v Steinmetz & Ors, arising out of a failed mining joint venture in Guinea. The claim is for nearly US$2 billion.
Read MoreArea of Law: Civil Fraud
Lance Ashworth QC acts for the claimant in Kelly v Baker & Braid, a commercial court claim for damages for fraudulent misrepresentation and/or breach of fiduciary duty leading to the sale of a group of companies at an undervalue of over £110m.
Read MoreArea of Law: Civil Fraud
Lance Ashworth QC and Matthew Morrison are acting for the claimants in Wellcourt Investment Corp v Propfurn Ltd, a claim in connection with a £100m property portfolio in London, owned by BVI and Liberian companies. They have so far successfully obtained recovery of all monies held by the former agents of the claimants.
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John Machell QC acts for the claimants in Circumference v Martin in which the Claimants claim an entitlement to rescind a share purchase agreement for fraudulent misrepresentation.
Read MoreArea of Law: Civil Fraud
Hugh Norbury QC has been involved in the English leg of China Metals v Chun, a large international fraud case relating to the alleged misappropriation of assets in China / Hong Kong. Hugh is acting for the daughters of the alleged fraudster in relation to a proprietary injunction over valuable assets that they hold in London.
Read MoreArea of Law: Civil Fraud
In Equity Real Estate (Bracknell) Ltd & Ors v Capstan Capital Partners LLP & Ors, Justin Higgo QC and Stephanie Thompson are representing five SPVs who are the apparent victims of a substantial property investment fraud. They have so far obtained extensive disclosure from third parties under the Bankers Trust, Norwich Pharmacal, and pre-action disclosure jurisdictions.
Read MoreArea of Law: Civil Fraud
Hugh Norbury QC is instructed on behalf of corporate and individual trustee and director defendants in Ballacorey What v Brown and Ors, a fraud claim issued in the Isle of Man arising out of a relationship between investment managers in the GEM financial management business.
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In Federal Republic of Nigeria v Tibit, Timothy Collingwood QC acts for the defendant company in an action in the BVI brought on behalf of the Government of Nigeria to recover funds which it is claimed were appropriated by corrupt former officials and used to purchase an executive jet.
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Philip Jones QC and Gareth Tilley are acting for HMRC in HMRC v IGE USA Investments Ltd, a claim arising from the Revenue’s contention that it has rescinded tax settlements with the UK Subgroup of the US conglomerate worth upwards of £650m. The trial is to take place in late 2021. An interlocutory decision of Zacaroli J reported at [2020] EWHC 2121 (Ch) permitting the Claimants to amend to allege fraud is currently on appeal to the Court of Appeal raising the question of what if any limitation period applies to equitable claims for rescission on the basis of fraudulent misrepresentation.
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David Drake acted for the successful defendants in SPI North Ltd v Swiss Post International (UK) Ltd [2020] EWHC 3268 (Ch), where the court had to consider the practical limits to the permission, frequently given to respondents to an amendment application, to make “consequential” amendments to their own responsive statement of case.
Read MoreArea of Law: Civil Fraud
Jonathan Adkin QC and Charlotte Beynon act for the fourth defendant and Philip Marshall QC and Simon Hattan for the fifth defendant in Public Institution for Social Security of Kuwait v Al-Rajaan and Ors, one of the largest fraud claims ever heard in the Commercial Court. PIFSS alleges that the defendants are liable for over US$800m as a result of a large-scale fraud perpetrated by its former director general, Mr Al-Rajaan, in conjunction with the other defendants. The Serle Court contingent recently successfully challenged the jurisdiction of the English Court to hear the claims against their clients, with the Court directing that the claims should be heard in Switzerland, a decision which the Claimant has been given permission to appeal.
Read MoreArea of Law: Civil Fraud
Philip Marshall QC and Oliver Jones continue to represent Emmerson International Corporation and several other defendants and claimants by way of counterclaim and ancillary claim in proceedings in the BVI in a dispute worth circa US$1bn between two prominent Russian businessmen and associated parties concerning a joint venture in relation to power generation and distribution assets in Russia (Renova Industries Ltd & Ors v Emmerson International Corporation & Ors). The proceedings involve contractual claims and claims for breach of trust and dishonest assistance, deceit, conspiracy to injure and other economic torts. There were numerous interlocutory hearings and appeals in 2020, including a successful appeal by Emmerson against the lower court’s decision to set aside certain amendments to its claims (BVIHCMAP 2019/0017), applications made by Emmerson for anti-suit injunctions in relation to proceedings brought in Russia (currently subject to appeal) and Cyprus, and an application by the Renova parties for an order that Emmerson be required to share legal representation with certain other parties notwithstanding that there is a conflict of interests between them. Judgment of the ECCA is also pending on Emmerson’s appeal against the lower court’s decision to impose a confidentiality club in relation to disclosure ordered to be given ancillary to a freezing injunction obtained by Emmerson, which will be the first appellate decision on the subject in the BVI.
Read MoreArea of Law: Civil Fraud
Lance Ashworth QC and Dan McCourt Fritz represented the Respondents in an appeal from the decision of Julia Dias QC as a High Court Judge [2019] EWHC 1951 (Ch). The Court of Appeal held that the Judge had been right to say that agency did not extend to allow the party to enter into the contract as agent for an undisclosed principal. Further, it upheld the Judge’s findings that the relevant agent was not, in any event, intended to be a party to the contract. Appeal was dismissed.
Read MoreArea of Law: Civil Fraud
In Christoforou v Christoforou [2020] EWHC 1196 (Ch) the High Court struck out allegations of dishonesty, fraud, and illegality from an Amended Defence and excluded those allegations from consideration (and cross-examination) at trial. Giving judgment HH Judge Stephen Eyre QC (sitting as a High Court Judge) found that the allegations amounted to similar fact of evidence but that they were of “peripheral” value to the Claimant’s claim that a London property is held on trust for him pursuant to a common intention constructive trust. Allowing the allegations to remain, he held, would have greatly increased the cost, and risked an adjournment, of the trial. Daniel Lightman QC and Stephanie Thompson represent the Claimant. The trial is due to take place in July 2020.
Read MoreArea of Law: Civil Fraud
In Ward v Savill [2020] EWHC 1534 (Ch), James Mather acted for the successful defendant in the determination of a preliminary issue on whether declarations obtained in earlier proceedings to which the defendant was not a party that property was held on constructive trust for the claimants could be relied on in future proceedings for purposes of asserting a tracing or following claim against her. The case is due to be heard by the Court of Appeal in March 2021.
Read MoreArea of Law: Civil Fraud
Lance Ashworth QC and Dan McCourt Fritz represented the Defendants in a 6-day Chancery Division trial, defeating claims for conspiracy to defraud in connection with the Van Dutch luxury yachts in Taylor v Van Dutch.
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Lance Ashworth QC and Dan McCourt Fritz successfully represented the Claimant in O'Brien v Moneycorp in Commercial Court proceedings concerning the sale and purchase of the entire share capital of a foreign exchange trading business.
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Jonathan Adkin QC and Adil Mohamedbhai acted for the successful defendants in Magdeev v Tsvetkov & Ors, a high-profile piece of civil fraud and commercial litigation involving various Russian individuals who had invested in a jewellery business in the UAE and Cyprus. The trial lasted three weeks. Cockerill J’s judgment ([2020] EWHC 887 (Comm)) contains a detailed analysis of the law on foreign illegality.
Read MoreArea of Law: Civil Fraud
Justin Higgo QC and Stephanie Thompson acted for a private equity fund in proceedings for breach of fiduciary duty against its former solicitor in Spokane v CMS, billed as one of the top 10 commercial court trials for 2019.
Read MoreArea of Law: Civil Fraud
Public Institution for Social Security of Kuwait v Man Group PLC plus 37 other defendants, involving Jonathan Adkin QC and Charlotte Beynon for the fourth defendant and Philip Marshall QC and Simon Hattan for the fifth defendant, is one of the largest fraud disputes ever heard in the commercial court. in its High Court claim, the Public Institution for Social Security alleges it is owed $847.7 million as a result of a large-scale fraud by its former director-general, Fahad Maziad Rajaan Al-Rajaan. With allegations of bribery and corruption spanning three decades. This case featured in The Lawyer's Top 20 Cases of 2020.
Read MoreArea of Law: Civil Fraud
Lance Ashworth QC and Dan McCourt Fritz acted for the successful Respondents in the Court of Appeal in Taylor v Van Dutch Marine Holding [2020] EWCA Civ 353, in a claim concerning agents for undisclosed principals. They are now instructed for the defendants in Taylor v Khodabaksh in which it is claimed that the original decision in Taylor v Van Dutch Marine Holding was obtained by fraud. That will come on for trial in 2022.
Read MoreArea of Law: Civil Fraud
In Filatona Trading Ltd v Navigator Equities Ltd [2020] 1 Lloyd’s Rep. 418, James Weale acted for the successful respondent before the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal gave guidance on the inter-relationship between principles of agency law and contractual construction in order to determine when a disclosed principal can intervene in, and assert rights under, a contract. James acts in related proceedings in Jersey which have been listed for trial in March 2021.
Read MoreArea of Law: Civil Fraud
In Russell v Cartwright [2020] EWHC 41 (Ch), Dan McCourt Fritz and Stephanie Thompson represented three defendants in the trial of a claim for fraudulent non-disclosure and unlawful means conspiracy brought by their former business partner. They were wholly successful at trial, with the Court finding that the parties did not owe fiduciary duties or duties of disclosure and that the defendants had been honest in their dealings with the claimant. The defendants were entitled to their costs on the indemnity basis.
Read MoreArea of Law: Civil Fraud
Hugh Norbury QC and Adil Mohamedbhai appeared in Motortrak Ltd v FCA Australia Pty Ltd [2018] EWHC 990 (Comm) a contractual and civil fraud dispute which was tried before Moulder J in the Commercial Court over three weeks. This is an important decision on the law of affirmation of contracts procured by bribes and on the construction of exclusion clauses.
Read MoreArea of Law: Civil Fraud
In Akhmedova v Akhmedov [2018] EWFC 23, Dakis Hagen QC represented the wife in a case in which Mr Justice Haddon-Cave, as part of satisfaction of England's largest divorce award, transferred to her ownership of a superyacht allegedly worth $487m, pierced the corporate veil of a Liechtenstein anstalt, set aside a number of dispositions under section 423 of the Insolvency Act 1986 and extended a worldwide freezing order.
Read MoreArea of Law: Civil Fraud
Dakis Hagen QC and Emma Hargreaves are acting for the trustee of a Bermuda trust, with assets worth billions of dollars, in proceedings against its former director who refused to hand over trust property following his resignation. In the recent judgment, St John's Trust Company (Pvt) Ltd v Tamine [2018] EWHC 3629 (Ch) they successfully obtained interim relief (along with indemnity costs) against the former director under section 25 if the Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 1982 in support of the Bermuda proceedings.
Read MoreArea of Law: Civil Fraud
Elizabeth Jones QC, Justin Higgo, Gareth Tilley, Paul Adams, Zahler Bryan and Oliver Jones continue to act for Sir Owen Glenn and his company, Kea Investments Limited in their dispute with New Zealand businessman Eric Watson, following the judgment in Glenn v Watson [2018] EWCH 2016 (Ch) in which Kea suceeded in establishing its entitlement to set aside agreements relating to a joint venture etween Sir Owen and Eric Watson on the baiss of (i) fraudulent misrepresentations made on behalf of Mr Watson, (ii) breach of Mr Watson's fiduciary duty to Kea. The court gave an important decision on equitable interest, awarding interest of 6.5% compounded annually, at [2018] EWCH 2016 (Ch). Litigation continues as Kea seeks to enforce its judgment againts Mr Watson's assets in the UK and internationally.
Read MoreArea of Law: Civil Fraud
In Accident Exchange v McLean & Ors, Hugh Norbury QC, Dan McCourt Fritz, and Charlotte Beynon continue to act for Keoghs, one of three firms of solicitors joined to Accident Exchange's £130m conspiracy claim relating to Autofocus' "perjury on an industrial scale". Following successful applications by Keoghs and the other firms for security for costs, the claim settled shortly before trial.
Read MoreArea of Law: Civil Fraud
Lance Ashworth QC and Matthew Morrison secured judgment secured judgment for the First Defendant , Mr Rosser in Instant Access Properties v Rosser successfully defeating a fraudulent trading and breach of fiduciary duty claim of £35 million.
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Philip Jones QC acted for the Kazakh bank BTA in its claim to recover in excess of $4bn from which it has been defrauded by Mukhtar Ablyazov. He was involved in a trial that sought to recover assets from Mukhtar Ablyazov's son.
Read MoreArea of Law: Civil Fraud
Alan Boyle QC and Giles Richardson act in proceedings in the BVI and Bermuda for trustees holding the proceeds of commission payments made by Madoff feeder funds to their investments adviser in defending claims by the liquidators of the funds.
Read MoreArea of Law: Civil Fraud
Philip Marshall QC and James Mather acted for Constantin Medien in a claim against Bayerische Landesbank for US$130m arising out of the sale in 2006 of the bank's stake in Formula One under the influence of a bribe paid to its senior official.
Read MoreArea of Law: Civil Fraud
Michael Edenborough KC and David Drake are two of the four counsel acting for the SoS in this claim to recovery the monopolistic profits made by Servier based upon its invalid patent for perindopril (an ACE inhibitor used to combat high blood pressure). Part of the claim involves an allegation that SErvier improperly obtained a European Patent by deceiving the EPO as to the allegedly novelty of the invention. There is satellite litigation before the CJEU on the competition aspects and various issues concerning the disclosure being purported prevented by the French criminal code.
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