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Area of Law: International and Offshore
Dakis Hagen QC (assisted by Emma Hargreaves) acts for the Plaintiffs and Jonathan Adkin QC (assisted by Adil Mohamedbhai) acts for the Defendant trustee in Wong & Anor v Grand View Private Trust Company Ltd, a claim to recover substantial trust property transferred to a trustee of a purpose trust. The Plaintiffs succeeded in obtaining summary judgment at first instance on the ground that powers of addition and exclusion cannot be exercised in a manner which alters or destroys the substratum of the trust ([2019] SC (Bda) 37 Com (5 June 2019)), but this was overturned by the Bermuda Court of Appeal in April 2020 (Civil Appeal No. 5A of 2019, 20 April 2020). Richard Wilson QC (assisted by James Weale) acts for Tony Wang, an intervenor in the appeal. The Plaintiffs and Tony Wang have each been granted leave to appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.
Read MoreArea of Law: Banking and Financial Services
Philip Marshall QC, Jonathan Harris QC (Hon.) and James Mather are acting for Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank in State of Qatar v Emirates NBD Bank, one of the largest claims to be brought in the English High Court, in which claims are brought against the bank by the State of Qatar in conspiracy said to arise out of an alleged international scheme to manipulate the value of Qatari currency and bonds connected with the so-called ‘blockade’ of Qatar by neighbouring Gulf states causing the Qatari Central Bank to have to deposit US$13 billion.
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: Arbitration
In Cesfin Ventures LLC v Ghaith Al Qubaisi, Rupert Reed KC and Gregor Hogan obtained a worldwide freezing order in the Chancery Division against a director and shareholder of a UAE conglomerate in support of New York proceedings against him as “alter ego” of the UAE holding company, alternatively in setting aside fraudulent transfer to himself and others of company assets to frustrate enforcement of the award rendered in an ICC arbitration seated in New York.
Read MoreArea of Law: Commercial Litigation
Jonathan Adkin QC, Sophie Holcombe, and Jamie Randall act on behalf of the former Prime Minister of Georgia and his family as beneficiaries of a Singapore Trust in Ivanishvili, Bidzina and others v Credit Suisse Trust Ltd [2020] SGCA 62. Claims have been commenced against Credit Suisse entities for losses arising from the mismanagement of an investment portfolio said to be worth over US$1bn. In July 2020 the Singapore Court of Appeal dismissed Credit Suisse Trust’s jurisdiction challenge, bringing an end to a long-running jurisdiction battle.
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: Private Client Trusts and Probate
John Machell QC acts for the appellants in ITG Limited v Glennalla Properties Limited in an appeal to the Privy Council. The case concerns issues relating to the insolvency of trusts including the priority between the indemnity claims of successive trustees, and between trustees and outside creditors.
Read MoreArea of Law: Property
Amy Proferes acts for the First and Second Defendants in Toner v Telford Homes & Ors, a claim regarding a flat purchased off-plan. The claimant seeks rescission, damages and other remedies against 6 defendants including the developer, the property manager and the current freeholder, on the basis of misrepresentation, breach of contract, fraud, negligence and harassment. The case raises questions which will be of importance to developers selling properties off plan as to representations made in sales models and brochures, as well as how (and whether) developers can protect themselves from such claims by means of disclaimers and/or contractual terms. Judgment is currently awaited on applications by the First to Fourth Defendants seeking summary judgment and/or strike out of the claim.
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