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Justin Higgo KC and Andrew Gurr, instructed by Andrew Dunn and Emily Higgins of CANDEY, acted for the successful defendants in Re Fifty Asset Management Ltd.
Read MoreThe UT dismissed Walkers Snack Foods Limited’s appeal against the FTT’s decision that Sensations Poppadoms are “similar to [a crisp]” and “made from the potato”.
Read MoreThe Supreme Court has handed down judgment in URS Corporation Ltd v BDW Trading Ltd [2025] UKSC 21 in which it unanimously dismissed URS’s appeal on all four grounds. Michael Walsh KC acted for the Secretary of State who intervened on Ground 2. This is the first time the Supreme Court has considered claims arising under the Building Safety Act 2022.
Read MoreArea of Law: Private Client Trusts and Probate
The Court of Appeal has handed down judgment in Lorenz v Caruana [2025] EWCA Civ 606, overturning the decision to grant summary judgment against the Claimant’s claim that half of his brother’s residuary estate was held on secret trust for the Claimant and his two siblings. The Defendant argued that the contemporaneous documents established that the deceased’s intention was to give his estate outright to her in order to avoid inheritance tax and that the claim therefore had no prospect of success. The Court of Appeal noted, however, that the contemporaneous documents did not speak with one voice and accepted that an intention to avoid inheritance tax does not inevitably mean that the deceased cannot have intended to impose an enforceable obligation on the Defendant. The Court considered that there was a real prospect of further evidence being available at trial that would support the Claimant’s case, particularly in light of the limited evidence given by the Defendant as to the instructions given to her by the Deceased. The decision is a reminder that it is only in rare cases that summary judgment will be granted where there are disputed issues of fact, particularly where what lies at the heart of the claim is the content of oral discussions.
Read MoreArea of Law: Insolvency
By a judgment handed down on 19 February 2025, the UK Supreme Court dismissed the appeal in the Invest Bank v El-Husseini litigation concerning the scope of section 423 of the Insolvency Act 1986.
Read MoreArea of Law: Intellectual Property
Judgment has been handed down in D.W. Windsor Limited v Urbis Schreder Ltd [2025] EWHC 563 (IPEC), a patents dispute, following a 2-day trial in the IPEC on 17 and 18 December 2024.
Read MoreArea of Law: Company
In Changyou.com Ltd v Fourworld Global Opportunities Fund Ltd & Ors, the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council had to consider whether minority shareholders in a “short-form” merger under Part XVI of the Cayman Islands Companies Act (i.e. a merger of a parent company with its subsidiary where the parent company holds at least 90% of the voting power) had a right to be paid a judicially determined fair value for their shares instead of the merger consideration offered under the terms of the merger (known as “appraisal rights”).
Read MoreArea of Law: Property
Jonathan Upton has successfully obtained an access order under the Access to Neighbouring Land Act 1992. The developer requires access over the adjacent land to demolish and rebuild part of an external elevation for the purposes of redeveloping of a derelict textile mill into a block of luxury flats.
Read MoreArea of Law: UAE & DIFC Litigation
Rupert Reed KC and Gregor Hogan acted for the successful respondent in the landmark DIFC Court of Appeal judgment in Nael v Niamh [2024] CIFC CA 015 (9 January 2025).
Read MoreArea of Law: Company
Judgment has been handed down in Re London Resort Co Holdings Ltd [2024] EWHC 3287 (Ch), an interesting High Court case concerning irremediable breaches of the terms of a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) by an insolvent company and the refusal by the CVA supervisor to terminate the CVA in response to such breaches. ICC Judge Barber’s judgment provides helpful guidance about CVAs and the duties of CVA supervisors. The case is a rare example of a successful challenge to a decision/omission of a CVA supervisor under section 7(3) of the Insolvency Act 1986.
Read MoreArea of Law: Private Client Trusts and Probate
The Supreme Court handed down judgment this morning in Hirachand v Hirachand, holding that CFA success fees could not form part of any relief granted under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. Constance McDonnell KC, together with Christopher Wagstaffe KC and Sophia Rogers, acted for the Respondent, instructed by Scott Taylor at Moore Barlow.
Read MoreArea of Law: Intellectual Property
Judgment has been handed down in Bionome v Clearwater [2024] EWHC 3155 (Ch), an interesting High Court appeal concerning intellectual property and trusts. The judgment of Tom Mitcheson KC addresses issues including the patent entitlement, the proper construction of an alleged assignment and whether a trust had been validly declared by conduct. The case is also a rare example of a successful application to adduce fresh evidence on appeal under CPR r. 52.21(2), applying the Ladd v Marshall criteria.
Read MoreArea of Law: UAE & DIFC Litigation
Landmark Judgment from the DIFC Court of Appeal
Read MoreArea of Law: Charities
Jonathan Fowles acted for the Attorney General in The Keepers and Governors of the Possessions, Revenues and Goods of the Free Grammar School of John Lyon, within the Town of Harrow-on-the-Hill v Attorney General [2024] EWHC 2857 (Ch). The case concerned Harrow School’s claim for a cy-près scheme to expand and update its objects originally set out in a Royal Charter of 1572. In his judgment, the Hon. Mr Justice Rajah rejected the claim. The judgment is important for its discussion of the cy-près jurisdiction and as the first authority on certain provisions of the Public Schools Act 1868 which was passed to reform the affairs of 7 leading public schools, including Harrow, following the report of the Clarendon Commission.
Read MoreArea of Law: Insolvency
Section 221(1) of the Insolvency Act 1986 provides that “any unregistered company may be wound up under this Act”. By section 220, ““unregistered company” includes any association and any company, with the exception of a company registered under the Companies Act 2006 in any part of the United Kingdom.” Does the use of the word “includes” mean that entities other than associations and companies can be wound up under section 221(1)?
Read MoreArea of Law: Charities
Jonathan Fowles acted for the successful Respondents in Daji v Mohammed [2024] EWCA 1247, led by Mark Sefton KC of Falcon Chambers.
Read MoreArea of Law: Commercial Litigation
Thomas Elias (instructed by Andrew Head, Bryan Shacklady and David Young of Forsters LLP and led by John Wardell KC of Wilberforce Chambers) acted on behalf of the successful Defendants in this 3 week, multi-million pound Commercial Court fraud claim brought by the insolvency administrator of Wirecard.
Read MoreArea of Law: Private International Law
Thomas Fletcher acted on behalf of the successful Defendants in these appeals concerning, among other things, principles of private international law in the context of administration of estates and succession (instructed by James Hennah and Tom Cassels of Linklaters and led by Brian Kennelly KC black and Paul Luckhurst of Blackstone Chambers).
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