Cases


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Hagen v Hagen [2017]

Area of Law: Private Client Trusts and Probate

In Hagen v Hagen [2017], Dakis Hagen QC and Charlotte Beynon acted for the respondent husband in the substantial and much publicised divorce involving the family behind Viking River Cruises, in financial remedy proceedings in the High Court.  Alan Boyle QC, Nicholas Harrison and Jonathan McDonagh acted for the daughter and Emma Hargreaves appeared unled for another respondent in these proceedings. Jonathan Adkin QC and Adil Mohamedbhai had appeared for a corporate party at an earlier stage of the litigation.  The case settled confidentially mid-trial. 

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A v A; A v Line Trust Corporation Corporation & Ors (2017/CACIV/01)

Area of Law: Private Client Trusts and Probate

In A v A; A v Line Trust Corporation Corporation & Ors (2017/CACIV/01) (Gibraltrar), Dakis Hagen QC, Jonathan Harris QC (Hon.) and James Weale represented the applicant and Richard Wilson QC represented the respondent husband in one of highest value divorce cases in recent years. The dispute involved two complex overseas trust structures and generated six claims in three different jurisdictions (England, Gibraltar and the Cayman Islands).  The proceedings in Gibraltar concerned the court’s jurisdiction to determine matters relating to the validity of actions taken by the trustee of a Gibraltar trust when those issues had been raised in English matrimonial proceedings and gave rise to complex issues of private international law.  

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AF v MF & Ors [2016] EWFC 65

Area of Law: Private Client Trusts and Probate

Emma Hargreaves acted as Chancery counsel for the husband in financial remedy proceedings before Moor J, involving an offshore foundation and issues of "nuptial settlements", in which the wife alleged the husband was worth over £95 million but was awarded around £2 million following trial.  Jonathan McDonagh acted for the Husband's father.

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Grupa Ozarow v Clean Energy Trading CL

Area of Law: Chancery

Professor Jonathan Harris QC (Hon.) and Sophie Holcombe acted for the defendant company trading in Carbon Credits in successfully discharging an ex parte injunction obtained in support of Polish proceedings on the basis, inter alia, that the relevant EU jurisdiction rules were arguably infringed.

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Simba Toys GmbH & Co KG v OHIM (Rubik’s Cube) [2015] ETMR 15

Area of Law: Intellectual Property

Michael Edenborough KC acted for Simba in this successful appeal to the General Court of the European Union, which decided that the black outline of the Rubik's Cube was permissible as a Community Trade Mark. Subsequently overturned on appeal where Simba was represented by different counsel.

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Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain v Clausen [2015] ETMR 40

Area of Law: Intellectual Property

Thomas Elias acted for The United Kingdom Ukelele Orchestra (‘TUKUO’). The trial of the dispute between the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain (‘UOGB’) and TUKUO.  UOGB succeeded in their passing off action, but TUKUO succeeded on their counterclaim in invalidating UOGB’s trade mark and in resisting UOGB’s claim for infringement of copyright in an alleged dramatic work consisting of the format of their concerts. 

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First Peninsula Trustees Limited v Picard & others

Area of Law: Commercial Litigation

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. 

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Barker v Baxendale Walker [2018] 1 WLR 1905

Area of Law: Private Client Trusts and Probate

The appeal in Barker v Baxendale Walker, a professional negligence action concerning a fiscally ineffective employee benefit trust was heard by the Court of Appeal in October. The judgment is likely to provide clarity on the meaning of section 28(4) of the Inheritance Tax Act 1984. Dakis Hagen QC was among the counsel who appeared for the appellant and was assisted by Oliver Jones and Eleni Dinenis. 

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C v C [2016] Fam Law 20

Area of Law: Matrimonial Finance: Trusts and Company law

In C v C, Daniel Lightman QC represented the son in a successful application to set aside an ex parte order obtained by the husband in matrimonial proceedings which had the effect of restraining his wife and son from performing their duties as directors of two family-owned companies.  In a landmark judgment ([2016] Fam Law 20), Roberts J held that the Family Court has no jurisdiction to make such an order under either section 37 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, section 37 of the Senior Courts Act 1981 or the court's inherent jurisdiction.

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NMSM Group Ltd v The Nightingale UK Limited

Area of Law: Intellectual Property

Gareth Tilley acted in this IPEC trial over a claim that the gay bar "Queer Street" infringed the trade mark of "Bar Queer"; the trial raised  an issue of whether the relevant IP rights had been effectively transferred to the claimant during an insolvency procedure. 

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Krys & Ors v KBC Partners LP & Ors [2015] UKPC 46

Area of Law: Partnership and LLP

Please click here to view the judgment.

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Phillips v Francis [2015] 1 WLR 741

Area of Law: Property

Decision by Court of Appeal as to the correct approach to the consultation requirements contained within the Landlord & Tenant Act 1985 and accompanying Regulations in respect of the recovery of service charges for qualifying works. Also important issues relating to the interpretation of a management charge clause. Christopher Stoner QC acted for the Lessees (instructed by Fursdon Knapper).

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Re Poon [2015] JCA 109

Area of Law: Matrimonial Finance: Trusts and Company law

In Re Poon [2015] JCA 109, Richard Wilson QC assisted Jersey advocates in an appeal against the Royal Court’s decision to approve the exclusion of a beneficiary following divorce proceedings in Hong Kong.

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Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC v WPMC Ltd [2015] EWHC 1853 (Ch):

Area of Law: Intellectual Property

Stephanie Wickenden acted for WPMC in this trial involving rights to footage of the first Beatles concert recorded in the USA. Claims were brought under UK and USA copyright, with defences of a collateral contract and proprietary estoppel. Led by outside leading counsel.

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Moroccanoil Israel Ltd v Aldi Stores Ltd [2014] ETMR 55, [2015] FSR 4, [2015] ECC6

Area of Law: Intellectual Property

Michael Edenborough KC and Thomas Elias acted for the successful Defendant in this trial for alleged passing-off with respect to look-a-like packaging.

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Her Majesty’s Solicitor General v Dodd [2014] FSR 27

Area of Law: Commercial Litigation

Michael Edenborough KC acted for the Defendants on the application for committal for contempt of court.  In a design right and registered design right infringement case (which was successful [2014] ECCC 34), the claimant's principal witnesses had given false evidence repeatedly about another, but eventually not pursued, cause of action.  The principal deponent was sent to prison for 6 months, and the other for 2 months.

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Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys v Registrar of Trade Marks Case C-307/10; [2012] ETMR 42, 783; [2013] RPC 11; [2013] BusLR 740:

Area of Law: Intellectual Property

Michael Edenborough KC acted pro bono publico for CIPA in the article 267 reference to the Grand Chamber of the CJEU in the IP TRANSLATOR case.

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Constantin Medien [2017] EWHC 131 (Comm)

Area 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. 

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