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Serle Court “offers a variety of skill sets that others can’t provide, and houses some of the biggest names at the Bar”
Area of Law: Intellectual Property
Michael Edenborough QC appeared in the appeal to the General Court on whether a comma could save an application from offending against article 7(1)(c).
Read MoreArea of Law: Private Client Trusts and Probate
An award under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 can include a lump sum to enable the claimant to discharge all or part of a success fee payable under a CFA.
Read MoreArea of Law: Private Client Trusts and Probate
Andrew Francis acted for the Applicant in an application to modify a restrictive covenant in Ealing, West London, and succeeded on payment of compensation to the objectors. The decision is significant in terms of:
Read MoreArea of Law: International and Offshore
Elizabeth Jones QC, Justin Higgo QC, Gareth Tilley, Paul Adams, Zahler Bryan, and Oliver Jones continue to act for Kea Investments in the ongoing litigation against Eric Watson, following the substantial judgment obtained against Mr Watson for deceit and breach of fiduciary duty in 2018. This year resulted in notable decisions on the circumstances in which a defendant can have resort to assets subject to a freezing or proprietary injunction when there is an unsatisfied judgment debt ([2020] EWHC 472 (Ch)), a judgment creditor’s right to be subrogated to the position of a bank that had used money held on trust for the judgment creditor to satisfy debts of its customer, the judgment debtor ([2020] EWHC 309 (Ch)) and, in a judgment reaffirming the risk taken by litigants who deliberately breach court orders, Mr Watson was committed to prison for 4 months for failing to disclose assets which were made available for his use ([2020] EWHC 2599 (Ch); [2020] EWHC 2796 (Ch)). Mr Watson’s application to stay the committal order was refused.
Read MoreArea 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.
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.
Read MoreArea of Law: Banking and Financial Services
Lance Ashworth QC acts for the claimant in Grove Park Properties v Royal Bank of Scotland, which is due for a 10-day Commercial Court trial in January 2021, in which it is alleged that the defendant bank fraudulently amended a loan agreement to halve the term of the loan.
Read MoreArea of Law: Property
Thomas Braithwaite, acting for the Crown Estate Commissioners, successfully defeated an adverse claim to part of the North Norfolk coast. The case addressed the principles of accretion and avulsion, and the presumption of Crown ownership of the foreshore (Bett & Gethin v Crown Estate (FTT, REF/2017/0591)).
Read MoreArea of Law: Civil Fraud
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: Property
In Kelleher v Castlebourne Homes (Rock) Ltd [2020] (High Court, Bodmin District Registry) Andrew Bruce represented the Defendant developers in a dispute about the width of a strip of land and easement at a site in Trebetherick, Cornwall. The trial took place over a week entirely remotely in Summer 2020 and involved detailed consideration of historic conveyances, numerous plans and various aerial photographs, together with contested expert surveying evidence. HHJ Carr’s judgment paid tribute to the quality of the submissions.
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