John Eldridge

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John Eldridge has a busy practice with a focus on commercial litigation, civil fraud, company disputes and intellectual property. He has particular expertise in urgent applications in cases involving allegations of fraud, including applications for freezing injunctions, passport orders and Norwich Pharmacal orders.

John’s instructions are frequently high value, high profile and legally significant. His cases in recent years have included:

Defending the claims against the entrepreneur Akhil Tripathi, which have generated multiple interim judgments ([2026] EWHC 1002 (Ch); [2025] EWHC 632 (Ch); [2024] EWHC 1740 (Ch)).
The second-ever reasoned judgment to consider an application for a stay of proceedings on medical grounds ([2026] 1 WLR 2803, unled).
The defence of a nine-figure claim for breach of directors’ duties in the context of a massive alleged fraud (as part of a five-counsel team).
An appeal (following a trial in the Commercial Court) in which the Court of Appeal took the exceptional step of reversing a finding of dishonesty made at first instance ([2023] EWCA Civ 440).
A multi-jurisdictional copyright, trade mark and passing off claim concerning the Peppa Pig animated series ([2023] 1 WLR 2333).

In addition to his practice at the Bar, John is a distinguished academic lawyer. He is the co-author of two books, the co-editor of four anthologies and the author of many articles in leading academic law reviews. His scholarly work been cited by senior courts in Australia and Singapore, as well as in numerous textbooks and reference works, such as Sir Kim Lewison’s The Interpretation of Contracts and Goff & Jones on Unjust Enrichment.

Owing to his substantial experience as an academic lawyer, John operates significantly above his call. He is often instructed against significantly more senior counsel.

Areas of Expertise

Commercial Litigation

Recent Cases

Friend v Friend Media Technology Systems Ltd [2026] EWHC 1056 (KB) – In which the High Court approved the rationale given in Matrix Receivables Limited v Musst Holdings Limited [2024] EWHC 2167 (Ch) as to the usual costs order following an unsuccessful application for strike out or summary judgment. A substantial award of costs was made in favour of John’s client (led by Matthew Morrison KC).
Friend v Friend Media Technology Systems Limited [2026] EWHC 43 (KB) – In which the High Court rejected the Claimant’s proffered construction of a contractual reimbursement provision and dismissed the Claimant’s application for strike out/summary judgment. John appeared for the successful Defendant (led by Matthew Morrison KC).
Friend MTS Ltd v Friend Partnership Ltd [2026] 1 WLR 2803, which was only the second reasoned judgment to consider an application for a stay of proceedings on medical grounds. John appeared unled for the successful Claimant.
Omanovic v Shamaazi Ltd [2025] EWHC 131 (KB) – In which the High Court refused permission to appeal against orders directing an expert to forbear from undertaking certain tasks in the course of the preparation of an expert report. John appeared for the successful Defendants (led by Dan McCourt Fritz KC).
Omanovic v Shamaazi Ltd [2025] EWHC 110 (KB) – In which the High Court ruled that the terms on which the claims of two former claimants were compromised were inadmissible in evidence at trial for want of relevance. John appeared for the successful Defendants (led by Dan McCourt Fritz KC).
B&J Investments Limited & Ors v IQ EQ Trustees (Guernsey) Limited & Anor (2024) – A dispute concerning an alleged joint venture agreement in respect of the development of a hotel (led by Dan McCourt Fritz KC).

Civil Fraud

Recent Cases

Segulah Medical Acceleration AB v Tripathi [2026] EWHC 1002 (Ch) – In which the High Court considered whether an implied representation can only be held to have been made where a reasonable person in the position of the putative representee would regard the putative implied representation as either (i) having necessarily been conveyed by the relevant words and/or conduct in their context or (ii) having so obviously been conveyed by the relevant words and/or conduct in their context that it went without saying (led by Adam Baradon KC).
Segulah Medical Acceleration AB v Tripathi [2025] EWHC 632 (Ch) – In which the High Court considered the construction and effect of the standard “non enforcement” undertaking given in connection with worldwide freezing orders (led by Adam Baradon KC).
Advising on various post-judgment matters in a high-value and multi-jurisdictional fraud claim (2025).
Advising a listed company on complex points of company law in the context of a high-value fraud claim (2025).
Gallahue v Tripathi [2024] EWHC 1740 (Ch) – In which the High Court dismissed an application for the extension by value of a freezing injunction. John appeared for the successful First Defendant (led by Adam Baradon KC).
The defence of a nine-figure claim for breach of directors’ duties in the context of a massive alleged fraud (as part of a five-counsel team) (2024).
Floreat Investment Management Ltd v Churchill [2023] EWCA Civ 440 – In which the Court of Appeal reversed a finding of dishonesty made at first instance and entered judgment in favour of John’s clients. John appeared for the successful appellants (led by Thomas Elias).

Company

Recent Cases

San Leon ELI Limited v Ocean Pearl Maritime SA – In which the High Court dismissed an appeal against a winding-up petition founded upon a debt of US$12 million (led by Matthew Morrison KC).
Advising a listed company on complex points of company law in the context of a high-value fraud claim (2025).

Intellectual Property

Recent Cases

Entertainment One UK Limited v Công Ty TNHH Đầu Tư Công Nghệ Và Dịch Vụ Sconnect Việtnam [2023] 1 WLR 2333 – In which the High Court dismissed service and jurisdiction challenges in a multi-jurisdictional copyright, trade mark and passing off claim concerning the Peppa Pig children’s animated series. John appeared for the successful Claimants (led by Michael Edenborough KC and Gwilym Harbottle).
Enreach UK Ltd v Inreach Group Ltd [2023] RPC 4 – In which the High Court considered the interaction between Article 5 of the Trade Marks (Relative Grounds) Order 2007 and Article 1, Protocol 1 of the ECHR (led by Michael Edenborough KC).
Costa v DissociaDID Ltd [2022] EWHC 1934 (IPEC) – A two-day trial of a claim for copyright infringement and a counterclaim for breach of contract and unlawful interference. Both claim and counterclaim succeeded in part. John appeared unled for the Claimant.

International

John has experience in this field across a wide range of matters.

Trusts & Probate

John has experience in this field across a wide range of matters.

Latest

Recent Cases

Friend v Friend Media Technology Systems Limited

Matthew Morrison KC and John Eldridge appeared for the successful Defendant in Friend v Friend Media Technology Systems Limited [2026] EWHC 43.

Friend MTS Ltd v Friend Partnership Ltd [2025] EWHC 2471 (Ch): only the second reasoned judgment to consider (and refuse) an application for a stay of proceedings on medical grounds

Friend MTS Ltd v Friend Partnership Ltd [2025] EWHC 2471 (Ch): only the second reasoned judgment […]

Recent News

: Email John
: +44 (0)20 7242 6105
: Contact Practice Managers
: vCard
: Download CV
: Shortlist

For general enquiries and instruction advice, please contact our Practice Management Team:

Call: +44 (0)20 7242 6105
or email: clerks@serlecourt.co.uk

Publications

David Rolph, John Eldridge and Timothy Pilkington (eds) Australian Tort Law in the 21st Century (The Federation Press, 2024)
Carolyn Sappideen, Prue Vines, John Eldridge, Paula Giliker, Peter Handford and Barbara McDonald, Fleming’s The Law of Torts (Thomson Reuters, 11th ed, 2023)
J W Carter, John Eldridge and Elisabeth Peden, ‘A Doctrinal Landmark: Codelfa Construction Pty Ltd v State Rail Authority of NSW‘ in Barbara McDonald, Ben Chen and Jeffrey Gordon (eds) Dynamic and Principled: The Influence of Sir Anthony Mason (The Federation Press, 2022)
John Eldridge, Michael Douglas and Claudia Carr (eds) Economic Torts and Economic Wrongs (Hart Publishing, 2021)
Carolyn Sappideen, Prue Vines and John Eldridge, Torts: Commentary and Materials (Thomson Reuters, 13th ed, 2021)
John Eldridge and Timothy Pilkington (eds) Australian Contract Law in the 21st Century (The Federation Press, 2021)
J W Carter, John Eldridge and Elisabeth Peden, ‘The Role of Precedent in the Construction and Implication of Terms in Contracts‘ (2021) 37 Journal of Contract Law 1
J W Carter, John Eldridge and Elisabeth Peden ‘Agreed Writing Requirements for Contract Variation‘ (2020) 36 Journal of Contract Law 107
John Eldridge and Timothy Pilkington, ‘Discharged Contracts and Quantum Meruit: Mann v Paterson Constructions‘ (2019) 41 Sydney Law Review 255
John Eldridge and Timothy Pilkington (eds) Sir Owen Dixon’s Legacy (The Federation Press, 2019)
John Eldridge, ‘Contract Codification: Cautionary Lessons from Australia‘ (2019) 23 Edinburgh Law Review 204
Timothy Pilkington and John Eldridge, ‘Implied Terms and Contract Formation‘ (2019) 135(Oct) Law Quarterly Review 526
John Eldridge, ‘Reforming the Australian Law of Contract: Some Practical Next Steps‘ (2019) 93 Australian Law Journal 289
John Eldridge, ‘Contract Codification and ‘Certainty‘ (2018) 35 Journal of Contract Law 146
John Eldridge, ‘The New Law of Penalties: Mapping the Terrain‘ [2018] Journal of Business Law 637 John Eldridge, ‘Lawful-Act Duress and Marital Agreements‘ [2018] Cambridge Law Journal 32
John Eldridge, ‘Surrounding Circumstances’ in Contractual Interpretation: Where are we Now?‘ (2018) 32(3) Commercial Law Quarterly 3

Memberships

London Bar Association
Commercial Bar Association
Chancery Bar Association

Education, Qualifications and Awards

University Medal in Law, University of Adelaide
Baker Scholarship, University of Adelaide
David Murray Scholarship, University of Adelaide
Angas Parsons Prize, University of Adelaide
Howard Zelling Prize for Administrative Law, University of Adelaide
Gallagher Prize for Law of Torts II, University of Adelaide
Piper Alderman Prize for Equity & Corporate Law, University of Adelaide
Thomson Lawbook Company Prize, University of Adelaide
Frederick Penoyre Adams Prize for Contracts & Foundations of Law, University of Adelaide
Byard Tormore Prize for Shakespeare, University of Adelaide
Mills & Reeve Prize, University of Cambridge
Doctor of Philosophy in Law, University of Adelaide
Master of Law (First Class Honours), University of Cambridge
Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours), University of Adelaide
Bachelor of Arts, University of Adelaide

BSB Registration

John Anthony Eldridge

VAT Number

389369134

Areas of Expertise

Commercial Litigation

Recent Cases

Civil Fraud

Recent Cases

Company

Recent Cases

Intellectual Property

Recent Cases

International

Trusts & Probate

Latest

Recent Cases

Friend v Friend Media Technology Systems Limited

Friend MTS Ltd v Friend Partnership Ltd [2025] EWHC 2471 (Ch): only the second reasoned judgment to consider (and refuse) an application for a stay of proceedings on medical grounds

Recent News

Chancery Bar Association Summer Conference

Fraud is Infinite: Forgery and False Evidence in Commercial Disputes

Serle Court at London International Disputes Week 2026

Serle Court Company Conference 2024

Publications

Memberships

Education, Qualifications and Awards

BSB Registration

VAT Number

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