Jonathan Adkin KC

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Jonathan Adkin KC is a leading Silk at the Chancery and Commercial Bar.

His high-profile practice spans a wide range of fields in international and domestic chancery and commercial law. He appears regularly in the High Court and appellate Courts in England, in domestic and international arbitrations, and in international commercial Courts and offshore jurisdictions including Bermuda, the Bahamas, the BVI, the DIFC and Gibraltar.

In the leading legal directories (Chambers & Partners and Legal 500), Jonathan holds rankings across nine practice areas, encompassing Commercial Dispute Resolution, Commercial Chancery, Civil Fraud, Trusts and Probate, Company, Banking and Finance, Insolvency, Partnership and Offshore.

Jonathan was named the Chancery Silk of the Year at the Legal 500 Awards for 2022 and shortlisted for the same award in 2023 and 2024. He was named Trusts and Probate Silk of the Year at the Legal 500 Awards for 2017. He was shortlisted for Commercial Dispute Resolution Silk of the year at the Chambers and Partners UK Bar Awards 2024. He has also been recognised as one of The Lawyer magazine’s “Hot 100 Lawyers”.

Areas of Expertise

Commercial Litigation

Jonathan has been involved in some of the largest commercial disputes to come before the English Courts, and his cases regularly appear amongst The Lawyer magazine’s top 20 cases of the year.

Recent Cases

Mozambique v Credit Suisse & Others [2023] 1 WLR 2428, [2023] EWHC 1650 (Comm) – Jonathan acted for the Republic of Mozambique in a multi-billion dollar claim in the Commercial Court against a number of banks and an Abu-Dhabi based shipbuilder arising out of the ‘tuna bonds’ scandal, tried over three months from October 2023. One of The Lawyer magazine’s Top 20 Cases of 2023.
PIFSS v Al Rajaan [2022] 1 WLR 4193, [2020] EWHC 2979 (Comm) – Jonathan acted for one of the defendants in an $800 million Commercial Court claim by a Kuwaiti government agency alleging that multiple defendants engaged in bribery and corruption over a decades long period. One of The Lawyer magazine’s Top 20 Cases of 2020.
Re Bulb Energy Ltd [2022] EWHC 3105 (Ch) – Jonathan acted for British Gas in a high-profile action in the High Court concerning the collapse and administration of one of the UK’s largest energy suppliers and the transfer of its business to another energy company.
Winston Wong v Grand View PTC & Others [2022] SC (Bda) 44 Com – Jonathan acted for the trustees of five trusts in a multi-billion dollar action in the Bermuda Supreme Court and Court of Appeal.
Magdeev v Tsvetkov and Others [2020] EWHC 887 (Comm) – Jonathan acted for one of the defendants at the trial of a multi-million pound Commercial Court dispute between Russian oligarchs in which each side claimed to have been defrauded by the other in relation to the operation of a very high value jewellery business.

Civil Fraud

Civil fraud makes up a substantial part of Jonathan’s practice, and he has been involved in some of the largest fraud cases to come before the English and offshore courts.

Recent Cases

Republic of Mozambique v Credit Suisse & Others [2023] 1 WLR 2428 – Jonathan acted for the Republic in a multi-billion claim in the Commercial Court by the Republic of Mozambique against a number of banks and an Abu-Dhabi based shipbuilder arising out of the ‘Tuna bonds’ scandal, involving allegations of bribery and breach of fiduciary duty in the awarding of major procurement contracts, which was tried over three months from October 2023. One of The Lawyer magazine’s Top 20 Cases of 2023.
PIFFS v Al Rajaan & Others [2022] 1 WLR 4193, [2020] EWHC 2979 (Comm) – Jonathan acted for one of the defendants in an $800 million Commercial Court claim by a Kuwaiti government agency, alleging that multiple defendants engaged in bribery and corruption over a decades long period. One of The Lawyer magazine’s Top 20 Cases of 2020.
Magdeev v Tsvetkov & Others [2020] EWHC 887 (Comm) – Jonathan acted for one of the defendants at the trial of a multi-million pound Commercial Court dispute between Russian oligarchs in which each side claims to have been defrauded by the other in relation to the operation of a very high value jewellery business.
Libyan Investment Authority v King [2020] EWHC 440 (ch) – Jonathan acted for the defendants in a multi-million pound action alleging fraudulent misrepresentations in relation to a major property development.
Yukos Finance B.V v Lynch & Others [2019] EWHC 2621 (Comm) – Jonathan acted for one of the defendants in a high profile multi-million dollar action in the Commercial Court by the liquidators of Yukos Oil against multiple defendants involved in the acquisition of one of its subsidiaries through an allegedly rigged auction. One of The Lawyer magazine’s Top 20 Cases of 2019.

Trusts & Probate

Jonathan regularly acts in high-profile and high-value trusts and probate actions both in England and offshore, and was named Trusts and Probate Silk of the Year at the Legal 500 awards for 2017.

Recent Cases

Winston Wong v Grand View PTC & Others [2022] SC (Bda) 44 Com – Jonathan acted for the principal defendants in the six-month trial of an action in the Supreme Court of Bermuda in which it was alleged that five Bermuda purpose trusts worth several billion dollars were invalid because of failures to comply with the requisite formalities requirements.
Re Global Resource Trust [2022] UKPC 47 – Jonathan acted for the defendant before the Privy Council in a high value claim to assets held by a Bermuda trust which concerned allegations of the use of trust powers for an impermissible purpose.
Re A Trust (2023) – Jonathan acts in an offshore dispute relating to a high value trust concerning the validity of appointments to the role of trust protector.
JSC Mezhdunarodniy Promyshlenniy Bank v Pugachev [2016] 1 WLR 160 – Jonathan acted for an appellant before the Court of Appeal in a high-profile action concerning disclosure obligations relating to discretionary trusts under freezing orders.
Williams v Central Bank of Nigeria [2014] AC 1189 – Jonathan acted as lead counsel for the Claimant in the leading Supreme Court authority on the applicable limitation period for accessory liability in breach of trust claims.

Company

Jonathan has extensive experience of company disputes and advising on company law matters, both in the English Courts and offshore.

Recent Cases

Re Jardine Strategic Holdings Ltd [2023] SC (Bda) 8 Civ – Jonathan is acting for the petitioners in a very high value appraisal action in the Bermuda Supreme Court concerning the valuation of a minority shareholding in a large global conglomerate which has been taken private.
Re 58.com – Jonathan is acting for the minority shareholders in a high value share valuation action in the Cayman Grand Court involving a prominent Chinese business.
Re Bulb Energy Ltd [2022] EWHC 3105 (Ch) – Jonathan acted for British Gas in a high-profile action in the High Court concerning the collapse and administration of one of the UK’s largest energy suppliers and the transfer of its business to another energy company.
Re Changyou.com Ltd CICA (Civil) Appeal No 6 of 2021 – Jonathan acts for the respondents in a high-profile Cayman dispute before the Privy Council concerning an important and novel issue of Cayman company law.
Re Nord Anglia (Cayman Grand Court, March 2020) – Jonathan acted for the petitioners in one of the largest offshore share value appraisal cases in recent years, brought under s.238 fo the Cayman Companies Act.

Insolvency & Restructuring

Jonathan has acted in a number of high-profile insolvency matters, including the litigation arising from the collapse of Halliwells and Glasgow Rangers.

Recent Cases

Re Bulb Energy Ltd [2022] EWHC 3105 (Ch) – Jonathan acted in a high-profile action in the High Court concerning the collapse and administration of one of the UK’s largest energy suppliers and the transfer of its business to another energy company.
Yukos Finance B.V v Lynch & Others [2019] EWHC 2621 (Comm) – Jonathan acted for one of the defendants at the trial of a high profile multi-million dollar action in the Commercial Court by the liquidators of Yukos Oil against multiple defendants involved in the acquisition of one of its subsidiaries through an allegedly rigged auction.
Glasgow Rangers Football Club Plc (in liquidation) v Collyer Bristow & Ors [2015] – Jonathan acted as lead counsel for one of the Defendants in a multi-million pound dispute arising from the collapse of Glasgow Rangers football club. One of The Lawyer magazine’s top 20 cases of 2013.
Belltrey v Victor Chandler Ltd [2014] (Chancery Division) – Jonathan acted as lead counsel for the Claimant in a multi-million pound corporate insolvency dispute concerning the well-known gaming business.

Partnership

Jonathan has acted in and advised on a number of partnership disputes.

Recent Cases

Fennel v Haliwells LLP [2014] EWHC 2744 – Jonathan acted as lead counsel for the claimant in a complex dispute concerning the collapse of the well-known Manchester law firm.
W v S [2014] 21 IoM – Jonathan acted as lead counsel for the Defendants in a multi-million pound dispute concerning the operation of an Isle of Man limited partnership.
Berwin v Schneider [2013] (Chancery Division) – Jonathan acted as lead counsel for the Claimant in a high value solicitors’ partnership dispute arising out of an allegedly fraudulent partnership agreement.

International

Jonathan has a substantial offshore practice and regularly appears before the Courts in a number of offshore jurisdictions including in Bermuda, the Bahamas, the BVI, Gibraltar and the DIFC.

Recent Cases

Winston Wong v Grand View PTC & Others [2022] SC (Bda) 44 Com – Jonathan acted for the principal defendants in the six month trial of an action in the Supreme Court of Bermuda in which it was alleged that five Bermuda purpose trusts worth several billion dollars were invalid because of failures to comply with the requisite formalities requirements.
Re Jardine Strategic Holdings Ltd [2023] SC (Bda) 8 Civ – Jonathan is acting for the petitioners in a very high value appraisal action in the Bermuda Supreme Court concerning the valuation of a minority shareholding in a large global conglomerate which has been taken private.
Re 58.com (2022) – Jonathan is acting for the minority shareholders in a high value share valuation action in the Cayman Grand Court involving a prominent Chinese business.
Re Changyou.com Ltd CICA (Civil) Appeal No 6 of 2021 – Jonathan acts for the respondents in a high-profile Cayman dispute before the Privy Council concerning an important and novel issue of Cayman company law.
Re A Trust (2023) – Jonathan acts in a Bahamas dispute relating to a high value trust concerning the validity of appointments to the role of trust protector.

Arbitrators

Jonathan frequently appears in domestic and international arbitrations, including under the rules of the ICC and LCIA.

Testimonials

“Jonathan is so nice to work with, as he's very collaborative and so relaxed. He is also really good at the judgement calls and identifying the issues in a case.”

Chambers & Partners 2026

“Jonathan is one of the finest advocates at the Bar and a steady hand on the tiller.”

Chambers & Partners 2026

“Jonathan's advocacy is amongst the best at the Chancery Bar. ”

Chambers & Partners 2026

“Absolutely super and someone with excellent judgement; he is ruthless at discarding the weaker points. Jonathan is a very disciplined and competent trial advocate.”

Chambers & Partners 2026

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Latest

Recent Cases

Changyou.com Ltd v Fourworld Global Opportunities Fund Ltd & Ors

In Changyou.com Ltd v Fourworld Global Opportunities Fund Ltd & Ors, the Judicial Committee of […]

The Republic of Mozambique v Credit Suisse International & Others [2024] EWHC 1957 (Comm)

The High Court has delivered a landmark judgment in favour of the Republic of Mozambique, […]

Oasis Investments II Master Fund Ltd & Others v Jardine Strategic Holdings Limited [2024] CA (Bda) 7 Civ

Jonathan Adkin KC and Adil Mohamedbhai continue to act for the dissenters in Re Jardine Strategic […]

Recent News

: Email Jonathan
: +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

Appointments

Called to the British Virgin Islands Bar
Called ad hoc to the Bars of Gibraltar & Bermuda

Recommendations

Commercial Dispute Resolution, Chancery: commercial, Fraud: civil, Company, Offshore (Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2024)
Commercial Dispute Resolution, Commercial Chancery, Offshore (Chambers Global 2024)
Commercial Litigation, Civil Fraud, Private client: trusts and probate, Company, Insolvency, Partnership, Banking and Finance, English Bar Offshore (The Legal 500 2023)

Memberships

Commercial Bar Association

Education & Qualifications

Dip. Law, City University
MA (Hons), Balliol College, Oxford

BSB Registration

Jonathan William Adkin KC

VAT Number

740270758

Areas of Expertise

Commercial Litigation

Recent Cases

Civil Fraud

Recent Cases

Trusts & Probate

Recent Cases

Company

Recent Cases

Insolvency & Restructuring

Recent Cases

Partnership

Recent Cases

International

Recent Cases

Arbitrators

Testimonials

Latest

Recent Cases

Changyou.com Ltd v Fourworld Global Opportunities Fund Ltd & Ors

The Republic of Mozambique v Credit Suisse International & Others [2024] EWHC 1957 (Comm)

Oasis Investments II Master Fund Ltd & Others v Jardine Strategic Holdings Limited [2024] CA (Bda) 7 Civ

Recent News

Serle Court Recognised in The Legal 500 Caribbean 2026: The English Bar Offshore

Serle Court achieves outstanding results in The Legal 500 UK Bar 2026

Serle Court Wins Chancery Set of the Year at the Legal 500 Bar Awards 2025

Serle Court Recognised for Leading Expertise in Chambers HNW 2025

Appointments

Recommendations

Memberships

Education & Qualifications

BSB Registration

VAT Number