The Legal 500

Work Department

Business and securities litigation.

Position

Mr Nahal has extensive experience of international commercial litigation at both trial and appellate level, arbitration and alternative dispute resolution, in particular commercial contract disputes and professional negligence. He has been a solicitor advocate with higher rights of audience since 1998 and has appeared on behalf of clients in the High Court and County Court and at arbitrations and mediations. He has a particular interest in the UK-India corridor. Examples of his work include: represented a UK client on a substantial fraud claim against a former director, together with proceedings brought against the client by a distributor in Illinois; represented Heathrow Airport Ltd in respect of High Court proceedings (HC10C02364) brought by Purple Parking Ltd and Meteor Parking Ltd concerning valet parking operations at Heathrow. The action was tried on an expedited basis and raises an important point as to the sopy of the ‘essential facilities’ doctrine in competition law; represented a major multinational client in relation to UK aspects of a commercial action on foot in Georgia including the execution in the UK in January 2011 of a letter of request used by the Georgia court; represented a financial services client in respect of claims in connection with Kaupthing, the failed Icelandic bank; represented a substantial client in relation to potential claims against advisers arising out of pension scheme equalisation issues; represented a major listed client in the defence of a ‘mis-selling’ claim by an employee in respect of his transfer from one pension scheme to another; represented a substantial family holding in relation to a shareholder dispute in connection with a UK care homes business and related issues in the Gulf, involving the presentation of a s994 Petition for unfair prejudice; represented Walker Crisps Stockbrokers Ltd in the defence of a High Court action brought by Spreadex Ltd arising out of alleged boiler room trading (Claim No HC08CO2157) which raised an important point as to the extent to which section 150 of FSMA provides a private right of action; represented a major client in relation to issues arising out of the purported equalisation of benefits under a staff pension scheme, including possible professional negligence claims; represented Eurosteel Products Ltd in a High Court claim against Compagnie Maritime and Commerciale NV (8CF90157) in relation to disputed title to a consignment of steel acquired from Alphasteel Ltd; represented B&F Trading Co Ltd, a substantial fashion distribution and retail company in South Korea, in the conduct of High Court proceedings (HC07C02413) against an intermediary in relation to the import of Paul Smith products from the UK into South Korea; represented a major independent steel trader in relation to the collapse of a very substantial steel plant in eastern Europe; represented IB4AI LLC in the conduct of High Court proceedings (HC08C00159) against Auriel Capital, a Cayman-registered hedge fund, in relation to investments in the Auriel Global Macro Fund; represented a major multinational client in relation to the UK aspects of New York proceedings arising out of a business sale, including the execution in the UK in 2008 of a letter of request issued by the US District Court for the Southern District of New York; represented Deepak Fertilisers and Petrochemicals Corporation Limited, one of the leading manufacturers of industrial chemicals in India, in the defence of Commercial Court proceedings (2007 Folio 981) brought by Vitol SA, a commodity trader, in relation to a contract for the sale of methanol. Represented Energy Venture Partners Limited in a substantial, high profile Commercial Court action against Malabu Oil and Gas Limited in relation to a U.S. $1.3 billion transaction concerning a Nigerian offshore field, including obtaining urgent freezing orders and injunctions before Griffith Williams J and Steel J in July 2011 (2011 Folio number 792). Represented Gamucci Limited in a High Court claim issued in 2011, against a former director for breach of fiduciary duty (HC11C00587). Represented Imaana Investments Limited in a High Court claim issued in 2011, for unfair prejudice in respect of Gold Care Group Limited (No. 479 of 2011). Represented a major multinational client in relation to a dispute with pension fund trustees, including proceedings before the Pensions Regulator, the Pensions Ombudsman and the High Court. Represented NewMarket Corporation on U.K. aspects of its action against Innospec arising out of allegations of corruption in Iraq (under the oil-for-food program) and Indonesia, including executing Letters of Request before the High Court in July 2011.

Career

Trained Herbert Smith (London office throughout) 1992-04; associate 1994-2001; solicitor-advocate (with rights of audience in the Higher Courts) 1998; partner 2001-11; partner McGuireWoods London LLP 2011 to date.

Member

City of London Law Society Litigation committee; Commercial Litigation Forum Committee; Law Society; Solicitors Association of Higher Court Advocates; Society of Asian Lawyers.

Education

St Paul’s School; Trinity College, Cambridge (1990 BA (Hons) Law, 1991 LLM, 1994 MA); College of Law (Lancaster Gate) (1992 LSF).

Leisure

Family, The Park Club.

Practice Areas

Litigation - banking; Litigation - commercial; Professional negligence