Anneliese Day KC > Fountain Court Chambers > London, England > Barrister Profile

Fountain Court Chambers ‘is a Rolls-Royce amongst London sets when it comes to commercial litigation and arbitration’ with a particularly ‘strong presence in Singapore and India.’ Members have extensive experience in the various institutional arbitration regimes and expertise spanning a wide array of sectors including, most notably, banking and financial services, aviation, construction, energy, infrastructure, insurance, mining and telecoms. Anneliese Day KC and Bankim Thanki KC are involved in heavyweight international disputes, as is Akhil Shah KC, who has a track record of work crossing over with his aviation practice.

Insurance remains a core part of Fountain Court Chambers’s practice, with members representing both insurers and policyholders in cases including high-profile and precedent-setting disputes, including involvement in disputes arising out of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. David Railton KC has been active acting for aviation war risks insurers in litigation arising out of the Ukraine crisis, in the case of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) Ltd v Various Insurers. Anneliese Day KC is routinely instructed in substantial and complex insurance matters, whereas Leigh-Ann Mulcahy KC has continued to engage in claims for business interruption losses suffered as a result of lockdowns during the Covid-19 pandemic. Bankim Thanki KC has strong insurance experience linked to his aviation, commercial and banking practices, and Max Evans is a notable junior in the set.

Fountain Court Chambers is a leading set which treats professional negligence as one of its core areas of practice. The set hosts barristers who are regularly instructed in professional negligence matters concerning white-collar professions, including the Bar itself and legal services professionals. In the Cayman Islands Court of Appeal, Mark Simpson KC recently successfully defended an offshore law firm in Arnage Holdings v Walkers, a claim against them filed by a member of a Brazilian banking dynasty, concerning the collapse of Banco Rural in circumstances connected to the mensalão scandal. Additionally, Anneliese Day KC currently acts for Alvarez & Marsal, who are the administrators of JD Classics, against PwC for allegedly failing to spot fraud resulting in losses of over £41m.

Fountain Court Chambers is known for its ‘in-depth experience in offshore work’ and has a demonstrably strong track record in both the Caribbean and the Channel Islands for banking and finance, commercial litigation, company law and civil fraud cases. Bankim Thanki KC is praised for his ‘surgical and deadly’ advocacy – his recent offshore caseload includes Ieremeieva v Estera, Lagur and Ivakhiv, in which he acts for two Ukrainian businessmen in a BVI dispute concerning the operation of a trust and the ownership of various Ukrainian companies, the value of which is estimated to exceed $800m. Ben Valentin KC‘s offshore practice focuses on the BVI and Cayman Islands and encompasses fraud, insolvency and shareholder dispute cases, among others. In-demand silk Anneliese Day KC appeared before the Privy Council in A & A Mechanical Contractors and Company Ltd v Petroleum Company of Trinidad and Tobago, which considered the application of ‘without prejudice’ privilege to final account negotiations under a construction contract.

Fountain Court Chambers‘ barristers are ‘not only among the best at every level in leading commercial and financial cross border disputes, but are always a pleasure to work with, commercially savvy, and user friendly‘. The set maintains a close connection to Singapore; Andrew Pullen, who is a highly regarded specialist in international arbitration, is the key contact in the jurisdiction. Professional negligence mandates have been prominent in the group’s recent caseload, and is a core area of strength for the ‘forthright and effective‘ Anneliese Day KC. Stephen Moriarty KC is sought after for his expertise in financial litigation, and Matthew Gearing KC stands out for his established track record in acting in complex arbitrations across the Asia Pacific region.

Fountain Court Chambers has an established presence in Singapore, with international arbitration expert Andrew Pullen acting as the main contact in the jurisdiction. Pullen regularly represents clients from across the Asia Pacific region in arbitrations, often under the aegis of the ICC, SIAC and UNCITRAL. Darius Chan, who is also based in Singapore, represents states and state-owned entities in arbitrations. Anneliese Day KC has expertise in professional negligence and construction arbitrations. Matthew Gearing KC – a dual tenant with Temple Chambers in Hong Kong – is highly regarded for his strength in advising on commercial and investment treaty arbitrations under institutions including HKIAC, AIAC, ICSID and SIAC.