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South Square

3-4 SOUTH SQUARE, GRAY'S INN, LONDON, WC1R 5HP, ENGLAND

Tel:: Work 020 7696 9900
Fax:: Fax 020 7696 9911
DX:: 338 LONDON CHANCERY LANE WC2

Web:: www.southsquare.com
Email:

Robin Knowles Cbe QC

Tel:: Work +44 20 7696 9900
Email:

Position

Commercial, financial and business law, disputes and advice, with a particular emphasis on the following areas: banking and financial services, professional negligence, regulation, commercial fraud, corporate insolvency and reconstruction, corporate and partnership disputes, insurance and reinsurance. Range of contentious work illustrated by: Consignia v Hays [11 December 2001] - statutory interpretation, privilege and duty (instructed by Clifford Chance); O'Donnell v HSBC [2001] EWCA Civ - construction of bank security documentation (instructed by Eversheds); Bermuda International Securities Ltd v KPMG [2001] Lloyd's Rep PN392 - pre-action disclosure in professional negligence cases (instructed by Stephenson Harwood); Re Drake Insurance plc [2001] Lloyd's Rep IR 643 - refund of premium on insurance cancellation (instructed by Norton Rose); Clark v Nomura International Plc [2000] IRLR 766 - proprietary trading and performance bonuses in City-based employment (instructed by Ferguson); Hillsbridge Investments Ltd v Moresfield Ltd [2000] 2 BCLC 241 - expert determination clauses, disposals of companies (instructed by Travers Smith Braithwaite); Grupo Torras SA v Sheikh Fahad Mohammed Al-Sabah [1999] CLC 1469 - commercial fraud and conflict of laws (instructed by Nicholson Graham & Jones); Moscow Bank v Amadeus Trading [1997] TLR 184 - bills of exchange, company winding up; Re Schuppan [1996] 2 All ER 664 - solicitors and conflicts of interest (instructed by Travers Smith Braithwaite); Socomex Ltd v Banque Bruxelles Lambert SA [1996] 1 Lloyd's Rep 156 - banking and commodity trading (instructed by Linklaters); British & Commonwealth Holdings Plc (Nos 1 and 2) [1992] Ch 342 CA and [1993] AC 426 HL - compulsion of disclosure on insolvency (instructed by Linklaters). Alternative Dispute Resolution experience includes mediation advocacy in around 40 mediations.

Career

Called to the Bar 1982; Middle Temple and Gray's Inn; appointed QC 1999; Recorder; awarded CBE in 2006 for services to pro bono legal services.

Member

Bar Pro Bono Unit (chairman); Commercial Bar Association (former chairman); South Eastern Circuit; Chancery Bar Association; Royal Courts of Justice CAB (trustee); member of various Bar Council and Inn committees; Bar in the Community (trustee); Solicitors Pro Bono Group (trustee); National Pro Bono Centre (trustee); advocacy trainer.

Education

Sir Roger Manwood's Grammar School; Trinity College, Cambridge (MA).

Practice Areas

Banking; Insolvency and corporate reconstruction; Litigation - commercial

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