Athena Law

Dispute Resolution

Chiva Samani heads Athena Law and specialises in complex corporate, commercial, and trust disputes.

A litigation specialist with 15 years’ experience as a courtroom advocate (9 of which have been as a private practice director) with a focus on complex, multi-jurisdictional and high value litigation, particularly commercial, trust disputes, substantial contractual claims, shareholders disputes, insolvencies/receiverships, asset -tracing and injunctive relief, Chiva has established herself a solid choice over the years, and a “disruptor to the ‘old boys’ network’” (Legal 500, 2023).

Recent highlights

• Advising former directors of a c. £250m fund of funds in relation to disqualification proceedings (involving dishonesty allegations) and recovery action threatened by the liquidator of those funds; • Acting for creditor-owners in relation to proofs of debt in excess of $1.2bn amidst allegations of forgery/accounts manipulation; • Acting in relation to the IOM elements of the largest money laundering case in Singapore (c. $3bn); • Acting in relation to a dispute between family members as to the ownership of a multi-billion pound worldwide distribution venture; • Defeating an application to wind up a multi-million-dollar tech fund crippled by Russian sanctions and securing the appointment of a receiver in its stead; • Acting for minority shareholders in the first IOM unfair prejudice claim; • Pursuing a director in relation to breaches of confidence arising from leaks to the media.

Called to the Bar of England and Wales (non-practising) 2007; Qualified as an advocate in the Isle of Man 2010; Director – Gough Law 2016; Director – Athena Law 2018.

English, French, German and Persian

BSC Management (UMIST); Graduate Diploma in Law (BPP); Bar vocational course (Manchester Metropolitan University); International Diploma in Anti-Money Laundering