Paul Downes KC KC > Chambers of Poonam Melwani KC > London, England > Barrister Profile

Chambers of Poonam Melwani KC
Quadrant Chambers
QUADRANT HOUSE, 10 FLEET STREET
LONDON
EC4Y 1AU
England

Email firm Visit website 020 7583 4444 020 7583 4455

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Position

Commercial Barrister specialising in banking and finance, shareholder/joint venture disputes, commercial fraud, insurance, and international arbitration.

Career

After taking Silk in 2010, his reputation as a tough, commercially-minded barrister has continued to grow.

Before coming to the Bar, Paul worked for Barclays Bank and was an assistant examiner for the Chartered Institute of Bankers. A direct understanding of the commercial and financial worlds means clients benefit from a practical and user-friendly approach. Paul has also acted as an expert witness overseas in relation to banking regulation in the UK, and is lead contributor to Butterworths LexisNexis Encyclopedia on Forms and Precedents.

Paul also handles general commercial litigation, international trade, media and entertainment, and professional negligence. He acts as an arbitrator in LMAA shipping disputes, commercial disputes and insurance disputes

Education

BA Oxon (First Class)

Associate Chartered Institute of Bankers

Lawyer Rankings

London Bar > Banking and finance (including consumer credit)

(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 2

Paul Downes KC – Quadrant Chambers ‘A tenacious advocate.’

Quadrant Chambers‘ barristers are regularly instructed by leading law firms in the UK on banking cases across global commodities and trade finance. Paul Downes KC has acted for a wide range of clients, and has lectured both in the UK and and overseas in technical accountancy related matters, while Emily Saunderson is regularly instructed on cases unled, including in the case Momentum Property Partners Limited and another v Investec Bank Plc where she was instructed by the claimant in a claim against a bank for breach of mandate and breach of the Quincecare duty to not make suspicious payment requests from the accounts of corporate clients. Nicola Allsop specialises in commercial litigation, having been instructed by high street banks and other lenders in high value litigation. Simon Oakes is a key name from the set.

London Bar > Commercial litigation

(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 3

Paul Downes KC –Quadrant Chambers ‘Superb advocacy and commands the attention of the judge. Really polished and excellent at arguing the most difficult of cases.’

Particularly reputed for its shipping and logistics expertise, Quadrant Chambers is also well-equipped to handle international commercial, contractual, and joint venture disputes, as well as fraud and banking litigation. In the banking space, Simon Rainey KC is representing Afghanistan International Bank against Yes Bank Limited, where the claimant is seeking to prevent parallel proceedings brought in India in a significant dispute over international bank guarantees to cover a delayed power transmission lines installation in Kabul. Robert-Jan Temmink KC is representing the claimants in Bahia and others v Sidhu and others, a partnership dispute between two families over assets worth approximately £23m, involving allegations of fraud and concealment of assets. Meanwhile, Paul Downes KC and Nicola Allsop act for the defendant in DAZN v IMG, a dispute over broadcasting rights that addresses whether COVID-19 disruption qualifies as a force majeure event and the extent of liability for existing license fees.