23ES

Kartikeya Sharma has a specialist insolvency and commercial disputes practice along with international arbitration, banking and financial litigation, company law/restructuring, and offshore litigation. Given his broad international disputes experience at various US, UK, and offshore law firms, Kartik is frequently instructed as a junior in international arbitrations and cross-border litigation matters.

For a detailed insight into Kartik's international and offshore experience, please follow the links above.

Kartik’s practice covers corporate insolvency, company law & restructuring, banking and financial disputes, general commercial litigation, civil fraud, enforcement of awards/judgments, and jurisdictional disputes. Kartik is able to represent parties in interlocutory application hearings as well as full trials.

Kartik previously taught Company Law at the University of Cambridge and worked at the International Court of Arbitration at the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris, the International Court of Justice at The Hague, and the United Nations.

Kartik was called to the BVI in 2021 and has held a practising certificate since. Kartik is registered as a Part II practitioner in the DIFC Courts.

Some recent examples of his work

• L & S Accounting Firm Umbrella Ltd v Oronsaye & Ors [2024] EWHC 1919 (Ch) (26 July 2024): Appeared in the Chancery Division (led by Richard Clayton KC) in a summary judgment application concerning a £8.3mn alleged labour supply and VAT fraud with elements of breach of director’s duty and Knowing receipt.
• Epic Capital v Secretary of State for Planning [2024] EWHC 17 January 2024 (unreported): Appeared, as sole counsel, for the appellant to obtain an extension for filing of an appeal notice in the High Court.
• Re: Various Companies: Kartik frequently appears for companies as well as IPs in the Insolvency & Companies Court (ICC) for validation orders and other relief.
• In the Estate of XYZ, February 2024: Appeared, as sole counsel, in the High Court before HHJ Sir Jonathan Cohen; successfully obtained interim relief.
• Re: A multimillion commercial litigation (2023): Advised clients on the merits of challenging a S.236 Insolvency Act 1986 application launched by opposing solicitors of a Jersey company seeking further information from London-based directors.
• Re: An Edtech company (2024): As sole counsel, appeared for two shareholders of a company in an application hearing in English courts in a minority shareholder dispute. Successfully obtained interim relief orders.
• Re Ablyazov/Bank of Kazakhstan NO. BVIHCM2021/0171: Assisted, as a part of a team, in a £6bn blue-chip banking fraud spanning multiple jurisdictions.

• Re: A DIAC crude oil arbitration 2023: Advised on the merits of a potential DIAC arbitration; enforcement was a key issue as the Respondents’ assets were in India and the UAE. Advised on Indian law aspects as well and advised on mechanism to enforce Dubai based DIAC arbitral award in India and England.
• Re: An LCIA oil arbitration 2023: Prepared an advisory opinion on interpretation of various incoterms to determine issues of liability in a £5mn unjust enrichment claim: Zambian Law, London, LCIA arbitration.

• Re: One of UK’s largest banks (2023): Assisted, as a part of a team, in the appointment of joint liquidators in a cross-border insolvency in the BVI.

 Kartik has a Master of Law from the University of Cambridge where he focussed on Commercial Law.