David Quest KC > Chambers of Ewan McQuater KC and David Quest KC > London, England > Barrister Profile
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David Quest KC
Position
Barrister specialising in commercial law: banking; international trade and finance; insurance and reinsurance; international arbitration; professional negligence; IT disputes. Reported cases include: Royal Bank of Canada v Rabobank (2004, CA); Niru Battery Manufacturing Co v Milestone (2003, CA); Shiblaq v Sadikoglu (2003); Linklaters v HSBC Bank plc (2003); Customs & Excise Commissioners v National Westminster Bank plc (2003); Credit Industriel et Commercial v China Merchants Bank (Commercial Court) (2002); Prince Jefri Bolkiah v KPMG (1999 HL); Young (Syndicate 190) v Robson Rhodes (1999); Halifax Financial Services Ltd v Intuitive Systems Ltd (1999).
Career
Called 1993; Atkin Scholar, Gray’s Inn 1994; Pegasus Scholar at US law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, Delaware, 1997; visiting fellow in law, London School of Economics, 1997; publications: co-author ‘Documentary Credits’ (2001); contributor to ‘Banking Litigation’ (1999); contributor to ‘Capital Markets in the Age of the Euro’ (2002); legislation co-editor ‘Encyclopedia of Insurance Law’.
Education
Cambridge University (MA).
Lawyer Rankings
London Bar > Crypto and blockchain assets
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 1David Quest KC – 3 Verulam Buildings ‘Great in grasping the issues and breaking them down in practical analysis.’
3 Verulam Buildings has a number of members with experience of civil fraud and regulatory work in the crypto space. Hodge Malek KC has expertise in domestic and international compliance reviews for cryptocurrency businesses, while Adam Temple is knowledgeable on the new cryptoasset registration regime, by which the Financial Conduct Authority is responsible for registering cryptoasset exchange providers and custodian wallet providers under the Money Laundering Regulations 2017. David Quest KC is a lead author on the landmark UK Jurisdiction Taskforce Legal Statement on Cryptoassets and Smart Contracts, setting out the current state of the law on the proprietary status of cryptoassets and the enforceability of smart contracts. James Potts is noted for the instructions he has received by leading cryptoasset exchanges in the UK and the United Arab Emirates, as well as individuals and companies involved in crypto disputes.
London Bar > Commercial litigation
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 2David Quest KC –3 Verulam Buildings ‘A favourite KC – David is fearsomely bright and tenacious, and with an urbane courtroom style.’
London Bar > Banking and finance (including consumer credit)
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 1David Quest KC –3 Verulam Buildings ‘Highly intellectual: a brilliant mind, a creative thinker and a first-rate cross-examiner.’
London Bar > Fraud: civil
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 23 Verulam Buildings has ‘a strong civil fraud practice, particularly for cases involving banking fraud‘. The set was recently particularly active in litigation surrounding several very high-value frauds involving the Covid-related furlough scheme and business loans. In other areas, David Head KC is defending Dimitrios Tsouvelekakis against a substantial claim, which alleges that he acted fraudulently in relation to advice on discretionary investment trusts. In a multi-jurisdictional dispute over Russia’s largest fishing business, Hodge Malek KC defended Vitaly Orlov, CEO and co-founder of the Norebo Group, against complex fraud and conspiracy claims brought by Alexander Tugushev. Elsewhere in chambers, Ewan McQuater KC is leading a substantial counsel team that includes David Quest KC and rising star William Day, in defending the interests of Dubai Islamic Bank and Noor Bank, further to the 2020 collapse of the NMC Healthcare group, which is said to have been the subject of a massive fraud by its management. Juniors building notable fraud practices include Sophia Dzwig, Ryan Ferro and Ravi Jackson.