Hugh Norbury KC > Serle Court > London, England > Barrister Profile
Serle Court Offices
6 NEW SQUARE, LINCOLN'S INN
LONDON
WC2A 3QS
England
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Hugh Norbury KC
Position
Hugh has a broad commercial and chancery practice, with a particular emphasis on cases involving fraud or breach of fiduciary duty. His practice extends to insolvency, company, trusts (onshore and offshore in all of these areas) and even occasionally ancillary relief in the Family Division.
Career
Currently Hugh is co-leading for the claimant in Public Institution for Social Security v Al Rajaan & ors, a claim for in excess of US$800m arising out of alleged bribery of the former Director General of the Kuwaiti State Pension and Social Security Fund. He is also leading a defence team in Jinxin v Aser Media Pte Limited & ors, a US$660m claim for rescission or damages arising out of alleged deceit in the purchase by a Chinese fund of a controlling interest in a leading sports media rights group. He has been involved in many of the larger multi-party fraud cases in recent years, including Vale v Steinmetz & ors (ongoing); ArcelorMittal v Essar Steel (during 2019) and BTA Bank v Ablyazov, which culminated in 14 week trial in the Commercial Court reported at [2013] EWHC 510 (Comm).
He also acted until settlement in late 2018 on a £100m+ conspiracy claim brought by a credit hire company against a number of firms of solicitors and experts they instructed (Accident Exchange v Autofocus and others). Other recent cases include: acting for Charles Saatchi in proceedings against a former fiduciary in relation to misappropriations relating to Mr Saatchi’s famous art collection; one part of the Shlosberg litigation; a bribery claim brought by Fiat Chrysler Australia; a £100m+ company dispute relating to Malaysian infrastructure assets.
Memberships
Chancery Bar Association; COMBAR.
Education
Studied PPE at Oxford, CPE at City University, LLM at King’s College London. Called 1995. QC 2012 (now KC).
Leisure
Married with two sons. An enthusiastic tennis player and skier.
Lawyer Rankings
London Bar > Company
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 4Hugh Norbury KC – Serle Court ‘Technically brilliant, commercially savvy and exemplary with clients, Hugh’s fierce attention to detail and tireless work ethic mean he is an asset in any instruction.’
London Bar > Commercial litigation
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 3Hugh Norbury KC –Serle Court ‘Consistently excellent judgement and the ability to see the real issues in the case and develop effective strategies. He is an effective team leader and gets the best out of his juniors. His advocacy is calm and persuasive, he is not afraid to go into battle on difficult issues, and he reads judges well.’
‘Standout set‘ Serle Court is consistently involved in the market’s most significant disputes, including heavyweight commercial cases before both the Commercial Court and the Business and Property Courts. In Kea v Watson, Elizabeth Jones KC
, leading a team of six juniors against three separate teams for the defendants, is representing New Zealand businessman and philanthropist Sir Owen Glenn in various proceedings concerning BVI joint venture company, Spartan Capital. In The Public Institution for Social Security v Al-Rajaan, Philip Marshall KC, leading Simon Hattan, represents one of the defendants in a $800m-plus fraud claim, arising out of alleged bribery involving Kuwait’s state pension fund’s investments, while Hugh Norbury KC is acting for the claimant. Senior junior and business disputes specialist, Jennifer Meech, joined chambers in October 2022 from Enterprise Chambers, and in April 2023, head clerk Steve Whitaker retired after 48 years at chambers, with management of the clerking team passed to senior clerks Nick Hockney and Dan Wheeler, who are ‘real assets for the set‘.
London Bar > Fraud: civil
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 1Hugh Norbury KC –Serle Court ‘Always on a list of first choices for any fraud case. He has a depth and breadth of knowledge and experience that very few can match, and he has great instincts.’