4 Stone Buildings

Called 2017 (Queen Mother scholar of Middle Temple). Karl is a commercial chancery barrister who is frequently instructed both as sole counsel in the High Court and County Court, and as part of a wider counsel team in heavy commercial litigation. He maintains a broad practice, specialising in banking, civil fraud, company, insolvency and general commercial disputes. Karl has been instructed on several high-profile civil fraud disputes, such as JTrust Asia PTE Ltd v Konoshita (2023, DIFC), Autonomy v Lynch [2022] EWHC 1178 (Ch) (3-week quantum trial in 2024) and a multi-million pound fraud claim in the High Court concerning the sale of mini-bonds to consumer investors. Company and general commercial litigation are a mainstay of Karl’s practice: recent instructions include Chambi v Aristodemou [2024] EWHC 1610 (Ch) (unled 5-day High Court trial in unfair prejudice proceedings) and GTC Trading SA v Hazem Abdolshahid Mahmoudi Rashed and Ors (2024, DIFC). Karl has also developed an established offshore practice. He has particular experience with disputes in the Middle East, including in the DIFC, ADGM and QFC. He has also been instructed on multiple cases in the BVI, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

Hermann Boeddinghaus KC

Company litigation and advice. Insolvency law. Commercial litigation. Offshore Litigation.

George Bompas KC

Company law (all aspects, advisory and litigation, including minority shareholder proceedings, insolvency and asset recovery), banking/insurance, financial services law & professional negligence. Amongst recent cases: representing the successful appellant in the ground-breaking Marex Financial Ltd v Sevilleja appeal to the Supreme Court ([2020] UKSC 31), Official Receiver v Batmanghelidjh & Ors: Re Keeping Kids Company, Bott & Co Solicitors v Ryanair [2019]1 WLR 3375 (solicitors’ lien, Supreme Court appeal pending), and Global Gaming Ventures [2018] EWCA Civ 68 (company law and receivership).

John Brisby is a seasoned litigator, with substantial experience of heavy trials in the Chancery Division, the Commercial Court and foreign jurisdictions such as Bermuda, Bahamas, BVI and Nevis; and is known as a formidable cross-examiner in court. He enjoys working with other people and is a good team player. Over the years, John Brisby has been extensively involved in heavy litigation arising out of large-scale corporate collapses such as Barlow Clowes, British and Commonwealth, Maxwell, BCCI, Barings, Railtrack and Enron. More recently, he has been involved in major litigation and arbitrations relating to disputes originating from the former Soviet Union and China, and also in litigation resulting from the Madoff collapse and from the LIBOR fixing scandal. On the corporate side, he has been involved in some of the leading cases dealing with the rights of minority shareholders; whilst on the financial services side, he has acted on behalf of the regulators and also on behalf of their members (particularly insurance companies) dealing both with disciplinary and advisory matters. John Brisby has appeared in over 150 reported cases. John Brisby KC was awarded Chancery Silk of the Year at the 2015 Chambers UK Bar Awards.

Alexander Cook KC

Alexander Cook KC has a litigation-focussed commercial Chancery practice, with a significant emphasis on high value disputes in England & Wales and offshore. His work encompasses all aspects of commercial litigation and arbitration, civil fraud, company law, insolvency, and actions under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. A significant proportion of Alexander’s practice comprises offshore or international work. He appears regularly before the courts of the British Virgin Islands and is registered as a legal practitioner with the Court of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). He has been admitted pro hac to the bars of Bermuda and Antigua & Barbuda. Other offshore experience includes the Cayman Islands, Nevis, Anguilla, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Jersey and Guernsey. In addition to his private work, Alexander also undertakes work on behalf of the UK government. He has been appointed as Standing Counsel to the Competition and Markets Authority, and was formerly a member of the Attorney General’s A Panel of Counsel. Alexander also sits as an arbitrator and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb).

Nicholas Cox is an exceptionally versatile senior junior with a silk-level commercial chancery practice. He has been a member of the Attorney General’s Panel of Civil Counsel since 1999 and ‘A’ Panel Counsel since 2005. He is regularly instructed by the government frequently on large commercial disputes of national significance or sensitivity, often with media interest. He has acted on behalf of every major department of state including HM Treasury, MOD, Home Office, Ministry of Justice, Department for Transport, the Department of Health, DBIS, DWP, DECC, DEFRA, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and DfE, and by a wide range of other public bodies, including for example HMRC, OFGEM, HM Land Registry, NHS England, The Charity Commission, the Insolvency Service, Civil Aviation Authority, Office of the Rail Regulator, the Disclosure and Barring Service, Companies House, National Employment Savings Trust Corp, HM Prisons & Probation Service. Particularly recognised for his expertise in public sector commercial and contractual disputes, including PFI/PPP contracts, MOD Contracting and rail franchises, Nicholas has extensive experience of civil litigation in all divisions of the higher courts involving commercial and contractual disputes, insolvency and company law, constructive trusts and civil fraud and civil recovery actions under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (“POCA”). He holds the highest level of security clearance and is experienced in matters involving the handling of classified information.

Edward Crossley

Edward has a busy practice of commercial, commercial chancery and company law cases, often with an offshore or international element. Recent cases have included litigation and arbitration in London, Antigua, Bermuda, the DIFC, Singapore, Mauritius and New York across a wide range of subject matters including company law, partnership disputes, insolvency and restructuring, insurance coverage disputes, banking, and financial services. Edward is frequently instructed on his own and is equally comfortable acting as junior as part of a larger counsel team. Full details of Edward’s practice are available on chambers’ website at https://4stonebuildings.com/barrister/edward-crossley/

Jonathan Crow KC

Jonathan’s practice straddles a broad range of litigation, largely in the appellate courts where he appears both for private clients and for public authorities. He is recommended in 10 practice areas by Chambers UK and is ranked as one of the Stars of the Bar. In a career spanning 40 years he has been involved at the highest level in civil fraud (from Polly Peck to Madoff), company law (from Guinness to Atlantic Computers), corporate insolvencies (from BCCI to Lehmans), public law (from Guantanamo Bay to assisted suicide), constitutional law (from the Channel Islands to the Chagos Islands), telecoms (from the 3G auction to interconnection charges), consumer credit (from bank charges to PPI) and many other areas, including over 200 reported cases. He has appeared more than 40 times in the Supreme Court or the House of Lords, and on numerous other occasions in the Privy Council, the Court of Appeal and the European Court of Human Rights. He was First Treasury Counsel from 1998 until 2006, since when he has been named both as Commercial Litigation silk of the year and also as Chancery silk of the year by Chambers UK, as Lawyer of the Week by The Times (twice), and as one of the Legal 500’s Hot 100. In addition to his work in London, he also has a busy overseas practice, including work in relation to jurisdictions such as Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, the BVI, Nevis, Trinidad & Tobago, the Turks & Caicos Islands, Hong Kong and Malaysia. Apart from his work as an advocate, he acts as an LCIA arbitrator and sits part time as a Deputy High Court Judge in London (both in the Chancery Division and in the Administrative Court) and also as a judge of the Courts of Appeal in Jersey and Guernsey, and as a part-time Deemster in the Isle of Man. From 2006 to 2020 he served as Attorney General to HRH The Prince of Wales.

Andrew de Mestre KC

Commercial litigation and arbitration with particular emphasis on civil fraud and asset recovery; financial services and banking including CMBS and other securitisation disputes; insolvency and company law including restructuring plans and proceedings under the Insolvency Act 1986, directors’ duties, and shareholder disputes. Recent cases include: Thames Water restructuring plan [2025] EWHC 369; Serco shareholder litigation (settled at trial in 2024); Banca Generali v Sovereign Credit Opportunities [2024] EWCA Civ 866; Madison Pacific Trust v SquareTwo Capital [2023] EWHC 2605; Croxen v GEMA [2022] EWHC 2826; Re Bulb Energy [2021] EWHC 3735; GEHC v Gray [2021] EWCA Civ 123 and [2020] EWCA Civ 1668; Travelport v WEX [2020] EWHC 2670 (Comm); Stanford International Bank Plc v HSBC Bank Plc [2020] EWHC 2232; Deutsche Trustee Co Ltd v Duchess VI CLO BV [2020] EWCA Civ 521; Singularis Holdings Ltd v Daiwa Capital Markets Europe Plc [2019] UKSC 50; Hosking v Apax Partners LLP [2019] 1 WLR 3347; Re Peak Hotels and Resorts Ltd [2019] 1 WLR 2145; Playboy Club London v BNL SA [2018] UKSC 43.

Gregory Denton-cox

Gregory has a broad commercial and chancery litigation practice. He has particular expertise in company law matters (including shareholder and investor disputes, and proceedings brought by liquidators), civil fraud, tracing and asset recovery, international trusts and offshore disputes, banking and finance, and insolvency and restructuring. Many of his cases have an international dimension, involving multi-jurisdictional teams. Notable recent cases include acting for Glencore plc in a shareholder claim, acting for VTBE in the three month Commercial Court trial in Republic of Mozambique v Credit Suisse & others, FSHC Group Holdings Ltd v Barclays Bank plc (Court of Appeal, a leading case on rectification), BNY Mellon Corporate Trustee Services v LBG Capital (Supreme Court), Napier Park v Harbourmaster (Court of Appeal), US Bank Trustees Ltd v Titan Europe (disputes concerning the construction of structured finance documents), Benedetti v Sawiris (Supreme Court) (leading case on restitution/quantum meruit), and McKillen v Misland (shareholder dispute concerning ownership of London hotels).

Orlando’s career began at 4 Stone Buildings in the 1990s, learning his trade under noted Chancery advocates Peter Curry and Philip Heslop, with early exposure to the Maxwell, BCCI and Marc Rich litigation, and on the DTI’s Directors’ Disqualification Counsel list. Since then, Orlando has gone on himself to feature in heavy financial litigation in the UK and throughout Commonwealth jurisdictions, being noted in particular for his own punchy advocacy and cross-examination. Orlando’s practice is at the commercial end of the Chancery Bar, with an emphasis on civil fraud, company, insolvency, commercial and trusts, and he has featured in numerous reported cases. Orlando took silk in 2014, and is licenced to appear in the BVI, St Christopher and Nevis, and DIFC.

Tom is a senior junior with a broad commercial, commercial chancery and company law practice. He regularly appears in high profile, high value cases in both the Commercial Court and Chancery Division. He has particular experience in civil fraud claims, shareholder disputes and insolvency. Recent cases include Mozambique v Credit Suisse (the Tuna Bonds litigation); Autonomy v Lynch (fraud claims arising from Hewlett Packard’s acquisition of Autonomy); and Tchenguiz v Grant Thornton (fraud claims arising from the collapse of Kaupthing). Full details available on the chambers website at 4stonebuildings.com/barrister/tom-gentleman.

Christopher Harrison

Commercial and chancery litigation; civil fraud; tracing and asset recovery; banking and finance; shareholder disputes; company law; insolvency and restructuring; director disqualification. Commercial and Chancery disputes lie at the heart of Christopher’s practice and he has wide-ranging experience in both the Commercial Court and the Chancery Division. He deals with all aspects of claims, recognising the importance in particular of interim steps such as injunctive relief in leading to a successful outcome. He has considerable trial experience. He has assisted many clients in successfully resolving their disputes by negotiated ADR procedures. His work often has an international dimension and he has worked with lawyers in many jurisdictions.

Lara Hassell-Hart

Lara has a busy litigation practice spanning a wide range of commercial chancery work, including commercial, financial services and banking, regulatory, civil fraud, insolvency and company litigation. She has substantial experience of large High Court trials and working in small and big counsel and solicitor teams. Notable cases include: the Lloyds/HBOS shareholder litigation (a 12 week banking trial arising from Lloyds’ acquisition of HBOS in the 2008 banking crisis); Autonomy and Ors v Lynch and Anor liability trial (10 month £5bn civil fraud trial arising from Hewlett Packard’s acquisition of Autonomy); Travelport & Ors v WEX (a 7 day expedited trial in the Commercial Court; the leading English authority on material adverse change clauses); Re Bulb Energy Limited (the UK’s first ever application for an energy supply company special administration order); Croxen & Ors v Gas and Electricity Markets Authority and Ors (a complex 5-day insolvency hearing regarding the ability of OFGEM and other energy supply companies to prove in the insolvencies of other energy companies); Re Spring Media Investments Limited (3 week trial under ss.994-996 of the Companies Act; later an appeal and cross-appeal to the Court of Appeal); Staley v Financial Conduct Authority (a high-profile Upper Tribunal trial of the FCA’s decision to impose a penalty and prohibition order on the ex-CEO of Barclays); Lopez Gonzalez and Ors v Financial Conduct Authority (a complex 3 week market abuse trial in the Upper Tribunal, arising out of three bond traders’ manipulative trading of Italian futures on the EUREX exchange). In addition to her private practice, Lara also undertakes work on behalf of the UK Government, having been appointed to C panel in 2022 and B panel in 2025. She regularly advises and appears for other public bodies and regulators, including the Financial Conduct Authority, Financial Reporting Council, and OFGEM. Lara was one of 19 barristers named in The Lawyer’s ‘Hot 100’ of 2022.

Richard Hill KC

Litigation specialist focusing on commercial, capital markets and banking, civil fraud, insolvency and company litigation. In addition to his High Court practice he appears in international arbitrations and Courts in offshore jurisdictions. His work regularly features cross-border issues and involves large teams, often including team members from the US and other jurisdictions. Leading recent cases: Autonomy Corporation v Lynch; of Travelport v WEX; Olding v WEX, Sharp v Blank (Lloyds shareholder action); Khorafi v Bank Sarasin-Alpen (ME) Ltd (DIFC Court); Pinchuk v Bogolyubov; Constantin Meridien v Ecclestone; McKillen v Barclay & Ors; re Lehman Brothers International Europe (client money litigation); Re Titan Europe 2007-1 (NHP); Sinclair v Versailles Trade Finance Ltd.

Eleanor Holland

A barrister and mediator with a broad commercial Chancery practice, Eleanor provides practical advice tailored to meeting the client’s objectives, and is particularly sought after for work involving complex legal questions. She regularly receives repeat instructions from solicitors’ firms, and works both alone and led by barristers (including silks) in and out of Chambers. Eleanor is a CEDR-accredited mediator, offering a practical and constructive approach to parties wishing to explore settlement of their dispute.

Adam has a broad commercial chancery practice. He often works as junior to leading counsel in heavy, high value or international matters but also as part of larger counsel teams and on his own. Adam’s practice varies from advice on self-contained points to long running litigation. He has also been instructed by the Government on matters involving allegations of rendition and the improper treatment of detainees. Cases of interest: JSC BTA Bank Ablyazov [2015] 1 WLR 4754 (Supreme Court). Chemtrade Ltd v Fuchs Oil Middle East Ltd; Fuchs Petrolub AG [BVIHC(COM) 158 of 2010] and on appeal [BVIHCVAP2013/0004] – Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court: High Court (Commercial Division) and Court of Appeal. Gallaher International Ltd v Tlais Enterprises Ltd [2008] EWHC 804 (Comm) – Commercial Court. Cherney v Deripaska [2007] EWHC 965 (Comm) – Commercial Court. Re Transocean Equipment Manufacturing and Trading Ltd, Carman v The Cronos Group SA and Others [2006] EWHC 1324 (Ch) – Chancery Division.

Emma’s practice covers a broad range of commercial litigation in line with Chambers’ specialisms, including large commercial disputes, civil fraud, company law, insolvency, offshore litigation and arbitration. She has significant trial experience. Notable recent cases include: Demissie v KEFI Gold v Copper plc [2025] EWHC 60 (KB) (commission claim; unled 1 week trial); Republic of Mozambique v Credit Suisse [2024] EWHC 1957 (Comm) (one of The Lawyers Top 20 Cases for 2023; multi-billion US$ fraud claim; 12 week trial); Playle v Verschuur (unfair prejudice dispute; unled 3.5 week trial); Joannou & Parakevaides (Overseas) (in liq) (claims brought by joint liquidators for wrongful trading, fraudulent trading, breach of fiduciary duties and unlawful means conspiracy); MAD International v Manes [2021] EWHC 3335 (claims in deceit and breach of joint venture agreement; 4 week trial).

Daniel practises all areas of commercial chancery law, with a particular interest in company law, insolvency law and commercial litigation. He has appeared twice as sole counsel in the Court of Appeal, representing the successful appellants in Bone v Williamson [2024] 1 WLR 3235 and in Burton v Ministry of Justice [2025] K.B. 66. He appears both led and unled in the High Court, County Court and (via his civil Proceeds of Crime practice) in the Magistrates’ and Crown Court. Daniel has written a guide to insolvency law for litigants in person, ‘Insolvency Law Made Clear’. He was appointed to the Attorney General’s ‘B’ Panel of Counsel in September 2025. Before coming to the Bar, Daniel worked as an economist for five years, including working as an Economic Advisor at the Competition and Markets Authority and a Senior Associate in the Financial Conduct Authority. He maintains his interest in cases with an economic or financial element. Recent significant cases include an unfair prejudice petition in the British Virgin Islands; an application to suspend an out of court administration; and a $150m fraud claim concerning allegations of sanctions breaches in Iran.

James is an experienced senior junior with a broad commercial, company, and commercial chancery practice, spanning chambers’ core practice areas. He has experience of court work at all first instance and appellate levels, as well as arbitration, and is equally happy working on his own or in a team (whether leading or being led). James has particular experience of shareholder disputes of all descriptions, civil fraud actions (including interim remedies and contempt of court) and banking and finance disputes, but his work is by no means confined to those areas. Other recent work has, for example, seen James advise and represent clients in a number of pieces of trust litigation (acting both for trustees and beneficiaries), a damages enquiry in relation to a substantial intellectual property dispute in the pharmaceutical industry, and a dispute over long historic promotion and distribution arrangements in the music industry. Recent reported cases include: - Mason v Barclays Bank Plc [2025] EWCA 265 (contempt of court; sentencing); - Dylan v. Barclays Bank Plc [2025] EWCA Civ 20 (contempt of court; sentencing); - Barclays Bank Plc v. Dylan [2024] EWHC 1994 (contempt of court; committal); - Eli Lilly & co v. Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Limited [2024] EWHC 2474 (Ch) (confidentiality clubs; variation of confidentiality orders) - Barclays Bank Plc v. Citibank NA [2024] EWHC 53 (Ch) (non-party disclosure; confidentiality); - Barclays Bank Plc v. Dylan [2023] EWHC 3523 (Ch) (adjournments; listing appeals); - Byers v. Saudi National Bank [2023] UKSC 51; [2024] 2 WLR 237 (knowing receipt; constructive trusts); - Re LYHFL Ltd [2023] EWHC 2585 (Ch); [2024] 2 B.C.L.C. 531 (administration; directors’ powers; locus standi); - Eli Lilly & Co v. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd [2023] EWHC 68 (Ch) (preliminary issues; disclosure guidance); - Stanford International Bank Ltd v. HSBC Bank Plc [2022] UKSC 34; [2023] AC 761 (loss; Quincecare duty); - Global Energy Horizons Corp v. Gray [2021] EWCA Civ 123 and [2020] EWCA Civ 1668 (breach of duty; account of profits; fresh evidence; valuation; costs).

Chancery Commercial, including Company Law and personal and corporate Insolvency, with a particular emphasis on disputes involving offshore and civil fraud aspects. Recent reported cases include: Magomedov v TPG Group [2025] EWHC 59 (Comm), Wang v Tianjin Lantian Gerui [2024 EWHC 2059 (Ch), Sian Participation v Domidias [2024] EWHC 458 (Comm), Gill v Thind [2023] EWCA Civ 1276, SFO v Harbour Fund II LLP [2022] EWHC 3053 and Faulkner v Vollin Holdings Ltd [2022] EWCA Civ 1371.

Anna Markham is a specialist in company, commercial, financial services and insolvency law, with a busy caseload of litigation and advisory work. She has conducted a wide range of cases including commercial, banking and investor litigation, shareholder disputes and claims by and against officeholders. She also has particular expertise – as a former member of the Attorney General’s civil panel of Counsel (2002-2009) – in conducting litigation for and against Government departments (including directors’ disqualification proceedings). A sophisticated and hard-hitting advocate, Anna is known for her outstanding grasp of the technical detail, underpinned by her previous training as a chartered accountant at Arthur Andersen.

Charles Marquand

Financial services Charles Marquand is a well-known specialist in financial services law and regulation, with long-standing and broad-ranging experience in the field. He is a former legal adviser at HM Treasury, where he dealt with a great variety of financial services matters. Whilst at HM Treasury he also drafted legislation and regulations. Amongst others, he was instrumental in drafting the regulations for the operation of Crest (now part of Euroclear), the dematerialised securities transfer and settlement system. He additionally assisted in the negotiation and implementation of EU directives. As a barrister he advises on an extensive range of financial services matters. He has a particular expertise in collective investment schemes, funds, crypto-currencies, payment services and “perimeter” issues. His clients are varied. They are based in the UK and overseas and include both regulated and unregulated firms in the private sector, public sector organisations, charities, family offices and individuals. He has also advised governments and regulatory authorities in eastern and central Europe and Asia on financial services legal and regulatory systems, and investment laws. He has also drafted laws and regulations for overseas governments. He also acts in financial services contentious matters. He further advises on company law matters, and regularly drafts corporate, transactional and commercial documents and agreements. Arbitration Charles Marquand has been sitting as an arbitrator for over 20 years, principally in international commercial disputes. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a Chartered Arbitrator. He is on the data-bases and has been admitted as a panel member of several leading arbitral organisations, including the ICC (UK), ICC (France), LCIA, DIAC, SIAC, HKIAC, BVI International Arbitration Centre, P.R.I.M.E Finance (Permanent Court of Arbitration, Hague) and the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce (SCC). He has particular experience of sitting in disputes concerning metal and is on the arbitral panels of the London Metal Exchange (LME) and the Minor Metals Trade Association (MMTA). ipulation case); FSA v Anderson, Peacock & Pruthi (deposit-taking/colective investment scheme - £115m involved); R (Ya land & Wilding) Sec. State for Exiting EU (whether Parliamentary consent necessary for UK to leave EEA).

Zara has a busy commercial chancery practice, with a focus on company, insolvency, commercial litigation and arbitration, civil fraud, and banking and finance. She also practises in the DIFC Courts, where she acted as sole counsel for the successful Sixth-Eighth Defendants in Union Bank of India v Velocity, a ten-day trial before Justice Lord Angus Glennie. Notable instructions include: acting as sole counsel for the administrators of the Oasis and Warehouse retail chain (2022-2024); Autonomy v Lynch (2022-2024); Re Compound Photonics (2021-2022); acting as sole counsel for the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority in respect of energy company insolvencies (2021). Zara was appointed to the Attorney General’s ‘C’ Panel in September 2023.

Tiran Nersessian

Tiran is highly regarded for his courtroom advocacy and has extensive experience acting (both led and unled) in substantial trials, appeals and applications. He is a ‘go-to’ expert in the area of directors’ disqualification and is the general editor of the leading textbook in that field: Mithani. Tiran has a particular depth of experience in both corporate and personal insolvency litigation, including transactions at undervalue and preferences, disputed winding up and bankruptcy petitions, administrations, bankruptcy restriction orders, wrongful/fraudulent trading and the appointment of provisional liquidators on the application of creditors and the Secretary of State. He has been recommended for many years as a leading practitioner in the fields of Restructuring/Insolvency and Company/Partnership. He has acted in several high profile matters for the government and private clients in recent years including Carillion, Comet, Post Office Horizon scandal, Bell Pottinger, BHS, Boris Becker, the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, the proposed acquisition of Sky by 21 Century Fox and James Stunt to name but a few. Tiran has been appointed to the AG’s panel since 2006 (A-Panel since 2016) pursuant to which he has been instructed in some of the government’s most significant and high-profile matters stretching back to the collapse of MG Rover. He is presently instructed in the highly publicised £120m+ contractual claim by the Government against PPE Medpro arising from the fallout from PPE procurement during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Guy Olliff-Cooper

Guy specialises in commercial disputes with a particular emphasis on civil fraud and cryptoassets. He frequently appears unled in both the High Court and the Court of Appeal, often against silks. He enjoys a busy offshore practice having been called to the Bar of both the BVI and the DIFC. In September 2025, Guy was appointed to the Attorney General’s B Panel of Counsel. Guy’s recent reported cases include: • Dos Santos v Unitel SA [2025] KB 438. A £580 million claim against Isabel Dos Santos, daughter of the former President of Angola, in relation to sums allegedly due under various loan agreements; now the leading authority on the merits threshold for freezing relief. • Mex Group Worldwide Ltd v Ford [2023] EWHC 3394 (KB). An application for a freezing injunction under s.25 of the Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 1982 in support of proceedings in Scotland valued at €68.5 million based on an alleged unlawful means conspiracy to induce breach of a consent order. • Therium Litigation Funding A IC v Bugsby Property LLC [2023] Costs LR 1641. An application by a litigation funder for an asset preservation order over £27.5 million of settlement proceeds.

Commercial and chancery disputes, particularly those involving civil fraud, company law, insolvency, banking and financial services. Extensive experience of cases involving jurisdictional and conflicts of laws issues, including anti-suit injunctions, cross-border insolvency cases, and disputes involving the interaction between courts and arbitral tribunals.

Albert’s practice as an advocate and advisor spans commercial litigation and arbitration, company law, insolvency, banking & financial services, financial regulation, civil fraud and asset recovery, and civil recovery under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Sharif Shivji KC

Sharif A. Shivji KC is the Joint Head of Chambers of 4 Stone Buildings and Attorney General to HRH The Prince of Wales. He is a leading silk in commercial law, with a particular focus in banking, financial services, civil fraud, company, and insolvency litigation. Sharif has appeared in two of the largest matters before the English Courts in recent years; the Hewlett-Packard / Autonomy litigation and the Republic of Mozambique v Credit Suisse litigation. He is also a leading offshore barrister with a prominent practice in BVI, Cayman Islands, Bermuda and the DIFC (where he has appeared in many of the jurisdiction’s most significant cases (Court of Appeal and First Instance). Sharif has substantial experience in acting as arbitration counsel in ICC, LCIA, and DIAC proceedings, and regularly represents governments and regulatory bodies. As a former derivatives trader, Sharif’s expertise includes financial markets and corporate finance, with a particular emphasis on financial and commodity futures, options, and complex derivatives. Notable cases include: Autonomy v Lynch [2025] EWHC 1877 (Ch), [2025] EWHC 1171 (Ch), [2022] EWHC 1178 (Ch), Gonzalez v Financial Conduct Authority [2025] UKUT 214 (TCC), Enstar [2025] SC (Bda) 76 civ (Bermuda), Mozambique v Credit Suisse International [2024] EWHC 1957 (Comm), General Electric Co v Al Alpine US Bidco Inc [2021] EWHC 45 (Ch), Bank Sarasin Alpen v Bank J Safra Sarasin (DIFC CFI & CA), Khorafi v Bank Sarasin (DIFC), Akhmedova v Akhmedov (2018) (DIFC CFI & CA), Akers v Stanford (BVI HC & CA), Wentworth v Lehman [2017] EWHC 3158 (Ch), S&P v ApoBank and RBS (2016) (Comm) and Chesterfield v Deutsche Bank (2016) (Ch). Sharif is highly ranked across multiple practice areas in the legal directories and was listed in The Lawyer’s Hot 100.

Nicola has a broad commercial and commercial chancery practice with particular experience in high value complex disputes, typically involving international components. She has a particular focus on banking, financial services, civil fraud, the natural resources sector, insolvency law, company law, shareholder disputes, and directors disqualification. Nicola has acted in three of “The Lawyer’s Top 20 Cases” of the year during her career, most recently in 2023 acting for the former CEO of Carillion in the high-profile Carillion director disqualification proceedings which arose from allegations concerning the accounting treatment of infrastructure projects and followed the largest liquidation in UK history. Alongside a busy practice in London, Nicola regularly accepts instructions in offshore matters, particularly from Bermuda, the Cayman Islands and the BVI (where she is called to the Bar). As a former solicitor and judicial assistant in the Court of Appeal, Nicola is well placed to understand the needs of both her professional clients and the judiciary, and to tailor her advice and advocacy accordingly.

Alastair Tomson

Alastair has an international advisory and litigation practice with experience of High Court and appellate proceedings, and international arbitration (ICSID, ICC, LCIA, UNCITRAL, DIAC), across banking and financial services, natural resources, company, insolvency and high-value commercial disputes. Instructed in several leading cases involving interest rate swap mis-selling. Has represented the Government of Rwanda in a significant number of natural resources arbitration disputes since 2011. Experience of a range of international disputes involving cryptocurrencies, and Greek banking sector securitisations. Recognised as a leading barrister in the DIFC, first instance and appellate level, including high-value banking, civil fraud, and oil and gas disputes. Notable cases include: Mikadze v Del Rosso [2023] EWHC 2165 (KB); Massun v Mousi & Others [2022] DIFC CA 003 (DIFC Court of Appeal); Bay View Group LLC and The Spalena Company LLC v. Republic of Rwanda, ICSID Case No. ARB/18/21; Dansingani & Anor v Canara Bank [2021] EWCA Civ 714 (CA); Al Sadeq v Dechert LLP & Ors [2021] EWHC 1149 (QB); Kaamil v Kaawa [2020] CFI 032 (DIFC); Syndicate Bank v Dansingani [2019] EWHC 3439 (Ch); Michel v Michel [2019] EWHC 1378 (Ch); Marme Inversiones 2007 SL v Natwest Markets Plc [2019] EWHC 366 (Comm); Re Maud [2019] Ch. 15; Al Khorafi v Bank Sarasin Alpen [2018] DIFC CA 010; Aabar and Edgeworth v Maud [2018] EWHC 1414 (Ch); Marme Inversiones 2007 SL v RBS [2016] EWHC 1570 (Comm); Deutsche Bank AG v Unitech [2016] 1 W.L.R. 3598.

A broad practice covering the full range of commercial litigation and arbitration, with a focus on insolvency, civil fraud, company law, banking and financial services. Equally comfortable working as sole counsel or as part of a wider counsel team, Joseph is instructed in commercial disputes in the English courts and in arbitration and also offshore. Recent cases include: •Giwa v JNFX [2025] EWCA Civ 961 & [2024] EWHC 735 (Ch) (foreign exchange; deceit) •Adie v Ingenuity [2024] EWHC 2902 (Ch) (share purchase; deferred consideration) •Power Projects v Star Assurance [2024] EWHC 2798 (Comm) (on-demand bonds) •Albert Court v Fetaimia [2024] EWHC 1307 (Ch) (abuse of process; bankruptcy) •Petropavlovsk Plc, Re [2023] EWHC 264 (Ch), [2022] EWHC 2097 (Ch) & [2022] EWHC 2074 (Ch) (sanctions; schemes of arrangement; administration) •Asher v Jaywing [2022] EWHC 893 (Ch) (earn-outs; NOV clauses) •Maud, Re [2020] EWHC 1469 (Ch), [2020] EWHC 974 (Ch), [2019] EWHC 398 (Ch), [2018] EWHC 1414 (Ch), [2016] EWHC 2175 (Ch) & (bankruptcy petitions; collateral purpose) •Deansgate v Workman [2019] EWHC 2 (Ch) (transactions at an undervalue; abuse of process) • Re Haus of Vanity [2017] EWHC 2615 (Ch) (just & equitable winding-up) •RPC v Khan [2016] BPIR 722 (bankruptcy; jurisdiction) •Butler v Butler [2016] EWHC 1793 (Ch) (personal property; co-ownership) •Global v Gray [2015] EWHC 2232 (Ch), [2015] EWHC 3275 (Ch) & [2012] EWHC 3703 (Ch) (fiduciary duty; account of profits)

Nicholas Wright

Barrister specialising in commercial and commercial Chancery litigation, particularly company law and shareholder disputes, insolvency and civil fraud. He acts both led and unled in cases before the High Court and County Court and has acted in LCIA arbitrations and related applications to the High Court. Examples of recent instructions include: Department for Health & Social Care v PPE Medpro Limited: Acting for the Department of Health and Social Care in its ongoing claim against PPE Medpro Limited for in excess of £130 million. The claim arises from the supply of allegedly defective PPE to DHSC during the Covid-19 pandemic (led by Paul Stanley KC, Tiran Nersessian and Albert Sampson). X v Y: Acting on a claim brought by a merchant bank for fees in cash and kind said to be worth over £65 million allegedly due to it under a “tail-gunner” clause in an advisory services agreement relating to a reverse takeover (led by Jonathan Crow CVO KC). NDK Ltd v HUO Holding Ltd: Nicholas acted in LCIA arbitrations concerning a shareholder dispute over control of the Cypriot holding company of a large mine in the CIS region. This eventually included an antisuit injunction arbitration to restrain proceedings in Cyprus and three consolidated arbitrations on the merits. The case particularly addressed questions of the limits of arbitrability in the company law context which were eventually addressed by the High Court in NDK Ltd v HUO Holding Ltd [2022] EWHC 1682 (Comm) (led by Aidan Casey KC and Alexander Cook KC). Re Sova Capital Limited [2023] EWHC 452 (Ch): Nicholas acted for an interested party (the intended purchaser) on applications by the Joint Special Administrators of an insolvent investment brokerage firm focussed on the Russian market for directions pursuant to pursuant to paragraph 63 of Schedule B1 to the Insolvency Act 1986 in relation to the sale of a portfolio of shares with an estimated value of approximately £274 million (led by William Buck). Re XYZ Ltd: Nicholas acted for the Petitioner in an unfair prejudice petition concerning a 50/50 joint venture company incorporated to carry out a large property development. The case settled immediately following presentation of the petition on highly favourable terms to the Petitioner (led by David Lord KC).