4 Stone Buildings is noted for its strength in advising companies on disputes concerning loan issues, and is equally strong in handling litigation relating to the financial services industry, often involving the FSA. In a prominent matter, Richard Hill KC successfully acted for Glencore in Aabar Holdings S.á.r.l. v Glencore Plc, a large-scale shareholder claim brought under s.90 and s.90A of the FSMA 2000. The Commercial Court ruled that companies were allowed to assert privilege against their shareholders, and the shareholder rule was 'unjustifiable'. In a separate matter, Hill KC, Sharif Shivji KC and Tom Gentleman appeared for various parties in the Republic of Mozambique v Credit Suisse litigation.
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Position
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.
Career
Economics graduate (LSE), research assistant to member of Bank of England’s monetary policy committee, derivatives trader (London and Hong Kong 1997 to 1999). The Lawyer Hot 100, C&P Company & Insolvency Junior 2016, Commercial Litigation Junior 2018, Legal 500 Insolvency Junior 2020, Legal 500 Middle East Commercial Silk of the Year 2025. Deputy High Court Judge (2023 onwards), Attorney General to HRH The Prince of Wales (2020 onwards), Chair of Advocate (the legal advice and representation charity) (2023 onwards), Chair of Reserves and Director of Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund.
Memberships
Called to the Bar of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the British Virgin Islands and Bermuda. Chancery Bar Association, COMBAR, Insolvency Lawyers' Association, Financial Services Lawyers’ Association.
Education
Winchester College; London School of Economics (1997 BSc Economics); City University (2000 CPE/Diploma in Law; 2003 MA Law).
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘Sharif clearly has the trust of judges.’