One Essex Court is 'at the top of the market for commercial disputes work'. Laurence Rabinowitz KC is 'a true litigation heavyweight who combines a calm demeanour with an ability to find solutions in the most complex of cases'. Sonia Tolaney KC and James MacDonald KC are acting for the defendants in BM Brazil & Ors v Sibanye, a $1.2bn claim concerning the alleged wrongful termination of share purchase agreements for the acquisition of two Brazilian mines from a private equity firm; the defendants had invoked an MAE clause to terminate the agreements following a geological event at one of the mines. In a boost to chambers, Michelle Menashy KC and Niranjan Venkatesan KC were both elevated to silk in March 2025.
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Profile
Position
Recommended in: Banking & Finance, Commercial Dispute Resolution, Energy and Natural Resources, Civil Fraud, Group Litigation, and International Arbitration (General Commercial & Insurance).
Regularly instructed in the leading cases of the day, Rabinowitz has been instructed in relation to most of the major commercial litigation passing through the English Courts in the past 30 years, as well as high profile disputes work in overseas courts. In recent years in particular, clients have sought his services on very difficult points of law going on appeal to the Court of Appeal, the Privy Council and the Supreme Court in a variety of sectors.
He continues to handle high-profile and precedent-setting cases. Representing Close Brothers in the Supreme Court appeal Hopcraft and another v Close Brothers Limited, defending group claims concerning commission on car purchase loans. Acting for Cobalt in the landmark case Cobalt v HMRC [2024] UKSC 40, which will serve as a leading authority on contractual variations under common law. Representing the appellants in the pivotal Court of Appeal judgment on sanctions regimes, PJSC National Bank Trust v Mint [2023] EWCA Civ 1132. Acting for G4S in Various Claimants v G4S [2023] EWHC 2863 (Ch), a significant case examining the rule in Sharp v Blank. For Everton FC in their appeal against the Premier League's 10-point deduction. Representing the Danish Tax Authority, Skatteforvaltningen, in SKAT v Solo Capital Partners LLP, involving claims of a sophisticated fraud resulting in losses of £1.44 billion; and for the Volkswagen Group in defence of group claims concerning alleged breaches of NOx emissions requirements in diesel vehicles.
Career
Called 1987, Middle Temple; tenant, 1 Essex Court, 1987; junior counsel to Crown, Chancery (1995-2002); silk, 2002; Deputy High Court Judge (Commercial Court and Chancery Division); Bencher Middle Temple, 2008; Bar Council (2015-2017); Chair of COMBAR (2015-2017). Chairman of the Takeover Panel (2025 +)
Languages
English.
Memberships
COMBAR
Education
1978-83: BA LLB (University of Witwatersrand), 1st Cum Laude, top graduating law student, Juta Prize, Advocates Prize for best graduating student.
1983: Rhodes Scholar, South-At-Large.
BA (Jurisprudence) Oxon, 1st.
BCL, 1st
Eldon Scholar
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