The members of Twenty Essex handle a range of matters concerning crypto fraud, recovery, NFTs and blockchain. Lawrence Akka KC is particularly well known for his handling of cases involving fintech and blockchain technologies. Paul Lowenstein KC was involved in Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA) v Wright, a case concerning a claimant group of US-based crypto exchanges and finance houses sought negative declarations that the defendant was not, as he claimed, Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous inventor of Bitcoin. Josephine Davies KC appeared unled in Fetch.Ai Ltd v Persons Unknown Category A & Ors, & BinanceHoldings Ltd, a case concerning cryptocurrency hacking.
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Profile
Work Department
Arbitration and mediation; Banking and finance; Civil fraud; Commercial law; Energy and natural resources; EU and competition law; Insurance and reinsurance; Private international law; Shipping
Position
Josephine specialises in all areas of commercial law and litigation. She has a unique skill-set combining:
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- depth and breadth of legal knowledge (in established fields, notably, competition, intellectual property, shipping, commodities and private international law and in developing areas including cryptocurrency and FRAND litigation);
- strong technical understanding based on her scientific background (BA in Physical Natural Sciences and MSci in Chemistry);
- extensive and diverse litigation (including urgent injunction and trial work) and arbitration experience.
Josephine is a strong advocate with experience in the Court of Appeal, the High Court (Commercial Court, Chancery Division and Queen’s Bench Division) and in international arbitrations and appeals. Josephine particularly enjoys urgent injunctive work and cross-examination of factual and expert witnesses including in relation to fraud allegations and complex scientific and financial matters.
Josephine has notable expertise in: the developing cryptoasset fraud sphere, in jurisdiction disputes, and in injunctive work (e.g. anti-suit, freezing, Norwich Pharmacal, breach of confidence and associated contempt proceedings).
Her work covers a range of sectors including IP, pharmaceuticals, science, technology and IT, distribution, shipping, commodities, shipbuilding, and energy. Josephine is recognised by the legal directories for commercial litigation, shipping and commodities work.
Languages
French (proficient); German (conversational)
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Excellent. Highly responsive and commercially minded, and well attuned to the needs of each case.'
- 'Proactive, responsive and professional. They work well as a team and ensure that nothing falls through the gaps.'
- 'Twenty Essex has a deep bench of super-talented barristers, and they are excellent all around.'