Essex Court Chambers is recognised as ‘one of the top sets for civil fraud with strength and numbers across the board’. Multiple members of the set continue to appear in Public Institution for Social Security v Al Rajaan and others, with Anna Dilnot KC representing the claimant and Joe Smouha KC, James Collins KC, and Felix Wardle acting on behalf of the Man Group in the proceedings. Among the senior end of chambers, Paul McGrath KC brings strong expertise in asset recovery matters, and Nathan Pillow KC is sought after for his experience in acting for financial institutions in civil fraud matters. Ruth den Besten KC is ‘a real star’. Turning to the juniors, Tom Ford is ‘phenomenally hard-working’, with a solid track record in handling claims involving allegations of misrepresentation, conspiracy, breach of duty and deceit. In a boost to chambers, Anton Dudnikov KC and Ciaran Keller KC both took silk in March 2025. Bolstering the team at the junior end, Edward Gilmore and Carola Binney joined the group in March 2026.
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Profile
Position
Commercial and chancery litigation and arbitration (domestic and international), including: business agreements and contractual disputes of all kinds; banking and financial services litigation; civil fraud and asset tracing; energy and minerals; jurisdiction disputes; company, partnership and insolvency matters; shareholder disputes; fiduciaries; professional negligence; enforcement of judgments and awards; and claims for and against sovereign states.
Admitted as a member of the Bar of the British Virgin Islands.
Notable cases include: Maximov v NLMK [2017] (Comm – enforcement of annulled award); Hellas II v Apax Partners [2017] (Ch - transaction defrauding creditors); Nogotkov v Browder [2017] (Ch - Cross Border Insolvency Regulations; public policy); British American Tobacco v Sequana [2016] (Ch – unlawful dividends; breach of fiduciary duty; transactions defrauding creditors); Krys v KBC Partners [2015] (Privy Council – construction of articles of a limited partnership); Yukos Capital v Rosneft (No. 2) [2014] (Comm – enforceability of annulled arbitral awards); Barnsley v Noble [2015] (Ch – deceit, breach of contract and fiduciary duty); Cifal Groupe v Meridian Securities [2013] (Comm – jurisdiction challenge); Yukos Capital v Rosneft [2012] (CA - act of state, issue estoppel); Favor Easy Management v Wu [2012] (CA – civil fraud); NML v Argentina [2011] (Supreme Court - sovereign immunity); Crossco v Jolan [2011] (CA - constructive trust, proprietary estoppel); Star Energy v Bocardo [2010] (Supreme Court – trespass by oil pipelines at depth); Crest Nicholson v Akaria [2010] (CA - contractual formation); IPCO v NNPC [2009] (CA – part enforcement of New York Convention awards); Meretz v ACP [2008] (CA – conspiracy; inducing breach of contract); Donegal v Zambia [2007] (Comm - debt recovery against a sovereign state); Gamlestaden v Baltic Partners [2007] (Privy Council – unfair prejudice remedy for shareholders).
Career
Formerly a Member of HM Diplomatic Service (serving at the United Nations and the British Embassy, Lisbon). Called to the Bar 2004.
Memberships
Commercial Bar Association; Chancery Bar Association; Financial Services Lawyers Association
Education
Educated at Cheadle Hulme School and Brasenose College, Oxford (MA, 1st Class Honours; Gibbs Prize, John House Prize, Shell Prize; Open Scholarship), City University (Distinction) and the Inns of Court School of Law (Barstow Scholarship, Sweet & Maxwell Company Law Prize). Member of Lincoln' s Inn (Hardwicke, Lord Haldane, Lord Mansfield and Megarry Scholarships; Buchanan Prize; Sir Louis Gluckstein Advocacy Prize).
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- 'He provides excellent strategic advice.'