Clients instruct Fountain Court Chambers for their ‘market-leading expertise’, with members frequently appearing in major matters before the ICC, LCIA, SIAC, HKIAC, DIAC and KLRCA and various ad-hoc tribunals. Bankim Thanki KC has a broad arbitration practice, handling both commercial arbitrations, related court proceedings and investment treaty proceedings, most recently on behalf of Ukraine in the long-running Littop Enterprises and others v Ukraine dispute, defending the arbitral award given to Ukraine in the dispute about the Ukrainian governmental measures which were alleged to be unfairly advantageous to the countries largest oil and associated gas producer, Naftogas. Alexander Milner KC has solid expertise in Russian related matters and Richard Lissack KC’s experience includes fraud, pharmaceutical and financial arbitrations. Nick Daly, Max Evans and Nico Leslie have active arbitration practices. The set is notable for its work in Asia, with Andrew Pullen based full-time in Singapore.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Profile
Position
Nick has a diverse and busy practice across a broad range of commercial work including civil fraud, banking, professional negligence, sport, aviation and insurance. He is regularly instructed in high profile commercial disputes, including several of The Lawyer’s “Top 20 Cases” in recent years.
Nick has significant experience both as a junior and as sole counsel in high value litigation and arbitrations in England and internationally, and regularly acts for large commercial institutions and high net worth individuals as an advocate and in an advisory capacity.
Significant recent cases include: the Russian Aircraft Claims (aviation insurance claims among the largest and most complex cases ever litigated in the Commercial Court); VTB Capital plc (in administration) v Republic of Mozambique [2024] EWHC 1957 (Comm) (proceedings arising from the so-called “Tuna Bonds” controversy involving US$2 billion of debt guaranteed by the Republic of Mozambique and complex allegations of bribery and corruption); the Ingenious Litigation (group litigation relating to the mis-selling of film finance investments); JD Classics Limited (in administration) v PwC (£60 million audit negligence claim); and Arani v Cordic Group Limited [2023] EWHC 95 (Comm) (multi-million pound fraudulent breach of warranty claim).
Career
Called in 2014; joined Fountain Court Chambers in October 2015.
Memberships
COMBAR.
Education
New College, Oxford: BA Hons (Classics) (1st class, first in year); MA Hons (Classics)
GDL and BPTC: City University, London
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Alex Taylor is our key contact, and he has made things very easy for us when it comes to instructing any barrister from Fountain Court. Alex is very approachable and practical. He would consider various factors before making recommendation to a law firm/solicitor.'
- 'First class. Alex Taylor is everything you look for in a senior clerk and I am always happy to take a recommendation from him. He is very responsive and will help find a barrister for me at short notice. I have dealt with a number of the other clerks -- they have clearly all learned well from Alex. It's a strong team.'
- 'The clerk's room is professional and knowledgeable.'
- 'Sian Huckett is particularly excellent.'
- 'Fountain Court Chambers is one of the best commercial chambers. They have got the best KC's and junior counsels. Completely on top of things and like to drive the matters.'
- 'There is rarely a specialism that they do not cover and it is more than just having someone who's done a similar case previously -- they have real market-leading expertise.'
- 'Fountain Court is an impressive chambers. It is professional, business like, and provides a very high quality service. It regularly engages with us in relation to training and is forward thinking in terms of business development, its relationship with us and the potential for reciprocity.'
- 'An excellent set, with strength and depth.'
- 'First class chambers.'