Addleshaw Goddard boasts a ‘first-rate banking litigation practice’, commended for combining ’excellent legal skills with approachability’. Members of the practice have expertise handling high-value mandates across a range of sectors, and are skilled at acting on novel cases linked to Fintech and digital assets. Team head Richard Clayton is ‘a superb litigator’, and acts for leading asset managers and hedge funds, with expertise spanning complex finance, investment, asset management, and fraud disputes. James Herring is ’a first-rate litigator who is an excellent strategic thinker’, and noted alongside Sivan Daniels and Alex Unger.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Alex Unger has great knowledge of the industry, extremely commercial and responsive. ’
‘First rate banking litigation practice, with quality throughout the team, led by some stellar partners.’
‘Richard Clayton - a superb litigator, highly commercial and strategic in securing the best outcome for his clients.'
- 'Sivan Daniels, incredibly bright, knows the law inside out, and super commercial: he is an exceptional lawyer and a pleasure to work with.'
- 'James Herring, and Sivan Daniels are exceptional partners. Above all, their litigation advice is always atuned to the commercial and reputational context.'
‘The AG banking team is a first-rate team which manages to combine excellent legal skills with an approachability and ease of dealing which is highly unusual. They are excellent to work with.’
‘James Herring - a first-rate litigator who is an excellent strategic thinker, spotting and dealing with potential difficulties in good time. He stands out as calm and unflustered, while pushing opponents with a well-thought-out position backed by inexorable logic.'
- 'This is a great team with strength in depth from partner down to associate.'
- 'They have an encyclopaedic knowledge of retail banking in particular. Nothing in that space phases them. They are particularly adept at dealing with the pressures of high value and highly public litigation.'
- 'Sivan Daniels is very thoughtful and incisive when considering the issues, he is always looking to protect his clients' interests to the greatest extent possible. He is calm and measured, a good person to have on side in a crisis. His availability is also first class.'
Key clients
- Unitel S.A.
- British International Investment plc (formerly CDC Group Plc) and Michael Turner
- Barclays Bank Plc
- Santander UK Plc.
Work highlights
Acting for Unitel S.A. in its £580m+ claims for repayment of funds and enforcement of security and/or damages followings a series of events of default against a Dutch company owned by Isabel dos Santos (whose business empire and fortune were exposed by the so-called "Luanda Leaks").
Acting for British International Investment Plc, the UK's development finance institution and Michael Turner defending a $200m Commercial Court claim brought by Crane Bank Limited (a Ugandan bank) and a number of its former shareholders for unlawful means conspiracy, dishonest assistance and knowing receipt alleged to arise from the acquisition of Crane Bank's assets by DFCU Bank Limited (DFCU).
Acted for Barclays Bank in successfully defending a claim by litigation funder Henderson & Jones against the Bank for £46m brought through an assignment by a former corporate customer. The claim alleged that the Bank colluded with the company's former directors and solicitors to defraud the company and its creditors by dishonestly assisting a company refinance and restructure in order to profit personally at the expense of the company, HMRC and victims of the PIP implants scandal. The parties remain in dispute in relation to costs.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Sivan Daniels
Alex Unger
Practice head
Richard Clayton
Other key lawyers
James Herring; Sivan Daniels; Alex Unger