Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton has ‘one of the best banking litigation teams in the City’, with ’excellent depth of talent’. Swap transactions disputes, freezing injunctions, and insolvency disputes are all strengths of the team, which acts for leading banks and financial institutions. ‘Highly capable’ James Norris-Jones heads the practice, and is skilled at handling complex shareholder and joint venture disputes, as well as cases with fraud and insolvency elements. James Brady-Banzet is ’incredibly knowledgeable and hard-working’, often acting on complex and multijurisdictional banking disputes. Jonathan Kelly and Naomi Tarawali are noted, along with Rohan Mandumula, a ‘future star’.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘A highly skilled team, with strength in breadth and depth.’
‘James Norris-Jones is a highly capable lawyer, a great leader of teams and a pleasure to work with. Naomi Tarawali is impressive with great attention to detail.’
‘Excellent client service, knowledgeable, easy to work with, efficient.’
‘James Norris-Jones - a very good partner - all the necessary skills and more!’
‘Cleary is one of the best banking litigation teams in the City. They have an excellent depth of talent and are regularly instructed on the most important and high-profile banking disputes of the day.’
‘James Brady-Banzet is an incredibly knowledgeable and hard-working partner who relishes the detail and always gives sound advice. He is a future leader of his field.’
Key clients
- Fir Tree Capital
- DEXIA S.A
- Natixis
- GHF Fund (formerly Abraaj Growth Markets Health Fund)
- Wafra Inc.
- Public Institution for Social Security (PIFSS)
- Stellantis Financial Services
Work highlights
Acted for Fir Tree Partners in proceedings brought against SBB, Sweden’s largest residential property landlord, concerning allegations of a breach of financial covenant in certain SBB EMTN Notes held by Fir Tree.
Assisting Dexia (Claimant) in its claim against Patrimonio del Trentino S.p.A.(Defendant). In its claim, Dexia seeks declarations as to the validity and enforceability of an interest rate hedging transaction entered into on 18 February 2011 with the Defendant and governed by a 2002 ISDA Master Agreement.
Representing GHF Fund and its Limited Partners Advisory Committee on parallel litigation claims in the Cayman Islands arising from the collapse of the Dubai-based private equity fund The Abraaj Group, and on the separation of the USD 1 billon Abraaj Growth Markets Health Fund from The Abraaj Group.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Practice head
James Norris-Jones
Other key lawyers
James Brady-Banzet; Jonathan Kelly; Naomi Tarawali; Rohan Mandumula