Class actions have been a recent focal area for DLA Piper and the team is adept at representing financial institutions in these claims. The practice has also seen an influx of fintech clients, as well as an uptick in hedge fund and private equity disputes. Adam Ibrahim leads the team alongside ‘savvy and conscientious litigator’ Sohail Ali, who boasts an impressive roster of investment, commercial and retail banks, funds, and fintechs, and Jeremy Sher, who co-heads the firm’s class actions practice and advises financial services clients on mass claims. Jamie Curle is another name to note, along with Chris Harvey and Tom Laidler. Dan Jewell is praised as ’experienced, meticulous, effective’ and Leontia McArdle is an active member of the team.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Jamie Curle (Partner) - very experienced, pragmatic, strategic, clear-sighted, a pleasure to work with. Just an excellent pair of hands. Dan Jewell (just below Partner level) - also very experienced, meticulous, effective.’
‘Sohail Ali is a savvy and conscientious litigator. Shabaz Ahmed is one of the standout associates in the group.’
‘Sohail Ali and Claire Clayton-Stead are superstar junior partners in the banking litigation space - ones to watch.’
‘Jean-Pierre Douglas-Henry is one of the most experienced litigators in London. Chris Harvey is a safe pair of hands.’
‘Benjamin Fellows is outstanding. He is always keen to find a practical solution to extremely technical issues. A real strategist that is obviously going far in the firm. Stewart Plant is superb. He manages to guide his clients through difficult cases with consummate ease. Both are star players and deserve much recognition.’
‘James Carter (partner) is an inspirational team leader who gets the most out of his associates and manages the client very effectively. Tom Laidler (partner) is a junior partner who has a great eye for detail, without losing sight of the bigger picture. Nadya Rouben (senior associate) is an absolute powerhouse. She is completely across the legal and factual issues, making her indispensable on the team.’
‘James Carter is great with clients and good at steering the tactics and strategy of a case. Tom Laidler is an excellent partner, with a great command of the detail and a good tactical sense.’
‘Jeremy Sher - very responsive and good dealing with clients. Tom Laidler - good at overall strategic vision whilst also being happy to engage in the detail of a case.’
Key clients
- Atlas Mara Limited
- African Banking Corporation Zambia Limited
- Astra Asset Management UK Limited
- Binance
- Deutsche Bank
- NatWest Markets PLC
- NatWest Markets N.V.
- Virgin Money
- Project Lietzenburger Strasse Holdco S.à.r.l
- GLAS Trust Corporation Limited
Work highlights
- Defended Clydesdale Bank Plc, and its former parent company National Australia Bank Limited, against over £400m of claims of dishonesty going back some 25 years made against 15 Clydesdale and NAB employees in relation to an entitlement to charge fixed rate loan break costs and the pricing methodology of the relevant loans.
- Defended claims of approximately £200m brought against Bob Diamond’s Atlas Mara bank, concerning acquisitions of banks in Africa.
- Acting for NatWest Markets PLC and NatWest Markets N.V. in CPR Part 8 proceedings against CMIS Nederland B.V. and CMIS Investments B.V., relating to CMIS' liability under seven deeds of indemnity granted by it to NatWest.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Adam Ibrahim; Sohail Ali; Jeremy Sher
Other key lawyers
Jean-Pierre Douglas-Henry; Jamie Curle; Chris Harvey; Tom Laidler; Dan Jewell; Leontia McArdle; Stewart Plant; Claire Clayton-Stead; James Carter; Shabaz Ahmed; Nadya Rouben; Benjamin Fellows