Praised as ‘particularly strong in cross-border disputes across a broad spectrum’, Twenty Essex handles commercial litigation for high-net-worth individuals, private banks, and funds. Stephen Atherton KC is acting as sole counsel for Evenstar in an $800m Cayman shareholder dispute concerning Fang Holdings, while Andrew Ayres KC’s caseload includes representing GP8 in $450m litigation involving fraud, insolvency, and private equity fund structures. Blair Leahy KC recently defended a Cayman liquidator in proprietary claims over Taiwanese funds, while Paul Lowenstein KC is acting in an $825m BVI dispute to protect security tied to Taiwan’s A7 skyscraper project. Recently, Tony Beswetherick KC secured a $120m Cayman winding-up order, with the court confirming that arbitration clauses do not bar judicial scrutiny of petitions.
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Profile
Work Department
Banking and finance; Civil fraud; Company law; General commercial litigation; International and domestic insolvency and restructuring
Position
Blair has a broad commercial practice with an emphasis on complex multi-jurisdictional fraud claims and disputes with technical insolvency or company law aspects. She is ranked across all her main practice areas in the latest editions of Chambers UK Bar and The Legal 500, and prior to taking silk, won Insolvency Junior of the Year at The Legal 500 UK Bar Awards 2019. She is described in the directories as “all-round excellent” and receives particular praise for her court room skills (“her advocacy is on another level”) and “amazingly good judgment”.
Blair advises and represents clients in both domestic and international court and arbitration proceedings. Her overseas practice includes Cayman, BVI, Bermuda, Hong Kong, Singapore, the Isle of Man and Dubai.
Although she has a busy advisory practice, Blair is above all a litigator. She has extensive trial and cross-examination experience and is also experienced in obtaining and resisting applications for pre-emptive and interlocutory relief, including freezing and disclosure orders and the appointment of provisional liquidators.
Blair also accepts appointments as an arbitrator in commercial disputes.
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