4 Stone Buildings is increasingly active in cross-border contentious and non-contentious commercial matters, especially in the Caribbean. Company and commercial litigation are strong areas of expertise for Jonathan Crow KC, who regularly appears before Courts of Appeal and Supreme Courts. Hermann Boeddinghaus KC specialises in corporate and commercial disputes, with a particular focus on shareholder disputes, the recovery of assets, and cross-border enforcement. Alongside Orlando Fraser KC, Boeddinghaus KC acted for a Liberian company seeking the restitution of $6m, which it alleges it was defrauded of by BVI companies. George Bompas KC, in addition to BVI work, and has also appeared before the courts of Trinidad and Tobago and the Cayman Islands. Alexander Cook KC is frequently instructed to handle disputes in the BVI, and he is representing the claimant in a $43m commercial fraud claim (Von der Heydt Invest SA v Mex Securities S.a.r.l and Others). Among the set’s juniors sits Nicola Timmins, who is especially active in Bermuda, BVI, and Cayman proceedings, and Guy Olliff-Cooper is another key name.
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Practices in the commercial chancery field, focusing on commercial litigation, banking, oil and gas/natural resources, company and insolvency.
Position
Nicola has a broad commercial and commercial chancery practice with particular experience in high value complex disputes, typically involving international components. She has a particular focus on banking, financial services, civil fraud, the natural resources sector, insolvency law, company law, shareholder disputes, and directors disqualification.
Nicola has acted in three of “The Lawyer’s Top 20 Cases” of the year during her career, most recently in 2023 acting for the former CEO of Carillion in the high-profile Carillion director disqualification proceedings which arose from allegations concerning the accounting treatment of infrastructure projects and followed the largest liquidation in UK history.
Alongside a busy practice in London, Nicola regularly accepts instructions in offshore matters, particularly from Bermuda, the Cayman Islands and the BVI (where she is called to the Bar).
As a former solicitor and judicial assistant in the Court of Appeal, Nicola is well placed to understand the needs of both her professional clients and the judiciary, and to tailor her advice and advocacy accordingly.
Career
Second Lieutenant, Royal Artillery (Short Service Limited Commission): 1998-1999
Researcher, The Hague Conference on Private International Law: 2004-2005
Trainee and Associate Solicitor in the dispute resolution department, Baker & McKenzie LLP: 2005-2008
Judicial Assistant to the Court of Appeal (on secondment from Baker & McKenzie): 2007
Qualified as a solicitor: 2007
Year of Call: 2008
Called to the BVI Bar: 2022
Languages
French
Memberships
ChBA, Combar, International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation, Financial Services Lawyers Association
Education
Emmanuel College, Cambridge: MA (Hons) and LLM
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'We have a very good relationship with Clerks in 4SB. In particular, Ryan Tunkel and Ben Lashmar. They have been proactive in finding innovative solutions to client requirements on fees and visibility of counsel.'
- 'Top-notch commercial chancery set.'
- 'Great set. Some excellent juniors and good clerking team.'
- 'The clerks are invariably helpful.'
- 'Excellent service and clerks. Always accommodating and courteous.'