Experience

Tolkynneftegaz LLP et al v Terra Raf Trans Traiding Ltd et al 2023/GSC/003 – successfully challenging the jurisdiction of the Gibraltar court on behalf of Moldovan oil & gas investors. Value US$500+ million.

VTB Bank PJSC v Mejlumyan [2021] EWHC 1386 (Comm) – acting for the defendant to an anti-suit injunction claim concerning Armenian court proceedings arising out of the termination of a share pledge agreement between the parties governed by Armenian law.

Province of Balochistan v Tethyan Copper Company Pty Limited [2021] EWHC 1884 (Comm) – Acting for the Province of Balochistan (part of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan) in Commercial Court proceedings concerning an underlying ICC arbitration arising from a gold and copper mining dispute in Pakistan with Tethyan Copper Company Pty Limited (an Australian joint venture company owned by Barrick Gold Corporation and Antofagasta Plc). The dispute is valued at approximately US $6bn.

Jamie Martin v Hochanda & Ors [2021] EWHC 1988 (Ch) – Acting for respondent shareholders in multi-million pound unfair prejudice proceedings under s. 994 of the Companies Act 2006, involving allegations of a sale at an undervalue of the company’s assets.

Apollo Ventures Co Ltd v Manchanda [2021] EWHC 3210 (Comm); Apollo Ventures Co Ltd v Manchanda & Ors [2020] EWHC 2206 (Comm) – Acting for a number of defendants in a long-running fraud and conspiracy claim brought in the Commercial Court claim by a Thai property company, involving complex jurisdiction and foreign law issues.

Children’s Investment Fund Foundation v Sir Christopher Hohn, Jamie Cooper; Dr Marko Lehtimäki and H.M Attorney General [2020] UKSC 33; [2018] EWCA Civ 1605 – Advising a charitable company limited by guarantee without share capital in respect of a high-profile dispute arising from a breakdown in Member relations.

National Bank of Kazakhstan and another v Bank of New York Mellon SA/NV, London Branch and others [2020] EWHC 916 (Comm) – acting for the Second to Fifth Defendants in a complex award enforcement dispute arising out of related Belgian attachment proceedings involving the same parties. This dispute saw the first ever virtual trial in English legal history and was named in The Lawyer’s Top 20 Cases of 2020 list. Value US$550 million.

Leidos Inc v the Hellenic Republic [2019] EWHC 2738 (Comm) – successful enforcement of a €55 million ICC arbitral award arising out of a breach of contract claim relating to the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.

Kazakhstan Kagazy plc v Zhunus & Ors [2019] EWHC 2630 (Comm) – Acting on quasi-enforcement aspects of a US$300 million commercial fraud claim by a group of Kazakh companies against their former directors involving the operation of a worldwide freezing injunction and related committal applications.

Tsareva and others v Ananyev and others; Galagaev and others v Ananyev and others [2019] EWHC 2414 (Comm) – successful strike out of claims for fraud and conspiracy on behalf of the Third, Fourth and Fifth Defendants concerning certain securities issued by an affiliate of a major Russian bank. Value US$79 million.

LIC v VTB Capital & Ors [2019] EWHC 1747 (Comm) – Acting for one of the claimants in a £300m commercial court action concerning allegations that corporate interests in a Bulgarian telecommunications group were dishonestly misappropriated.

Stati and others v Republic of Kazakhstan [2018] EWCA Civ 1896 – Representing Moldovan investors in enforcement proceedings in relation to a US$550+ million Energy Charter Treaty arbitral award against the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Catalyst Management Services v Libya Africa Investment Portfolio [2018] EWCA Civ 1676 – representing a subsidiary of the Libyan sovereign wealth fund in High Court proceedings with a Dubai-based counterparty involving allegations of breach of contract, fraud and conspiracy. Value US$500 million.

Vitol E&P Limited v New Age (African Global Energy) Limited [2018] EWHC 1580 (Comm) – Acting for a privately owned oil and gas company in proceedings before the Commercial Court involving claims for breach of contract, estoppel and rectification.

Palmer Birch (A Partnership) v Lloyd & Anor [2018] EWHC 2316 (TCC) – Acting for a UK based construction firm in proceedings in the Technology and Construction Court, involving economic tort claims (procuring breach of contract and unlawful means conspiracy).

Baturina v Chistyakov [2017] EWHC 1049 (Comm) – Advising a high-net-worth Russian client in a dispute arising out of a failed joint venture property development project in Morocco. Value €74 million.

Hosking v Marathon Asset Management LLP [2017] 2 W.L.R. 746 – Advising a founding member of a successful investment advisory firm with c.$50bn AUM in relation to a high-profile partnership dispute with the other founding members.

Montvale Invest Ltd (In Liquidation) v Terra Raf Trans Traiding Ltd and another [2016] EWHC 1664 (Ch) – Representing defendants in freezing order and related proceedings in the English High Court brought by the liquidator of a BVI entity. Value US$24.7 million.

Pyrrho Investments Limited and MWB Business Exchange Limited vs (1) MWB Property Limited & Ors [2016] EWHC 256 – Acting for the former director of an AIM listed company defending a £30m breach of directors’ duties claim involving fraudulent misrepresentation and allegations of insider dealing and other undisclosed interests.

SC Mezhdunarodniy Promyshelnniy Bank and another v Pugachev and others [2015] EWHC 2623 (Ch) – Advising a private Russian client in High Court of Justice proceedings brought by a liquidator of a major Russian bank. Value US$1.5 billion.

Re Kombinat Aluminijuma Podgorica AD (in bankruptcy) [2015] EWHC 750 (Ch) – Representing VTB Bank (Austria) AG in High Court proceedings against a foreign liquidator under the Cross-Border Insolvency Regulations 2006.

Terra Raf Trans Traiding Ltd v Aidar Assaubayev and Ors [2014] EWHC 4211 (Comm) – Successfully representing a Gibraltar-based company in High Court proceedings against a number of Kazakh defendants arising out of a loan agreement. Value US$7.3 million.

Vitol FSU BV v Ascom Group S.A. Case No 2014 Folio 506 – Representing a Moldovan defendant in worldwide freezing order proceedings in aid of a London-based UNCITRAL arbitration with a major commodity trading company. Value US$100 million.

Brown v InnovatorOne Plc and others [2012] EWHC 1321 (Comm) – Acting for hundreds of individual investors pursuing recovery in respect of failed collective investment schemes. This case was listed in the Top 20 cases of 2011 by the Lawyer.

(1) Royal Bank of Scotland Plc v Hicks, Gillett & Ors, and (2) Sir Martin Broughton v Hicks, Gillett, Kop Football Limited & Ors [2012] EWHC 2699 – Acting for the former directors of Liverpool Football Club in relation to the disputed sale of the Club from Messrs. Hicks and Gillett to the Boston based Fenway Sports Group (owners of the Red Sox). This case featured in Top 20 cases of 2013 by the Lawyer.

Sphereinvest Global High Yield Fund Limited et al v Eximtech Investments Ltd at al BVIHC (COM) 2011/0087 – Advising several defendants in BVI court proceedings against a Bermuda-based investment fund in a dispute involving alleged breach of contract, fraud and tort arising out of the parties’ joint venture in Russia. Value US$84 million.

Altimo Holdings and Investment Ltd and others v Kyrgyz Mobil Tel Ltd and others [2011] UKPC 7 – Privy Council proceedings on behalf of a Kyrgyz telecom holding company on appeal from the Isle of Man concerning a dispute over a Kyrgyz mobile operator. Value US$600 million.

BNP Paribas SA v Open Joint Stock Co Russian Machines and another [2011] EWHC 308 (Comm) – Anti-suit proceedings in the High Court of Justice relating to an LCIA arbitration involving a large Russian automobile manufacturer and a major European investment bank.

Mobil Cerro Negro Ltd v Petroleos De Venezuela SA [2008] EWHC 532 (Comm) – Advising a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil in freezing order proceedings under section 44 of the Arbitration Act 1996 against a Venezuelan state-owned oil & gas company. Value US$12 billion.

Kolden Holdings Ltd v Rodette Commerce Ltd and another [2008] EWCA Civ 10 – Advising two Cypriot entities in English court proceedings concerning breach of agreements about the transfer of shares in a Russian company and related proceedings in Cyprus for negative declarations.

Intermet FZCO and others v Ansol Ltd and others [2007] EWHC 226 (Comm) – Civil fraud and conspiracy proceedings involving claims under six separate governing laws before the High Court of Justice in London on behalf of France, Cyprus and Dubai based investors in the Tajik aluminium plant. Value US$65 million.

Acting for Iranian investors against The Republic of Korea in respect of the state’s unsuccessful challenge to an arbitration award made in favour of the investors arising from unlawful termination of the investment agreement.

Acting for the subsidiary of a state-owned oil and gas company in Commercial Court proceedings against a major bank involving breach of mandate, breach of contract and negligence claims in respect of a substantial payment fraud.

Acting for a Swiss based financial services company in a $1.5bn dispute concerning allegations of a complex fraud and misappropriation of assets (spanning several jurisdiction) relating to the estate of a Russian oligarch.

Acting for a former shareholder and director of one of Russia’s largest retail banks in proceedings before the Commercial Court in which the bank claims damages of over US$1 billion.

Acting on a challenge in the Commercial Court against an arbitral tribunal’s award on jurisdiction, involving a claim against a central Asian state.

Acting for a Belarusian individual in relation to a dispute as to beneficial ownership of an English company, which owns valuable property assets in Belarus.

Acting for a Ukrainian high net worth individual in High Court proceedings arising from breaches of a joint venture agreement and related financing arrangements.

Acting for the Azeri beneficial owners of a UK company in insolvency proceedings arising from complex financing structures to facilitate commercial activities in Russia.

Acting on behalf of a Russian high net worth individual to regain control of a complex corporate structure acquired by him using nominee shareholders and directors who had threatened to dispose of his interest without his knowledge or consent.

Acting for a property investment firm in a high value breach of contract claim brought in the Commercial Court against various US-owned Luxembourg companies arising out of the termination of a number of asset management agreements. This claim settled shortly before trial.

Acting for the developer, licensor and supplier of digital education software in a multi-million pound breach of contract claim brought in the Commercial Court against a multi-national company. This claim settled at trial.

Acting for SME clients in claims against a well-known high street bank for losses incurred as a result of fraudulent activity within the Impaired Assets Division of the Bank

Advising the executive members of a leading frontier markets investment bank and brokerage house in relation to an LLP dispute concerning alleged misconduct, expulsion rights under the Members’ Agreement and the inter-relationship of competing rights and interests between members within a complex group structure.

Acting for defendants in related multi-million pound claims for a fraudulent misrepresentation arising from a substantial property development project in London.

Acting for the European joint venture partners of a major household retail group in a dispute as to the valuation of their shareholding upon cessation of the joint venture.

Acting for a shareholder in a high profile corporate litigation with his partner following the breakdown of their business relationship.

Acting for a global engineering and construction company in relation to contentious elements of its banking affairs in light of a restructuring and defending the same company in relation to alleged defaults under performance bonds.

Acting for the subsidiary of a FTSE 100 company in relation to a £100m mis-selling claim brought by the liquidators of an unregulated collective investment scheme and related satellite disputes brought by IFAs.

Acting for defendants in a €35 million fraud claim arising out of a failed oil trading venture, involving a worldwide freezing order and a search order.

Acting for a European Investment Bank in relation to a contested restructuring of a joint venture.

Defending a multi-billion dollar unlawful means conspiracy claim brought by Chevron Corporation in the Supreme Court of Gibraltar and advising on related private client elements. The claims arose due to catastrophic levels of petrochemical contamination in Ecuador which resulted in an US $18bn award being made against Chevron.

Representing an individual director in a Takeover Panel investigation into an alleged undisclosed Concert Party.

Acting on a multi-billion dollar expropriation claim in the CIS region on a highly confidential matter and investigating causes of action arising from bilateral investment treaties and international law.

Lead counsel for a major Swiss fertiliser company in a series of related LCIA arbitrations with counterparties from the UK and Ireland involving sanctions issues. Value US$39 million.

Lead counsel for a major Swiss fertiliser company in an LCIA arbitration with a counterparty from Western Africa involving sanctions issues. Value US$12 million.

Lead counsel for a major Swiss fertiliser company in an LCIA arbitration with a UK domiciled counterparty involving sanctions issues. Value US$2 million.

Advising a U.S. oil & gas company on the enforcement of an arbitral award against a South American sovereign state. Value US$11 million.

Lead counsel for an Armenian businessman in LCIA arbitration proceedings involving a claim under an option agreement relating to the parties’ failed joint venture project to develop a copper and molybdenum mine in the Armenian province of Lori. Value US$40 million.

Representing two corporate respondents from Vallex Group in LCIA arbitration proceedings against Russia’s VTB Bank relating to the parties’ failed joint venture project to develop a copper and molybdenum mine in the Armenian province of Lori. Value US$300+ million.

Advising a U.S. investment adviser with respect to a potential investment arbitration claim against the government of an Eastern European country arising out of a concession operation in the mining sector. Value US$250+ million.

Acting for investors in ICSID arbitration proceedings against the Italian Republic arising out of the Energy Charter Treaty. Value €200+ million.

Advising a state-owned oil company in an SCC arbitration against a U.S. oil and gas company regarding a failed joint venture project in Western Siberia involving complex issues of Swedish and Russian law. Value: US$200 million.

Representing a Cypriot investor in ICSID arbitration proceedings against the Government of Montenegro. Value US$200+ million.

Acting for a European subsidiary of a major Russian bank in an LCIA arbitration against a major commodity trading company. Value €28+ million.

Successfully representing a Cyprus-based claimant company in LCIA proceedings with a Singapore counterparty arising out of the parties’ failed joint venture in a Russian coal mining project. The award upheld the entirety of the claimant’s claims, including legal costs and interest. Value US$8 million.

Successfully representing an individual respondent in LCIA proceedings arising out of the parties’ dispute in relation to a Russian cardboard mill. The claims were fully dismissed on jurisdictional grounds with costs awarded in the client’s favour. Value US$10 million.

Representing an Eastern European energy company in a London-based UNCITRAL arbitration with a major commodity trading company. Value US$100 million. Acting for a large Russian automobile manufacturer in a LCIA arbitration dispute against a major European investment bank involving a guarantee. Obtained a favourable settlement for the client. Value US$100+ million.

Representing two Russian claimants in a SCC arbitration against the government of an Eastern European state relating to expropriation of the claimants’ shares in a major local bank. Value US$8 million.

Successfully representing three claimant companies against a Bermuda-based affiliate of a leading Russian investment bank following the market crisis of 2008 in three related LCIA arbitrations. The awards obtained upheld the entirety of the claimants’ claims, including legal costs and interest.

SCC arbitration in Stockholm on behalf of a Swiss trading company arising from a shareholder dispute and consequent fraud under various agreements associated with the Russian aluminium industry. Obtained a favourable settlement for the client. Value US$380 million.

Acting for a UK holding company of assets in Russia and Poland as Claimant in LCIA arbitration proceedings involving claims for fraudulent misrepresentation, breach of warranties and breach of implied terms, following its acquisition of a Russian business from a UK FTSE 100 company.

Acting for a leading Greek energy production and supply company as Claimant in LCIA arbitration proceedings against a subsidiary of a multinational conglomerate involving claims for breach of contract arising from the supply of a defective steam turbine rotor.

Acting for a UK based engineering company in a very substantial dispute relating to the construction of four accommodation platforms for a UAE based company.

Acting for a major Russian insurance company in LCIA arbitration proceedings in respect of construction claims arising from its sales of a substantial commercial real estate development to a major German company.

Acting for a European property company in arbitration proceedings before the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce arising from a failed commercial real estate development in Moscow.

Advising a Russian owned UK based commodities company in a claim against a state-owned Indonesian company for breach of a long-term supply agreement for nickel ore.

Acting for a Chinese glue manufacturer in a London arbitration claim against its supplier of technology and purchaser of glue products for breach of contract.

Acting for a Bulgarian producer of non-ferrous metals in four substantial commodities arbitrations against a global trading business.

Acting for a Moldovan oil and gas exploration company in relation to a dispute with a Canadian provider of seismic survey services arising from a project in Southern Sudan.

Acting for an Italian shipyard in relation to a substantial defects and non-conformity claim brought by the buyer of a luxury superyacht.

Acting for a state-owned company in an ICC arbitration claim with a value of USD 215m arising out of a breach of contract and its unlawful treatment as a minority shareholder in a joint venture company.