Steven McDonald

Partner

Steven has extensive experience of resolving complex and high value disputes, often with an international element or involving foreign state interests. Steven has particular specialism in civil fraud and complex contractual matters, with a proven track record of success.

Steven’s clients include international and UK corporate entities and high-net-worth individuals. His practice covers a broad range of high value international and domestic UK disputes, at all levels of the English Courts and before institutional and ad hoc international arbitral tribunals.

Steven was described in the Legal 500 (2018) as “very good at resolving complex disputes”. His recent cases have included civil fraud, shareholder, joint venture and private equity disputes, outsourcing disputes, directors’ duties and disqualification, and insurance coverage matters.
Prior to joining Gresham Legal in 2022, Steven was a Partner at another specialist disputes practice, Enyo Law, which he joined in 2013.

Steven’s representative experience includes:

  • Acting for Ukrainian businessman, Gennadiy Bogolyubov, in the defence of US$300 million proceedings brought by a Russian state-owned oil company in the Commercial Court, under section 1064 of the Russian Civil Code. PJSC Tatneft v Bogolyubov & Ors [2021] EWHC 411 (Comm).

  • Acting for individuals defending High Court Proceedings for over US$400m brought against the directors of a failed property development company in Florida.

  • Acting for a high-net-worth Saudi businessman in defence of an alleged contractual claim for US$30 million based on an alleged oral contract.

  • Acting for the Claimants and major shareholders in a dispute following a private equity investment into a UK and Indian technology company.

  • Acting in the leading case on contractual construction in the UK Supreme Court. Wood v Capita Insurance Services Ltd [2017] UKSC 24.

  • Acting for a US utility company in Bermuda form insurance arbitrations in connection with over US$1bn in losses from a major pollution event.

  • Acting for the Claimants in an ICC arbitration concerning a public-private joint venture and the cancellation of a major infrastructure project in the Caribbean.

  • Acting in LCIA Arbitrations for a NYSE listed natural resources company in a dispute with a number of its institutional creditors.

Gresham Legal

9 Old Square
Lincoln’s Inn
London WC2A 3SR