Experience

• Representing Privinvest, a world leader in naval shipbuilding, in a USD 3.1bn high-profile, complex Commercial Court claim (now on appeal to the Court of Appeal) brought by the Republic of Mozambique against Credit Suisse, Privinvest, and others. The claim relates to supply agreements and supporting financial instruments and guarantees entered into by state-owned enterprises dedicated to the development of Mozambique’s offshore Exclusive Economic Zone and supporting international investment into its oil and gas reserves. The claim engages allegations of bribery of Mozambican government officials. An appeal on issues of sovereign immunity featured in The Lawyer’s Top 10 Appeals of 2024. Following judgment against Privinvest (though in which most of Mozambique’s allegations failed), Privinvest obtained permission to appeal on numerous grounds, including on whether a fair trial was possible in light of established disclosure breaches by Mozambique. The appeal is listed to be heard by the Court of Appeal in June 2026.
• Representing the investment fund of Georgian billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili and his family in a dispute valued at USD 600m–USD 1.2bn against Credit Suisse entities for the recovery of losses arising out of mismanagement of his investment portfolio through a range of trust arrangements, which have led to criminal proceedings against the bank’s fund managers. This case involved parallel proceedings in Switzerland, Singapore, New Zealand and Bermuda.
• Representing Cellcom, an Israeli telecommunications company, in defending a USD 100m Commercial Court claim by Lonestar, a leading telecommunications company in Liberia and part of the MTN Group, involving allegations of vicarious liability, conspiracy and torts in connection with the largest ever recorded DDoS cyber-attack.
• Representing members of the Barclay family in claims bought against them by other family members in high-profile High Court proceedings in relation to covert recordings at the Ritz Hotel. The dispute involved allegations of breaches of confidence, misuse of information and breach of data protection rights. Signature advised on the clients’ defence, the wider litigation strategy and confidential settlement.
• Representing ENRC, a listed multinational natural resources company, in landmark proceedings brought by the Serious Fraud Office regarding legal professional privilege and arising out of SFO’s investigation into ENRC focusing on allegations of bribery and corruption. The Court of Appeal determined the litigation in ENRC’s favour.
• Representing ENRC in long-running and ultimately successful claims against its former legal advisers, Dechert, relating to Dechert’s handling of an internal investigation and subsequent dialogue with the Serious Fraud Office, as well as handling additional claims against Dechert for alleged overcharging.
• Representing a large group of institutional claimants (approximately 80) and retail claimants (over 8,000) in a complex group litigation against RBS and its former directors known as the “RBS Rights Issue Litigation.” The case involved allegations of breach of statutory obligations under s.90 FSMA with respect to alleged omissions and/or misleading statements in a prospectus relating to GBP12bn rights issue in 2008 following the acquisition of ABN Ambro, a Dutch bank. The areas of complaint included liquidity, capital, credit market exposures, risk management, VAR and LIBOR. This case was recognised as one of The Lawyer’s top 20 cases of 2017. Following this group claim a large number of other s.90 and 90A FSMA claims have since been issued in this ever growing and developing area of litigation.
• Representing a large group of institutional claimants and retail claimants in RBS Rights Issue litigation in a number of substantial matters following the settlement of this litigation. This involves distribution and success fees claims made by parties connected with the claimants’ previous agent with the total value of the claims GBP 200m.
• Representing a large group of institutional and retail claimants in a CPR 19.8 representative claim for over GBP 20m by Manx Capital Partners against former members of the group including Scottish Widows and others for their share of the costs relating to the RBS Rights Issue Litigation.
• Representing a large group of institutional and retail claimants in defending a claim from Vannin Capital Limited, arising out of two Litigation Funding Agreements entered into in connection with the RBS Rights Issue Litigation.
• Representing an authorised person in relation to high profile investigations by both US and UK regulatory and criminal authorities into events in the credit derivatives market, including mark to market of indices, tranches and bespoke positions relating to the reported USD6.2bn JP Morgan London Whale losses.
• Advising an authorised person with respect to the judicial review of the decision of the Financial Conduct Authority to close its regulatory investigation.
• Representing a technology innovation investment company in bringing and defending claims with the total value of USD 2bn against a multinational investment bank arising from a shareholders’ agreement between them and related to the management of subsidiaries and the valuation of a call option.
• Representing ultra HNW individuals in high-profile USD 1.5bn High Court proceedings against the estate of a late oligarch and associated entities concerning a partnership dispute. The case involved allegations of multi-jurisdictional fraud, complex offshore asset ownership structures and parallel court proceedings globally.
• Representing the shareholders of an African bank in claims with the total value of USD 1bn against banking authorities across the globe concerning money laundering allegations and the decision by the authorities to put the bank under resolution.
• Providing strategic advice to the founders of a European digital-only bank and payment service provider in a high-value and complex dispute with the potential value of claims in excess of EUR 800m. The dispute is instigated by the clients’ investment partners and runs parallel to another litigation between the same investment partners and the clients’ related company.
• Representing high-net-worth individual/clients and related entities in in defending USD 400m conspiracy and money-laundering claims involving multiple jurisdictions relating to promissory notes and loan transactions in the banking sector.
• Representing Bugsby Property LLC, a property developer and sponsor, in the four-week trial of its c.GBP 300m Commercial Court claim against Legal & General for breach of a contract relating to Bugsby’s bid for the purchase of Kensington Olympia.
• Advising a large corporate in relation to complex claims against an international banking group for alleged irregularities in the sale of various foreign exchange derivatives transactions with the total value of claims in the region of USD 150m.
• Representing partners in a UK private equity firm, along with associated global entities, in a Commercial Court claim alleging diversion of the business opportunity to conduct an asset recovery process on behalf of the Family and Estate of the late Badri Patarkatsishvili, a Georgian billionaire. The claim is valued in excess of USD 100m.
• Representing institutional Noteholders in a USD 100m dispute with two prominent banks in respect of a prejudicial consent solicitation process.
• Representing an investment bank in a number of claims brought in the Commercial Court and subsequent proceedings in the Court of Appeal against an AIM listed mining entity in relation to investment banking fee arrangements worth over USD100m and the construction of particular terms within M&A engagement agreements.
• Advising an individual in respect of potential breach of duty claims against him valued in excess of GBP 80m, as well as criminal proceedings. This matter concerns an allegedly corrupt scheme by which unauthorised secret commissions were paid via financial institutions and intermediaries in respect of investments by a fund. The case involves allegations of bribery and compliance failings.
• Representing two offshore holding companies ultimately owned by a late oligarch in claims for up to USD 50m concerning allegations of dishonest appropriation of the underlying real estate assets and shares in the subsidiary companies by the individual defendant.
• Representing HNW shareholders of an offshore entity involved in the financial services industry in defending a c.EUR 45m claim for recovery of monies due allegedly in connection with a placement agreement and a related personal guarantee.
• Representing a substantial property company in a c.GBP 30m Commercial Court claim against a large UK based banking group following the sale of interest rate swaps. The claim was based on allegations of misselling, misrepresentation, and bad faith.
• Representing a well-known litigation funding advisory company in High Court proceedings against the estate of a borrower concerning the recovery of a GBP 15m loan granted for the purpose of funding an investment treaty arbitration against a country in the MENA region. This case raises novel questions regarding funding agreements with individuals.