Biography
Jessica is an Associate at Signature’s London office, specialising in commercial litigation with a focus on civil fraud, asset tracing and recovery, banking and financial markets, and international arbitration.
She acts in complex, high-value litigation at the High Court and Supreme Court, across sectors including corporate, technology, energy and commodities. Her work spans private sector companies, partnerships, and high-net-worth individuals. Jessica also advises clients on alternative dispute resolution and has experience of mediations.
Jessica’s international arbitration experience is primarily focused on commercial disputes under ICC rules. She has also been involved in proceedings in the English courts for the recognition of international arbitral awards.
Jessica undertakes pro-bono work having acted for Claimants to the Windrush Compensation Scheme and volunteering at legal advice clinics, including matters involving referrals to the Financial Ombudsman. Jessica is a member of the London Solicitors Litigation Association and the social mobility charity, the 93% Club.
Prior to joining Signature, Jessica trained and qualified at international law firm, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP, where she primarily worked on judicial review proceedings. Jessica qualified as a solicitor in England in 2022.
Experience
- Representing over 130 institutional shareholders in Barclays Plc claiming over GBP 500m in losses arising out of allegations arising under s.90 and 90A FSMA. The allegations arose from misconduct arising out of Barclays’ liquidity dark pool and settlement agreements entered into between Barclays and the New York Attorney General and the Securities and Exchange Commission. This case was at the forefront of certain legal issues arising under s.90A FSMA including the issue of passive investors’ rights to pursue redress, as well as the right by shareholders to obtain inspection from the company of legally privileged documents.
- Representing the liquidators of companies involved in a high-profile scandal concerning a sophisticated investment fraud scheme in a claim for GBP c.200m against two major international banks for breach of mandate and breach of the Quincecare duty.
- Representing an oil exploration company in enforcing a USD 50m LCIA arbitration award in England against a Middle Eastern company and in bringing proceedings against the parent company for fraud. The underlying dispute concerned misappropriation of oil drilling equipment.
- Representing the claimant in the groundbreaking GBP 50M dispute against Marks & Clerk LLP in relation to secret commissions earned from longstanding commercial referral arrangements with CPA Global. The case proceeded as a representative action under CPR 19.8 and became a leading authority on the issue of England’s ability to host group action claims.
- Representing a Singapore-based private equity firm in a USD 24m claim against Credit Suisse for the recovery of losses stemming from alleged misrepresentations concerning leveraged Notes relating to an investment in a financial services company specialised in supply chain financing which subsequently collapsed.
- Representing Renault in the NOx Diesel Emissions Group Litigation in London, proceedings of an unprecedented scale (with around 1.8 million claims issued against car manufacturers) and complexity. In an extensive liability ruling in July, the High Court rejected all claims against Renault.
- Representing an LLP in a dispute related to a joint venture agreement with a claim value of circa EUR 580mn.
- Representing CA Investment (Brazil), the Brazilian subsidiary of Paper Excellence, in a much-publicised USD 3bn dispute against Brazil’s second largest business group, J&F Investimentos, concerning the acquisition of Eldorado Brasil, a pulp production major. The dispute spanned 6 years, involved four arbitrations and multiple court proceedings in several jurisdictions. We played an instrumental role in securing a global settlement between the parties.
- Advising a group of institutional investors, in their capacity as both minority noteholders and shareholders in a private group holding company, in relation to potential claims, including unfair prejudice, arising from the conduct of the company and its majority shareholders and noteholders.
- Representing the Claimant in a Paris Bar arbitration concerning a partnership dispute.