Contact details

Ben Sigler

T: +44 20 7809 2919 M: +44 7584 237 401 Email Ben | vCard Office: London

Awards

Commercial litigation: Premium, Public international law, Data protection and Sport

Commercial litigation: Premium, Public international law, Data protection and Sport

Ben Sigler Partner

Contact details

Ben Sigler

Ben Sigler
Partner

T: +44 20 7809 2919 M: +44 7584 237 401 Email Ben | vCard Office: London

Ben is a partner in our commercial litigation team and heads the firm's sports practice.
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Ben has extensive experience in all aspects of dispute resolution including arbitration, litigation, and regulatory investigations, and he has a particular focus on the financial and technology sectors. Ben's experience also encompasses dealing with issues arising from allegations of fraud, insolvency claims, and a wide variety of applications for interim relief. 

Ben has acted for, and against, sovereign states and other governmental entities, banks, and corporates, including high profile entities across a range of sectors (finance, commodities, property and so forth), as well as high-net worth individuals, and the majority of his instructions include a significant cross-border element.

Whilst Ben's practice spans the full gamut of corporate and commercial disputes, he has particularly notable experience of, and expertise and interest in, advising majority and minority shareholders, directors, interested third parties, and companies in the context of shareholder disputes (both in relation to private and public companies) and co-venturers and other interested parties in the context of partnership disputes (in relation to limited liability partnerships, limited partnerships, and partnerships at will). This aspect of his practice is complemented by his wealth of experience in advising on disputes relating to reputation management and information law issues, which are often engaged in this context.

"Ben Sigler is a first rate solicitor. Diligent and friendly."

The Legal 500 UK 2020

  • Data protection and information
  • Commercial litigation
  • International arbitration
  • Finance litigation
  • Regulatory litigation
  • Fraud and asset recovery

Data breach

Advising a financial services provider in relation to a data breach which had resulted in hackers gaining unauthorised access to the personal data of customers of over 5,000 merchants who used a payment platform operated by the client.

Data breach

Advising a private equity fund in relation to a data breach which had been suffered by an investee company which had resulted in hackers gaining unauthorised access to personal data, including addresses and bank details, of various parties, including investors in the company.

Contentious data protection related issues

Advising a financial services provider in relation to various contentious data protection related issues including, whether exemptions in the GDPR permitted the disclosure of personal data relating to UK based data subjects in proceedings against them in another member state; and the extent to which their obligations to provide personal data pursuant to a DSAR were subject to a proportionality restriction, and, accordingly whether the client was obliged to restore access to systems which had been disabled, in order to provide personal data held in response to a DSAR.

More: Data protection and information

Allegations of bribery

Advising one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds in respect of allegations of bribery made against it by the UK regulatory authorities in relation to investments valuing in excess of £4.5 billion.

Real estate finance claims

Advising five banks in defending claims relating to the alleged mis-selling of financial products with a combined value of in excess of £1 billion.

Claims under securitised notes

Advising the security trustee of securitised notes in respect of claims of approximately £25 million in value against the note issuer for breach of contract and misrepresentation.

Mukhtar Ablyazov

Advising a Kazakh oligarch and other parties in respect of multi-billion pound fraud claims against them. The clients were subject to several High Court claims, as well as arbitral proceedings.

Boris Berezovsky

Advising a Russian oligarch who had commenced claims against a range of persons / entities in order to recover sums in excess of $1.5 billion.

More: Commercial litigation

Ad-hoc arbitration

Advising the general partner of a limited partnership in arbitral proceedings commenced against the limited partnership pursuant to the Arbitration Act 1996.

LCIA and ICSID arbitrations

Advising parties beneficially owned by a politically exposed person in LCIA and ICSID arbitral proceedings.

ICSID arbitration

Advising a Turkish company in relation to commencing ICSID arbitral proceedings against the government of a Middle-Eastern country.

Arbitration before the Swiss Chambers of Commerce

Advising a Qatari company in relation to commencing arbitral proceedings arising out of a breach of a distribution agreement which had caused it losses of in excess of £20 million.

More: International arbitration

Real estate finance claims

Advising five banks in defending claims relating to the alleged mis-selling of financial products with a combined value of in excess of £1bn.

Claims under securitised notes

Advising the security trustee of securitised notes in respect of claims of approximately £25m against the note issuer for breach of contract and misrepresentation.

Advising an arranger of a multi-billion dollar mezzanine loan in respect of its potential liability to other lenders.

Claims for mis-selling

Advising an Irish bank in a claim for misrepresentations allegedly made regarding securities they had purchased and on which they had suffered very significant losses.

Advising a Chinese company in defending a claim (and opposing an anti-suit injunction) brought by a major investment bank in relation to a foreign exchange hedging product sold to the company by the bank.

Advising a hedge fund in relation to claims against various entities controlled by a major bank in relation to misrepresentations and negligent advice which they made / provided in relation to a total return swap.

More: Finance litigation

Allegations of bribery

Advising one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds in respect of allegations of bribery made against it by the UK regulatory authorities in relation to investments valuing in excess of £4.5 billion.

Advising a large international ship owning company in relation to allegations that it had obtained preferential charter rates from a company based in the CIS by paying bribes.

Sports integrity

Advising a client in relation to allegations of its involvement in impropriety in the relation to the bidding for a prestigious international sporting event.

Compliance review

Advising a major arms manufacturer in respect of its compliance with bribery legislation.

Allegations of breach of HSE requirements

Advising an offshore drilling company in respect of regulatory matters arising from the loss of one of their vessels and of several of its crew.

More: Regulatory litigation

Mukhtar Ablyazov

Advising a Kazakh oligarch and other parties in respect of multi-billion pound fraud claims against them. The clients were subject to several High Court claims, as well as arbitral proceedings.

Boris Berezovsky

Advising a Russian oligarch who had commenced claims against a range of persons / entities in order to recover sums in excess of $1.5 billion.

Allegations of bribery

Advising one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds in respect of allegations of bribery made against it by the UK regulatory authorities in relation to investments valuing in excess of £4.5 billion.

Advising a large international ship owning company in relation to allegations that it had obtained preferential charter rates from a company based in the CIS by paying bribes.

Mortgage fraud

Advising an individual in obtaining rectification of the Land Registry's register in his favour following his house being fraudulently transferred out of his name.

More: Fraud and asset recovery
  • Technology
  • Banks and banking
  • Sport
  • Government and public sector

Advised an ultra-high net worth Individual in relation to a dispute between a company with which the Individual is associated (the "Company") and an investment manager (the "IM") regarding losses suffered by the Company totalling over $20m as a result of issues with the IM's proprietary algorithmic trading system.

Advised (1) Blue Power Group SARL (2) Blue Wave Co SA and (3) Blue Mgmt Ltd in Business List proceedings against Eni (the Italian oil and gas giant) which are valued at approaching EUR 1 billion. Blue Power’s claims include claims for breach of contractual and equitable obligations of confidence in relation to its confidential information, in particular a software tool that enabled the modelling, and pricing, of proposed marine gas transportation projects.

Advising IQONIQ, a fan engagement platform that exclusively targets the sports and entertainment world, including through the delivery of loyalty programmes and membership schemes to fans via its platform and via an associated utility token, called IQQ, in relation to a multi-million pound dispute with CPFC Limited, the corporate vehicle which owns Crystal Palace Football Club.

More: Technology

Real estate finance claims

Advising five banks in defending claims against them with a combined value of in excess of £1 billion.

Claims under securitised notes

Advising the security trustee of securitised notes in respect of claims of approximately £25 million against the note issuer for breach of contract and misrepresentation.

Advising an arranger of a multi-billion dollar mezzanine loan in respect of its potential liability to the other lenders.

Claims for mis-selling

Advising an Irish bank in a claim for misrepresentations allegedly made regarding securities they had purchased and on which they had suffered very significant losses.

Advising a Chinese company in defending a claim (and opposing an anti-suit injunction) brought by a major investment bank in relation to a foreign exchange hedging product sold to the company by the bank.

Advising a hedge fund in relation to claims against various entities controlled by a major bank in relation to misrepresentations and negligent advice which they made / provided in relation to a total return swap.

More: Banks and banking

Formula One

Advising a potential promoter of a Formula One Grand Prix in negotiations with Formula One.

Sports integrity

Advising a client in relation to allegations of its involvement in impropriety in the relation to the bidding for a prestigious international sporting event.

Football investment

Advising a hedge fund as to the risks attendant in entering into a loan agreement with a former Premier League football club to be secured by, amongst other things, an assignment of a future right to receive "parachute payments".

Formula One driver dispute

Advising a driver in a dispute relating to alleged breaches of contract arising from their being de-seated by their team and potential injunctive relief which might be available to them.

Sponsorship dispute

Advising a leading footballer in a sponsorship dispute.

More: Sport

Major sporting event

Advising a foreign government in relation to contractual negotiations to bring a major sporting event into the jurisdiction.

Allegations of bribery

Advising one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds in respect of allegations of bribery made against it by the UK regulatory authorities in relation to investments valuing in excess of £4.5 billion.

Central bank

Advising the central bank of a European state in relation to litigation against a bank which had become subject to its control as a result of the 2008 financial crisis.

More: Government and public sector
  • Qatar
  • CIS and CEE

Ben spent time working as a consultant for the Commercial Bank of Qatar in Doha prior to qualifying as a solicitor.

Qatar Investment Authority

Advising the Qatar Investment Authority and its subsidiaries in relation to a range of contentious matters.

Ministry of Youth and Sports, Government of Qatar

Advising the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Government of Qatar in relation to contractual negotiations to bring a major sporting event to Qatar.

Qatari bank

Advising a Qatari bank in relation to allegations that it had committed breaches of confidence in relation to a transaction of in excess of £1 billion.

Qatari company

Advising a Qatari company in relation to commencing arbitral proceedings arising out of a breach of a distribution agreement which had caused it losses of in excess of £20 million.

More: Qatar

Mukhtar Ablyazov

Advising a Kazakh oligarch and other parties in respect of multi-billion pound fraud claims against them. The clients were subject to several High Court claims as well as arbitral proceedings.

Boris Berezovsky

Advising a Russian oligarch who had commenced claims against a range of persons and entities in order to recover sums in excess of $1.5 billion.

Allegations of bribery

Advising a large international ship owning company in relation to allegations that it had obtained preferential charter rates from a company based in the CIS by paying bribes.

More: CIS and CEE

Awards

Commercial litigation: Premium, Public international law, Data protection and Sport

Commercial litigation: Premium, Public international law, Data protection and Sport

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© Stephenson Harwood LLP 2016. Any reference to Stephenson Harwood in this document means Stephenson Harwood LLP and/or its affiliated undertakings. Any reference to a partner is used to refer to a member of Stephenson Harwood LLP.