Commercial litigation

Paul has broad experience of achieving successful outcomes for clients in a range of high value commercial disputes.

Rangers Football Club

Acting for the BDO liquidators of Rangers Football Club on several pieces of high value litigation, including damages claims in fraud negligence and breach of trust against the company's parent company and former solicitors.

Professional services/accountancy

Advising KPMG in the successful defence of a US$50 million negligence claim in respect of VAT advice. The claim was struck out on multiple grounds and the client was awarded its costs.

Liquidation of Peak Hotels and Resorts

Advising the company’s liquidators in wide-ranging litigation in the English Courts in relation to the nature and extent of a secured creditor’s claim. The litigation is due to reach the Court of Appeal for a third time in late 2019.

'Phishing' fraud

Acting for the German arm of Armstrong World Industries in a successful claim to recover property stolen from it by fraudsters in the course of a "phishing" scam relating to the market in EU carbon trading credits.

Defamation

Advising a professional services firm in relation to threatened defamation proceedings.

Dispute resolution

Paul has broad experience of achieving successful outcomes for clients in a range of high value commercial disputes.

Rangers Football Club

Acting for the BDO liquidators of Rangers Football Club on several pieces of high value litigation, including damages claims in fraud, negligence and breach of trust against the company's parent company and former solicitors. 

Professional services/accountancy

Advising KPMG in the successful defence of a US$50 million negligence claim in respect of VAT advice. The claim was struck out on multiple grounds and the client was awarded its costs.

Liquidation of Peak Hotels and Resorts Limited

Advising the company's liquidators in wide ranging litigation in the English Courts in relation to the nature and extent of a secured creditor's claim. The litigation is due to reach the Court of Appeal for a third time in late 2019.

'Phishing' fraud

Acting for the German arm of Armstrong World Industries in a successful claim to recover property stolen from it by fraudsters in the course of a "phishing" scam relating to the market in EU carbon trading credits.

Defamation

Advising a professional services firm in relation to threatened defamation proceedings.

Professional and management liability

Paul has experience of achieving successful outcomes acting both for and against professionals. Paul has spent time on secondment with the in-house risk team of a Big 4 accountancy firm, during which time he dealt with litigation, FRC and other regulatory investigations and risk management issues facing the firm.

KPMG

Advising KPMG in the successful defence of a US$50 million negligence claim in respect of VAT advice. The claim was struck out on multiple grounds and the client was awarded its costs.

Rangers Football Club

Acting for the BDO liquidators of Rangers Football Club in high value damages claims against the company's former solicitors, which have now been settled on confidential terms.

Big 4 firm - tax negligence

Advising a professional services firm in relation to numerous tax negligence matters, including the successful strike out of a contract and negligence claim against the firm in the High Court with the client awarded its costs.

Professional conduct advice

Acting for insolvency practitioners and their firms in relation to allegations as to professional conduct. Highlights include acting for the joint administrators of Angel Group Limited in opposing an application for their removal from office.

Risk management issues

Advising professional services firms and individual professionals on the successful navigation of risk management issues with the potential to lead to litigation if not resolved.

Third party disclosure requests

Advising professional services firms in relation to the successful resolution of a range of third party disclosure requests, including under the Civil Procedure Rules, the rules of the First Tier Tribunal (Tax), section 236 of the Insolvency Act 1986 and pursuant to letters of request from overseas courts.

Audit negligence

Acting as insurers' representatives in respect of large and complex audit negligence cases in overseas jurisdictions, arising out of large scale frauds and corporate collapses.

Restructuring and insolvency

Paul has experience of achieving successful outcomes acting for insolvency professionals and creditors in contentious insolvency and insolvency risk matters. During his time on secondment with the in-house risk team of a Big 4 firm, Paul dealt with risk issues facing professionals and their firms arising from insolvency work.

Rangers Football Club

Acting for BDO on the liquidation of Rangers Football Club, involving  several pieces of high value litigation, including the pursuit of claims for fraud, negligence and breach of trust.

Liquidators of Peak Hotels and Resorts Limited

Advising liquidators from KPMG on proceedings relating to a secured claim brought against the company by its former solicitors.  The proceedings involve novel points of law relating to the recoverability of solicitors’ fees under a floating charge (pursuant to section 245 of the Insolvency Act 1986). The case has also involves issues related to the extent of a solicitor’s lien and sums recoverable under a conditional fee arrangement.  The litigation is due to reach the Court of Appeal for a third time in late 2019.

Administration of Toys ‘R’ Us Limited

Advising the English administrators of the well-known toy store in relation to litigation with the company’s secured creditors concerning the nature and extent of its claim, including in particular the validity of its floating charge under section 245 of the Insolvency Act 1986.

Acting for insolvency practitioners and their firms in relation to allegations as to professional conduct. Highlights include acting for the joint administrators of Angel Group Limited in opposing an application for their removal from office.

Receivership

Acting for enforcement receivers appointed under the Criminal Justice Act 1988 respect of the assets of a convicted fraudster.

Creditor of a sports team

Advising a creditor of an insolvent sports team in relation to high value sums owed by the team

Law firms

Paul has experience of achieving successful outcomes acting both for and against law firms.

Liquidators of Peak Hotels and Resorts Limited

Advising liquidators from KPMG on proceedings relating to a secured claim brought against the company by its former solicitors. The proceedings involve novel points of law relating to the recoverability of solicitors’ fees under a floating charge (pursuant to section 245 of the Insolvency Act 1986). The case has also involves issues related to the extent of a solicitor’s lien and sums recoverable under a conditional fee arrangement. The litigation is due to reach the Court of Appeal for a third time in late 2019.

An international law firm

Advising an international law firm in relation to proceedings against a former partner, settled on confidential terms.

Rangers Football Club

Bringing high value damages claims in negligence, fraud and breach of trust against the former solicitors of Rangers Football Club, which have now been settled on confidential terms.

Accountancy firms

Paul has experience of achieving successful outcomes acting both for and against accountancy firms and accountants. Paul has spent time on secondment with the in-house risk team of a Big 4 firm, during which time he dealt with litigation, FRC and other regulatory investigations and risk management issues facing the firm.

KPMG

Advising KPMG in the successful defence of a US$50 million negligence claim in respect of VAT advice. The claim was struck out on multiple grounds and the client was awarded its costs.

Big 4 firm - tax negligence

Advising a professional services firm in relation to numerous tax negligence matters, including the successful strike out of a contract and negligence claim against the firm in the High Court, with the client awarded its costs.

Professional conduct advice

Acting for insolvency practitioners and their firms in relation to allegations as to professional conduct.  Highlights include acting for the joint administrators of Angel Group Limited in opposing an application for their removal from office.

Risk management issues

Advising professional services firms and individual professionals on the successful navigation of risk management issues with the potential to lead to litigation if not resolved.

Third party disclosure requests

Advising professional services firms in relation to the successful resolution of a range of third party disclosure requests, including under the Civil Procedure Rules, the rules of the First Tier Tribunal (Tax), section 236 of the Insolvency Act 1986 and pursuant to letters of request from overseas courts.

Audit negligence

Acting as insurers' representatives in respect of large and complex audit negligence cases in overseas jurisdictions, arising out of large scale frauds and corporate collapses.

Professional services

Paul has experience of achieving successful outcomes acting both for and against professionals. Paul has spent time on secondment with the in-house risk team of a Big 4 accountancy firm, during which time he dealt with litigation, FRC and other regulatory investigations and risk management issues facing the firm.

KPMG

Advising KPMG in the successful defence of a US$50 million negligence claim in respect of VAT advice. The claim was struck out on multiple grounds and the client was awarded its costs.

Rangers Football Club

Bringing high value damages claims in negligence, fraud and breach of trust against the former solicitors of Rangers Football Club, which have now been settled on confidential terms. 

Big 4 firm - tax negligence

Advising a professional services firm in relation to numerous tax negligence matters, including the successful strike out of a contract and negligence claim against the firm in the High Court, with the client awarded its costs.

Acting for insolvency practitioners and their firms in relation to allegations as to professional conduct.  Highlights include acting for the joint administrators of Angel Group Limited in opposing an application for their removal from office.

Risk management issues

Advising professional services firms and individual professionals on the successful navigation of risk management issues with the potential to lead to litigation if not resolved.

Third party disclosure requests

Advising professional services firms in relation to the successful resolution of a range of third party disclosure requests, including under the Civil Procedure Rules, the rules of the First Tier Tribunal (Tax), section 236 of the Insolvency Act 1986 and pursuant to letters of request from overseas courts.

Audit negligence

Acting as insurers' representatives in respect of large and complex audit negligence cases in overseas jurisdictions, arising out of large scale frauds and corporate collapses.