Commercial 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.

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.

International arbitration

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.

Banking and financial services litigation

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.

Regulatory 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.

Fraud and asset tracing

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.

Banks and banking

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.

Sport

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.

Government and public sector

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.

Qatar

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.

CIS and CEE

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.