Freddie Onslow

Professional practice

Freddie has a broad commercial practice and is developing expertise in shipping and employment disputes.

She has appeared unled in the High Court (QBD and Chancery Division) seeking urgent injunctive relief; in applications in the Chancery Division; in week-long trials in the employment tribunal; in an LCIA arbitration and in applications in the Circuit Commercial Court.

As part of a team of counsel, she has appeared in the Commercial Court, the Chancery Division, arbitrations (LMAA and LCIA), including in lengthy trials. Her recent work includes:

Representing the Man Group in Public Institution for Social Security of Kuwait v Man Group, featured in The Lawyer’s “Top 20 Cases of 2020”, concerning allegations of large-scale bribery.
Acting in a multi-phase LMAA arbitration claim for damages of c. US$250m following the shipment of a dangerous cargo.
Acting on behalf of an insurer defending claims relating to the alleged detention of aircraft in Russia.
Acting in a 2-week LCIA arbitration arising out of the decommissioning of oil wells.
Representing a global consulting firm in an ongoing LCIA arbitration against a former employee.
Krishna v Gowrie and others – a 6-week trial, in which Freddie acted for the petitioners / claimants in an unfair prejudice petition involving allegations of asset stripping from a joint venture.
Acting for the respondent in a multi-week employment tribunal hearing, successfully defending allegations of discrimination on the grounds of race, sex and perceived disability.

Freddie has a particular interest in scientific and technical disputes given her background in materials science.

Freddie is a co-author of The Encyclopaedia of International Commercial Litigation, Anthony Coleman & Simon Bryan (Ed) and has contributed to Supperstone, Goudie and Walker (ed), Judicial Review (6th edition, 2018), Chapter 15: European Union Law.

Commercial dispute resolution

Acting (with Joe Smouha KC; James Collins KC; Leonora Sagan and Felix Wardle) on behalf of the Man Group, defending a large-scale bribery claim brought against more than 30 defendants by the Kuwaiti pension fund.

Acted as sole counsel in an application for urgent injunctive relief in order to prevent the disposal of a luxury car.

Acted (led by Louise Hutton) in a $2 billion fraud and conspiracy claim in the Commercial Court regarding an alleged fraud in relation to the ownership of Thailand’s leading wind energy firm.

Acted as sole counsel in the London Circuit Commercial Court in a dispute concerning the sale of food-packaging machinery under a contract with a retention of title clause.

Acted as sole counsel in a summary judgment and strike-out application in the County Court in relation to a claim for lost goods.

Instructed as sole counsel in the County Court for a foreign exchange company in relation to a claim for breach of the Data Protection Act 1998.

Co-author of The Encyclopedia of International Commercial Litigation, Anthony Coleman & Simon Bryan (Ed).

Shipping & admiralty

Freddie’s developing practice in this area draws on her background in materials science which lends itself well to technical and scientific disputes involving expert evidence. Her recent work includes:

Acted (led by David Bailey KC and with David Walsh) in a four-week LMAA arbitration claim for damages of c. US$250m arising out of the shipment of a dangerous cargo.
Acted (led by David Walsh) in an LMAA arbitration concerning seizure of a shipment of oil.
Acted (led by Hugh Mercer KC and with Richard Hoyle) in an LMAA Arbitration involving a dispute between two ferry companies resulting from the collapse of a Share Purchase Agreement.
Acted as sole counsel for cargo interests in various claims arising from damaged cargo.
Acted as sole counsel in an application in the Commercial Court to set aside a default judgment arising out of a cargo claim.
Acted as sole counsel in a summary judgment and strike-out application in the County Court in relation to a claim for lost goods carried under a combined transport bill of lading.

Employment

Freddie has experience both as sole and junior counsel in a range of employment matters, covering discrimination, constructive dismissal and whistle-blowing claims as well as disputes relating to post-termination restrictions. Her recent work includes:

Acting (led by David Craig KC) in a multi-week Employment Tribunal claim, defending allegations of sex, race and perceived disability discrimination.
Acting (led by Paul Goulding KC and Craig Rajgopaul) in an ongoing LCIA arbitration. Freddie is representing a global consulting firm in a claim relating to post-termination restrictions against a former employee.
Acting (led by Daniel Oudkerk KC) in a successful application for urgent injunctive relief relating to an employer’s misuse of confidential information, as well as the ongoing claim for final relief
Acting as sole counsel in a 5-day disability discrimination trial in the Employment Tribunal.
Acting as sole counsel in a six-day whistleblowing/constructive dismissal trial in the Employment Tribunal.
Acting as sole counsel for a major charity in a six-day racial discrimination trial.
Acting as sole counsel in a trial concerning the TUPE regulation and collective bargaining.
Advising and acting for an ex-director of a scientific manufacturing business in a disability discrimination claim and a claim for constructive dismissal.
Acting (led by Charles Ciumei KC) in an application for urgent injunctive relief against two former employees of a company in order to restrain them from breaching their post-termination restrictions and their duties in respect of the company’s confidential information.
Advising (led by James Willan) a senior partner of a firm of solicitors in respect of the enforceability of post-termination restrictions.
Acting (led by Daniel Stilitz KC and Jane Russell) for the government in order to restrain prison officers from taking industrial action.

Injunctions

Freddie is regularly instructed to appear, both led and unled, in applications for injunctive relief. Her recent experience includes:

Acted as sole counsel in an application for urgent injunctive relief in order to prevent the disposal of a luxury car;
Acting (led by David Joseph KC) seeking an order restraining a threatened transfer of shares;
Obtaining ex parte interim injunctive relief obliging a bank to remove a restriction placed on a bank account;
Acting (led by Charles Ciumei KC) in an application for urgent injunctive relief against two former employees of a company in order to restrain them from breaching their post-termination restrictions and their duties in respect of the company’s confidential information.

Civil fraud & asset recovery

Acting (led by Iain Quirk KC) in a 6-week trial arising from a joint venture between two major pharmaceutical distribution businesses, involving allegations of asset-stripping and fraudulent misrepresentation.

Acted (led by Louise Hutton) in a $2 billion fraud and conspiracy claim regarding an alleged fraud in relation to the ownership of Thailand’s leading wind energy firm.

Acted (led by Hugh Mercer KC and with Richard Hoyle) in an LMAA Arbitration involving counterclaims based on the alleged mismanagement of a major Greek ferry company.

Instructed (led by David Scorey KC and with Peter Webster) in a Financial List case regarding allegations of dishonest assistance and fraudulent trading (s 213 Insolvency Act) relating to alleged VAT fraud in the carbon credit market.

Commercial chancery disputes

Acting (led by Iain Quirk KC) in an unfair prejudice petition and related Part 7 claim. The underlying dispute relates to a joint venture between two major pharmaceutical distribution businesses and the alleged exclusion of one of the participants from the affairs and profits of the joint venture.

Acting (led by David Joseph KC) in an unfair prejudice petition and related Part 7 claim. The petitioners / claimants allege that they have been unfairly excluded from the affairs and profits of the joint venture business – which is involved in the distribution of sports data rights to gambling operators.

Arbitration & related court applications

Acting (led by Paul Goulding KC and Craig Rajgopaul) in an ongoing LCIA arbitration. Freddie is representing a global consulting firm in a claim against a former employee.

Acted (led by David Bailey KC and David Walsh) in an LMAA arbitration claim for damages of c. US$250m arising out of the shipment of a dangerous cargo. This matter also involved a S.69 application.

Acted (led by Huw Davies KC) in a 12-day LCIA arbitration arising out of the decommissioning of a series of oil wells.

Acted (led by David Walsh) in an LMAA charterparty dispute involving sanctions / requisition issues.

Acted as sole counsel for a provider of tutoring services in an LCIA arbitration.

Acted (led by Paul Key KC and with Adam Woolnough) in an LCIA Arbitration concerning a dispute over the sale of shares in a mining company.

Acted (led by Hugh Mercer KC and with Richard Hoyle) in an LMAA Arbitration resulting from the collapse of a Share Purchase Agreement between two ferry companies. The dispute involved counterclaims based on the alleged mismanagement of the target company, involving a 4 week hearing with an amount in dispute of €90m.

Acted (led by Jeffrey Gruder KC) on behalf of an investment management company in a litigation funding dispute.

Company & Insolvency Law

Insurance & reinsurance

Acting (with Jeffrey Gruder KC, David Peters and Helen Morton) in an aviation insurance claim arising from the alleged detention of aircraft in Russia.

Acted (led by Jeffrey Gruder KC) in a business interruption case arising from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Banking & financial services

Obtained ex parte interim injunctive relief obliging a bank to remove a restriction placed on a bank account.

Seconded to the litigation team at a major bank, advising on various banking matters, including a dishonest assistance claim and a claim based on the bank’s alleged obligations in respect of cheques.

Acted as sole counsel in the County Court in an application to strike out the defence to a claim for recovery of a mistaken payment made by a foreign exchange company.

Energy & natural resources

Acting (led by Huw Davies KC) in an LCIA arbitration arising out of the decommissioning of a series of oil wells.

Acting (led by Paul Key KC and with Adam Woolnough) in an LCIA Arbitration concerning a dispute over the sale of shares in a mining company.

Career

2018 Tenant at Essex Court Chambers

2017-2018 Pupillage at Essex Court Chambers (with Edward Brown)

2017 Called to the Bar (Middle Temple)

Education

2016-2017 BPTC, City Law School (Outstanding)

2015-2016 GDL, City Law School (Distinction)

2011-2015 MEng Materials Science, University of Oxford (1st Class)

Awards