Professional practice

Grace practises commercial litigation and international arbitration. She is particularly experienced in high-value and complex commercial disputes involving international elements, including most recently, acting for the Claimants in Município de Mariana v BHP, one of The Lawyer’s Top 20 Cases of 2020, 2022 and 2024, the liability trial for which commenced in October 2024 and concluded in March 2025. Grace’s international arbitration experience includes representing or advising parties in proceedings under LCIA, ICC and ad-hoc rules as well as in associated court applications including challenges, enforcement and injunctive relief. Grace’s other areas of expertise include group litigation, civil fraud, banking and financial services and commercial employment.

Recent highlights include:

  • Município de Mariana v BHP [2024] EWHC 953 (TCC), [2024] EWHC 954 (TCC), [2024] EWHC 952 (TCC), [2024] EWHC 207 (TCC), [2024] EWHC 192 (TCC), [2024] EWHC 23 (TCC): Acting for the Claimants in a multi-billion-pound dispute arising from Brazil’s largest environmental disaster and the largest class action by claimant size in English legal history (with Alain Choo Choy KC, Andrew Fulton KC and others). At trial, Grace was the lead junior on the Claimants’ environmental liability claims and the Brazilian law aspects of the Claimants’ civil liability claims.
  • Aon UK Limited & Ors v Howden Group Holdings Limited & Ors: Acting for Howden in defence of a multi-million-pound team move conspiracy claim arising out of the recruitment by Howden of employees in the UK and Brazil (with David Craig KC and others). Claims arising from the Brazilian recruitment are to be determined under Brazilian law.
  •  George Cowan v Equis Special L.P: Acting for the Plaintiffs in proceedings brought in the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands in respect of an alleged fraudulent conspiracy between various limited partners to misappropriate hundreds of millions of dollars from the fund to the detriment of the Plaintiffs (with Thomas Grant KC and Stuart Cribb).
  •  BTI 2014 LLC and another v Finbarr O’Connell and others [2025] EWHC 2115 (Ch): Acted for BTI 2014 LLC and BAT Industries LLC in a successful application to remove the Joint Administrators of Windward Prospects Limited under paragraph 88 of Schedule B1 to the Insolvency Act 1986 (with James Sheehan KC and William Willson).
  •  Confidential: Advising on strategy in a high-profile class action (with Angeline Welsh KC and Eloise Hewson).

Grace has experience conducting the various tasks that accompany heavy litigation and arbitration including drafting pleadings, orders, opening and closing submissions, Disclosure Review Documents, Redfern Schedules, Lists of Common Ground Issues and Case Memoranda (and any necessary associated inter partes negotiation of the same); appearing led at interlocutory hearings (interim applications, Case Management Conferences, Disclosure Guidance Hearings and Pre-trial Reviews); and cross-examination preparation. In addition to appearing as junior counsel, Grace has appeared unled in the County Court.

As a fluent Portuguese speaker, Grace is well-suited to acting in Lusophone and Latin American disputes. She also has extensive expertise in Brazilian law, especially the law pertaining to Brazilian Environmental, Civil and Corporate Liability, limitation and waiver, and associated issues of Civil Procedure.

Grace completed an accelerated Law (Jurisprudence) degree at the University of Oxford on a full tuition fee scholarship, graduating with a multi-prize winning first, including prizes for best performance in private law, contract, tort and criminal law. She subsequently taught contract law and tort law at the University of Oxford. Before that, Grace was an Associate at JP Morgan and later worked as an independent consultant to other City banks, having graduated with a BA in History and Portuguese from St. John’s College, Oxford in 2014.

Grace is a David Karmel, Bedingfield and Atkin Scholar of Gray’s Inn (the Inn’s top scholarships each year).

 

Career

2022 Tenant at Essex Court Chambers

2021-2022 Pupil at Essex Court Chambers (with Emily Wood KC)

2021 Called to the Bar (Gray’s Inn)

2019-2020 Contract and Tort tutor – University of Oxford

2016-2020 Consultant – HSBC Private Bank (2016), Wells Fargo (2016-2017), JP Morgan (2019-2020)

2014-2016 Associate – JP Morgan

2013 Commercial Analyst – British Consulate, São Paulo (during year abroad)

Education

2020-2021 The Inns of Court College of Advocacy, PGDip in Bar Practice

2017-2019 Harris Manchester College, University of Oxford, BA Jurisprudence, First Class (ranked 6th in year)

2010-2014 St John’s College, University of Oxford, BA History and Portuguese

2008-2010 St Peter’s Catholic Comprehensive School, Bournemouth

Awards

2022 Atkin Scholar (Gray’s Inn)

2021 Bedingfield Scholar (Gray’s Inn)

2019

Gibbs Prize (Oxford University) for best aggregate performance in Trusts, Land, Contract and Tort law

Slaughter and May Prize (Oxford University) for joint best performance in Contract Law

Wronker Prize (Oxford University) for best performance in Tort Law

Law Faculty Prize (Oxford University) for best performance in Criminal Law

D’Souza Prize (Oxford University) for best performance on the Senior Status BA

2018

Ashtiany Prizes (Harris Manchester College) for first class results in internal examinations in Trusts, Land and Jurisprudence

Rowlinson Prize (Harris Manchester College) for Excellent Achievement

Best Oralist Prize (The Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot) for best performance out of 100 competitors

Winner (Blackstone University of Oxford Human Rights Moot)

2017

David Karmel Scholar (Gray’s Inn)

Second Undergraduate Degree Scholarship (Harris Manchester College)

Best Oralist prize (University of Oxford 7KBW Commercial Law Moot 2017)

2011 Casberd Academic Scholarship (St. John’s College)

Arbitration & related court applications

Grace’s recent instructions include:

  • Advising on the merits of bringing an anti-suit injunction (with David Joseph KC).
  • Acting in an ad-hoc arbitration involving issues of contractual interpretation and subsequent applications under s.66 and 69 of the Arbitration Act 1996 (with David Joseph KC).
  • Acting in an ad-hoc arbitration involving issues of contractual interpretation and estoppel and subsequent applications under ss.66, 68 and 69 of the Arbitration Act 1996 (with David Joseph KC).
  • Acting in an injunction to restrain an alleged breach of arbitral confidentiality and an application for permission to appeal the judgment of said application to the Court of Appeal (with David Joseph KC).
  • Advising on the transfer of rights under an arbitration agreement and associated issues of state immunity (with Iain Quirk KC).
  • Acting in an LCIA arbitration involving a dispute between a global consulting firm and their former employee (with Roderick Cordara KC).

During pupillage, Grace assisted with the following matters:

  • An LCIA arbitration concerning a dispute about the proper construction of the standard form contract used in the non-household retail water market and the duty of good faith.
  • An appeal before the Privy Council arising out of an enforcement challenge on the application and interpretation of Articles V.1(a)-(c) and V.2(b) of the New York Convention.
  • An ICC arbitration involving claims for breaches of exclusivity obligations and restrictive covenants in an international cement contract.
  • A jurisdiction challenge under 67 of the Arbitration Act 1996.
  • An application to set aside an order for the enforcement of an arbitral award under s.66 of the Arbitration Act 1996 on the basis that the order would serve no useful purpose.
  • Resisting a claim for an anti-suit injunction on the basis of undue delay.
  • An appeal arising out of a claim for an anti-suit injunction as to the proper approach to be taken to two conflicting jurisdiction clauses.
  • Advising on proper forum in a standard form contract with both an exclusive jurisdiction clause and an arbitration clause incorporated by agreement.
Banking & financial services

Grace’s recent instructions include:

  • Acting for the Plaintiffs in George Cowan & Anr v Equis Special LP & Ors, a dispute between a former limited partner of a private equity fund, the general partner, and various other limited partners involving claims of fraud, unlawful means conspiracy, and breach of contract (with Thomas Grant KC and Stuart Cribb).
  •  Acted for the Claimants in Hoffman and Greenbaum v Finalto Group Limited and Gopher Investments, a multi-million fintech dispute involving claims to management equity and allegations of fraudulent misrepresentation (with Alain Choo Choy KC and Edward Brown KC).
  •  Advising in a claim against the Designated Manager of a close-ended investment fund in Guernsey in connection with losses resulting from the failure of the fund (with Tim Akkouh KC).

During pupillage, Grace assisted with the following matters:

  • Advising on whether a private credit firm was entitled to appoint receivers over rights to amounts payable under various trade credit insurance policies.
  • Advising on the law applicable to claims arising out of allegations of financial market manipulation.
  • An application for reverse summary judgment or to strike out a claimant bank’s claims to enforce UAE judgments against various assets on the grounds of retention of beneficial ownership and as transactions defrauding creditors under 423 of the Insolvency Act 1986 on the basis that they did not raise a serious issue to be tried.
  • Advising in connection with the unauthorised release of security pledged by the claimant bank in return for commodities financing.
Civil Fraud & Asset Tracing

Grace’s recent instructions include:

  • Acting for the Plaintiffs in George Cowan & Anr v Equis Special LP & Ors, a dispute between a former limited partner of a private equity fund, the general partner, and various other limited partners involving claims of fraud, unlawful means conspiracy, and breach of contract (with Thomas Grant KC and Stuart Cribb).
  •  Acting for the Claimants in Hoffman and Greenbaum v Finalto Group Limited and Gopher Investments, a multi-million fintech dispute involving allegations of fraudulent misrepresentation (with Alain Choo Choy KC and Edward Brown KC).
  • Advising in connection with proceedings in Republic of Mozambique v Credit Suisse International & Ors, a $3bn bribery and fraud dispute arising from the “Tuna Bonds” scandal and one of The Lawyer’s Top 20 Cases of 2023.
  • Advising in connection with proceedings in JSC Privatbank v Kolomoisky & Bogolyubov, a $1.9bn fraud dispute and one of The Lawyer’s Top 20 Cases of 2022.

During pupillage, Grace assisted with the following matters:

  • A dispute about interests in an international fishing business involving allegations of misappropriation and unlawful means conspiracy.
  • A claim for misrepresentation in connection with the sale of a group of residential care homes.
  • Advising on potential claims and associated jurisdictional issues arising out of a significant cross-border fraud.
  • Advising on the law applicable to a claim for fraudulent misrepresentation in connection with the alleged manipulation of financial markets.
Commercial Employment

Grace’s recent instructions include:

  • Acting for Howden in Aon UK Limited & Ors v Howden Group Holdings Limited & Ors, defending a multi-million-pound team move conspiracy claim arising out of the recruitment by Howden of employees in the UK and Brazil (with David Craig KC and others).
  • Acting for the former executives of a fintech company in Hoffman and Greenbaum v Finalto Group Limited and Gopher Investments, in a claim for breach of contract and wrongful termination for whistleblowing.
  •  Acting for a former employee of a global consulting firm in claims for breaches of restrictive covenants.
Commercial dispute resolution

Grace’s recent instructions include:

  • Acting for more than 700,000 Claimants in the liability trial in Município de Mariana v BHP, a multi-billion-pound dispute arising from the collapse of the Fundão tailings dam (with Alain Choo Choy KC, Andrew Fulton KC and others). At trial, Grace was the lead junior on the Claimants’ environmental liability claims and the Brazilian law aspects of the Claimants’ civil liability claims.
  • Acting for Howden in Aon UK Limited & Ors v Howden Group Holdings Limited & Ors, defending a multi-million-pound team move conspiracy claim arising out of the recruitment by Howden of employees in the UK and Brazil (with David Craig KC and others). Claims arising from the recruitment of Brazilian employees are to be determined under Brazilian law.
  • Acting for the Plaintiffs in George Cowan & Anr v Equis Special LP & Ors, a dispute between a former limited partner of a private equity fund, the general partner, and various other limited partners involving claims of fraud, unlawful means conspiracy, and breach of contract (with Thomas Grant KC and Stuart Cribb).
  • Acting for the Claimants in Hoffman and Greenbaum v Finalto Group Limited and Gopher Investments, a multi-million fintech dispute involving claims for breach of contract (with Alain Choo Choy KC and Edward Brown KC).
  • Advising in connection with proceedings in Republic of Mozambique v Credit Suisse
  • International & Ors, a $3bn bribery and fraud dispute arising from the “Tuna Bonds” scandal and one of The Lawyer’s Top 20 Cases of 2023.
  • Advising in connection with proceedings in JSC Privatbank v Kolomoisky & Bogolyubov, a
  • $1.9bn fraud dispute and one of The Lawyer’s Top 20 Cases of 2022.

During pupillage, Grace assisted with the following matters:

  • A dispute as to the proper application of the Civil Liability Contribution Act 1978 to a Part 20 claim in a dispute about interests in an international fishing business.
  • A dispute between a high-speed railway operator and a multinational conglomerate in connection with alleged breaches of a trademark licensing
  • A dispute between a sports streaming service and a telecommunications provider in connection with alleged breaches of a distribution partnership agreement.
  • A claim for breach of contract and fraudulent misrepresentation in connection with the sale of a group of residential care homes.
  •  Advising on the merits of claims for breach of contract and negligence in connection with the unauthorised release of security by a provider of collateral management
  • Advising on whether an aircraft leasing contract was frustrated by EU sanctions against  A claim for wrongful termination of an aircraft leasing contract.
  • An application for reverse summary judgment or to strike out claims challenging transfers of assets on the grounds of retention of beneficial ownership and as transactions
  • Advising on the contractual rights and obligations between a sporting body and a third party.
Conflict of laws & private international law

Grace’s recent instructions include:

  • Acting for Howden in Aon UK Limited & Ors v Howden Group Holdings Limited & Ors, involving issues of Brazilian law (with David Craig KC and others).
  • Acting for the Claimants in Município de Mariana v BHP which involved consideration of the law applicable to an agency relationship and issues of Brazilian law (with Alain Choo Choy KC, Andrew Fulton KC and others).
  • Acting for the Claimants in Hoffman and Greenbaum v Finalto Group Limited and Gopher Investments, a multi-million fintech dispute involving issues of Israeli law (with Alain Choo Choy KC and Edward Brown KC).

During pupillage, Grace assisted with the following matters:

  • An appeal before the Privy Council arising out of a challenge to a Brazilian arbitral award involving questions of proof of foreign law and issue estoppel.
  • Advising as to the law applicable to the question of whether the assignment of an insurance policy was prohibited in circumstances where the contract of assignment and the insurance policy were governed by different laws.
  • A jurisdiction challenge in the Chancery Division involving applications to stay proceedings under Article 34 of the Brussels Regulation and on forum non conveniens
  • Advising as to the jurisdictional basis for a foreign intervener in multi-party proceedings to bring a counterclaim against a foreign claimant.
  • Advising on the law applicable to claims for fraudulent misrepresentation and breaches of competition law in connection with alleged financial market manipulation.
  • A question as to the law applicable to a contract to stream sporting events in Italy for the purposes of determining whether s.27 of the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977
  • Advising on the law applicable to a claim in negligence arising out of the unauthorised release of security in Ghana.
  • Advising on whether a jurisdiction clause with a floating law can be saved by applying Article 7 of the Rome Regulation to determine applicable law.
Group Actions

Grace’s recent instructions include:

  • Acting for more than 700,000 Claimants in Município de Mariana v BHP, the largest class action by claimant size in English legal history (with Alain Choo Choy KC, Andrew Fulton KC and others). At trial, Grace was the lead junior on the Claimants’ environmental liability claims and the Brazilian law aspects of the Claimants’ civil liability claims.
  • Confidential: Advising on strategy in a high-profile class action (with Angeline Welsh KC and Eloise Hewson).
  • Advising the Post Office’s external solicitors in relation to the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry, involving consideration of the conduct of the Post Office Group Litigation (with Jonathan Hough KC and others).
Insurance & reinsurance

During pupillage, Grace assisted with the following matters:

  • Advising on whether certain insurance policies prohibited the assignment of rights to amounts payable thereunder.
  • An appeal as to the proper approach to two conflicting jurisdiction clauses in a tower of insurance policies.
  • Advising on the proper construction of an excess of loss insurance policy.
  • Advising on whether an insurer could retrospectively reallocate losses under a tower of excess of loss contracts of reinsurance so as to increase its recoveries from a particular layer.
Offshore Litigation

Grace’s recent instructions include:

  • Acting for the Plaintiffs in George Cowan & Anr v Equis Special LP & Ors, a dispute between a former limited partner of a private equity fund, the general partner, and various other limited partners involving claims of a fraudulent conspiracy (with Thomas Grant KC and Stuart Cribb).
  • Advising in an appeal before the Courts of Appeal of Trinidad & Tobago in Namalco v Estate Management and Business Development Company Ltd (EMBD) No. P129 of 2022 (with Richard Millett KC).
  • Advising in a claim against the Designated Manager of a close-ended investment fund in Guernsey in connection with losses resulting from the failure of the fund (with Tim Akkouh KC).