The Lawyer Reveals its ‘Top 20 Cases’ of 2019

15 January, 2019

Four cases involving members of Essex Court Chambers are featured in The Lawyer’s Top 20 cases with proceedings set to be heard in court during 2019. The list includes cases with the most significant sums in dispute as well as disputes involving high profile parties or issues. The cases involving members of Essex Court Chambers are as follows:

  1. Yukos Finance B.V. & others v Stephen Lynch & others. A $50 million damages claim brought under Russian law against five individuals involved in the purchase of Yukos assets at auction in 2007. Listed for a six week trial starting in June 2019. Stephen Houseman QC acts for the fourth defendant, instructed by Julian Acratopulo at Clifford Chance.
  2. Slater & Gordon (UK Limited) v Watchstone Group Plc. A £650m deceit claim involving the acquisition by S&G of Quindell’s legal services business in 2015. This will revisit some major issues around the ingredients of the tort of deceit of reliance and quantum of damage. Richard Millett QC acts for the defendant, instructed by Matthew Blower at Dorsey & Whitney.
  3. Avonwick Holdings Ltd v Sergiy Taruta and Others. Six members of Essex Court Chambers are instructed in this latest tranche of big-ticket oligarch litigation in London. It is a contest between three billionaires who made their wealth from one of the largest industrial corporations in Ukraine, based in the area recently torn apart by armed conflict with pro-Russian insurgents. The various claims are well in excess of US$2 billion. David Foxton QC, Nathan Pillow QC, Louise Hutton, Siddharth Dhar and Anton Dudnikov act for the second and fourth defendants, Dargamo Holdings Limited and Sergiy Taruta, instructed by Michael Roberts at Hogan Lovells. A seven week trial is listed for October 2019.
  4. (1) PCP Capital Partners & (2) PCP International Finance Limited v Barclays Bank Plc. A $1bn claim brought by Amanda Staveley against Barclays Bank alleging fraud in the context of the latter’s emergency fund-raising in 2008. Listed for an eight week trial in October 2019. Joe Smouha QC acts for the claimant, instructed by Richard East at Quinn Emanuel.

The full list of featured cases can be seen here: https://www.thelawyer.com/revealed-the-top-20-cases-of-2019/