Three 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 2022. 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:
Lonestar Communications v Kaye and Ors
Lonestar, a Liberian telecoms company and subsidiary of conglomerate MTN Group, argues it suffered damages as a result of a number of cyber attacks. Its claims include conspiracy and unlawful interference, against both individual defendants alleged to have been behind the attacks and their corporate employers.
- Listed for a three week trial in the Commercial Court, commencing on 21 February.
- Benedict Tompkins with Brick Court’s Tony Singla QC and Kyle Lawson are instructed by Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer partner James Kennedy for the claimant.
JSC Commercial Bank Privatbank v Kolomoisky & Others
Long running case worth €1.9bn involving Ukraine’s largest commercial bank, its two former owners and an alleged fraud. The allegation fuelling the dispute is a claim that the defendants orchestrated a fraudulent scheme to misappropriate funds from PrivatBank, with over $1bn understood to have been received in sham transactions.
- Listed for 13 week trial in the High Court, Chancery Division from 7 June.
- For the claimant, PrivatBank, James Willan QC, Tim Akkouh and Christopher Lloyd, alongside Blackstone’s Andrew Hunter QC, Robert Anderson QC and Celia Rooney and Erskine Chambers’ Conor McLaughlin, instructed by Hogan Lovells partners Richard Lewis, Rebecca Wales and Oliver Humphrey.
Suppipat v Narongdej and 16 ors
A high-profile claim worth $2bn concerning an alleged fraud by Thai businessman Nop Narongdej and several other individuals and entities, including as the Siam Commercial Bank. The claim arises out of the sale of Thailand’s largest wind energy company by its founder and now-fugitive from Thailand, Mr Nopporn Suppipat.
- Listed in the Commercial Court in October 2022 for 17 weeks
- For the defendants, Nop Narongdej and seventh party, Nuttawut Phowborom, Graham Dunning QC, Ciaran Keller and Benedict Tompkins are instructed by Harcus Parker partner Adam Zoubir
- For the eleventh and thirteenth defendant, Mr Arthid Nanthawithaya and Mr Weerawong Chittmittrapap, Ruth den Besten and John Robb with Fountain Court’s Patricia Robertson QC instructed by Clyde & Co partner Eurof Lloyd-Lewis.
- For the twelfth and fifteen defendants, Cornwallis and Madam Khunying Boonyachinda, David Scorey QC, Anna Dilnot QC and Helen Morton, instructed by CMS partner Andrew Taplin.
The full list of featured cases can be seen here.
