Members of Essex Court Chambers feature in three of The Lawyer’s Top Appeals of 2020. The cases that have been listed are detailed below:
- Grant Thornton v Asset Co
One of the first auditor negligence claims in relation to alleged fraudulent manipulation of accounts to go on trial for decades. There was a six-week trial before the Commercial Court and judgment was handed down in January 2019, holding Grant Thornton liable to its former client for damages of more than £20M. Mark Templeman QC acts for Asset Co, instructed by Mark Davis of Mishcon de Reya. - Ministry of Defence & Support for Armed Force of the Islamic Republic of Iran (MODSAF) v International Military Services Limited
The recent proceedings in this dispute relate to accrued interest on two contracts amounting to £127.7M, that were terminated following the Iranian revolution. In 2019, Mr Justice Phillips held that MODSAF was not entitled to recover interest against IMS as MODSAF were sanctioned. The Court of Appeal will consider the 2019 judgment in a five-day hearing which has been listed in both January and March 2020. Joe Smouha QC and Tom Ford act for the International Military Services Limited, instructed by Michael Lyons of Clifford Chance. - BTI 2014 LLC v Sequana SA and others
This €578M dispute relates to the legality of two dividends distributed to Sequana by its former subsidiary Windward Prospects. The High Court dismissed all claims made by BAT Group and ordered Sequana to pay a sum which amounted to approximately €163M. Sequana has taken the case to the Supreme Court and there is a 2-day hearing listed in March 2020. Ciaran Keller acts for BTI, instructed by Kevin Lloyd of Debevoise & Plimpton.
The full list of featured cases can be found here.
