"A very thorough adviser, who is strategically adept in presenting difficult arguments to court."
Andrew Thomas has advised on and appeared, both led and un-led, in a wide spectrum of commercial litigation and arbitrations including banking, aviation, telecoms, professional negligence, shipping, insurance and reinsurance, and jurisdictional related disputes. In addition to regularly appearing in the Commercial Court and before other tribunals in England, he has participated in hearings in Zurich and the British Virgin Islands.
Andrew began his career by acting as Junior Counsel in the BSE Inquiry conducted by Lord Phillips and has since been involved in a number of disputes involving over £100 million including Bancomext v ETECSA. Andrew has acted for a Prince and Princess of Romania, Sir Allen Stanford, the London Philharmonic Orchestra and The Harlequins Football Club. Andrew has also pursued claims against Mr Nicholas Van Hoogstraten and several major banks including NatWest, RBS, Lloyds TSB, Barclays, Santander, Credit Suisse, UBS and Calyon.
Andrew has experience with issues ranging from abstract points in construction of commercial contracts and acted in Durham Tees Valley Airport v bmibaby [2011] 1 Lloyd's Rep. 68 and Camerata v Credit Suisse [2011] 2 B.C.L.C. 54. He also has extensive experience involving complex jurisdiction disputes, such as UBS v Regione Calabria [2012] 1 C.L.C. 580 and Augean plc v Hutton and others [2014] All ER (D) 106 (Sep).
Andrew also accepts arbitration appointments.
Andrew is ranked as a Leading Junior in Banking and Finance and Commercial Litigation by the Legal 500 2017.
Commercial litigation and arbitrations
Andrew has extensive experience of complex substantive commercial disputes involving contractual issues and torts, in a wide variety of contexts (including various cases with international dimensions giving rise to issues as to jurisdiction and the applicable law).
Other earlier notable cases
Andrew is ranked as a Leading Junior in Banking and Finance by the Legal 500 2016.
Andrew has been engaged on various cases involving major banks (including NatWest, RBS, Lloyds TSB, Barclays, Santander, Credit Suisse, UBS and Calyon) which raised issues regarding:
His notable banking and finance cases include:
Extensive practical experience in litigation involving allegations of civil fraud and deceit, including related interim relief hearings (particularly freezing orders) and asset recovery issues.
Seminars
Andrew regularly gives seminars to solicitors on a range of subjects including on repudiatory breaches of contract.
Qualifications and prizes
Law B.A. (First Class Honours), Balliol College, Oxford
Recipient of Oxford University's Eldon Law Scholarship, and the Slaughter and May prize for the Best Performance in Contract in Finals, and Inner Temple's Princess Royal Scholarship.
Further Information
Called to the Inner Temple
Other interests - Science fiction and the exploration of space.
Called to the Bar of the British Virgin Islands
Andrew is ranked as a Leading Junior in Commercial Litigation, and in Banking and Finance by Legal 500