General Commercial

Edward is frequently instructed in high profile commercial litigation.  He has particular experience of injunctions and interlocutory disputes and has been commended for his “extensive knowledge of injunctive relief measures” (Chambers & Partners 2019).  Current and recent highlights of Edward’s practice include:

Edward has a wide-ranging civil fraud practice.  He is noted in the legal directories for his “growing reputation for handing high-profile civil fraud cases” (Chambers & Partners 2019) and for his “extremely strong technical knowledge in procedural and substantive issues arising in fraud cases” (Legal 500 2018).    Current and recent highlights of Edward’s civil fraud practice include:

• Federal Government of Nigeria v Energy Venture Partners Ltd: acting for the Defendant in a US$9.5 billion claim brought by the Federal Government of Nigeria relating to allegations that companies associated with Shell and Eni obtained the rights a valuable offshore concession at an undervalue.
• Arcadia v Bosworth et al (Comm.): acting for the Claimant in a c. $300m fraud claim involving worldwide freezing and proprietary injunctions and arising against multiple Defendants in connection with oil trading in West Africa.
• Energy Venture Partners Ltd v Malabu Oil and Gas Ltd [2013] EWHC 2118 (Comm): a substantial claim for unpaid broker’s commission arising out of the sale of a deep-water oil block in the Niger Delta.
• James Fisher Offshore Limited v InterAct Activity Management Limited (Comm.):  acting for the Claimant in a commercial dispute concerning contracts for the excavation and lowering of a live subsea gas pipeline running from an offshore facility off the coast of East Java in Indonesia.
• Mabanga v Ophir Energy PLC & Ophir Services PTY Limited [2012] EWHC 1589 (Comm.):  acting for the successful Defendant oil and gas exploration companies in obtaining reverse summary judgment in respect of a claim for misrepresentation arising out of a project in Tanzania.
• Unaoil v Amona Ranhill [2012] EWHC 1595 (Comm.): acting for the First and Second Defendant companies in successfully setting aside service of proceedings by the Claimant oil and gas consultancy relating to unpaid commission on agreements relating to various construction projects in Libya.
• Munib Masri v 1) Consolidated Contracts International 2) Consolidated Contractors (Oil and Gas) Company SAL (Comm.):  acting for the judgment creditor in long standing proceedings relating to the enforcement of a judgment debt.
• Comanco SA v. TGC Ventures Limited (Comm.): a $200 million oil pipeline dispute relating to a project to construct new pipelines from Kirkuk in Iraq to Banias on the Syrian Mediterranean coast.

• Recovery Partners v Rukhadze et al (Comm.): acting for the Defendants at the quantum stage of substantial Commercial Court proceedings concerning the scope of an account of profits in connection with asset recovery services that were provided to the family of Arkady Patarkatsishvili.
• Akers and others v Samba Financial Group [2021] EWHC 60: Acting for the Defendant Saudi bank in successfully defending a claim relating to the alleged knowing receipt of securities valued in excess of US$300m, which were alleged to have been held on trust for the benefit of a Cayman entity (now in liquidation).
• UBS v Kommunale Wasserwerke Leipzig GmbH [2014] EWHC 3615 (Comm.); [2017] EWCA Civ 1567: acting for the Claimant at first instance and before the Court of Appeal in a US$320 million claim seeking to enforce payment under a number of synthetic CDO transactions.
• Libyan Investment Authority v Goldman Sachs (Ch.): acting for the LIA on its claim in the Chancery Division that, during the Gaddafi era, Goldman Sachs procured the LIA to enter into derivative investments of around US$1.2 billion (described by The Lawyer as one of the top 20 cases of 2016).
• Fortress Value Recovery Fund v Blue Skye Special Opportunities Fund (Comm.):  acting for the Defendant fund managers in a dispute concerning a Euro 200 million investment structure involving claims brought by a series of investors against the fund managers and related parties.
• Nazim Omara & Taha Babiker v. Al Mal Bank: acting for the Defendant liquidators to defend claims arising out of the liquidation of Al Mal Bank.  The case was only the second before newly constituted Qatar Financial Centre Civil and Commercial Court.
• Atrium European Real Estate Ltd v Meinl Bank & Ors (Comm.): a multibillion euro fraud claim arising out of underwriting and market activities carried out in Austria on behalf of a Jersey investment fund and raising complex issues of jurisdiction involving the Judgments Regulation, common law rules and arbitration provisions.

Edward has a broad professional negligence practice (both before the courts, and in proceedings involving the FRC) and is frequently instructed by a number of leading accountancy firms.  Amongst other things, he has been noted in the legal directories for his “commercial and detailed approach” to his professional negligence cases (Legal 500 2018).  Current and recent highlights of Edward’s professional negligence practice include: 

• Patisserie Holdings PLC et al v Grant Thornton UK LLP (Comm.): Acting for the Defendant auditor in a substantial professional negligence action claiming damages in excess of £200 million in connection with an alleged management fraud.
• Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation v (1) David Neil Gerrard (2) Dechert LLP (Comm.): Acting for the Defendants in defence of a high profile claim for professional negligence and malpractice by mining conglomerate ENRC (described by The Lawyer as one of the top 20 cases of 2021).
• NWIC v BSG Valentine: Defending a UK accountancy firm in substantial ongoing proceedings alleging fraud and professional negligence in connection with the audits of an offshore insurance company.
• Providence Investment Funds v PricewaterhouseCoopers CI LLP: Acting for the Defendant in proceedings before the Guernsey Court arising out of an alleged fraud committed in connection with the management of a Guernsey-based investment fund.
• Brightside Group Limited v Baker Tilly UK Audit et al (Comm.): Acting for the Defendants in Commercial Court Proceedings relating to statutory audit work, CASS Audit work and corporate finance services provided over a number of years by Baker Tilly (now RSM) to entities in the Brightside Group (Comm.).
• NHBC v PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (Comm.): acting for the Defendant in Commercial Court proceedings relating to tax and audit services provided to the National House Building Council.
• The Executive Counsel to the ​Financial Council v Baker Tilly UK Audit LLP et al:  ​acting for the Respondents in ongoing proceedings brought by the Executive Counsel to the Financial Reporting Council relating to the audit of the Tanfield Group.
• O’Neil Patient Limited and others v RSM UK Tax and Accounting and others: A claim in the Chancery Division relating to multiple instances of allegedly negligent tax and accountancy advice in connection with a corporate acquisition.
• Motormile Finance UK Limited v RSM Risk Assurance Services LLP – Acting for the Defendant in Chancery Court proceedings relating to the Defendant’s performance of a section 166 review in connection with the Claimant’s application for authorisation by the FCA.
• UBS v Kommunale Wasserwerke Leipzig GmbH [2014] EWHC 3615 (Comm.); [2017] EWCA Civ 1567: acting for the Claimant at first instance and before the Court of Appeal in a US$320 million claim relating to the alleged negligent management of a portfolio of financial reference entities.
• Go Plant Limited v Grant Thornton UK LLP (Ch.): acting for the Defendant assurance, tax and advisory firm in relation to claims relating to the performance of corporate advisory functions.
• Davidsons Developments Limited v Grant Thornton UK LLP (Ch.): acting for the Defendant assurance, tax and advisory firm in relation to claims relating to the performance of audit functions.

Edward has experience of a variety of arbitration tribunals and has been involved in commercial arbitrations involving a range of different arbitration rules and institutions.  His recent work has included acting (both led and un-led) on behalf of a number of pharmaceutical companies in arbitrations against the Department of Health relating to the pricing and supply of pharmaceuticals products.  He has experience of UNCITRAL, ICC, LCIA and Ad Hoc rules.  He is also a contributing author to “SIAC Rules: An Annotation,” an annotated guide to the arbitration rules of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (LexisNexis, publication date December 2013).  Current and recent highlights of Edward’s arbitration practice include:

• X v Y: Appearing both led and unled in ongoing proceedings before the Dubai International Financial Centre Courts in connection with a series of arbitrations relating to the development and management of a luxury hotel property in Dubai.
• Ministry of Defence v A. Contractor:  A commercial ad hoc arbitration relating to a defence procurement contract.
• The Executive Counsel to the Financial Council v Baker Tilly UK Audit LLP et al: acting for the Respondents in ongoing proceedings brought by the Executive Counsel to the Financial Reporting Council relating to the audit of the Tanfield Group.
• Teva UK Limited v Department of Health:  acting for the Claimant pharmaceutical company in arbitration under the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme relating to the over-delivery of price adjustment savings under the scheme.
• GlaxoSmithKline v Department of Health: Acting for the Claimant pharmaceutical company in an arbitration under the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme relating to whether stockpiled products fall within the general provisions of the scheme.

Edward has experience of public international law cases and is currently involved in a series of ongoing inter-state disputes before the European Court of Human Rights.  He also has experience of inquiries and was Secretary to the “Hoffmann Commission”, a commission chaired by Lord Hoffmann and constituted by the MTN Group to investigate claims of corruption in relation to MTN's bid to participate in the second mobile phone network in Iran. 

• Akers and others v Samba Financial Group [2021] EWHC 60: Acting for the Defendant Saudi bank in successfully defending a claim relating to the alleged knowing receipt of securities valued in excess of US$300m, which were alleged to have been held on trust for the benefit of a Cayman entity (now in liquidation).
• NWIC v BSG Valentine: Defending a UK accountancy firm in substantial ongoing proceedings alleging fraud and professional negligence in connection with the audits of an offshore insurance company.
• Libyan Investment Authority v Goldman Sachs (Ch.): acting for the LIA on its claim in the Chancery Division that, during the Gaddafi era, Goldman Sachs procured the LIA to enter into derivative investments of around US$1.2 billion (described by The Lawyer as one of the top 20 cases of 2016).
• O’Neil Patient Limited and others v RSM UK Tax and Accounting and others: A claim in the Chancery Division relating to multiple instances of allegedly negligent tax and accountancy advice in connection with a corporate acquisition.
• Motormile Finance UK Limited v RSM Risk Assurance Services LLP – Acting for the Defendant in Chancery Court proceedings relating to the Defendant’s performance of a section 166 review in connection with the Claimant’s application for authorisation by the FCA.

• The Executive Counsel to the ​Financial Council v Baker Tilly UK Audit LLP et al:  ​acting for the Respondents in ongoing proceedings brought by the Executive Counsel to the Financial Reporting Council relating to the audit of the Tanfield Group.

Edward has experience of public international law cases and is currently involved in a series of ongoing inter-state disputes before the European Court of Human Rights.  He also has experience of inquiries and was Secretary to the “Hoffmann Commission”, a commission chaired by Lord Hoffmann and constituted by the MTN Group to investigate claims of corruption in relation to MTN's bid to participate in the second mobile phone network in Iran. 

"Edward is incredibly personable, very strong on the law, very communicative and has an amazing brain." "An excellent lawyer who is very good technically, extremely responsive and pleasant to work with. He also has a good manner with clients." (Chambers & Partners 2022)

 "A great junior, both reliable and highly accessible, and possessed of a client-friendly manner." (Chambers & Partners 2022)

"Absolutely brilliant – strategic, insightful and highly skilled in all respects well beyond his years. You want him on your team and in your client’s corner. A true star and an absolute pleasure to work with." (Legal 500 2022)

"A master of detail provides clear and concise advice in a user-friendly format." (Legal 500 2022)

"Proactive and reasoned in his thinking." "He has a seriously sharp and mature brain." (Chambers & Partners 2021)

"Very strong intellectual and analytical mind, and able to hold his own with much more senior and experienced practitioners, demonstrating how far he is likely to rise." (Legal 500 2021)

"A relaxed and urbane advocate who is keen to get to the heart of the legal issues arising in any fraud case." (Legal 500 2021)

"He manages to condense a complicated factual matrix into clear and concise advice." (Legal 500 2021)

"Another Brick Court star, a complete pleasure to work with." (Legal 500 2020)

"A collaborative, flexible and responsive team player." (Legal 500 2020)

"He is a master of the detail." (Legal 500 2020)

“A truly excellent junior with a sharp, strategic mind and sound judgment.  He is technically excellent, a clear communicator and extremely easy to work with.” (Chambers & Partners 2019)

“Very user-friendly and very responsive.” (Chambers & Partners 2019)

"His ability to get across the technical detail of a case incredibly quickly is particularly impressive." (Legal 500 2018-19)

"Has extremely strong technical knowledge in procedural and substantive issues arising in fraud cases." (Legal 500 2018-19)

"He takes a commercial and detailed approach to his cases." (Legal 500 2018-19)

"His powers of analysis are razor-sharp, and he is very user-friendly to work with." (Legal 500 2017)

"An excellent, hardworking, bright and unflappable junior." (Legal 500 2017)

"Very easy to work with, a good team player and user-friendly". (Legal 500 2017)

"Fantastically responsive and easy to work with." (Legal 500 2016)

"Quick to pick complex concepts and drafts quickly and effectively." (Legal 500 2016)

"Works well under pressure and is able to take reasoned and commercial judgement calls." (Legal 500 2015)

2008 - 2009 Pupillage at Brick Court Chambers

2007 - 2008 Lecturer in Contract Law at Worcester College, University of Oxford

2007 - 2008 BVC (Very Competent)

2006 - 2007 Bachelor of Civil Law at Worcester College, University of Oxford

2003 - 2006 First Class Honours in Jurisprudence at Worcester College, University of Oxford

Scholarships and Prizes

Lord Mansfield Scholar of Lincoln's Inn

Hardwicke Scholar of Lincoln's Inn

Scholar of Worcester College, University of Oxford

Winner of the Bruce Reynolds Prize (Worcester College prize) for performance on the BCL

Winner of Slaughter & May Prize for Best Oxford University Paper in Constitutional Law (Law Moderations)

Winner of the Oxford Law Society Crown Office Mooting Competition (March 2005)

Languages

Spanish (Fluent)

Professional Membership

COMBAR

Spanish