Brick Court Chambers

Kyle Lawson

Kyle Lawson

YEAR OF CALL: 2012

"Kyle is way beyond his years – he is head and shoulders above his peers at the Bar." “A star of the future.”
Legal 500 2023; Chambers & Partners 2021
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Kyle is a leading commercial junior.  He has a broad practice which covers all aspects of commercial litigation and international arbitration and he appears, both led and unled, in a wide range of commercial matters.  Across Chambers & Partners UK and the Legal 500, Kyle is identified as a leading junior in the fields of (1) Commercial Dispute Resolution; (2) Banking and Finance; and (3) Professional Negligence. Kyle also has significant experience of civil fraud and energy and natural resources work.  In recent years, the directories have said that:

- “Kyle is way beyond his years – he is head and shoulders above his peers at the Bar”.

- “A star of the future who performs well above the level of his year of call”.

- “He is absolutely fantastic and will be a real star of the future.  He is very hard-working, incredibly calm and unflappable.  He works really seamlessly in a team.  He takes good points and has great judgement”.

- “He is fiercely bright, highly industrious and with a strategic vision far in advance of his years.  He writes beautifully and has a charismatic presence”.

- “fantastic, responsive and clearly very bright – a junior to watch".

- “Excellent with clients and very quick – that means he has a bright future”.

- “very impressive and absolutely terrific”.

- “super smart and very easy to interact with".

- “impressive, insightful and really responsive".

- "He gets to the bottom of issues so quickly, his work is of a very high quality, and he's just a really pleasant person to work with".

Kyle is a leading commercial junior.  He has a broad practice which covers all aspects of commercial litigation and international arbitration and he appears, both led and unled, in a wide range of commercial matters.  Across Chambers & Partners UK and the Legal 500, Kyle is identified as a leading junior in the fields of (1) Commercial Dispute Resolution; (2) Banking and Finance; and (3) Professional Negligence. Kyle also has significant experience of civil fraud and energy and natural resources work.  In recent years, the directories have said that:

- “Kyle is way beyond his years – he is head and shoulders above his peers at the Bar”.

- “A star of the future who performs well above the level of his year of call”.

- “He is absolutely fantastic and will be a real star of the future.  He is very hard-working, incredibly calm and unflappable.  He works really seamlessly in a team.  He takes good points and has great judgement”.

- “He is fiercely bright, highly industrious and with a strategic vision far in advance of his years.  He writes beautifully and has a charismatic presence”.

- “fantastic, responsive and clearly very bright – a junior to watch".

- “Excellent with clients and very quick – that means he has a bright future”.

- “very impressive and absolutely terrific”.

- “super smart and very easy to interact with".

- “impressive, insightful and really responsive".

- "He gets to the bottom of issues so quickly, his work is of a very high quality, and he's just a really pleasant person to work with".

Kyle has extensive experience of acting in high-profile, high-value, heavy-weight commercial disputes of all kinds, including cases featured in The Lawyer’s “Top 20 Cases” of 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2024.  Examples of notable recent instructions include:

  • Various Claimants v Glencore Plc – acting for Glencore Plc in defence of group litigation under s.90/s.90A FSMA 2000 relating to Glencore’s IPO and subsequent merger with Xstrata.
  • Lonestar Communications Corporation LLC v Kaye & Ors – conspiracy claim concerning a large-scale “cyber-attack” on a leading telecoms company in Liberia.
  • ENRC v Dechert LLP & the SFO ­– high-profile proceedings arising out of an investigation into allegations of fraud, bribery and corruption concerning ENRC’s mining operations in Kazakhstan and Africa, and a subsequent criminal investigation by the SFO.
  • Fundo Soberano de Angola v dos Santos & Ors – acting for the Angolan sovereign wealth fund in multi-jurisdictional civil fraud proceedings against the fund’s former financial adviser and investment manager relating to US$3bn of misappropriated assets.
  • The Lloyds/HBOS Group Litigation – acting for Lloyds and five of its former directors in their successful defence of group litigation brought by about 6000 shareholders arising out of Lloyds’ acquisition of HBOS.  The claim was dismissed following a 5 month trial.
  • PAG v RBS – the first civil trial in England to arise out of the “LIBOR-fixing” scandal.
  • The Libyan Investment Authority – a dispute between parties who each claimed to be entitled to exercise the functions of the LIA following the outbreak of civil war in Libya.

A significant part of Kyle’s commercial disputes work also takes place in arbitration.  Kyle has acted in numerous international arbitrations under a wide variety of institutional rules (including LCIA, ICC, LMAA, DIFC, UNCITRAL and the Swiss Rules of International Arbitration), as well as in ad hoc proceedings.  In addition, Kyle is regularly instructed to act in court proceedings in support of arbitrations (whether seated in England or elsewhere), including applications for interim relief under s.44 of the 1996 Act (e.g. injunctive relief), seeking or resisting the enforcement of foreign or domestic awards under s.66 or the New York Convention, and challenging or defending arbitration awards under ss. 67, 68 and 69. 

Much of Kyle’s work (whether before domestic courts or in arbitration) is international.  He is regularly instructed to act in cases involving foreign parties, foreign courts and tribunals and foreign governing laws.  In recent years, for example, Kyle has acted in cases subject to the laws of New York, Cayman, BVI, Bermuda, Barbados, St. Kitts and Nevis, Mauritius, Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Cyprus, Germany, Israel, Liberia, Dubai, the DIFC and the UAE.  In addition, many of Kyle’s cases involve issues of both public and private international law (including issues of jurisdiction, the conflict of laws, and sovereign or state immunity).

In addition to his work before the English courts, Kyle has also appeared in proceedings before various foreign courts, including the Commercial Division of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal, the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands, and the Courts of the Dubai International Finance Centre. 

Kyle is equally at home acting unled in his own right as he is working as part of a large litigation team, and he is increasingly instructed as sole counsel.  He has appeared as sole counsel in the Court of Appeal, in all of the civil divisions of the High Court in which members of Chambers regularly appear (including the Commercial Court, Chancery Division and Queen’s Bench Division), and in international arbitrations (under a variety of different institutional rules).

Prior to coming to the Bar, Kyle read Law at Pembroke College, Cambridge, where he graduated with a Double First and was ranked first in his year in 2009 and seventh in 2010. He went on to obtain an LLM from the Harvard Law School in 2011, where he specialised in private law, international commercial arbitration and public international law.

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  • Commercial M

    Kyle is recommended by both Chambers & Partners UK and the Legal 500 as a leading junior in the fields of Commercial Dispute Resolution and Commercial Litigation. 

    “Kyle is way beyond his years – he is head and shoulders above his peers at the Bar. He absorbs facts swiftly, and grasps the key legal principles with ease. His written work is fantastic – his pleadings are hard hitting and concisely undermine an opponent” (Legal 500 2023 – Commercial Litigation).

    "A star of the future who's capable of performing well above the level of his year of call" (Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2019 – Commercial Dispute Resolution).

    Kyle has a wide-ranging commercial practice.  He is regularly instructed to act in commercial disputes of all kinds, big and small, international and domestic, arising out of all sectors and industries, in both litigation and arbitration.  In recent years, Kyle has appeared in some of the largest commercial disputes to come before the English Courts.  As a result, he is very familiar with the demands of heavy trials, particularly those involving extensive factual and expert evidence, as well as the wide variety of interlocutory applications to which such litigation frequently gives rise (including jurisdiction challenges, disclosure/privilege disputes, injunctions, freezing orders and other associated forms of interim relief).

    Details of Kyle’s sector-specific experience are set out in the relevant sub-sections below.  However, notable examples of Kyle’s recent commercial litigation work include:

    • Various Claimants v Glencore Plc – acting for Glencore Plc in defence of group litigation under s.90/s.90A FSMA 2000 relating to Glencore’s IPO and subsequent merger with Xstrata.
    • Lonestar Communications Corporation LLC v Kaye & Ors – conspiracy claim concerning a large-scale “cyber-attack” on one of the largest telecoms companies in Liberia.
    • ENRC v Dechert & the SFO ­– high-profile civil fraud proceedings arising out of an investigation into allegations of fraud, bribery and corruption concerning ENRC’s mining operations in Kazakhstan and Africa, and a subsequent criminal investigation by the SFO.
    • Fundo Soberano de Angola v dos Santos & Ors acting for the Angolan sovereign wealth fund in high-value, multi-jurisdictional civil fraud proceedings against the fund’s former investment manager and adviser and its attempts to recover US$3bn of missing assets.
    • The Russian Aircraft Litigation – acting for various claimants in substantial aviation insurance/reinsurance claims relating to aircraft stranded in Russia as result of sanctions (and counter-sanctions) imposed in connection with the Russia/Ukraine conflict.
    • The Lloyds/HBOS Group Litigation – acting for Lloyds and five of its former directors in their successful defence of group litigation brought by about 6000 shareholders arising out of Lloyds’ acquisition of HBOS.  The claim was dismissed following a 5 month trial.
    • The Libyan Investment Authority – acting for one of the applicants in proceedings intended to deal with the consequences of a dispute about who was entitled to exercise the functions of the LIA following the outbreak of civil war in Libya.
    • PT Satria Tirtatama Energindo v East Asia Company Ltd – a Privy Council appeal relating to the disputed sale of a multi-million-dollar geothermal energy project in Bali.
    • Natixis & Nedbank Ltd v Famfa Oil Ltd – acting for French and South African banks in a claim for fees due in connection with the proposed acquisition of an upstream oil and gas company which held a working interest in a deep-water oil block in the central Niger delta.
    • VIH Hotel Management Ltd v Assas Opco Ltd & Ors – high-value dispute before the DIFC Courts relating to the ownership and operation of a luxury hotel on the Palm Jumeirah, Dubai.
    • Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd v HCC International Insurance Co Plc – claim for the rectification of a settlement agreement relating to a dispute under refund guarantees issued in connection with £97 million shipbuilding contracts.
    • Harbour Fund III L.P. v Kazakhstan Kagazy Plc & Ors – acting in a substantial litigation funding dispute arising out of a £300 million civil fraud claim.
    • Ontario Teachers’ Pension Fund v Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets Europe Ltd – claim relating to the sale of interests in a major international airport and involving injunctive relief to restrain alleged breaches of confidence.
    • RC Cayman Holdings Ltd v Michael Ryan – acting for the former owner of the Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman Hotel in a high value dispute before the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands relating to the financing and subsequent sale of the hotel.
    • McLaren Automotive Ltd v GTI Corporation Ltd – injunction proceedings relating to the supply of components to the well-known manufacturer of high-performance sports cars.
    • Cosmetic Warriors Ltd & Lush Cosmetics Ltd v Gerrie & Hawksley – acting for two minority shareholders in the well-known manufacturer and retailer of cosmetics in a dispute relating to the valuation and sale of their shares. 
    • Perkins Engines v Ilkerler Otomotive – acting for Perkins Engines in its successful defence of a claim by a former distributor which raised issues as to existence of various alleged oral agreements, wrongful termination and implied duties of good faith and fair dealing.
    • Caterpillar Motoren GmbH & Co KG v Mutual Benefits Assurance Co – acting for Caterpillar in a claim for payments due under various performance bonds and advance payment guarantees.
    • Stemcor UK Ltd v Global Steel Holdings Limited & Mr Pramod Mittal – a US $142 million claim against the guarantors of a Bosnian steel manufacturer.
  • Banking and finance M

    Kyle is recommended by both Chambers & Partners UK and the Legal 500 as a leading junior for Banking and Financial Services.

    “Kyle is way beyond his years – he is head and shoulders above his peers at the Bar. He absorbs facts swiftly, and grasps the key legal principles with ease. His written work is fantastic – his pleadings are hard-hitting and concisely undermine an opponent”

    (Legal 500 2023 – Banking and Finance)

    "He is absolutely fantastic and will be a real star of the future. He is very hard-working, incredibly calm and unflappable. He works really seamlessly in a team. He takes good points and has great judgement". "He is very impressive and absolutely terrific" (Chambers & Partners UK 2022 – Banking and Finance).

    Kyle has extensive experience of acting in banking and financial services disputes of various kinds.  His practice covers the full spectrum of banking and finance work, including investment banking, private equity, investment and asset management, sovereign wealth, capital markets, M&A, derivatives, as well as private and retail banking.

    In recent years, Kyle has acted in a number of landmark banking and finance disputes, including acting for the successful defendants in the first shareholder group action ever to go to trial in England and Wales (The Lloyds/HBOS Group Litigation). Kyle acted in the first civil trial to arise out of the “LIBOR-fixing scandal” (PAG v RBS), as well as the leading case on the test for reliance in claims based on implied misrepresentations (Leeds City Council & Ors v Barclays Bank Plc). In addition, Kyle also has experience of regulatory proceedings in the banking and finance context, including proceedings before the Takeover Panel.

    Examples of recent work in the banking and finance field include:

    • Various Claimants v Glencore Plc – acting for Glencore Plc in defence of group litigation under s.90/s.90A FSMA 2000 relating to Glencore’s IPO and subsequent merger with Xstrata.
    • The Lloyds/HBOS Group Litigation – acting for Lloyds and five of its former directors in their successful defence of group litigation brought by about 6000 shareholders arising out of Lloyds’ acquisition of HBOS.
    • PAG v RBS – fraudulent misrepresentation claim arising out of the “LIBOR-fixing scandal”. 
    • Fundo Soberano de Angola v dos Santos & Orsacting for the Angolan sovereign wealth fund in a US$3 billion claim against the fund’s former investment manager and adviser.
    • 6th Borough Capital Fund LP v TC Biopharm (Holdings) Plc – acting for a US investor in a claim relating to the redemption of Convertible Loan Notes and Put Loan Notes in respect of a Nasdaq listed biotech company.
    • Natixis & Nedbank Ltd v Famfa Oil Ltd – claim relating to the underwriting of a syndicated loan facility which was to be provided in connection with the proposed acquisition of an upstream oil and gas company which held a working interest in a deep-water oil block in the central Niger delta.
    • Old Park Capital Maestro Fund civil fraud claim against the former investment manager and director of a Cayman Islands investment fund arising out of the collapse of the fund and involving claims for breach of fiduciary duty, conspiracy, and other economic torts.
    • Ebury Partners UK Ltd v Best Buying Service BC – claim relating to the close out of various FX trades.
    • Daniel & Dalton v Merrill Lynch – acting for Merrill Lynch in a claim relating to the alleged mis-selling of AIG Premier Bonds.
    • RC Cayman Holdings Ltd v Michael Ryan – acting for the former owner and developer of the Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman Hotel in a high-value dispute relating to the financing of the hotel and its subsequent sale to a private equity fund based in New York.
    • Caterpillar Motoren GmbH v Mutual Benefits Assurance Co – acting for the German subsidiary of the well-known American corporation in a claim for payments due under various performance bonds and advance payment guarantees.
    • Stemcor UK Ltd v Global Steel Holdings Ltd & Mr Pramod Mittal – a US $142 million claim against the guarantors of a Bosnian steel manufacturer.
  • Civil fraud M

    Many of the commercial disputes in which Kyle acts involve allegations of civil fraud and/or attempts to recovery the proceeds of fraud.  As a result, Kyle has extensive experience of dealing with allegations of fraud, deceit, dishonesty, bribery, secret commissions, corruption, misrepresentation and misstatement, economic/intentional torts (in particular, lawful and unlawful means conspiracy and inducement of breaches of contract), breaches of fiduciary duties (and their statutory equivalents), as well as other proprietary and equitable claims and remedies.  In addition, Kyle also has significant experience of acting in interlocutory proceedings of the kind which frequently arise out of civil fraud claims, including applications to obtain, maintain, vary or discharge freezing orders and proprietary injunctions, applications to appoint receivers, heavy disclosure applications, and applications for orders of committal for non-compliance and contempt of court.

    Examples of recent work in the civil fraud field include:

    • Lonestar Communications Corporation LLC v Kaye & Ors – unlawful means/lawful means conspiracy and economic torts claim concerning a large-scale “cyber-attack” on one of the largest telecoms companies in Liberia.
    • Fundo Soberano de Angola v dos Santos & Ors acting for the Angolan sovereign wealth fund in high-value, multi-jurisdictional civil fraud proceedings against the fund’s former investment manager and adviser and its attempts to recover US$3bn of missing assets.
    • The Federal Republic of Nigeria v Ickonga – acting for a defendant in BVI proceedings relating to an alleged US$1bn fraud concerning the transfer of rights to a Nigeria oil field.
    • ENRC v Dechert & the SFO ­– high-profile civil fraud proceedings arising out of an investigation into allegations of fraud, bribery and corruption in ENRC’s mining operations in Kazakhstan and Africa, and a subsequent criminal investigation by the SFO.
    • Old Park Capital Maestro Fundcivil fraud claim against the former investment manager and director of a Cayman Islands investment fund arising out of the collapse of the fund and involving claims for breach of fiduciary duty, conspiracy, and other economic torts.
    • Lutfi v Choudhury & Ors – acting for a UHNW individual in a civil fraud claim relating the misappropriation of assets and the acquisition and development of several high-end luxury London properties (and involving applications for freezing orders and other relief).
    • Breytenbach v Grobler – acting for the administrators of a South African crypto-currency exchange in a claim under s.25 of the CJJA 1982 for a proprietary injunction/asset preservation order in respect of various crypto-currencies.
    • A v B – successfully resisting an application before the DIFC Courts to commit various corporate and individual defendants for alleged non-compliance with an interim injunction.
    • Leeds City Council & Ors v Barclays – fraudulent misrepresentation claim against Barclays relating to the sale of so-called ‘lender-option, borrower-option’ (“LOBO”) loans.
    • PAG v RBS – fraudulent misrepresentation claim arising out of the “LIBOR-fixing” scandal.
    • Harbour Fund III L.P. v Kazakhstan Kagazy Plc & Ors – acting in a substantial litigation funding dispute arising out of a £300 million civil fraud claim.
    • Slater & Gordon (UK) 1 Ltd v Watchstone Group Plc – acting for Slater & Gordon in its £600 million claim against Watchstone Group for civil fraud and breach of warranty.
  • Energy and natural resources M

    Many of the commercial disputes in which Kyle acts, both in court and in arbitration, arise out of, or in connection with, substantial international energy projects.  In addition to raising complex issues of contractual construction, these disputes are often governed by foreign law and Kyle has extensive experience of dealing with expert evidence in relation to such issues.

    Examples of notable work in this field include:

    • Various Claimants v Glencore Plc – acting for Glencore Plc in defence of group litigation under s.90/s.90A FSMA 2000 arising out of Glencore’s IPO and subsequent merger with Xstrata.  The claims relate to Glencore’s mining and oil trading operations in the DRC, West Africa, and North and South America.  
    • PT Satria Tirtatama Energindo v East Asia Company Ltd a Privy Council appeal from the Court of Appeal for Bermuda relating to the contested sale of a multi-million dollar geothermal energy project in Bedugul, Bali: [2020] 2 All E.R. 294.
    • The Federal Republic of Nigeria v Ickonga – acting for a defendant in BVI proceedings relating to an alleged US$1bn fraud concerning the transfer of rights to a Nigeria oil field.
    • Natixis & Nedbank Ltd v Famfa Oil Ltd – acting for French and South African banks in a claim relating to the financing of the abortive acquisition of an upstream oil and gas company with a working interest in a deep-water oil block in the central Niger delta. 
    • CL Financial Ltd v Proman Holding (Barbados) Ltd – appeal to the Court of Appeal of Trinidad and Tobago relating to the disputed sale of a multi-million-dollar petrochemicals company in Trinidad.
    • An ICC Arbitration – A substantial ICC arbitration relating to the sale of shares in the holding company for investments in a petrochemicals company in the Sultanate of Oman.
    • Stemcor UK Ltd v Global Steel Holdings Ltd & Mr Pramod Mittal – a US $142 million claim against the guarantors of a Bosnian steel manufacturer.
    • Advising a major operator of oifields in the North Sea in connection with a claim against an oilfield service company arising out of the design, manufacture, supply and installation of defective electric submersible pumps (ESPs).
    • Acting for a leading provider of energy consultancy and brokerage services in proceedings involving wide-ranging allegations of fraudulent misrepresentation and non-disclosure. 
    • Acting in various international arbitrations (including arbitrations under the LCIA and ICC rules) relating to the construction and/or operation of overseas energy and/or infrastructure projects, including substantial projects in the Caribbean, Africa and Pakistan.
  • Professional negligence M

    Kyle is recommended as a leading junior by the Legal 500 for Professional Negligence.

    "Kyle is an impressive barrister. He has a calm, easy, and sure manner with clients. His written work is well researched and keenly targeted" (Legal 500 2024 - Professional Negligence).

    "He is fiercely bright, highly industrious and with strategic vision far in advance of his years. He writes beautifully and has a charismatic presence" (Legal 500 2023 – Professional Negligence).

    Kyle acts in professional negligence claims and professional disciplinary proceedings before a variety of different disciplinary/regulatory bodies (including the Financial Reporting Council, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal and the Takeover Panel).  His previous clients include, amongst others, directors of FTSE 100 companies, ‘Big Four’ accountancy firms, major law firms, accountants, auditors, solicitors and investment banks.

    Examples of recent notable work in this field include:

    • Nationwide Building Society v (1) The Bank of New York Mellon (London Branch); and (2) Allen & Overy LLP – acting for A&O in defence of a professional negligence claim arising out of a series of high-value capital markets transactions.
    • Al Sadik v Clyde & Co LLP; Harney Westood and Reigels & Ors – acting for Harneys in defence of a professional negligence claim arising out of USD$100m banking litigation in the Cayman Islands, the Privy Council and Dubai.
    • ENRC v Dechert & the SFO – acting for Dechert LLP in a professional negligence claim brought by ENRC and arising out of a white-collar crime investigation into allegations fraud, bribery and corruption in ENRC’s operations in Africa and Kazakhstan.
    • PrivatBank v PwC – acting for PrivatBank, the largest commercial bank in Ukraine, in a substantial (US$3 billion) audit negligence claim against PwC in the Cypriot courts.  
    • FRC v PwC (RSM Tenon Plc) – acting for PwC in its defence of FRC proceedings relating to the auditing of RSM Tenon Plc, a LSE-listed professional services firm which, prior to entering administration, had been the seventh largest accountancy firm in the UK.
    • FRC v PwC (Connaught Plc) – acting for PwC in its defence of FRC proceedings relating to the auditing of Connaught Plc, a FTSE 250 company operating in the social housing, public sector and compliance markets.
    • FRC v Deloitte (Aero Inventory Plc) – acting for an individual respondent in his successful defence of FRC proceedings relating to the financial statements of Aero Inventory Plc, an AIM-listed supplier of inventory management solutions to the aerospace industry.
    • Acting for the SRA (as junior to Timothy Dutton KC) in proceedings before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal arising out of the ‘phone-hacking scandal’ at the News of the World.

    Kyle is also member of the Sports Resolutions Pro Bono Panel, through which he provides pro bono legal advice and representation to athletes and players in relation to contractual disputes, anti-doping cases, athlete selection and eligibility issues, and disciplinary matters.

  • Insurance and reinsurance M

    Kyle has acted in number of insurance and reinsurance disputes, including:

    • Storm Petrel Aircraft Leasing Ltd v Various Reinsurers – Acting in a substantial aviation insurance claim against various reinsurers of aircraft arising out of sanctions (and counter-sanctions) imposed as a result of the Russia/Ukraine conflict.
    • Shearwater Aircraft Leasing Ltd v Various Reinsurers – Acting in a substantial aviation insurance claim against various reinsurers of aircraft arising out of sanctions (and counter-sanctions) imposed as a result of the Russia/Ukraine conflict.
    • Advising on substantial business interruption claims arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic.
    • Acting in a number of ad hoc reinsurance arbitrations under the Arbitration Act 1996.
    • Acting (as sole counsel) for a firm of insurance brokers in multi-party litigation involving various claims and counter-claims by and against underwriters, sub-brokers and insureds.
  • INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION M

    A significant part of Kyle’s commercial disputes work takes place in international arbitration.  Kyle has acted in numerous arbitrations under a wide variety of institutional rules (including LCIA, ICC, LMAA, DIFC, DIAC, UNCITRAL and the Swiss Rules of International Arbitration), as well as in ad hoc proceedings.  In addition, he is regularly instructed to act in court proceedings arising out of arbitrations (whether seated in England or elsewhere), including applications for interim relief under section 44 of the 1996 Act (e.g. injunctive relief), seeking or resisting the enforcement of foreign or domestic awards under section 66 or the New York Convention, and challenging or defending arbitration awards under sections 67, 68 and 69.

    By its nature, the details of Kyle’s international arbitration practice are mostly confidential, but recent highlights include:

    • Acting for a Hong Kong tech company in proceedings before the BVI courts relating to the enforcement of a substantial Netherlands Arbitration Institute (NAI) award, and involving related set-aside/enforcement proceedings in both the Netherlands and Hong Kong.
    • Acting for a sovereign wealth fund in multi-billion-dollar, multi-party, multi-jurisdictional arbitration proceedings in London and Mauritius relating to the dissipation of the fund’s assets and arising out of a series of revelations in the so-called “Paradise Papers”.
    • A substantial ICC arbitration relating to the sale of shares in the holding company for investments in a high-value petrochemicals company in the Sultanate of Oman.
    • Acting for the purchasers of two US$200m LNG carriers in a high-value LMAA arbitration.
    • Acting for a well-known Canadian engineering company in proceedings relating to the enforcement of a substantial ICC award against a Middle-Eastern State and successfully resisting attempts to challenge the award under s.69.
    • Acting for a Middle-Eastern flag carrier in a multi-million dollar ICC arbitration relating to a charter airline joint venture for Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage flights from Israel via Jordan to Saudi Arabia.
    • An expedited LCIA arbitration relating to the sale of interests in a group of well-known  London hotels (and involving applications for interim relief to the English courts under s.44).
    • An expedited LCIA arbitration relating to the sale of interests in a major international airport (and involving applications for interim relief to the English courts under s.44).
    • A substantial ICC arbitration (seated in Miami and governed by Barbados law) arising out of the sale of a network of telecommunications companies in the Caribbean. 
    • A high-value LCIA arbitration relating to the termination of a partnership agreement in connection with a London-based private equity fund.
    • An LCIA arbitration (seated in London but governed by German law) relating to the termination of a distribution agreement for a medical device used in radiation treatment.
    • Acting in a challenge under ss. 67, 68 and 69 of the 1996 Act to an ad hoc arbitration award relating to a multi-million-pound construction project.
    • Kyle has acted in a number of international arbitrations relating to the construction and/or operation of substantial overseas energy and infrastructure projects, including (amongst others) a clean-energy project in the Caribbean, a US$2 billion fertilizer plant in Nigeria and a major electricity power plant in Pakistan.
  • Media, Art and Entertainment M
    • Live Nation v the Pussycat Dolls – acting for Live Nation in a claim against the Pussycat Dolls for the return of advance payments made in connection with a cancelled reunion tour.
    • Acting for the owner of two Andy Warhol paintings in a claim against a well-known London auction house following the theft of the paintings and their subsequent sale. 
    • Acting in a claim relating to the sale of a Fabergé gold guilloche enamel cigarette case.
  • Sports M

    Kyle is a member of the Sports Resolutions Pro Bono Panel, through which he provides pro bono legal advice and representation to athletes and players in relation to contractual disputes, anti-doping cases, athlete selection and eligibility issues, and disciplinary matters.

  • Publications M

    "The Remoteness Rules in Contract: Holmes, Hoffmann and Ships that Pass in the Night" – King's Law Journal, April 2012

  • Qualifications and further information M

    Education

    Daniel Stewart's and Melville College, Edinburgh (1997-2007)

    Pembroke College, University of Cambridge (2007-2010)

    Harvard Law School (2010-2011)

    BPP Law School (2011-2012)

    Qualifications

    BA (Hons) Law (2010) (Double First, 1st in year 2009; 7th in year 2010)

    LLM (2011) (Private Law, International Commercial Arbitration, Public International Law)

    Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) (2012)

    Scholarships and Prizes

    LINCOLN'S INN

    Lord Mansfield Scholarship (the top scholarship awarded by Lincoln’s Inn)

    Hardwicke Entrance Award

    UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE

    The Clifford Chance David Gottlieb Prize (for the best overall performance in Part IB of the Law Tripos)

    The E.C.S. Wade Prize (for the best performance in Administrative law)

    James William Squire Scholarship

    Harvard Scholarship

    PEMBROKE COLLEGE

    The Ziegler Prize (for the best overall performance in law)

    The Blackburne Daniell Prize (for the best second-year performance in any subject)

    Foundress Prize

    Foundation Scholar

    OTHER

    The Times/One Essex Court Law Awards (Runner Up, 2012)

    The Royal Historical Society's Beazley Prize

    Professional Memberships

    COMBAR (Commercial Bar Association)

    YFLA (Young Fraud Lawyers Association)

    ICC YAAF (ICC Young Arbitration and ADR Forum)

    ICDR Young & International Group

    Further Interests

    Kyle is a keen sportsman and, prior to coming to the bar, he played golf for the Cambridge University 'Stymies' (2nds) and rugby for Pembroke College and the Harvard Business School.

  • Directory Quotes M

    "Very calm, sensible and switched on. He's good for cases that could spiral out of control as he simplifies them nicely." (Chambers & Partners 2024 – Commercial Dispute Resolution)

    "Kyle is a great all rounder and a pleasure to work with." (Chambers & Partners 2024 – Commercial Dispute Resolution)

    "He is bright and commercial. Kyle Lawson is an absolute pleasure to work with." (Chambers & Partners 2024 – Banking & Finance)

    "An absolute pleasure to work with. A calm and considered mind.’" (Legal 500 2024 - Banking & Finance)

    "Kyle is an impressive barrister. He has a calm, easy, and sure manner with clients. His written work is well researched and keenly targeted." (Legal 500 2024 - Professional Negligence)

    "He has a first-class mind and is a great problem-solver." (Legal 500 2024 - Commercial Litigation)

    "Kyle is really elegant in his writing and produces very nicely written documents."  "He is very easy to work with and cuts straight to the point." (Chambers & Partners 2023 – Commercial Dispute Resolution)

    "Kyle Lawson is measured, calm and incredibly intelligent. He is good on his feet and an all-round pleasure to deal with." (Chambers & Partners 2023 - Banking & Finance)

    "Kyle is way beyond his years – he is head and shoulders above his peers at the Bar. He absorbs facts swiftly, and grasps the key legal principles with ease. His written work is fantastic – his pleadings are hard-hitting and concisely undermine an opponent." (Legal 500, 2023 - Banking & Finance, Commercial Litigation)

    "He is fiercely bright, highly industrious and with strategic vision far in advance of his years. He writes beautifully and has a charismatic presence." (Legal 500 2023 - Professional Negligence)

    "He is absolutely fantastic and will be a real star of the future. He is very hard-working, incredibly calm and unflappable. He works really seamlessly in a team. He takes good points and has great judgement." "He is very impressive and absolutely terrific." (Chambers & Partners 2022 – Banking & Finance)

    "A good, bright and personable barrister." (Chambers & Partners 2022 – Commercial Dispute Resolution)

    "He is fiercely bright, highly industrious and with strategic vision far in advance of his years. He writes beautifully and has a charismatic presence." (Legal 500 2022)

    "A star of the future who performs well above the level of his year of call." (Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2021 – Banking & Finance)

    "He churns out documents, and the quality of his work is very good." (Chambers & Partners 2021 – Commercial Dispute Resolution)

    "He provides excellent, reliable advice wrapped up in thorough and carefully drafted documents." (Legal 500 2021)

    "He is fantastic, responsive and clearly very bright – a junior to watch” (Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2020 – Banking & Finance)

    "Kyle is super smart and very easy to interact with” (Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2020 – Banking & Finance)

    "He gets to the bottom of issues so quickly, his work is of a very high quality, and he's just a really pleasant person to work with” (Chambers & Partners UK Bar & Global 2020 – Commercial Dispute Resolution)

    "Kyle is impressive, insightful and really responsive" (Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2020 – Commercial Dispute Resolution)

    "A star of the future who's capable of performing well above the level of his year of call" (Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2019 – Commercial Dispute Resolution)

    "Excellent with clients and very quick – that means he has a bright future" (Legal 500 2017)