He acts in substantial commercial trials across a wide compass.   

In 2018 he acted in amongst others in the jurisdiction challenges and applications to discharge the world-wide freezing injunction in PJSC Bank v Kolomoisky [2018] EWHC 3308 (Ch) and [2018] EWHC 482 (Ch); the Supreme Court jurisdiction appeal the claims arising from a failed Portuguese Bank in Goldman Sachs  International v Novo Banco [2018] UKSC 34; and E20’s defence of West Ham United’s claims relating to the rights to use the London Stadium, [2018] EWHC 2367 (Ch), specific disclosure and redaction - [2018] EWHC 2578 (Ch); and privilege [2018] EWHC 2784 (Ch); with an expedited appeal on the last shortly before the trial, [2018] EWCA Civ 2652 (main proceedings settled on first day of trial)

In 2017 he acted in Holyoake v Candy [2017] EWHC 3397 successfully defending claims for conspiracy and duress of £130 million, in the investment management company dispute Signia Wealth v Vector Trustees Ltd [2018] EWHC 1040 (Ch) and in the successful claim for an indemnity arising out of the catastrophic failure of an industrial printing press in Contact Print and Packaging Ltd v Travelers Insurance Company Limited [2018] EWHC 83 (TCC).

He is heavily engaged in financial services disputes.  In addition to Goldman Sachs  v Novo Banco SA and PSJC Commercial Bank Privatbank v Kolomoisky he has recently acted in misselling claims brought by an individual against Barclays Bank and acting for an Australian foreign exchange dealer against Citibank in claims for losses suffered on the 2015 Swiss Franc revaluation; spent most of 2013 and 2014 acting in the $8 billion dispute in Deutsche Bank AG v Sebastian Holdings Inc [2013] EWHC 3463, and its aftermath including the application in the Court of Appeal for security for the  judgment [2014] EWCA Civ 1100; and before that in Fortress Value Recovery Fund I LLC v Blue Skye Special Opportunities Fund  [2013] 1 All E.R. (Comm) 973 and [2012] EWHC 1486 (Comm).  

Judgments in other recent commercial cases   include: CH Trustees v Omega Services Group Ltd (BVI HC 0037/2015; GB Minerals Holdings Ltd v Short [2015] EWHC 1387 (TCC); QOGT Inc v IOGT Ltd [2014] EWHC 1628 (Comm), and resisting a corporate finance success fee in Cavendish CF LLP v KIMS Propco Ltd [2014] EWHC 1282 (Ch).

He regularly acted in arbitration matters in South Africa, including as the junior silk for Sishen Iron Ore Company in a well-publicised arbitration over long term ore supplies to ArcelorMittal South Africa, in which Sishen defeated ArcelorMittal's claims to be contractually entitled to a substantial portion of the new Kolomela iron ore mine.

Since moving to the UK he has continued to act in both South African and UK arbitration claims, including a current dispute over liability for the loss of valuable cargo consigned from South Africa to Europe.

In South Africa Thomas acted regularly for the big four auditing firms in South Africa as both a junior and a silk. Having a first degree in accountancy and economics, he is very well-versed in underlying accounting issues. He has carried that specialisation into London practice. He acted in 2018 in the FRC Accountancy Scheme proceedings Executive Counsel of the FRC v McBurnie;  for RSM Tenon (previously Baker Tilly) in the claim brought against it for breach of duty in giving expert accounting evidence by Cayton’s law; and for Grant Thornton in the claims brought by the Aramid Distribution Trust in regard to the values of investments in film productions (all of which were ultimately settled). In recent years he has advised on FRC claims against Grant Thornton; and acted in Exsus Travel Ltd v Baker Tilly [2016] EWHC 2818 (Ch); in the £1.6bn claim in Cattles Limited v PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP which settled after opening submissions were filed in October 2015 in American Leisure Group v Grant Thornton (dismissed for failure to comply with interlocutory orders in April 2015) and in Festive Products v KPMG (settled in 2014). Earlier cases include Bethell Construction Ltd v Deloitte and Touche [2011] EWCA Civ 1321.

Significant South African cases included Axiam Holdings Ltd v Deloitte & Touche 2006 (1) SA 237 (SCA)(concerning auditors duties to third parties) and the leading case on auditor's contractual liability, ThoroughbredBreeders Association v Pricewaterhouse 2001(4) SA 551 (SCA). In addition he acted regularly in South Africa for the Independent Regulatory Board for Auditors and SA Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Recent insurance cases include Contact Print and Packaging Ltd v Travelers Insurance Company Limited [2018] EWHC 83 (TCC); and Brit Inns Ltd (In Liquidation) v BDW Trading Ltd 145 Con LR 181. Thomas regularly acted in insurance matters in South Africa.   Reported judgments of insurance cases in which he acted include Van Zyl NO v Kiln Non-marine Syndicate No 510 2003 (2) SA 440 (SCA) and David Trust v Aegis Insurance Co Ltd 2000 (3) SA 289 (SCA).

Acting for the corporate defendants in the billion dollar fraud claims PSJC Commercial Bank Privatbank v Kolomoisky and others. Fraud cases in 2017 include the £130 million claim for damages for deceit, duress and intimidation in Holyoake v Candy [2017] EWHC 3397 (Ch); claims under forward ticket sale agreements subject to fraud defences in Ticketus LLP v Rangers Football Club (in liquidation), claims associated with bankruptcy proceedings arising from a venture to exploit currency trading software in Carbone v Castelli; and claims for deceit and breach of contract on large scale solar power generation schemes in WHEB Solar v Sustain. His expertise in accounting matters (see Professional Negligence) is of particular value in fraud claims.

PSJC Commercial Bank Privatbank v Kolomoisky [2018] EWHC 3308 (Ch) and [2018] EWHC 482 (Ch)

Goldman Sachs International v Novo Banco SA [2016] EWCA Civ 1092 and [2018] UKSC 34

 West Ham Holdings v E20 Stadium LLP EWHC 2367 (Ch), [2018] EWHC 2578 (Ch) and [2018] EWCA Civ 2652

Signia Wealth v Vector Trustees Ltd [2018] EWHC 1040 (Ch) and [2018] EWHC 1774 (Ch)

Contact Print and Packaging Ltd v Travelers Insurance Company Limited [2018] EWHC 83 (TCC)

Holyoake v Candy [2016] EWHC 3065 (Ch); [2017] EWHC 3397 and [2018] EWHC 502 (Ch)

Exsus Travel Ltd v Baker Tilly [2016] EWHC 2818 (Ch)

CH Trustees v Omega Services Group Ltd (BVI HC 0037/2015)

GB Minerals Holdings Ltd v Short [2015] EWHC 1387 (TCC)

Sarclad Ltd v APT Technology [2014] EWHC 2640 (Ch)

QOGT Inc v IOGT Ltd [2014] EWHC 1628 (Comm)

Cavendish CF LLP v KIMS Propco Ltd [2013] EWHC 722 (Ch) and [2014] EWHC 1282 (Ch)

Deutsche Bank AG v Sebastian Holdings Inc [2014] EWCA Civ 1100 and [2013] EWHC 3463 (Comm) 

Fortress Value Recovery Fund I LLC v Blue Skye Special Opportunities Fund [2012] EWHC 1486 (Comm) and [2013] 1 All E.R. (Comm) 973

British Sky Broadcasting Limited and Others v Office of Communications [2012] CAT 20

Brit Inns Ltd (In Liquidation) v BDW Trading Ltd 145 Con LR 181

Bethell Construction Limited v Deloitte and Touche [2011] EWCA Civ 1321

Erlson Precision Holdings Ltd v Hampson Industries Plc [2011] EWHC 1137 (Comm)

Everton Football Club Company Limited v Sail Group Limited [2011] EWHC 126 (QB)

Gibbon v Manchester City Council| [2010] 1 W.L.R. 208 (CA)

L G Blower Specialist Bricklayer Ltd v Reeves and another [2010] 1 W.L.R. 2081 (CA)

Prebble v Costa [2010] EWCA Civ 717

B  Com  (UCT,  cum  laude);  LLB  (Wits,  cum  laude);  BCL  (Oxon). 

Graduated  as  top  LLB  student  in  his  year; Awarded  a  Rhodes  Scholarship  for  South  Africa  in  1990.

• "His particular skills lie in giving forthright advice and being good on his feet in court." "He brings real rigour to his technical analysis of regulations." (Chambers & Partners 2019)
• "He is exceptionally bright and exceptionally good. A go-to person for accountancy work - he knows his numbers." (Chambers & Partners 2019)
• "A very hard-working, tenacious barrister who is incisive and clear-thinking in his advice." "His brain is working many steps ahead of everyone else in the courtroom." (Chambers & Partners 2018)
• "He is fantastic value and has a great track record on accountancy cases." "Very easy to work with and has a very clear style in court." (Chambers & Partners 2018)
• "Incisive and clear-thinking in his advice, both orally and on paper." (The Legal 500 2017)
• "A very experienced barrister, who is measured, clear and pragmatic." (The Legal 500 2017)
• "He is fantastic value, with a great track record on accountancy cases." (Chambers & Partners 2017)
• "Highly commercial and very authoritative in court." "Thomas is a very hard-working, tenacious barrister who is incisive and clear-thinking in his advice, both orally and on paper. He is a robust cross-examiner who offers clear and pragmatic advice to clients." (Chambers & Partners 2017)
• "A very hardworking, tenacious barrister, who is incisive and clear-thinking." (The Legal 500 2016)
• "Very knowledgeable." (The Legal 500 2016)
• “A well-regarded advocate with particular experience in financial services, banking, professional negligence, intellectual property and mining law. His heavyweight presence in the London market follows on from his success as a commercial silk in South Africa.” (Chambers & Partners 2015) 
• "Extraordinarily good." "Pugnacious, straightforward and straight-talking."(Chambers & Partners 2015) 
• “Handles a heavy commercial litigation caseload. His strength lies in acting for financial services companies in high-value negligence claims.” (Chambers & Partners 2015) 
• "His knowledge is excellent, as is his advocacy. He shows good judgement as to how to engage with judges and he is good tactically." "He is fantastically good value because he's really experienced and happy to get involved with the clients." (Chambers & Partners 2015) 
• "A persuasive and subtly dominant advocate who picks apart the other side’s case with precision." Legal 500 2015)
• "A pugnacious yet charming man, with very persuasive qualities and a very client-friendly approach." (The Legal 500 2014)
• “Senior counsel at the South African Bar and now a junior at Brick Court, Thomas Plewman SC has a great track record as a litigator. Sources who have seen him in action in the UK say Plewman is ‘highly analytical, very clever’ and possessed of ‘very good judgement.’” (Chambers & Partners 2013)

Afrikaans (spoken); Dutch and Flemish (read)