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William Hooper

William Hooper

YEAR OF CALL: 2014

“William is a superstar junior: he is intelligent, unflappable and a reassuring presence.”
Chambers & Partners 2023
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Will is a leading commercial junior. He has a broad litigation and arbitration practice and acts both led and unled across the commercial sphere, including in banking and finance, civil and commercial fraud, telecoms, shareholder disputes, cryptocurrencies, insurance and reinsurance, professional negligence, shipping and international trade, and competition. He was nominated for Commercial Litigation Junior of the Year at the Chambers UK Bar Awards 2022, recognised as one of The Lawyer’s Hot 100 legal professionals for 2022 (one of only 19 barristers to feature) and named The Lawyer’s Barrister of the Week in June 2021.

Ranked in the leading directories in the fields of commercial dispute resolution, civil fraud, banking and finance, and cryptocurrencies, Will is variously described as “a superstar junior” (Chambers UK, 2023), “a standout performer” (Legal 500, 2024), “easy to work with” (Chambers UK, 2024), “client-focused” (Chambers UK, 2024), “unflappable” (Chambers UK, 2023), “a reassuring presence” (Chambers UK, 2023), and commended for his “lateral and imaginative” thinking and strategic approach (Chambers UK, 2024).

Current and recent major instructions include:

  • Magomedov and Ors v TPG and Ors – acting for the Claimants, led by Tim Lord KC, Thomas Plewman KC and Daniel Saoul KC, in c. US$13bn claim concerning alleged conspiracy and asset stripping.

  • NMC v EY – acting for EY, led by Thomas Plewman KC and Alexander Polley KC, in alleged US$ 2.6bn professional negligence dispute.

  • BSV v Bittylicious and Ors – acting for the PCR, led by Sarah Ford KC, in c. £10bn class action concerning the delisting of the cryptocurrency “Bitcoin Satoshi Vision”.

  • Paiva and Ors v Aon – acting for Aon, led by Andrew Mitchell KC, in major reinsurance dispute arising out of the well documented LaMia Flight 2933 accident in 2016.

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  • Commercial M

    Will operates across the full spectrum of commercial law, with rankings in commercial litigation, banking and finance, civil fraud and cryptocurrencies. He is at home as part of small or large teams. He is also commended for his sole counsel work, described as “very mature for his call and very confident acting unled” (Civil Fraud, Chambers UK, 2024) and “happy to lead on pretty large, complex cases” (Commercial Litigation, Legal 500, 2022) whose “advocacy is always logical and cogent” (Crypto and Blockchain Assets, Legal 500, 2024),

    Notable recent work includes:

    • Magomedov and Ors v TPG and Ors – acting for the Claimants in c. US$13bn claim concerning alleged conspiracy and asset stripping (led by Tim Lord KC, Thomas Plewman KC and Daniel Saoul KC)

    • NMC v EY – acting for EY in alleged US$ 2.6bn professional negligence dispute (led by Thomas Plewman KC and Alexander Polley KC)

    • BSV v Bittylicious and Ors – acting for the PCR in c. £10bn class action concerning the delisting of the cryptocurrency “Bitcoin Satoshi Vision” (led by Sarah Ford KC)

    • Paiva and Ors v Aon – acting for Aon in major reinsurance dispute arising out of the well documented LaMia Flight 2933 accident in 2016 (led by Andrew Mitchell KC)

    • Republic of Mozambique v Credit Suisse and Ors – acting for the Privinvest parties in the ‘tuna bond’ c. $2bn fraud dispute concerning wide-ranging infrastructure contracts for services in Mozambique’s exclusive economic zone (led by Duncan Matthews KC and Philip Riches KC)

    • Allianz Global Investors v Barclays Bank and others – acting for HSBC in substantial follow-on and stand-alone damages claims concerning alleged manipulation of forex rates over a ten-year period (led by Helen Davies KC and Sarah Abram KC)

    • eircom v BT - Acting for BT in defending a claim seeking loss of a chance damages arising out eircom not being awarded an alleged nine- figure telecoms contract by the Ministry of Finance in Northern Ireland(led by Robert Palmer KC)

    • LA Micro (UK) Ltd v LA Micro Group – Will has now acted for the defendant in a jurisdiction challenge, two trials, and two appeals in a case that is now (across the appeal judgments): (i) the leading authority on “judicial estoppel”; and (ii) the only English law authority addressing the question of whether a constructive sub-trust can arise pursuant to a specifically enforceable agreement to dispose of a beneficial interest where the beneficiary under the notional sub-trust is also the legal owner of the property concerned. At its heart the case concerns the contested ownership of a high-value computer hardware company. Will’s clients have obtained permission to appeal to the Supreme Court (led by Clare Stanley KC and William Buck).

    • Gregor Fisken Ltd v Carl – Will successfully acted unled both at first instance and in the Court of Appeal (against two different senior commercial silks) in a case concerning issues arising out of the sale of a USD 44m Ferrari, and in which the Court of Appeal endorsed the “signature principle” that a party signing a contract unqualified prima facie is taken to be the contracting party with rights and liabilities under the contract.

    • Quilter v Leonteq- Junior counsel on complex multiparty dispute concerning allegedly fraudulent sales of structured note investment products to a major insurance institution; as well as secret commissions as part of a complex and sophisticated international fraud (Will originally acted off- shore in the Isle of Man before the case was moved to the Commercial Court following a jurisdiction challenge).

    • Wilton (UK) Limited v Banks – junior counsel in multiple c. £40m proceedings (including derivative proceedings) arising out of an alleged joint-venture to acquire and exploit a golf course.

    • Acting as sole counsel for one of the founding members of highly successful cryptocurrency platform in a dispute among the founders.

    • Funding Secure v Luxmore – junior counsel in Chancery Division proceedings concerning alleged fraudulent activity in the peer-to-peer lending sector.

    • Sole counsel in Commercial Court proceedings concerning alleged unpaid commission to fund managers.

    • Kahlbetzer v David Aldridge – junior counsel on fraud dispute in the Chancery Division concerning a remarkable set of facts involving a long- running love scam and a cyber-fraud against an Australian billionaire.

    • Acting for an individual in c. €5m claim for carried interest against a major private equity house: issues include leaver provisions in the relevant limited partnership and overlapping issues of employment law.

    • Acting for various individuals and entities in respect of prospective multiple derivative claims and multilayered s. 994 petitions in well-known marketing group.

  • Arbitration M

    Will frequently appears in arbitration both led and unled. Recent work includes:

    • HKIAC 2023 – acted for a major tech company in Hong Kong arbitration claim for c. US$200m for alleged breach of warranty in a patent licensing agreement (led by Sarah Abram KC)

    • LCIA 2023 – acting for a major pharmaceuticals company in a c. $900m arbitration concerning a vaccine licensing agreement (led by Salim Moollan KC)

    • LCIA 2023 – acting unled for the government in a £7m dispute concerning a flood-defence infrastructure contract

    • LMAA 2020/21 – acting for owners in renowned New Flamenco matter following the remission to arbitration by the Supreme Court (led by Elizabeth Blackburn KC)

    • LCIA 2020 – acting in telecoms dispute in complex tripartite arrangement (led by George Peretz KC)

    • LCIA 2020 – acting in shareholder dispute involving issues of Russian law

    • GCA (Groceries Code Adjudicator) 2020 – acting as sole counsel in second ever arbitration under the Groceries Code Adjudicator rules, in respect of claim by the provider of foodstuffs against a major supermarket

    • Ad hoc arbitration 2019 – acting in s. 69 proceedings in respect of an arbitration award concerning a USD 800m drilling rig (led by Steven Gee KC)

    • LCIA 2019 – acting in private equity dispute involving well-known investment bank and concerning non-payment of carried interest

    • Ad hoc arbitration 2019 – acting in ad hoc arbitration concerning allegedly fraudulent mis-sale of Iranian petroleum products to Pakistan buyers (led by Vasanti Selvaratnam KC)

    • LCIA 2016 – acting in dispute concerning the sale between oligarchs of a bank

    Will also has a wealth of experience in applications to Court under the Arbitration Act 1996, including under s. 69.

  • Shipping and International Trade M

    Recent work includes:

    • Shell v Greenpeace – acting for Greenpeace in injunctive proceedings concerning the right to protest on a drilling rig on the high seas (led by Victoria Wakefield KC)

    • Acting as sole counsel in respect of an injunction to procure the discharge of USD 15m worth of steel from a vessel in Odessa prior to the Russian military targeting the infrastructure facilitating the route out of the port into Western Ukraine.

    • Successfully obtaining (as sole counsel) an injunction in support of arbitration proceedings on an urgent basis prohibiting the sale of a €7.6m motor yacht which the respondent was threatening to sell in Italy.

    • Junior counsel to Steven Gee KC and Tom Whitehead for the successful appellants in the Supreme Court in The New Flamenco [2017] UKSC 43, the key Supreme Court decision on mitigation of loss. Will also acted in consequential arbitration proceedings led by Elizabeth Blackburn KC concluding in 2022.

    Will has also drafted submissions in countless LMAA arbitrations unled over the years.

  • Competition M

    Recent work includes:

    BSV Delisting – acting for the PCR in a c. £9bn claim concerning the delisting of the ‘Bitcoin Satoshi Vision’ cryptocurrency by various crypto-exchanges (led by Sarah Ford KC)

    Allianz Global Investors v Barclays Bank and others – acting for HSBC in substantial follow-on and stand- alone damages claims concerning alleged manipulation of forex rates over a ten-year period (led by Helen Davies KC and Sarah Abram KC)

    Dawsongroup plc and ors v DAF Trucks and ors (Trucks Cartel) – acting for the claimant Dawsongroup in a competition damages claim arising out of the European Commission’s decision concerning the well- known trucks cartel (led by Tim Ward KC and Robert Palmer KC)

    Daimler AG v Walleniusrederierna Aktiebolag (RoRo Cartel) – acted for WWL in a competition damages claim concerning “roro” carriage services (led by Josh Holmes KC). Interim applications included an application for a preliminary reference to the CJEU [2019] EWHC 3197 and a split trial [2020] EWHC 525 (Comm)

  • Education M

    Education

    BA (Hons) History and English Literature, Jesus College, Oxford, First Class (second in year)

    GDL, City Law School, Commendation

    BPTC, BPP Law School, Outstanding (second in year)

    Scholarships and Prizes

    • Queen Mother Scholarship, Middle Temple (the Inn’s top scholarship; awarded for both GDL and BPTC years) (2012-2014)
    • Baron Dr Ver Heyden de Lancey Prize, Middle Temple (for best performing Middle Temple student on the BPTC) (2014)
    • Certificate of Honour, Middle Temple (2014) (for outstanding performance on the BPTC)
    • Hong Kong Scholarship, Middle Temple (2014) (to support three weeks in Hong Kong spent as a judicial assistant and in Des Voeux Chambers)
    • Top mark on International Trade Module, BPP Law School (2014)
    • Excellence Award, BPP Law School (2014)
    • Viscount Sankey Scholarship, Jesus College, University of Oxford (2012-14)
    • College Prize for Achievement in Finals, Jesus College, University of Oxford (2011)

    In 2011-12, prior to coming to the Bar, Will worked for a children’s arts education charity. He retains an interest in education and theatre and was a member of the Middle Temple Revels. He also enjoys distance running.

  • Directories M

    Fraud: Civil: "William is very bright, easy to work with and good at thinking laterally and imaginatively." - Chambers UK, 2024

    Fraud: Civil: "He is very enthusiastic, client-focused and very hard-working." - Chambers UK, 2024

    Fraud: Civil: "Will is extremely clever, very mature for his call and very confident acting unled." - Chambers UK, 2024

    Commercial Dispute Resolution: "William Hooper is good at finding a way through things and thinking laterally and imaginatively." - Chambers UK, 2024

    Crypto and Blockchain Assets: "His advocacy is always logical and cogent" - Legal 500, 2024

    Banking and Finance: "William is a standout performer. Very clever and thoughtful – good on strategy and strong written advice." - Legal 500, 2024

    Commercial Dispute Resolution: “William is a superstar junior: he is intelligent, unflappable and a reassuring presence.” “He is a very bright junior with a good bedside manner and a sharp mind.” – Chambers UK, 2023

    Commercial Dispute Resolution: “A very bright junior possessed of a good bedside manner and a sharp mind. His drafting is excellent and he is also very capable when on his feet. A bright future awaits him.” – Chambers UK and Chambers Global, 2022

    Rising Star in Commercial Litigation: “Very bright and easy to work with, and happy to lead on pretty large, complex cases despite his relatively junior years. He speaks with gravitas. A star junior and one to watch.”– Legal 500, 2022

    Commercial Dispute Resolution :“A master of detail in a case.” “William Hooper is a pleasure to work with and is perceptive when it comes to the strength and weaknesses of arguments.” – Chambers UK and Chambers Global, 2021

  • Publications M
    • Hooper, “Breach, Benefit, and the Lost Cause” (2016) LǪR 132, 547-552
    • Whitehead and Hooper, “Failure of businessman to recognise his company’s distinct legal personality”, (2017) JIBFL May, 317