Roger Masefield's Full CV

Qualifications

1990 – 1993 First Class, BA (Hons) Law, St John’s College Cambridge

1994 – 1995 First Class and Vinerian Scholar, BCL, Magdalen College Oxford

Commercial litigation and arbitration

Roger Masefield has a broad commercial practice, ranging from civil fraud to professional negligence, and spanning several sectors of the economy (oil and gas; media; insurance; banking and finance; the legal professions). He has appeared in both the High Court, and in commercial arbitrations. He has also been involved in several cases in the British Virgin Islands.

He has recently been instructed to act on behalf of Mr Berezovsky (led by Mark Howard QC and Laurence Rabinowitz QC), in relation to several on-going pieces of litigation in the Commercial Court and the Chancery Divisions of the High Court.

Insurance and Reinsurance

Roger Masefield has acted for a large number of insurers and reinsurers, both in the High Court and in international arbitrations.

As well as being involved in a number of reinsurance disputes arising out of the spirals in the PA market (such as Sphere Drake v John Hancock), he has acted for several London market reinsurers in relation to South American claims (Brotherton v Colseguros [2003] 2 All ER (Comm) 208; Markel v La Republica [2004] EWHC 1826); and for insurers bringing claims arising out of the activities of fraudulent brokers (ING v R+V [2006] 2 All ER (Comm) 870; Markel v Surety Gurantee Consultants).

He has also been led by Jonathan Sumption QC and Andrew Popplewell QC in two large oil and gas cases arising out of a multi-million dollar facultative open cover (BP v Frankona [2003] 1 Lloyds Rep 549 and BP v Aon [2006] 1 Lloyds Rep 549).

Other notable cases, in which he has appeared unled, include Apple v Euler [2004] EWHC 1584; and Prifti v Musini [2005] All ER (D) 82. 

Energy

As well as acting for BP in its disputes with insurers and brokers (BP v Frankona and BP v Aon), Roger Masefield has acted for Eskom (the South African state electricity company) following an explosion at a coal powered power-station; for Coflexip Stena in relation to an off-shore drilling project; and most recently for BHP Billiton in a pricing dispute in relation to a long-term supply contract.  Roger Masefield has also acted in the past for Exxon Mobil and Esso.

Banking and finance

Roger Masefield has acted for a number of banks and financial institutions and high net worth individuals, in cases involving letters of credit (Banco Santander v Bayfern [2000] 1 All ER (Comm) 776 - led by Mark Hapgood QC); complex derivative products (Chase Manhattan Bank v Pollux - led by Mark Howard QC and George Leggatt QC); pensions and savings (In re: Equitable Life - led by George Leggatt QC); and money laundering (Bowman v Fels [2005] 1 WLR 3083 - led by Anthony Boswood QC).

He has recently advised a number of banks and hedge funds on issues arising out of the credit crunch crisis.

He is Assistant Editor (under Mark Hapgood QC) to Paget's Law of Banking (13th Edition, 2007); Co-Editor (along with Mark Howard QC) of Butterworth's Banking Law Guide (October 2006); and a contributor to Oxford University Press' Banks and Financial Crime (February 2008).

Civil Fraud

Roger Masefield has acted for a number of claimants in civil fraud matters, both before the English Courts (Markel v Surety Guarantee Consultants; Banco Santander v Bayfern); and, on several occasions, in the British Virgin Island Courts. Notable cases have included multi-million pound joint venture disputes, in which he was led by Jonathan Sumption QC and Mark Howard QC (Transworld v Japan Chrome; Transworld v Deripaska); and a multi-million dollar civil fraud claim (led by Charles Hollander QC) arising out of the collapse of the Yukos empire (Petroval v Stainby).

In the course of this work, Roger Masefield has gained extensive practical experience of freezing orders; search and seizure orders; anti-suit injunctions; jurisdiction challenges; tracing claims and restitutionary relief.

Roger Masefield sits on the Anti-Money Laundering Committee of the Bar Council, and appeared for the Bar Council (led by Anthony Boswood QC) in the leading case of Bowman v Fels [2005] 1 WLR 3083).

Professional Negligence

Roger Masefield has been involved in a number of professional negligence cases involving lawyers and accountants (Wallace Smith v Deloittes; Abbey Life v Rowe & Maw). He has acted for both claimants and defendants. In BP v Aon [2006] 1 Lloyds Rep 549, he appeared (led by Andrew Popplewell QC) for BP and its joint venture partners in a multi-million dollar claim against insurance brokers.

In 2007 Roger Masefield was involved in a highly complex 8 week trial in the Commercial Court involving claims against an engineering company (Eskom v Alstom). The case turned, to a large extent, on the expert evidence which covered the fields of metallurgy, steam chemistry, power station operations, and non-destructive testing techniques (as well as quantum).

Career:

Called to the Bar by Middle Temple, November 1994

Pupillage at Brick Court Chambers 1995 - 1996 (Pupilmasters: Mark Howard, George Leggatt, Michael Swainston, Nicholas Green)

Tenancy at Brick Court since 1996

Member of the Law Reform Committee of the Bar Council since 1999

Member of the Anti-Money Laundering Advisory Committee of the Bar Council since 2003

Member of the Executive Committee of COMBAR since 2009

Publications:

Assistant Editor to Paget's Law of Banking (13th Edition 2007)

Co-Editor of Butterworths Banking Law Guide (2006)

Contributor to Banks and Financial Crime (2008)

Contributor to Competition Litigation UK Practice and Procedure (2010)

Further Information:

  • Languages: working knowledge of French
  • Called to the Bar of the British Virgin Islands in 1999