Summary CV

COMMERCIAL MEDIATOR (2023 - )

Insurance disputes including a £12million coverage dispute relating to a property defects policy.

Dispute relating to the forfeiture of multiple long leasehold interests and breach of planning and building regulations - £750k.

Disputes relating to the provision of various allegedly defective goods and services.

Property disputes including £2.5million factory fire claim mediated in Edinburgh subject to Scottish law and jurisdiction.

SQUIRE PATTON BOGGS (2008–2022)

UK Head of Litigation role involved overall responsibility for the firm’s litigation practice in the 4 UK offices. Managing team of circa 70 lawyers and partners with turnover of £12million, including remuneration, recruitment, marketing, budget and strategic oversight of high profile or challenging cases.

Sole partner responsible for Manchester Building Society v Grant Thornton (2021) where MBS recovered £14million in the Supreme Court. This case is currently the leading case on professional negligence and scope of duty. I advised MBS from initial instruction on discovery of the loss, through a 20 day Commercial Court trial and subsequent appeals to the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

Designing and implementing an alternative dispute resolution process that, over a 10 year period, successfully resolved around 600 professional negligence claims between a bank and various insurance companies without recourse to litigation. Claims settled via mediation or direct negotiation. Bespoke mathematical formula provided claim valuations that were consistent and easy to understand. Both sides' legal fees were reduced to a small fraction of traditional litigation. Agreed format case information sheets and a high level of mutual trust allowed the parties to dispense with disclosure. The project was shortlisted for a CEDR award for innovation in ADR.

Co-designing a project to investigate and defend circa 250 negligence claims against a residential property valuer. The project valued the claims accurately at the initial stage, allowing the valuer to reserve more precisely for the potential losses. All claimants were effectively compelled to adopt the standardised ADR process and none of the claims proceeded to trial.

Acting in a series of multi-million pound claims involving valuers of commercial premises including a shopping centre, a call centre, student accommodation and a portfolio of care homes. All settled at mediations.

Acting for golfing equipment retailer in a claim against negligent accountants relating to the incorrect treatment of VAT on sales to various European countries.

Defending a series of claims against an investment platform relating to delayed execution of instructions, breach of mandate, allegedly wrongful closing out of positions due to non payment of margin etc.

Resolving a number of complex and high value insurance coverage disputes between banks and insurers of negligent solicitors and valuers. Usually involving questions of dishonesty and/or aggregation.

Numerous varied commercial disputes regarding unperformed contracts, cancellations, supply quality and volume disputes, partnership disputes, unpaid invoices etc.

Acting in a partnership dispute amongst the members of a private equity firm partnership.

Acting for a company in a claim against one of its panel law firms for negligently drafting a settlement that inadvertently settled claims outside the scope of the payment.

Acting for an asset finance lender in a claim against a panel law firm for the negligent drafting of a security document that left the lender unsecured.

A range of court based employment related disputes such as withholding of executive bonuses, commission payments and alleged breach of a pay agreement.

Representing a finance director in enforcement proceedings against him by the Financial Reporting Council. This included dealing directly with the General Counsel of the FRC and negotiating an appropriate level of sanction.

Undertaking a unique in depth analysis of the nature and root cause of 500 mortgage frauds against a number of High Street banks. Presenting the findings to a number of lenders and conferences leading to two lenders reviewing their lending strategies.

ADDLESHAW GODDARD (2000-2007)

Acting on behalf of indemnity insurer of an accountant in defending the accountant from a negligence claim relating to the alleged improper preparation of a tender document. Acting from initial instruction, through 15 day trial and subsequent Court of Appeal hearing. Providing coverage advice to insurer in addition.

Acting for a UK lender in a trial relating to the allegedly wrongful closure of a business account for VAT fraud. Subsequent personal guarantee claim against director and bankruptcy proceedings.

Acting for various banks in a wide range of retail banking disputes including breach of mandate, professional negligence, guarantee claims, mis-selling claims, mistaken payments, s75 disputes, Lipkin Gorman claims and issues regarding failure to prevent fraud.

Acting for publishing company claiming against an airline for non payment for inflight magazines.

Acting for cleaning company claiming against a train provider for non payment for cleaning services.

18 months seconded full time to two global PLC clients in London and Birmingham.

University of Oxford (1998)

PERSONAL

Rowed solo and unsupported across the Atlantic 3000 miles from La Gomera to Antigua (2008)