Christopher Harrison

Commercial disputes are at the heart of Christopher’s practice.  He has wide-ranging experience in the Business and Property Courts in the Commercial Court and the Chancery Division and abroad in the Caribbean jurisdictions.  He deals with all aspects of claims and recognises in particular the importance of interim steps such as injunctive relief and targeted applications in bringing about a successful outcome at as early a stage as possible.  He has considerable trial experience:  recently, for example, in a seven-week trial in Autumn 2022 acting successfully for a defendant on a claim that the claimant valued at c.£100m.  He also recognises that clients will wish to resolve their disputes without litigation or arbitration if possible; he has achieved many successful outcomes through mediation and other forms of ADR.

Legal 500 shortlisted him for their Commercial Litigation Junior of the Year in 2022.

Christopher practices across the range of Chancery Commercial claims. This often involves freezing injunctions and other interim relief and jurisdictional issues. He has been involved in the litigation resulting from numerous of the well-known corporate collapses over the years, including Lehmans, Enron, the Icelandic banks, BCCI, etc.

Legal 500 shortlisted him for their Commercial Litigation Junior of the Year in 2022

This has always been one of the key parts of Christopher’s practice.  He deals with all aspects of civil fraud and asset recovery claims, from the initial crucial steps of freezing injunctive relief, through to interim applications such as specific disclosure, and then on to trial, and including the subsequent recovery actions to give effect to the relief awarded.  He acts for both claimants and defendants.  He has been involved in the litigation arising from numerous of the big frauds over the years (Maxwell, BCCI, Enron, etc) as well as many smaller but legally complex cases.

Legal 500 shortlisted him for their Commercial Litigation Junior of the Year in 2022.

Christopher has wide-ranging experience of all aspects of corporate and personal insolvency, from the very largest (a multi-billion dollar claim relating to BCCI) to those involving smaller amounts but difficult questions of law. Recent examples include set-off claims resulting from the collapse of Lehmans, multi-million pound claims arising from the collapse of a cross-border alcohol trading business, and disputes on jurisdiction caused by the collapse of AIB and the Irish banking crisis.

Christopher was a member of the Attorney General’s Panel of Counsel for many years, acting for the Government on insolvency claims, and now brings his expertise to bear when acting for defendants on such claims brought against them by the Government.

Legal 500 shortlisted him for their Commercial Litigation Junior of the Year in 2022

Christopher frequently acts for claimants and defendants in all aspects of company disputes, with a particular focus on shareholder claims, directors’ duties and disqualification proceedings.  He has dealt with countless such matters over the years.  Two recent examples are: (i) his successful defence of claims against a defendant to a shareholder dispute at a seven-week trial in Autumn 2022; and (ii) his successful defence of a high-profile disqualification claim against a company director in which the claimant (ie the Secretary of State) discontinued the proceedings shortly before the five-week trial was due to begin in Spring 2023, dropping the case against Christopher’s client completely and agreeing to pay the costs.

Christopher was a member of the Attorney General’s Panel of Counsel for many years, acting for the Government, and now brings his expertise to bear when acting for defendants on claims, such as disqualification proceedings, brought against them by the Government.

Legal 500 shortlisted him for their Commercial Litigation Junior of the Year in 2022.

Christopher has extensive experience of acting both for and against many of the well-known banks.  Recent examples include claims on a distressed debt transaction, claims in relation to complex derivative products, claims against one of the major brokerage firms arising from the closing-out of option trades, claims by a bank for payment on derivative transactions, and a bank’s defence to a forex trading claim.

Legal 500 have shortlisted him for their award this year, 2023, as Financial Services and Insurance Junior of the Year and shortlisted him for their Commercial Litigation Junior of the Year in 2022.

Christopher has extensive experience of litigation in the financial services area, both for claimants and defendants.  Recent examples include a claim against Co-op Bank on a distressed debt transaction, claims in relation to complex derivative products, claims against one of the major brokerage firms arising from the closing-out of option trades, claims by Barclays Bank for payment on derivative transactions, and a bank’s defence to claims on Forex trading.

Legal 500 have shortlisted him for their award this year, 2023, as Financial Services and Insurance Junior of the Year.

 

Christopher’s work frequently has an international dimension.  He has appeared in the Courts in the Cayman Islands and the Turks & Caicos Islands where he has been called to their Bars for specific cases.  He is experienced in working with lawyers in many jurisdictions, including the US, the Caribbean jurisdictions and several European countries, and proceedings with which he has been involved in England have often involved related claims in overseas jurisdictions.  He has also given expert evidence on English Law for use in foreign claims.

Christopher has a high success rate in achieving the right results for his clients through ADR.

Christopher was appointed by the Government as an Inspector to chair an insider-trading Inquiry in 1996, in conjunction with a partner from KPMG, as a result of his experience and knowledge of Company Law and City-based share trading.

Christopher was one of the Junior Counsel to the Crown, on the Attorney General’s Panel, for many years from 1996-2003, developing experience and expertise of a wide range of company and insolvency claims by the Government.

Christopher has been called to the Bars of the Cayman Islands and the Turks & Caicos Islands for specific cases.

He is experienced in working with lawyers in many jurisdictions, including the US, the Caribbean jurisdictions and various European countries

• Trinity Hall, Cambridge:  MA (Hons), First Class
• Gray’s Inn:  Atkin Scholar

Christopher is the author of the chapters on Shareholder Remedies (Derivative Claims and Unfairly Prejudicial Conduct) and Meetings in Oxford University Press’s ‘Annotated Companies Legislation’

Christopher regularly presents seminars to law firms and at conferences

Recent topics include Shareholder Disputes (at an international conference in Bermuda), Directors’ Duties, Reflective Loss, Freezing Injunctions, Asset Recovery, and Disclosure under CPR PD57AD.

He is always delighted to do so and to have the opportunity to discuss such topics with his clients.

His seminars focus on tactical and practical issues rather than simply the bare bones of the law.

The comments in the 2023 and 2022 editions of the directories highlight his skills and experience in the following areas:

• Overall: “Unflappable, responsive, good on his feet and totally committed to the cause”, “Very strong across the board”, “Very experienced and extremely reliable”, “The very definition of a safe pair of hands”, “Absolutely on top of his game”, “Diligent, decisive, strategic, whip-smart”.
• Client relationships: “Extremely able and a real team player”, “No-nonsense and clear advice”, “Clear, patient and charming with clients”, “Provides incisive analysis and remains focused throughout on efficiently achieving clients’ objectives”, “A go-to if you want a clear view on strategy and the merits of the case”, “Very charming to deal with”, “He does not equivocate but provides clear advice to enable a client to take commercial and informed decisions”, “Excellent with clients”.
• Legal knowledge: “A master of the law”, “A man of great wisdom”, “Will often come up with novel and persuasive points of argument”.
• Advocacy: “First class advocacy”, “Calmness personified”, “For such a nice man and one so beautifully mannered he can be a Rottweiler in court when required”, “A man of good judgement, who handles difficult situations well”, “He doesn’t take bad points and is forensic in his preparation and analysis”, “Reads the court well and adapts accordingly”, “Extremely calm under pressure”.
• Paperwork:  “First class paperwork”, “Excellent technical skills”, “Meticulous attention to detail and preparation”.