Practice

Edward is “a class act”.  He is “an absolute pleasure to work with”, “extremely hard working and responsive” and has a “particular skill in focussing his audience on the key points in issue and for presenting his points in a succinct but compelling manner” (Legal 500 EMEA 2023).

Edward has a busy practice of commercial and company litigation, arbitration, insolvency, civil fraud, banking and financial services, often with an offshore or international element.  Recent cases have involved litigation and arbitration in London, Bermuda, the DIFC, Singapore, Mauritius and New York.  Edward is registered as a legal practitioner in the DIFC and is listed in the directories as a leading junior in that jurisdiction.

Practice areas

Commercial dispute resolution

Edward advises and acts in commercial disputes arising from a wide-range of business sectors.  He has been involved in high value litigation and arbitration in the English courts and in foreign jurisdictions.

The following are brief summaries of some of the commercial cases in which Edward has been involved.

  • Confidential (Bermuda) (ongoing) – a $600 million insurance coverage dispute (assisting John Lockey KC and Donald Lilly)
  • Emirates NBD Bank v Advanced Facilities Management (DIFC) (2023) – a claim relating to c.US$500m value syndicated loan facility raising issues of duress, misrepresentation and Sharia finance (assisting Orlando Fraser KC)
  • Rogachev v Goryainov (ongoing) – a partnership dispute concerning valuable retail markets in Russia (assisting Shantanu Majumdar KC)
  • Titanium Capital Investments Limited & Ors v John Hughes & Ors (ongoing) – a partnership dispute concerning a lateral flow test distributor (assisting Andrew Clutterbuck KC)
  • Confidential (ongoing) – Dispute following the sale of a valuable engineering company over the terms of the completion accounts, earn out and warranties
  • Confidential (ongoing) – UNCITRAL arbitration arising out of a joint venture to supply services to the oil industry in Angola
  • Confidential (ongoing) – Dispute concerning the terms of a former employee’s carried interest in a private equity firm
  • Confidential (ongoing) – LCIA arbitration between a software developer and a former employee concerning alleged breaches of restrictive covenants by a competing business
  • Confidential (2023) – LCIA arbitration relating to a call option over shares in a valuable Russian retail business.
  • Re Bell Group (2021) – acting for a major trust corporation in connection with the consequences of the insolvencies of the Australian Bell Group of companies (assisting Andrew Clutterbuck KC)
  • Confidential (2021) – Ad hoc arbitration concerning the terms of a partner’s departure from a firm in the context of the firm’s IPO
  • Confidential (2021) – Ad hoc arbitration concerning the terms of a partner’s exit from a well-known law firm
  • Confidential (2021) – Advice and representation at a mediation to determine the value of referral fees into a crypto-currency exchange
  • AIC Ltd v The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (2019) – resisting application for the enforcement of a Nigerian arbitral award (assisting Hermann Boeddinghaus)
  • Confidential (Singapore) (2019) – Arbitration relating to a joint venture project involving a telecommunications investment in Myanmar (assisting Gregory Denton-Cox)
  • Confidential (DIFC) (2019) – DIFC-LCIA arbitration relating to the sale of an asset management company (sole counsel)
  • Confidential (DIFC) (2019) – DIFC-LCIA arbitration relating to the development of a peer-to-peer cryptocurrency exchange (sole counsel)
  • Confidential (Mauritius) (2019) – Ad hoc arbitration fighting in Mauritius concerning a dispute over the development of a luxury golf resort (assisting Hermann Boeddinghaus KC)
  • Robert Tchenguiz v Grant Thornton et al (2018) – assistance in the defence of c.£2 billion claim by the Tchenguiz brothers arising out of the collapse of Kaupthing, one of the major Icelandic banks
  • LB Europe Limited v (1) Cartobol (2) Ginjaume (2018) – dispute concerning the termination of an international supply agreement
  • Sportsdirect.com Retail v (1) Sigubjornsson (2) Guru Invest SA (2018) – representing Sports Direct in a dispute regarding its Icelandic franchise operation (assisting Richard Hill QC)
  • Rangers Football Club v SDI Retail Services Limited (2017) – representing Sports Direct in its well publicised dispute with Rangers (assisting Richard Hill QC)
  • Islamic Investment Company of the Gulf (Bahamas) Limited v Symphony Gems & ors (2016) – a case concerning the attempts of judgment creditors to commit a judgment debtor to prison for contempt of court through CPR Part 71 proceedings (assisting Alastair Tomson)
  • Re Viking River Cruises Limited (Bermuda) (2015) – a $1 billion claim seeking relief for minority shareholders of a Bermudian company under §193 (compulsory share purchase) and §111 (oppression) of the Bermudian Companies Act 1981, and breach of share option agreements (assisting John Brisby QC and Donald Lilly
  • Nissan Motor Manufacturing (UK) Limited (2015) – advising Nissan in relation to a €13 million claim against a supplier
Company law

Edward advises and acts in company litigation across a range of issues and subjects.  He is frequently instructed in the context of contentious company law matters in matters involving unfair prejudice petitions, derivative claims, breaches of directors’ duties and other such matters.

Edward also has experience of corporate transactional work, advising and acting in relation to reductions of capital, schemes of arrangement and other miscellaneous Companies House matters (such as rectifications and restorations).

The following are brief summaries of some of the company law cases in which Edward has been involved.

  • Confidential (Ongoing) – Acting for a company seeking to work through the consequences of a share buyback void for non-compliance with CA 2006, Part 18
  • Confidential (2023) – LCIA arbitration relating to a call option over shares in a valuable Russian retail business
  • Re Preferred Management Limited (2021) – unfair prejudice petition regarding an English company’s shareholding in a major Russian insurer
  • Amos International Limited (2020) – (English / Portuguese cross-border merger)
  • Realm Therapeutics Plc (2019) – representing an opposing creditor to a proposed scheme of arrangement (assisting George Bompas QC)
  • Re iTouch Limited (2019) – (Austrian / English cross-border merger)
  • Re Jordan IMS Limited (2019) – (German / English cross-border merger)
  • Augmentum Fintech Plc (2019) – (cancellation of share premium account)
  • Manolete Partners Plc (2019) – (reduction of share premium account)
  • Miton UK Microcap Trust Plc (2019) – (reduction of capital)
  • Oilean Renewable Energy Limited (2019) – (English / Irish cross-border merger)
  • Sportsdirect.com Retail v (1) Sigubjornsson (2) Guru Invest SA (2018) – representing Sports Direct in a dispute regarding its Icelandic franchise operation (assisting Richard Hill QC)
  • Rangers Football Club v SDI Retail Services Limited (2017) – representing Sports Direct in its well publicised dispute with Rangers (assisting Richard Hill KC)
  • Re Viking River Cruises Limited (Bermuda) (2015) – a $1 billion claim seeking relief for minority shareholders of a Bermudian company under §193 (compulsory share purchase) and §111 (oppression) of the Bermudian Companies Act 1981, and breach of share option agreements (assisting John Brisby KC and Donald Lilly)
Offshore litigation

Edward has experience of offshore litigation and arbitration in a number of jurisdictions, including Bermuda, the DIFC, Singapore, New York and Mauritius.

Edward is registered as a legal practitioner in the DIFC and is listed in the directories as a leading junior in that jurisdiction.

Edward’s offshore experience includes:

  • Emirates NBD Bank v Advanced Facilities Management (DIFC) (2023) – a claim relating to a c.US$500m value syndicated loan facility raising issues of duress, misrepresentation and Sharia finance (assisting Orlando Fraser KC)
  • Confidential (Bermuda) (ongoing) – a $600 million insurance coverage dispute (assisting John Lockey KC and Donald Lilly)
  • Confidential (SIAC) (2019) – Arbitration relating to a joint venture project involving a telecommunications investment in Myanmar (assisting Gregory Denton-Cox)
  • Confidential (DIFC) (2019) – DIFC-LCIA arbitration relating to the sale of an asset management company (sole counsel).
  • Confidential (DIFC) (2019) – DIFC-LCIA arbitration relating to the development of a peer-to-peer cryptocurrency exchange (sole counsel).
  • Confidential (Mauritius) (2019) – Ad hoc arbitration fighting in Mauritius concerning a dispute over the development of a luxury golf resort (assisting Hermann Boeddinghaus KC).
  • Re Viking River Cruises Limited (Bermuda) (2015) – a $1 billion claim seeking relief for minority shareholders of a Bermudian company under §193 (compulsory share purchase) and §111 (oppression) of the Bermudian Companies Act 1981, and breach of share option agreements (assisting John Brisby KC and Donald Lilly).
Banking & finance

Edward has experience of disputes concerning issues of banking and finance.  Cases have included:

  • London Capital & Finance Plc & Ors (In Administration) v Michael Thomson & Ors (Ongoing) – dispute concerning claims by administrators over the alleged misappropriation of funds raised by the sale of mini-bonds to retail customers
  • Emirates NBD Bank v Advanced Facilities Management (DIFC) (2023) – a claim relating to a c.US$500m value syndicated loan facility raising issues of duress, misrepresentation and Sharia finance (assisting Orlando Fraser KC)
  • Re Bell Group (2021) – acting for a major trust corporation in connection with the consequences of the insolvencies of the Australian Bell Group of companies (assisting Andrew Clutterbuck KC)
Arbitration

Edward has experience of acting, frequently on his own, in disputes fighting under the rules of most major international arbitration centres.

Examples of the arbitral proceedings in which Edward has been involved include:

  •  Confidential (ongoing) – UNCITRAL arbitration arising out of a joint venture to supply services to the oil industry in Angola
  • Confidential (ongoing) – LCIA arbitration between a software developer and a former employee concerning alleged breaches of restrictive covenants by a competing business
  • Confidential (2023) – LCIA arbitration relating to a call option over shares in a valuable Russian retail business.
  • Confidential (2021) – Ad hoc arbitration concerning the terms of a partner’s departure from a firm in the context of the firm’s IPO
  • Confidential (2021) – Ad hoc arbitration concerning the terms of a partner’s exit from a well-known law firm
  • Confidential (Singapore) (2019) – Arbitration relating to a joint venture project involving a telecommunications investment in Myanmar (assisting Gregory Denton-Cox)
  • Confidential (DIFC) (2019) – DIFC-LCIA arbitration relating to the sale of an asset management company (sole counsel)
  • Confidential (DIFC) (2019) – DIFC-LCIA arbitration relating to the development of a peer-to-peer cryptocurrency exchange (sole counsel)
  • Confidential (Mauritius) (2019) – Ad hoc arbitration fighting in Mauritius concerning a dispute over the development of a luxury golf resort (assisting Hermann Boeddinghaus KC)
Insolvency & restructuring

Edward regularly advises and appears on all matters of insolvency, advising and acting for petitioners, insolvency practitioners, creditors and debtors.  Examples of matters on which Edward can advise and act include, amongst other matters:

  • antecedent transactions
  • misfeasance claims
  • schemes of arrangement
  • winding-up petitions
  • company restorations
  • bankruptcy petitions
  • applications to set aside statutory demands
  • applications for injunctions to restrain presentation/advertisement of winding-up petitions
  • applications for validation orders

 Particularly notable cases in which Edward has been involved have included:

  • London Capital & Finance Plc & Ors (In Administration) v Michael Thomson & Ors (Ongoing) – dispute concerning claims by administrators over the alleged misappropriation of funds raised by the sale of mini-bonds to retail customers
  • Re Maud (2020)– opposing bankruptcy petition on an alleged debt of £51 million presented by joint petitioners associated with a Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund and Robert Tchenguiz (assisting Joseph Wigley)
Financial services

Edward has spent time seconded to the FCA, which gave him insight into the regulation of financial services, and particularly the regulation of the peer-to-peer lending industry.  Edward has since been instructed on a number of matters providing advice on financial services and financial regulation.

Fraud – civil

Edward has advised in relation to a number of disputes involving elements of fraud.  Cases have included:

  • Jobandtalent v Igowego (2018) – application for proprietary freezing injunction (sole counsel)
  • Village Heating Limited v Chris Goldie (2017) – application for a freezing injunction (sole counsel)

Additional info

What the Directories say

Edward is listed a leading junior in Legal 500 Middle East

Career & appointments

Edward is a member of the Commercial Bar Association and the Chancery Bar Association.

Foreign Admissions

Admitted as a legal practitioner in the DIFC

Career & appointments

Edward is a member of the Commercial Bar Association and the Chancery Bar Association

Education & Awards

MA – St John’s College, Cambridge
BCL – Christ Church, Oxford
Hardwicke Entrance Scholarship – Lincoln’s Inn
Lord Denning Scholarship – Lincoln’s Inn
Rebecca Flower Squire Scholarship – University of Cambridge (for first class performance)
James William Squire Scholarship – University of Cambridge (for first class performance)
Prior Scholarship – St John’s College, Cambridge (for first class performance)
Wright Prize – St John’s College, Cambridge (for a first ranking in the top third of firsts awarded by the University, and for ranking 7th in the University)
E.C.S. Wade Prize – University of Cambridge (for the highest mark in the year in Administrative Law)
A.J. Iacovides Prize – St John’s College, Cambridge (for the highest mark in the year in International Law)