Gregory Denton-Cox

Gregory Denton-Cox

Call 2000

Overview

Gregory Denton-Cox specialises in commercial and chancery litigation, with particular experience in company law, insolvency, banking, trusts, civil fraud and asset recovery. He is recommended by Chambers & Partners as a leading junior in the fields of Chancery: Commercial, Commercial Dispute Resolution, and Company law, and is described in the 2023 edition as a go-to, being a craftsman when it comes to written submissions” and “an accomplished advocate, who adopts a very pragmatic approach.  He is also recommended by the Legal 500 for Company, and Commercial Litigation, where he is described as an excellent barrister, giving commercial advice underpinned by serious intellectual rigour and knowledge whose advocacy is clear and commanding, and by Who’s Who Legal for Banking and Finance and Civil Fraud.

Gregory was named Chancery Junior of the Year at the Chambers & Partners Bar Awards in 2017, having previously been shortlisted in 2013 and 2016.

Areas of expertise

  • Chancery: Commercial

    Gregory has consistently been ranked by Chambers & Partners as one of the leading juniors in commercial chancery matters. The 2023 edition describes him as, “a go to.. hard-working, user-friendly and responsive”, saying that, “His persuasive and incisive advice on law and strategy is a great asset to any team”.  He was named Chancery Junior of the Year at the Chambers & Partners Bar Awards in 2017, having previously been shortlisted in 2013 and 2016. He acts in company, civil fraud and asset recovery, trusts, banking and finance, and insolvency claims, as well as a range of general commercial disputes.

  • Company Law

    Gregory is recommended by Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500 as a leading junior in the field of company law for his considerable experience in company law litigation including shareholder disputes, derivative claims and petitions under section 994 of the Companies Act 2006 (and similar proceedings in offshore jurisdictions). The 2023 editions describe him as disarmingly good.., straightforward, very articulate and precise in a non-pedantic way, ruthlessly well preparedand as knowing company lawinside out. Recent cases include successfully acting in long-running proceedings brought by liquidators in Guernsey, and in a shareholder dispute in Jersey. He also has particular experience in transfers of insurance business under Part VII of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.

  • Commercial Dispute Resolution

    Gregory acts in substantial commercial disputes in the Commercial Court and Chancery Division, as well as in offshore jurisdictions and arbitration proceedings, and is recommended by Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500 in the field of Commercial Dispute Resolution, with the 2023 editions describing him as, “a craftsman when it comes to written submissions”, “an accomplished advocate” and “excellent at assimilating complex facts and distilling them to draw out the main arguments and issues in a case”. He frequently acts and advises in relation to jurisdiction disputes and injunctive relief.

  • Banking & Finance

    Gregory has acted in a range of substantial disputes for and against banks and financial institutions. He is recommended by Who’s Who Legal in the field of Banking and Finance which notes that he is “renowned for his strong track record of banking and finance disputes”. He has particular experience in acting for noteholders or trustees in disputes in relation to the interpretation of structured finance and capital market transactions, including FSHC Group Holdings Ltd v GLAS Trust Corporation Limited [2019] EWCA Civ 1361 (Court of Appeal); BNY Mellon Corporate Trustee Service Ltd v LBG Capital No 1 Plc [2016] UKSC 29 (Supreme Court); Napier Park European Credit Opportunities Fund Limited v Harbourmaster Pro-rata CLO 2 BV [2014] EWCA Civ 984 (Court of Appeal), and US Bank Trustees Ltd v Titan Europe 2007-1 (NHP) Ltd [2014] EWHC 1189 (Ch).  He currently acts for VTB (Europe) SE in proceedings against the Republic of Mozambique.

  • Fraud: Civil

    Gregory has been described by Chambers and Partners as a “very impressive” junior who “has appeared in many headline-grabbing fraud cases” (2017) and as having “recognised skills in civil fraud, banking disputes and wider commercial litigation” (2022). He is recommended by Who’s Who Legal in the field of Civil Fraud.  He acts for the victims of fraud in safeguarding, tracing and recovering funds, and for those accused of fraud.

  • Insolvency & Restructuring

    Gregory regularly acts for and against liquidators in proceedings under the insolvency legislation. Recent cases include acting for the successful directors of Carlyle Capital Corporation in long-running proceedings brought by liquidators in Guernsey. He was on the Attorney General’s C Panel from 2006 to 2011 and has experience in directors’ disqualification proceedings and public interest winding-up petitions. In addition to acting for and against directors, Gregory has also advised the Jersey Financial Services Commission and the Northern Irish Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in relation to disqualification proceedings in those jurisdictions.

  • Offshore Litigation

    Gregory is frequently in demand in offshore cases, particularly those involving company, insolvency or trust disputes. He acted for the successful directors in proceedings brought in Guernsey by the liquidators of Carlyle Capital Corporation, and acted for the successful Plaintiffs in unfair prejudice proceedings brought in Jersey in relation to ETFS Capital Ltd. In the JSC BTA Bank v Ablyazov proceedings, Gregory acted for receivers appointed by the Court including in seeking recognition of their appointment, and enforcement of the order, in a number of offshore jurisdictions. Chambers Global ranks Gregory as a leading junior in Dispute Resolution: Commercial – UK and Dispute Resolution: Commercial Chancery – UK.

Other information

  • Cases of Interest
    • FSHC Group Holdings Ltd v GLAS Trust Corporation Limited [2019] EWCA Civ 1361; Chancery Division; Court of Appeal (led by Stephen Houseman QC, Mark Howard QC and Roger Masefield QC), claim for rectification in which the Court of Appeal reconsidered the test for rectification for mutual mistake.
    • BNY Mellon Corporate Trustee Service Ltd v LBG Capital No 1 Plc [2016] UKSC 29; Chancery Division, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court (led by Mark Howard QC and Robert Miles QC), contractual disputes concerning the ability of Lloyds Banking Group to redeem Enhanced Capital Notes issued in 2009.
    • Napier Park European Credit Opportunities Fund Limited v Harbourmaster Pro-rata CLO 2 BV [2014] EWCA Civ 984; Court of Appeal (led by Robert Miles QC), acting for the successful noteholders in a dispute concerning the construction of structured finance documentation.
    • US Bank Trustees Ltd v Titan Europe 2007-1 (NHP) Ltd [2014] EWHC 1189 (Ch); Chancery Division (led by Richard Hill QC), acting for the successful noteholders in a dispute concerning the construction of structured finance documentation.
    • Benedetti v Sawiris & others [2014] AC 938, [2013] UKSC 50; Chancery Division, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court (led by Laurence Rabinowitz QC and Richard Hill QC), a claim to a substantial shareholding in the vehicle used for the acquisition of an Italian telecommunications company. The claim raised questions of contractual construction, constructive trust and unjust enrichment, with the unjust enrichment issues going to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court’s judgment is an important analysis of the principles underlying unjust enrichment and claims for a quantum meruit, which had long been the subject of much academic debate.
    • Re Coroin Ltd, McKillen v Misland & others [2014] BCC 14, [2013] EWCA Civ 781; Chancery Division and Court of Appeal (led by Lord Goldsmith QC, Philip Marshall QC and Richard Hill QC), a shareholder dispute in relation to the ownership of Claridge’s, the Connaught and The Berkeley hotels
    • Molko v Hewitt (led by Ian Mill QC), a shareholder dispute between the founder members of the band Placebo, and a former member, which settled before trial.
    • LB Re Financing No. 3 Limited v Excalibur Funding No.1 Plc[2011] EWHC 2111 Chancery Division (led by Robert Miles QC), acting for the trustee in a dispute concerning the correct interpretation of a securitisation trust deed, and whether an event of default had occurred.
    • Cecil v Bayat [2011] 1 WLR 3086, [2011] EWCA Civ 135; Commercial Court and Court of Appeal (led by Robert Miles QC and Richard Hill), a jurisdiction challenge and application to set aside orders extending time for service of the Claim Form and for service by alternative means
    • Alexiou v Campbell [2007] UKPC 11; Privy Council (led by Robert Hildyard QC), construction of consent order compromising shareholder dispute.
    • Bracken Partners Ltd v Gutteridge [2004] 1 BCLC 377, [2003] EWCA Civ 1875; Court of Appeal, beneficial ownership and tracing
    • Gregory has also appeared for the applicants in a number of insurance business transfer schemes under Part VII of FSMA, including Re First Alternative Insurance Company Ltd [2007] EWHC 694 (Ch); Re Eagle Star Insurance Co Ltd [2006] EWHC 1850 (Ch); [2007] 1 B.C.L.C. 21; Re Pearl Assurance [2006] EWHC 2291 (Ch), [2007] Bus L.R. D10; Re Allied Dunbar Assurance plc [2005] EWHC 28 (Ch); [2005] 2 B.C.L.C. 220.
  • Career & Appointments
    • Called to the Bar in 2000
    • Junior Counsel to the Crown (C Panel) (2006 to 2011)
  • Education & Awards
    • LLB (Law with American Law), University of Nottingham, with a year spent at the University of Texas in Austin.
    • Sunley Scholar, Lincoln’s Inn.
  • Publications
    • Contributor to the Companies volumes of Atkins Court Forms
  • What the Directories Say
    • “Greg is an excellent barrister, giving commercial advice underpinned by serious intellectual rigour and knowledge.” (Legal 500, 2024, Company)
    • “An excellent senior junior who is very user-friendly and all over the detail. His advocacy is clear and commanding.” (Legal 500, 2024, Commercial Litigation)
    • “He is a go-to. He produces first-rate drafting and has great knowledge of the case law relating to complex commercial matters.  He is hard-working, user-friendly and responsive. A super-modern barrister who is really pleasant to work with.  His persuasive and incisive advice on law and strategy is a great asset to any team.” (Chambers & Partners, 2023, Chancery: Commercial)
    • “Gregory has a fantastic grasp of the law. He is a craftsman when it comes to written submissions and is effective on his feet.  He is an accomplished advocate, who adopts a very pragmatic approach.” (Chambers & Partners, 2023, Commercial Dispute Resolution)
    • “A hard-working, user-friendly, responsive and thoroughly modern barrister, who is really pleasant to work with.  Disarmingly good, he’s straightforward, very articulate and precise in a non-pedantic way.” (Chambers & Partners, 2023, Company)
    • “He knows company law inside out, is ruthlessly well prepared and knows exactly how to read the court.” (Legal 500, 2023, Company)
    • “Excellent at assimilating complex facts and distilling them to draw out the main arguments and issues in a case. He is excellent with lay clients in explaining issues and legal principles.” (Legal 500, 2023, Commercial Litigation)
    • “An extremely smart and thorough barrister. He has a strong commercial sense, is exceptionally responsive and is someone who adapts quickly to changing client demands.” (Chambers & Partners, 2022, Chancery: Commercial)
    • “Really, really supportive and noted for his superior analysis and understanding of the case.” (Chambers & Partners, 2022, Commercial Dispute Resolution)
    • “His judgement is of someone far more senior, and he is excellent in every way.” “He is extremely bright, and very strategic and reliable. He’s the consummate team player.” (Chambers & Partners, 2022, Company)
    • “Greg’s encyclopaedic knowledge of the leading authorities and deep well of experience in company claims across the common law world, make him our go-to company law junior and undoubtedly a star of the junior company law bar.” (Legal 500, 2022, Company)
    • “Quick, sharp and completely in control of the facts of the case. He has an excellent strategic sense and is not afraid to roll up his sleeves and get his hands dirty.”  (Legal 500, 2022, Commercial Litigation)
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