Edward’s practice spans the range of Chambers’ expertise in commercial litigation and international arbitration. Edward has experience acting as part of counsel teams of different sizes, in both the Commercial Court and Chancery Division and before arbitral tribunals under a variety of different rules including LCIA, LMAA and SCMA. Edward is regularly instructed as sole counsel and has appeared unled in the Commercial Court, Chancery Division and County Court.
From January to April 2020, Edward worked as a Judicial Assistant in the Commercial Court to Mr Justice Andrew Baker and Mr Justice Foxton. He worked on a variety of interlocutory and injunctive hearings as well as applications under the Arbitration Act and a full trial.
Edward is developing particular expertise in civil fraud and asset tracing. He is currently instructed by the Republic in The Republic of Mozambique v Credit Suisse and others; Commercial Court proceedings worth at least US$2 billion concerning, inter alia, the enforceability of sovereign guarantees in the wake of the ‘Tuna Bond’ scandal and claims in conspiracy, bribery, dishonest assistance and knowing receipt. He also spent six months on secondment at a leading City litigation boutique, specialising in civil fraud, where he worked and advised on a range of fraud-related matters including disclosure and freezing injunction applications, sovereign immunity and jurisdiction challenges, derivative claims and insolvency proceedings.
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Example cases
- Republic of Mozambique v Credit Suisse and others: (Commercial Court) a US$2 billion civil fraud dispute concerning the enforceability of sovereign guarantees, issues of state immunity and claims in conspiracy, bribery, deceit, dishonest assistance and knowing receipt.
- Country Gold v Farm Investments Corporation SA: (Commercial Court) instructed as sole counsel on behalf of the successful applicant for default judgment in claim worth over US$1.8million, raising novel issues as to the proper construction of a jurisdiction clause in favour of “Great Britain” (a case note on the decision can be found here).
- LCIA Arbitration: acted for successful buyers in US$40 million claim for undelivered quantities of crude oil against state-owned oil producer.
- SCMA Arbitration: acted for successful claimant in wrongful termination of a bareboat charter in three-week trial worth over US$27 million.
Civil fraud and asset tracing
- Republic of Mozambique v Credit Suisse and others: (Commercial Court) a US$2 billion civil fraud dispute concerning the enforceability of sovereign guarantees, issues of state immunity and claims in conspiracy, bribery, deceit, dishonest assistance and knowing receipt.
- Equity Real Estate and others v Capstan Capital Partners and others: (Chancery Division) acting for the Claimants in complex multi-million pound fraud claim brought against 13 defendants in the Chancery Division concerning the misappropriation of funds from property investment scheme, alleging conspiracy, breaches of fiduciary duty by company directors, dishonest assistance and knowing receipt.
- A v B: (Commercial Court) acting for US property investment and finance company in Norwich Pharmacal and pre-action disclosure application brought in the Commercial Court against blue-chip insurance brokerage concerning its role in a fraudulent scheme conducted against the applicant.
- Equity Real Estate and others v Verdi Construction (in liquidation): acted for successful applicants in application under s. 130(2) of the Insolvency Act and Norwich Pharmacal application against insolvent defendant for disclosure in relation to substantial fraud conducted against applicants
- Advised on major ‘oligarch’ dispute involving claims in contract and conspiracy worth over US$350 million.
- Advised on liability of and extradition of Singapore resident for contempt of court, following breaches of Commercial Court orders by company of which he is a director.
- Advised on and drafted the settlement agreement for a complex multi-million-pound dispute involving seven parties and four separate proceedings involving claims in contract, for breaches of fiduciary and directors’ duties and common intention constructive trust.
- Assisted in Commercial Court application seeking an inquiry into damages following the successful discharge of a US$3 billion worldwide freezing and proprietary injunction.
- Assisted in LCIA-MIAC arbitration acting on behalf of a number of African private equity funds in a dispute raising issues of fraud and partnership law.
International arbitration
- LCIA Arbitration: acted for successful buyers in US$40 million claim for undelivered quantities of crude oil against state-owned oil producer.
- SCMA Arbitration: acted for successful claimant in wrongful termination of a bareboat charter in three-week trial worth over US$27 million.
- LMAA Arbitrations: Advised on a number of issues in arbitration claims brought against state defendants worth €4.5 billion arising out of major oil spill, including issues of State Immunity.
- Assisted in LCIA-MIAC arbitration acting on behalf of a number of African private equity funds in a dispute raising issues of fraud and partnership law.
- Assisted in dispute concerning the enforcement of a £100 million BIT arbitration award against a state raising issues of public policy, issue estoppel and state immunity, as well as the application of the CJEU’s significant decision in Slovak Republic v Achmea BV (Case C-284/16).
Commercial dispute resolution
- Republic of Mozambique v Credit Suisse and others: (Commercial Court) a US$2 billion civil fraud dispute concerning the enforceability of sovereign guarantees, issues of state immunity and claims in conspiracy, bribery, deceit, dishonest assistance and knowing receipt.
- A v B: (Commercial Court) acting for US property investment and finance company in Norwich Pharmacal and pre-action disclosure application brought in the Commercial Court against blue-chip insurance brokerage concerning its role in a fraudulent scheme conducted against the applicant.
- Country Gold v Farm Investments Corporation SA: (Commercial Court) Instructed as sole counsel acting on behalf of the successful applicant for default judgment in claim worth over US$1.8million, raising novel issues as to the proper construction of a jurisdiction clause in favour of “Great Britain” (a case note on the decision can be found here).
- Instructed as sole counsel in London Circuit Commercial Court claim worth c. £500,000 for breach of contract and negligence against blue-chip security company for failure to prevent damage to cars stored at the Claimant’s vehicle storage facility
Banking and financial services
- Republic of Mozambique v Credit Suisse and others: (Commercial Court) a US$2 billion civil fraud dispute concerning the enforceability of sovereign guarantees, issues of state immunity and claims in conspiracy, bribery, deceit, dishonest assistance and knowing receipt.
- Acting on behalf of Citigroup defending various County Court consumer claims over alleged PPI mis-selling, including issues concerning deliberate concealment and reliance on section 32 of the Limitation Act 1980.
- Assisted in Chancery Division dispute concerning an allegedly fraudulent alteration of loan and interest-rate swap transaction documents.
Energy and natural resource
- Advised on alleged wrongful termination of joint venture agreement for the supply of renewable energy to the UK retail market.
- Assisted in advising on termination of long-term joint venture agreement for the on-shore and off-shore exploration and development of hydrocarbons.
- Assisted in advising hull & machinery underwriters in relation to the accidental sinking of an oil rig off the coast of India.
Shipping and Commodities
Edward has substantial experience advising and acting in a variety of charterparty, bill of lading and cargo disputes. Notable recent and ongoing experience includes:
- The Histria Giada: (Commercial Court) acting for owners in claim against charterers for repayment of a customs fine and for time and expenses incurred on a voyage.
- LCIA Arbitration: acted for successful buyers in US$40 million claim for undelivered quantities of crude oil against state-owned oil producer.
- SCMA Arbitration: acted for successful claimant in wrongful termination of a bareboat charter in three-week trial worth over US$27 million.
