I advise and represent people and businesses facing contractual and business disputes. My mission is to help my clients find and put forward their best points, as early as possible. I well understand the stress which legal disputes, large or small, can impose on them.

I have forty years' experience of a wide range of legal issues and factual settings, all centred around busines disputes, ranging from Elton John's US concert tours, to mine-clearance in Iraqi oilfields in Iraq and foetal losses amongst thoroughbred mares in Kentucky. Contractual interpretation is at the heart of almost all my cases, but they have also involved many areas of of company law, directors duties, insurance, banking, misrepresentation and fraud.

Area of Law

Business and Corporate

Between 2020 & 2021, I appeared in proceedings (Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority v Azima [2021] EWHC 2018 (Ch)) on behalf of an individual alleged to have been party to an unlawful means conspiracy involving computer hacking and in related proceedings on behalf of the same individual (Stokoe Partnership v Grayson).

Between 2019 and 2021, I acting for an EU bank in relation to its position under a letter of credit, including issues as to the effect of EU sanctions over Iran and as to whether the credit had expired.

I resisted an application for an injunction seeking to freeze US$15 million escrow monies following determination in a Singapore arbitration of substantive issues in relation to a share purchase agreement involving indirect transfers of participation rights in Indonesian oil and gas projects (KUFPEC v Sanderson Capital [2017] EWHC 2816 (Comm).

I obtained a Chabra injunction (maintained following an opposed inter partes hearing in the Cayman Islands) against a non-cause of action defendant in aid of fraud proceedings pending in the Commercial Court in London.

Resisting an anti-suit injunction relating to aluminium warehoused in Shanghai on a true construction of an agreements no exclusive jurisdiction clause was incorporated

Commercial

From 2019 - 2022, I acted in an arbitration for a director and shareholder involved in a massive corporate demerger, resisting claims for breach of contract, economic torts including procuring breach of contract, and wrongful interference with business, and involving issues of rectification and construction.

I acted for the applicant in committal proceedings in which the respondent received an immediate custodial sentence for the deliberate breach of a freezing injunction (Eim v Lewis [2021] EWHC 2761 (Comm).

I obtained a freezing injunction and held it in a heavily contested set-aside application in aid of claims for fraudulent misrepresentation relating to currency trading (Consult II v Shire Warwick Lewis & others [2019] EWHC 286 (Comm).

I acted for the purchaser under a share purchase agreement claiming £35 million for breaches of warranty arising out of the poor performance of the target insurer’s policies.

I appeared in an LCC arbitration raising issues as to termination, force majeure, damages and the scope of a parent company guarantee in respect of a seismic oilfield exploration contract in Iraq.

I obtained an interim injunction preventing migration of customers to a new mobile telephony wholesale supplier (Business Comms Solution Ltd [2026] EWHC 343.

Insurance and Reinsurance

In 2022, I advised the retrocessionaire in an arbitral dispute subject to LIRMA rules as to whether the reinsurer had breached the duty of fair presentation (in failing to provide information as to adverse loss developments known to it), such that the retrocessionaire was entitled to avoid the treaty and refuse all claims. The dispute was settled in December 2022.

I appeared for the insurer in an arbitration relating to property damage and business interruption claims arising out of the World Trade Centre and Hurricane.

I acted for reinsurers in an arbitration concerning aggregation issues, in particular whether bloodstock losses due to a “killer wave” of foetal deaths amongst thoroughbred mares in Kentucky, were losses “arising out of one event” for the purposes of the treaty wording.

I acted for D&O Insurers on behalf of directors of a national chain of surveyors accused of fraudulent trading and other breaches of duty as directors.


What sort of work do I do?

Advising about all aspects of commercial disputes at any stage from the drafting contracts, to the onset of the dispute, advising on or drafting correspondence (often a vital stage in the process), developing ideas for settlement, including mediation and ultimately - the last resort for most clients - appearing in court or arbitral proceedings if the dispute is not satisfactorily resolved before then.

Who do I work for?

I advise and represent individuals (often directors), businesses, banks (and their customers), investors, insurance policy-holders (and insurers). Client feed-back (February 2024) includes "I cannot recommend Andrew highly enough. From the moment we started working together, it was clear that he possessed a deep understanding and extensive knowledge of insurance law. He was able to explain everything in a simple, clear, and concise manner ensuring that I was always informed and confident in the decisions I was making. What impressed me most was his commitment to my case."

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