Commercial Litigation UK

  • October 28, 2024

    CE Energy Seeks To Keep Asset Freeze On Oil Trader Owner

    An oil trading company asked a London court on Monday to continue a freezing order against a Nigerian businessman as it fights to recover around £30 million ($39 million) that it says the founder of a rival oil trader has failed to pay.

  • October 28, 2024

    UK Top Court Boosts Client Claims In Solicitor Cost Spats

    A U.K. Supreme Court ruling on solicitor payment deductions has given a boost for clients to challenge their legal bills from their former firms in the latest case to clarify Britain's labyrinthine rules governing solicitors' fees.

  • October 28, 2024

    Tommy Robinson Imprisoned For Contempt Of Court

    Far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon was sentenced to 18 months in prison at a London criminal court on Monday for breaching a court order 10 times by republishing false allegations against a Syrian schoolboy refugee.

  • October 28, 2024

    Candey Sues Former Client Over 1-Star Online Review

    Candey has sued a former client for defamation over a one-star online review that the fashion label chief allegedly authored, arguing in a London court that her false claims about the disputes law firm risk putting off new clients.

  • October 28, 2024

    Pensions Provider PSG SIPP Falls Into Administration

    A self-invested personal pension provider has entered into administration after facing financial difficulties that arose from its connection with an Australian financial adviser, the City watchdog said Monday.

  • October 28, 2024

    Gov't Urged To Clarify Implications Of Major Pensions Case

    The U.K. government must clarify the scope of new requirements on retirement savings plans following a landmark Court of Appeal ruling in July, a trade body has warned, after members registered a surge in queries from pension holders.

  • October 28, 2024

    Law Firm Scores Own Goal In Footballers' Data Row

    A sports law firm cannot prevent a lender from advertising a winding-up petition over an unpaid loan of £500,000 ($650,000) to fund litigation over the alleged misuse of professional footballers' data, a London court has ruled.

  • October 28, 2024

    Allianz Beats Theater Biz Attempt To Revive COVID-19 Claim

    Allianz has beaten a theater operator's attempt to revive a COVID-19 business interruption claim, as an appeals court ruled on Monday that the insurer's policy did not cover losses caused by government-mandated lockdowns.

  • October 25, 2024

    Ex-Chelsea FC Owner Wins £150K In Murder Libel Claim

    Ken Bates, the former owner of Chelsea FC, has won £150,000 ($195,000) in damages from a motor-sports writer, after a judge found Friday that the reporter's article accusing the businessman of murdering rivals, multiple sophisticated frauds and tax evasion caused serious harm to his reputation. 

  • October 25, 2024

    Celltrion Challenges Rival Asthma Treatment At Trial

    Counsel for Celltrion Inc. kicked off at trial Friday alleging that a patent underpinning rival Genentech's asthma treatment should be nixed, marking the latest in an ongoing global spat over omalizumab.

  • October 25, 2024

    Barclays Slashes £330M From UK Investors' 'Dark Pool' Claim

    Barclays on Friday won its bid to more than halve the value of a £560 million ($726 million) securities fraud claim brought by investors at the High Court in London based on allegations it misled them about its "dark pool" trading platform.

  • October 25, 2024

    Close Brothers Lose Appeal In Landmark Motor Finance Case

    Close Brothers Ltd. and other motor finance lenders must fully disclose commissions charged to customers taking out a car loan, or face repaying the secret fee, a London appeal court ruled Friday in a landmark test case.

  • October 25, 2024

    'Business Guru' Denies Claim Of £5.6M Ponzi Scheme

    A self-styled "business guru" has hit back at a £5.6 million ($7.3 million) fraud claim in the High Court, denying running a Ponzi scheme and duping an investor into funding a bogus loan scheme for a luxury hotel development.

  • October 25, 2024

    UK Litigation Roundup: Here's What You Missed In London

    This past week in London has seen the Competition and Markets Authority take action against a mattress retailer after it was caught pressuring its customers with misleading discounts, Lenovo and Motorola target ZTE Corporation with a patents claim, Lloyds Bank hit by another claim relating to the collapse of Arena Television and U.K. tax authority HMRC sued by the director of an electronics company that evaded millions of pounds in VAT. Here, Law360 looks at these and other new claims in the U.K.

  • October 25, 2024

    Sainsbury's Manager Threatened By Colleague Wins £59K

    Sainsbury's must compensate a former manager more than £59,000 ($76,553) for failing to respond to threats and foulmouthed outbursts the manager faced from a colleague, a tribunal has ruled.

  • October 25, 2024

    Lloyds Hit With Fraud Claim By Collapsed Broadcast Co.

    Lloyds Bank PLC has been sued by liquidators of a broadcasting equipment company in the latest legal claim to be filed against the bank by parties related to the collapse of Arena Television amid fraud allegations.

  • October 25, 2024

    Chambers Assistant Can Pursue Disability-Related Claims

    An employment tribunal has ruled that an assistant practice manager at 3 Bolt Court Chambers suffered from severe anxiety and depression when she was fired, allowing her to bring disability-related claims against her bosses.

  • October 25, 2024

    Deutsche Bank Wins £360K Costs From Trader In Bonus Row

    A London judge Friday ordered a former Deutsche Bank trader to pay more than £360,000 ($467,000) as an early payment of the bank's legal costs after she lost her breach of contract case over assurances allegedly given about her compensation.

  • October 25, 2024

    Pfizer Loses Hemophilia Gene Therapy Patent Row To UniQure

    A London court held Friday that uniQure's patent covering hemophilia gene therapy is valid because the specific protein it uses is not obvious, and that Pfizer infringed the patent with the development of its own version of the treatment.

  • October 25, 2024

    Baker McKenzie Lawyer Fined For Refusing Breathalyzer Test

    A Baker McKenzie lawyer who was convicted for refusing to take a roadside breath test after being pulled over by the police was fined £2,500 ($3,250) by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal on Friday.

  • October 25, 2024

    BHP, Vale Reach $32B Brazil Dam Settlement Amid UK Trial

    Mining giant BHP announced Friday that the Brazilian government has signed off a final $31.7 billion settlement package to compensate communities devastated by the collapse of a dam nine years ago.

  • October 25, 2024

    Commerzbank Can Pursue Staffer For Fake Sex Assault Claim

    A London court ruled Friday that a former Commerzbank AG analyst will face contempt of court proceedings after making false sexual assault allegations against a colleague as part of his failed harassment case against the bank.

  • October 25, 2024

    Chubb Not On Hook For News Staffer's Discrimination Claim

    Chubb is not liable for a discrimination claim by a former news company staffer because her employer's insurance policy ruled out liability for wrongful employment practices, a tribunal has ruled.

  • October 24, 2024

    Abbott Rival Exec Defends Diabetes Monitor Shape In TM Fight

    The chief operating officer of medical device manufacturer Sinocare Inc. told a London court Thursday he "never imagined" that Abbott Laboratories could have trademarked a circular shape for a diabetes monitor that is at the center of copying allegations.

  • October 24, 2024

    Heineken Faces €160M Claim After Dutch Market Abuse Ruling

    Heineken was held jointly liable for its Greek subsidiary abusing its dominant position to hold back competitors by a Dutch court, paving the way for a rival brewery to press home its over €160 million ($173 million) antitrust claim against the beer giant.

Expert Analysis

  • UK Judgment Could Change Anti-Money Laundering Regimes

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    After the Court of Appeal of England and Wales' determination that criminal property remains criminal property in the hands of its purchaser even if purchased at market value, many businesses could face a new or heightened risk of prosecution for criminality in their supply chains and related money laundering offenses, say lawyers at Macfarlanes.

  • Decoding Arbitral Disputes: Blasket Win Is A Beacon Of Hope

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    A Belgian court's recent decision in favor of Blasket Renewable Investments, enforcing an arbitral award against the Kingdom of Spain, signals that despite the European Court of Justice's restrictive interpretations, there is judicial support within the European Union for enforcing investors' rights under international arbitration agreements, says Josep Galvez at 4-5 Gray's Inn.

  • UK Approach To AI Patentability Appears Settled For Now

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    After a High Court ruling upended the status quo last year, the Court of Appeal’s recent decision that Emotional Perception’s artificial neural network is not patentable represents a return to the U.K.’s familiar, albeit often complex, approach to patentability of artificial intelligence technology and computer programs generally, say lawyers at Potter Clarkson.

  • How Digital Markets Act Will Enhance Consumer Protections

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    The Digital Markets Act represents a major shift in U.K. competition and consumer protection law by introducing a new regulatory regime for large digital firms, and by giving the Competition and Markets Authority broader merger investigation powers and a wider enforcement remit for online activities, say lawyers at Cooley.

  • What Steps Businesses Can Take After CrowdStrike Failure

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    Following last month’s global Microsoft platform outage caused by CrowdStrike’s failed security software update, businesses can expect complex disputes over liability resulting from multilayered agreements and should look to their various insurance policies for cover despite losses not stemming from a cyberattack, says Daniel Healy at Brown Rudnick.

  • Drafting Settlement Agreements That Avoid Future Disputes

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    Several recent U.K. rulings highlight the importance of drafting precise settlement agreements to prevent time-consuming and costly disputes over what claims the agreements were meant to cover, says Michelle Radom at Osborne Clarke.

  • Int'l Treaties May Aid Investors Amid UK Rail Renationalization

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    The recently introduced Passenger Railway Services Bill seeks to return British railways to public ownership without compensating affected investors, a move that could trigger international investment treaty protections for obligation breaches, says Philipp Kurek at Signature Litigation.

  • Insurance Rulings Show Court Hesitancy To Fix Policy Errors

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    Two recent Court of Appeal insurance decisions highlight that policyholders can only overcome policy drafting errors and claim coverage if there is a very obvious mistake, emphasizing courts' reluctance to rewrite contract terms that are capable of enforcement, says Aaron Le Marquer at Stewarts.

  • AI Reforms Prompt Fintech Compliance Considerations

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    With the EU Artificial Intelligence Act's Aug. 1 enforcement, and the U.K.'s new plans to introduce AI reforms, fintech companies should consider how to best focus limited resources as they balance innovation and compliance, says Nicola Kerr-Shaw at Skadden.

  • Should Arbitrators Do More To Encourage Settlements?

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    In light of discussions on settlement in arbitration, there is a consensus that arbitrators in English-seated proceedings should play a greater role, but determining the extent of that involvement is difficult, as arbitrators can inadvertently place themselves in a position of potential conflict, say lawyers at Dentons.

  • Irish Businesses Should Act Now To Prepare For EU AI Act

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    Artificial intelligence is increasingly transforming the Irish job market, and proactive engagement with the forthcoming European Union AI Act, a significant shift in the regulatory landscape for Irish businesses, will be essential for Irish businesses to responsibly harness AI’s advantages and to maintain legal compliance, say lawyers at Pinsent Masons.

  • Takeaways From World Uyghur Congress Forced Labor Ruling

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    The Court of Appeal’s recent judgment in the World Uyghur Congress' case against the National Crime Agency confirms that companies dealing in goods that they suspect to be products of forced labor are potentially liable to criminal prosecution, presenting significant legal risks that cannot always be mitigated through conducting supply chain due diligence, say lawyers at King & Spalding.

  • Emissions And Extraction: Unpacking The Finch Ruling

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    In Finch v. Surrey County Council, the U.K. Supreme Court recently found that the council's authorization of an oil field expansion was unlawful for failing to consider its greenhouse gas effects, potentially leading to major implications for planning decision processes, say lawyers at Hausfeld.

  • 10 Ways To Manage AI Risks In Service Contracts

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    With the European Union Artificial Intelligence Act coming into force on Aug. 1 and introducing a new regulatory risk, and with AI technology continuing to develop at pace, parties to services arrangements should employ mechanisms now to build in flexibility and get on the front foot, says James Longster at Travers Smith.

  • Unpacking The New Concept Of 'Trading Misfeasance'

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    In addition to granting one of the largest trading awards since the Insolvency Act was passed in 1986, the High Court recently introduced a novel claim for misfeasant trading in Wright v. Chappell, opening the door to liability for directors, even where insolvent liquidation or administration was not inevitable, say lawyers at Greenberg Traurig.

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