Commercial Litigation UK

  • April 20, 2026

    Recruiter Beats Scientist's Age Bias Claim Over References

    A recruitment agency for the science sector has beaten claims that it discriminated against a job applicant nearing his 70th birthday after showing that a lack of positive references was the reason he was blacklisted, an employment tribunal has ruled.

  • April 20, 2026

    Royal Family Textile Supplier Denies Copying Fern Print

    A fabric and wallpaper supplier for the British royal family has denied claims that it stole a rival's copyrighted designs, arguing that it had independently come up with a wavy pattern of ferns. 

  • April 20, 2026

    Holiday Park Biz Sues Rival Over £4.8M Sale Of Caravan Site

    A holiday park operator has sued a rival in a bid to enforce a deal for the potential purchase of a Welsh caravan park for £4.8 million ($6.5 million) amid a dispute over valuation.

  • April 20, 2026

    Lorry Drivers Lose Overtime Appeal Over Contract Terms

    Truck drivers who claimed they were entitled to enhanced pay for overtime have lost their appeal against a pharmaceutical company as a London appeals tribunal ruled they that had relied on a staff handbook that did not apply to them. 

  • April 20, 2026

    Hermes, Shell Funds Join Entain Claim Over Bribery Probe

    Four investment vehicles, including two Federated Hermes funds, a Shell pension fund and another managed by Morningstar, have joined a multimillion-pound claim alleging that Entain PLC failed to warn them of alleged bribery-related misconduct tied to its Turkish operations.

  • April 20, 2026

    ENRC Says SFO Probe Tarnished Rep And Scared Off Lenders

    The prolonged investigation by the Serious Fraud Office into ENRC hammered the company's reputation, scared off lenders and ultimately drove up its borrowing costs, the miner's counsel said at the start of a $290 million trial on Monday.

  • April 20, 2026

    Nigerian Oil Co. Denies Unlawfully Witholding Trader's Fuel

    A Nigerian oil magnate's company has denied unlawfully refusing a fuel trader access to oil following a $33 million court judgment, accusing the trader of suing to increase pressure in a wider dispute with another of the magnate's businesses.

  • April 17, 2026

    Oschadbank Kicks Off New Russia Claim Over Lost Assets

    One of Ukraine's largest banks has made good on its threat to pursue a second investment treaty claim against Russia over the loss of "substantial" assets and operations near Ukraine's western border.

  • April 17, 2026

    Brexit Backer Owes Inheritance Tax On Donations, Court Says

    A former hedge fund manager who donated about £750,000 ($1 million) to political groups that mostly advocated for Brexit isn't exempt from about £100,000 of inheritance tax on his donations, the First-tier Tribunal said in a judgment.

  • April 17, 2026

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

    The past week in London has seen Aston Martin file an appeal in a row with Chinese carmaker Geely over its winged logo for London black cabs, Ineos sue Ben Ainslie's America's Cup team for a £180 million ($244 million) boat, White & Case face a claim from two energy storage companies, and a golf tour company bring a claim against Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund after the fund invested in its rival.

  • April 17, 2026

    Businessman Denies Duping Council In £150M Solar Deal Row

    A businessman has denied owing an effectively bankrupt local English council more than £150 million ($204 million) over a series of failed investments that he allegedly misrepresented and siphoned off for his personal spending, arguing that he never deceived the authority.

  • April 17, 2026

    ENRC Seeks $290M As Final SFO Damages Trial Opens

    The 13-year legal battle between the Serious Fraud Office and Eurasian Natural Resources Corp. could be headed for its final chapter on Monday as the mining company demands compensation for a botched criminal investigation.

  • April 17, 2026

    Litigation Funder Fenchurch Legal Enters Administration

    London-based litigation funder Fenchurch Legal has entered administration amid a winding-up petition from an investment manager that previously warred with the company over a multimillion-pound loan.

  • April 17, 2026

    Aston Martin Sues Shareholder After Wing Logo Row

    Aston Martin has sued in a London court a Chinese rival that uses a winged logo for its electric car brand it failed to convince U.K. IP examiners to nix the trademark, ramping up a dispute between the luxury carmaker and its third-biggest shareholder.

  • April 17, 2026

    Head Of Employment Tribunals Calls For More Video Hearings

    More remote hearings are a "needs must" to cope with a surge in claims from workers and difficulties in recruiting judges to work in London, the president of the Employment Tribunals has said.

  • April 17, 2026

    Ineos Sues Ben Ainslie's America's Cup Team For £180M Boat

    The racing team owned by Ineos, billionaire Jim Ratcliffe's chemical company, has sued British competitive sailor Ben Ainslie's America's Cup team, seeking the return of a £180 million ($244 million) vessel previously used in the sailing competition.

  • April 17, 2026

    Ex-Goldman Banker Must Pay Back £400K Legal Aid Funding

    A former Goldman Sachs banker must repay almost £400,000 ($534,000) in legal aid funding after being sentenced for contempt of court, an appeals court ruled on Friday as it rejected his case that the recovery regime caused inconsistent results.

  • April 17, 2026

    Retailer Biz Can't Block UniCredit's €42M Russian Asset Fight

    A retail outlet owner can't block Russian proceedings by AO UniCredit aimed at taking some of the retailer's approximately €42 million ($50 million) property portfolio, as an appeals court ruled Friday that the bank did not breach an agreement to arbitrate.

  • April 17, 2026

    Richard Desmond Loses £1.3B UK Lottery License Fight

    A group owned by former media magnate Richard Desmond said Friday it would appeal the loss of its £1.3 billion ($1.7 billion) claim against the gambling regulator after a judge ruled that the watchdog's process of awarding the National Lottery license was lawful.

  • April 17, 2026

    Supplier Faces Competition Claim Over Skincare 'Monopoly'

    A medical aesthetics clinic has sued the distributor of a skincare products range, accusing it of abusing its dominant market position after it refused to supply the clinic with the products.

  • April 17, 2026

    Insurance Broker Denies £1.5M Liability For Failed Theft Claim

    An insurance broker has denied liability at the High Court in a dispute worth up to £1.5 million ($2 million) over a failed claim that arose from the alleged theft of construction equipment, arguing that the case against it is "fundamentally flawed."

  • April 16, 2026

    UK Travel Co. Can Challenge VAT Credit Adjustment

    A travel agency can proceed with challenging HM Revenue & Customs' trimming of its value-added tax credit by about £187,000 ($253,000) after a court spiked the U.K. tax authority's bid for an early end to the case.

  • April 16, 2026

    Home Office Lifts Block On Migrant Contract Amid Mitie Row

    A London judge on Thursday lifted the suspension on a contract for irregular immigration services that was imposed during litigation over the procurement process, saying that the U.K. government could not be compensated financially if the claim against it fails.

  • April 16, 2026

    £382M Fish Cartel Class Action Refused Over Class Rep Fees

    A U.K. tribunal has refused permission for a £382 million ($517 million) class action alleging that fish producers artificially inflated salmon prices, concluding the class representative's £300 hourly fee suggested "a motivation beyond pursuing the interests of the class."

  • April 16, 2026

    Ex-Leigh Day Pro Struck Off For Faking Letter To Hide Error

    A former Leigh Day lawyer who tried to cover up missing a disclosure deadline by claiming he had written and sent a disclosure letter when he had not was struck off by the profession's disciplinary tribunal Thursday.

Expert Analysis

  • Decoding Arbitral Disputes: ICSID Enforcement In Australia

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    The Federal Court of Australia recently ruled for award creditors in Blasket Renewable Investments v. Spain in a judgment that explains how Australia's statute book operationalizes the promise of depoliticized enforcement under the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes Convention while accommodating, without yielding to, the centrifugal forces of European Union law, says Josep Galvez at 4-5 Gray's Inn.

  • How AI May Have Made A Difference In Monzo Bank Breaches

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    Artificial intelligence tools have the capabilities needed to keep pace with increasingly sophisticated threats, and such tools might have helped prevent the anti-money laundering failures that led to the recent £21.1 million fine against Monzo Bank, says Alexander Vilardo at Howard Kennedy.

  • Charting A Course For The UK's Transition From Paper Shares

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    The recent report from the U.K.'s Digitisation Taskforce, recommending modernization of how shares in U.K.-listed companies are held, makes it clear that while moving from paper shares to an intermediated system is a positive step, the transition will not be without complications, say lawyers at HSF Kramer.

  • Irish Ruling Presents Road Map For Evaluating Jurisdiction

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    With its recent decision in Petersen Energia Inversora v. The Argentine Republic, the Dublin Commercial High Court has delivered a judgment of conspicuous clarity on the frontiers of Ireland's service-out jurisdiction for the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments, says Josep Galvez at 4-5 Gray’s Inn.

  • UK's 1st ICSID Claim Shows Bilateral Investment Treaty Reach

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    For the first time, the U.K. is facing a claim under the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes Convention, underscoring the broader reality that treaty protections are no longer confined to investors in emerging markets, says Philipp Kurek at Signature Litigation.

  • Opinion

    Further Anti-SLAPP Reform Is Needed To Protect Free Speech

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    New provisions aimed at combating strategic lawsuits against public participation recently came into effect in the U.K., but in applying only to economic crime-related information, the definition of a SLAPP is too narrow to prevent instigators bringing claims to silence public criticism, says Sadie Whittam at Lancaster University.

  • Exploring Key Features Of New Frankfurt Commercial Court

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    The recently established Frankfurt Commercial Court and Commercial Chambers, which offer proceedings in English and experienced commercial judges, are designed to handle complex, high-value and cross-border disputes, marking a significant step forward in the modernization of Germany's civil justice system, say attorneys at Gibson Dunn.

  • Petrofac Ruling Shifts Focus To Fairness In Restructurings

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    The recent Court of Appeal overturning of Petrofac's restructuring plans demonstrates a change of direction that will allow previously ignored out-of-the-money creditors a share in the benefits, and means companies must review the fair treatment of different creditor classes, say lawyers at King & Spalding.

  • Decoding Arbitral Disputes: A Battle For Arbitral Voice

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    The English Commercial Court's recent decision in Republic of India v. CC/Devas, although procedural in form, reflects a significant chapter in the ongoing struggle between arbitral autonomy and sovereign intervention, says Josep Galvez at 4-5 Gray's Inn Square Chambers.

  • How Top Court Ruling Limits Scope Of Motor Finance Claims

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    The U.K. Supreme Court’s recent ruling in a landmark case concerning car finance commissions clarifies when and how a dealership’s fiduciary duties arise, considerably narrowing that path for mass consumer litigation and highlighting how an upcoming Financial Conduct Authority redress scheme will seek to balance consumer, lender and market interests, say lawyers at Cadwalader.

  • Why Leveson Review Is Significant For UK Court System

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    Brian Leveson’s recent review into the U.K. criminal justice system calls for judge-only trials in serious and complex fraud cases, a controversial recommendation that is sparking debate over the future of jury trials, says Louise Hodges at Kingsley Napley.

  • Challenges Law Firms Face In Recruiting Competitor Teams

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    Since the movement of lawyer teams from a competitor can bring legal considerations and commercial risks into play, both the target and recruiting firms should be familiar with the relevant limited liability partnership deed to protect their business, say lawyers at Fox & Partners.

  • High Court Elects Substance Over Form In Arbitration Dispute

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    The High Court recently found that an arbitral tribunal has jurisdiction over the dispute in Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority v. India, underscoring the importance of aligning treaty interpretation with the goal of fostering investment, while rejecting interpretations that unduly limit investor protections, says Josep Galvez at 4-5 Gray's Inn.

  • French Plans For Call-In Powers Signal More Merger Scrutiny

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    The French Competition Authority’s intention to draft a call-in mechanism for below-threshold transactions demonstrates a growing appetite to expand national investigation tools that will require a balance of effective control and legal certainty to reduce the burden on merging companies, say lawyers at Linklaters.

  • Decoding Arbitral Disputes: UK Injunctions Across Borders

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    A recent High Court of Justice decision allowing JPMorgan Chase Bank to block VTB Bank from bringing suit in a Russian court provides a seminal reflection on the power of English courts to issue antisuit injunctions when global banking disputes increasingly straddle multiple jurisdictions, says Josep Galvez of 4-5 Gray's Inn.

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