Corporate Disputes 2025 - 5th Annual Forum

Genevieve acts for corporate and individual clients in a broad range of commercial disputes. She frequently represents companies in the banking and finance, private equity, hospitality and leisure, retail, media and telecoms sectors. Her expertise spans pre-action strategic advice to directors, shareholders and company founders through to high value, multi-jurisdictional High Court litigation.

Genevieve has a leading banking and finance litigation practice as well as a specialism in competition private enforcement actions, and is currently representing over 1,000 companies in group claims against Visa and MasterCard. She is equally at ease acting for claimants and defendants, and frequently works with third party litigation funders.

Shona is a Partner in the Private Commercial Litigation team.

Shona is an experienced commercial litigator, with a background in corporate disputes and civil fraud. She is skilled in pursuing and defending complex, high value and multi-jurisdictional claims, which frequently involve alleged breaches of fiduciary duty. Her work often involves seeking or resisting injunctions.

Shona has particular expertise in corporate disputes, acting for companies and individual directors and shareholders in relation to M&A disputes (arising both pre- and post-acquisition), unfair prejudice of shareholders’ interests, breaches of directors’ duties, and breaches of shareholders’ agreements and joint venture agreements. Shona works closely with the corporate team advising on deal risk issues and disputes arising out of transactions. 

Charlotte, a Partner in the London commercial dispute resolution team, leads the firm’s digital assets team. As an experienced commercial litigator, she was awarded an Individual Ranking by Chambers & Partners in 2023 and 2024, and she has been ranked as a "Next Generation Partner" in the Legal 500 for both banking litigation (retail and investment) and mid-market commercial litigation. She is recognised as having a 'deep understanding of the [crypto disputes] sector'" and is described as ‘tenacious …and a real force of nature’, '…absolutely fantastic: one of the highest profile solicitors in this area … [she] can handle a huge range of digital asset matters, and is very responsive', and 'really commercial and innovative, she's thoughtful and pragmatic about what can be done. She is also innovative in the world of crypto.'

She has specialist expertise in digital assets where she advises clients abut cryptocurrencies, NFTs and blockchain disputes, having acted in one of the very few contested cryptocurrency disputes which resulted in a successful outcome for her client. In 2024, Charlotte was recognised on Citywealth’s Top 50 Lawyer’s list for Fintech and AI and in 2023 she won the esteemed title of ‘Woman of the Year – FinTech / Crypto Innovation – UK’ at the Citywealth Powerwomen Awards for the impact of her work in the sector. Charlotte was also named on Innovate Finance’s Women in FinTech Powerlist in 2023. Charlotte was asked to present to the English judiciary (of 80 judges including the Chancellor, Court of Appeal judges and High Court judges) about crypto disputes which she did, alongside three other panellists, in May 2023. She also sits on the board of The Crypto Fraud and Asset Recovery network, which aims to bring together some of the world’s leading names in crypto disputes and advisory with the purpose of developing and sharing best practice in this rapidly evolving sphere and placing the UK and common law jurisdictions at centre stage for global crypto dispute resolution. Charlotte is a Guest Lecturer at the University of West England where she presents about crypto disputes.

Charlotte is an industry commentator - she regularly speaks about digital asset litigation both at international and national conferences, she is an expert for LexisNexis where she writes Practice Notes about digital asset litigation, and she is regularly featured in the national media. She also edits a quarterly newsletter titled ‘Dark Matters’ which reports on articles and interesting topics about digital assets and cyber security. She featured on a Channel 4 programme “Cryptocurrency: Has the Bubble Burst” in the summer of 2022, and also featured on BBC News World Service podcast in December 2022.

Charlotte is an elected Council Member of the Law Society and is on the Civil Justice Committee. She is a committee member of the London Solicitors’ Litigation Association, having previously been the President of the Junior LSLA, vice-chair of the Cyber Insurance Association and the Chair of Multilaw's Next Gen lawyers in the EMEA region.

James Worsnip is an experienced testifying expert witness who combines his sector experience in the financial services industry with his interest in technical valuation issues.

His clients are generally addressing complex issues arising from a transaction or a restructuring process where that process gives rise to a dispute between the company (often a bank) and its regulators, shareholders, company directors, auditors or other advisers. His work is often conducted in high-profile situations in which expert evidence is required to support the quantification of damages arising from historic losses or diminution in value.

James has provided expert services in relation to disputes including: the rights issues of RBS and Cattles plc; the resolution of the Cypriot banks and Banco Popular (Esp). He has acted under parliamentary statute in respect of the failure of Bradford & Bingley and for the FSCS in respect of Dunfermline. He has given evidence in ICC and ICSID arbitrations as well as the High Court.

He is a Fellow of the ICAEW and is a founding member of the valuation special interest group. He is also a member of the Bank of England’s panel of valuation experts and part of the restructuring advisory group that is available to the Bank if it were to use its resolution powers.

Prior to joining AlixPartners, James was at a Big 4 accounting firm, where he worked extensively on the regulatory reform of the banking sector following the global financial crisis. He has also held interim roles with banks and other financial firms including as Group CFO of LCH.Clearnet.

Roger Cooper leads Cleary’s securities and M&A litigation practice.

He has successfully litigated more than fifty shareholder, class action and derivative actions arising out of securities, M&A, corporate governance, and other commercial disputes.

Roger is internationally recognized as a leader in corporate litigation by ranking publications including The Legal 500, Benchmark Litigation, and Chambers USA. Client testimonials attest to Roger’s reputation as a “terrific strategist, with a vast knowledge of his field of expertise,” “very talented,” “really spectacular,” “excellent and smart attorney,” who is “very detail-oriented and conscientious,” and “really understands the facts and the case law in securities matters and we can rely on his judgment and assessments.” He is “client oriented,” demonstrates “great judgment,” “has great advice as to strategy and potential settlements,” is “a very, very thoughtful guy,” and “a pleasure to work with and a terrific litigator.” Roger’s clients value his representation for “professionalism and responsiveness in the highest degree” and rely on his “thoughtful and creative” advice. He leads a team that clients describe as “very responsive and easy to work with,” and “extremely professional and creative in their work, flexible in their implementation and cooperation.” Clients turn to Roger and his team for “a very international approach and a lot of experience in cross-border matters.” In sum, “they are first-rate in terms of intellectual and legal acumen. They’re first grade in securities.”

Gordon has over 20 years of experience in forensic accounting, business valuation, and the quantification of damages. He has been involved in a wide range of UK and international forensic assignments covering disputes, investigations, contentious valuation and the accounting aspects of anti-trust matters. Gordon’s work routinely involves the quantification of damages including those arising from fraud, breach of contract, and financial misrepresentation.

Gordon’s most recent international experience includes matters spanning Europe, the Middle East, Africa and China. His experience on contentious matters extends to acting alongside insolvency colleagues in the strategic management of complex claims arising from corporate distress. Gordon is a Fellow of the ICAEW, a member of The Academy of Experts, and is recognised by Lexology in multiple specialisms.

Lorraine is a general commercial disputes lawyer with extensive experience of high-value, high-profile and complex cases acting for both claimants and defendants. Her clients include world leading businesses within a wide range of industries.

She has particular expertise in large group actions, including securities litigation, and commercial fraud as well as banking and financial services disputes, shareholder and partnership disputes, and jurisdiction challenges.

As a Partner with Higher Rights of Audience, James focuses on international arbitration, including both commercial arbitration and investor state arbitration, as well as commercial litigation and alternative dispute resolution. He has experience of arbitration and litigation predominantly within the energy and infrastructure, retail, telecoms, shipping and sports sectors, including proceedings under the ICSID, ICC, LCIA, DIFC-LCIA, UNCITRAL, LMAA and ADCCAC (Abu Dhabi) arbitration rules. James has extensive experience of working with both companies and states with a particular focus on Central Asia and Africa. James most recently worked for: a South Asian state defending a BIT claim by a UAE entity under the UNCITRAL Rules relating to an alumina refining project; a multinational energy company in an arbitration under the ICC Rules relating to a dispute concerning completion under an SPA; and a South Asian state pursuing and defending claims in the English courts relating to challenges/appeals to arbitral awards worth several billion dollars. James has benefited from secondments based in Moscow and Dubai during his time at the Firm.

Jared is an experienced commercial litigator whose practice at Brodies encompasses a wide range of commercial and corporate disputes before the English Courts and in International Arbitration. Jared acts for a diverse range of clients from sectors including financial services, energy, and food and drink.

Jared is English-qualified and, prior to joining Brodies in 2018, spent 10 years in the dispute resolution team at a Magic Circle firm in London. During this time Jared’s practice focused on complex insolvency and banking and finance disputes.

Oli joined Wallace in 2014 and specialises in commercial litigation and arbitration. He advises companies and high net worth individuals on a broad range of commercial disputes and fraud-related matters, including complex, multi-jurisdictional disputes. Oli holds Higher Rights of Audience and is qualified to appear at all levels of English civil courts.

Oli’s dynamic and flexible approach is evident in the variety of matters he handles, including but not limited to fraud claims, contractual disputes, professional negligence matters, sports disputes, mis-selling claims, shareholders’ disputes and matters involving breaches of confidence, breaches of trust and discrimination. He brings deep expertise to regulatory issues and has acted for and advised corporations in respect of investigations and inquiries on topics including the Takeover Code, sports regulation, anti-illicit trade/supply chain controls, professional standards, cannabis and food safety.

Oli is ranked in the 2024 edition of Chambers & Partners, which describes Oli as someone who is “always on the ball and willing to go the extra mile to get things done"; is “great to work with and very attentive to client needs";  is “always aware of how best to advance his client's case”; and has "a really good read of a courtroom and also has this incredibly tactical brain."

Marc co-founded specialist London-based disputes and insolvency law firm Keidan Harrison LLP in May 2020, having previously co-founded successful disputes boutique Cooke, Young & Keidan LLP back in 2009. He started his career at international law firm Simmons & Simmons and has over two decades of international disputes experience. He is recognised by the leading legal directories as being one of the UK’s top disputes lawyers, Chambers & Partners describes him as “a tenacious litigator and has previously described him as a “great strategist”. The Legal 500 has said he is ‘’an exceptionally dedicated, inventive lawyer’’ and “a no-nonsense lawyer who gets results for his clients” who has a “willingness to get stuck into difficult fights”.

Marc advises regularly on high value commercial and financial litigation and international arbitration across a range of industry sectors (including financial and professional, IT/tech, commercial property, manufacturing, mining and commodities). Marc’s work also includes bringing and defending challenges to arbitration awards in the English Court (under ss68 and 69 of the Arbitration Act 1996).

His expertise includes commercial agency and joint venture disputes, civil fraud and asset tracing cases, as well as partnership/LLP, shareholder and corporate disputes, including derivative claims and s.994 petitions. He is experienced in bringing and defending claims for interim relief, including worldwide asset freezing injunctions.

Marc leads Keidan Harrison’s India-disputes team and has worked on substantial cross-border India-related cases for many years, acting for Indian high-net-worth individuals and corporates.

Ned Beale specialises in complex commercial litigation and international arbitration. Many of his cases are in the public eye and involve novel questions of law.  Most have an international dimension – including Ukraine and Russia. Ned was named UK's Litigator of the Year by Legal Week at their 2019 Litigation & Arbitration Awards, when his "innovation and creativity” were praised by the panel chaired by LCIA Director-General Jacomijn van Haersolte-van Hof.

Ned has extensive experience dealing with contractual claims, including claims arising out of Covid, Brexit and Russia related disruption, shareholder disputes, warranty, earn-out and other post-M&A claims and disputes in the media, manufacturing, and energy sectors.

He has specific expertise in aviation disputes, including both lease finance and manufacturing claims.  Recent instructions include advising Qatar Airways in its multi-billion-dollar dispute with Airbus concerning its A350 and A321 Neo fleets, one of The Lawyer’s ‘Top 20 Cases’ of 2023. 

Ned’s long track-record of acting in banking matters includes structured finance and retail banking disputes. He has acted for the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Fair Business Banking in two cases before the UK Supreme Court and, most recently, successfully obtaining permission to review the FCA's decision not to extend the IRHP redress scheme (reported at [2023] EWHC 1616).

Louise Boswell advises on disputes and dispute risk areas in a range of sectors.  She regularly acts on complex commercial contractual disputes including post-acquisition and on termination, and disputes arising from allegations of fraud, conspiracy, abuse of process, negligence and misrepresentation. She has particular experience on matters that are expedited or require interim injunctive relief. Louise is also a Solicitor Advocate.

James Levy is a partner in our dispute resolution practice

James is a highly regarded senior commercial litigator.  He has extensive experience of commercial litigation and ADR.  He has acted on a number of large and complex corporate and commercial cases advising clients operating in a number of sectors including banking, gaming, logistics and professional services.

James is ranked by Legal 500 in Banking Litigation and Professional Negligence.  He leads the professional negligence practice in London.

Florentin Weibel represents clients in proceedings before state courts, arbitral tribunals (ICC, Swiss Rules, DIS, ad hoc, etc.) and administrative bodies. Based on his experience as a corporate and M&A transaction lawyer, Florentin focuses on corporate and shareholder disputes and M&A-related proceedings, including crypto- and blockchain-related disputes. Florentin also regularly represents employees, managers and directors in the context of internal investigations, FINMA enforcement proceedings and criminal matters. He also acts as tribunal secretary.

Clarissa Coleman is Head of International Arbitration and a partner in the Commercial Litigation and Disputes group in the firm's London office, which was named “Arbitration Team of the Year” at the British Legal Awards 2022.

Tom Black is a financial services litigator, with a particular interest in mortgage regulation and contentious ESG issues.  

Tom is a Partner in our Financial Services Disputes and Investigations group. An experienced litigator who has practiced in the contentious retail finance space for over a decade, Tom regularly advises the largest retail banks on a variety of strategically important and high-profile matters, including judicial review challenges.

His experience in advising financial institutions in relation to the most complex and sensitive matters alongside his strong commitment to client service excellence makes Tom the ideal partner for retail financial institutions engaged in litigation; disputes with the Financial Ombudsman Service; or in need of strategic or regulatory advice.

Clients have described Tom as "very easy to deal with, very commercial" and "willing to … consider different ways of working to accommodate” their requirements. They also praised his "expertise and industry insight."

Tom is recommended for ESG by Legal 500, 2025, which praises his “passion for ESG and supporting clients in this emerging area”.