Our Team
Mark Hastings
Partner
Recognised for his work as a commercial litigator, especially in complex civil fraud cases, Mark Hastings is a determined, strategically-focused and commercially astute disputes lawyer. Before founding Quillon Law, he practised law as a partner at two internationally recognised law firms, at one of which he was head of civil fraud.
Practice
Mark is an experienced solicitor who has conducted all aspects of complex commercial litigation in the City of London and internationally for over two decades.
Mark has been involved as lead partner in some of the highest value and most complicated cases before the English courts. He acts for high-net-worth individuals, major corporates and their directors, hedge funds and insolvency practitioners. He has managed teams of leading and junior counsel from all the major sets of barristers’ chambers.
Mark’s focus areas include large scale civil fraud claims, asset tracing, contentious trusts, contractual and warranty disputes, shareholder disputes and contentious insolvency. He has extensive experience of executing and advising on injunctions, including freezing, proprietary and search orders.
Many of Mark’s cases involve cross-border issues and proceedings in other jurisdictions. He has particular expertise in litigation originating in CIS, South America, the Middle East and related offshore jurisdictions. He is a solicitor-advocate with full rights of audience in the higher courts.
Notable Representations
Navigator Equities Limited and Chernukhin v Deripaska
[2023] EWHC 788 (Comm)
Mark successfully defended Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska in long-running proceedings, in which the claimants had applied for an order to commit Mr Deripaska to prison for contempt of court. HHJ Pelling KC, sitting as a judge of the High Court, dismissed the proceedings following a three-day hearing, and awarded partial indemnity costs against the claimants. The case raised issues of Russian and Jersey law.
Maroil Trading Inc. v Cally Shipholdings Inc.
[2020] EWHC 3041 (Comm); [2019] EWHC 2949
Mark acts for the claimants in Commercial Court proceedings involving high profile allegations that a senior executive of a major litigation funder traded confidential client documents in return for sensitive material. The case was recognised by The Lawyer magazine as one of its top cases of 2022.
London Capital & Finance Plc & Ors. v Thomson & Ors
[2020] EWHC 2490 (Ch)
Mark was instructed in £180m Commercial Court fraud proceedings arising out of the high profile failure of a large finance company.
Mousavi-Khalkali v Abrishamchi
[2020] EWCA Civ. 1493; [2019] EWHC 2364 (Ch)
Mark acted for an Iranian businessman in the Court of Appeal in a successful jurisdiction challenge relating to whether England and Wales was the appropriate forum to hear the claim. The underlying dispute concerned multi-million pound contractual claims relating to an Iranian telecommunications project, in which Mark successfully discharged a worldwide freezing order.
Latin American Investments Limited v Maroil Trading Inc
[2017] EWHC 1254 (Comm)
This was a case involving a US$200m claim for the alleged misappropriation of funds. The case raised complex legal issues relating to reflective loss and the ability of a shareholder to obtain a freezing injunction on behalf of the company.
Addleshaw Goddard LLP v Wood & Anr
[2015] EWHC B12 (Costs)
Mark acted for an international law firm, recognised in the legal directories, in its successful claim for a multi-million pound success fee against professional trustees.
Dar Al-Arkan Real Estate Company (2) Bank Alkhair v Al Refai & ors
[2015] 1 WLR 135, CA; [2014] EWHC 1055 (Comm)
Mark acted for the claimants in US$1billion Commercial Court proceedings against the former CEO of a Bahraini investment bank and others for conspiracy to blackmail, breach of confidence and other claims. The case involved proceedings for contempt of court and related proceedings in the US and the Middle East, together with numerous appeals. It covered a wide range of legal issues, both civil and criminal.
His Majesty King Abdullah the Second King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan v Carnwath & ors
Mark acted for the Kingdom of Jordan in a dispute reported in London’s business and legal press. The leading Middle East state ruler sued the trustees of a London estate for allegedly refusing to honour a ‘gentlemen’s agreement.’
Harlequin Property (SVG) Ltd v Floyd
Mark successfully resisted a claim for freezing and other relief under s. 25 of the Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 1982 in support of multi-million dollar claims in fraud relating to a hotel development in St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Various proceedings involving Boris Berezovsky
For over five years, Mark acted for Boris Berezovsky, the well-known Russian oligarch, now deceased, in a number of signature cases. These include:
Gorbunova v Berezovsky
[2013] EWHC 76 (Ch)
Mark succeeded in setting aside a £300 million worldwide freezing order obtained by his client’s former long-term partner, who made several claims against him. The judge held that the evidence did not go so far as to establish a serious and robust case that there was a risk that he would dissipate his assets. The case was extensively reported in the legal and business media.
Berezovsky v Hine & Ors
[2011] EWCA Civ 1089
Mark acted in a number of separate multi-billion-dollar actions arising from an alleged joint venture between CIS oligarchs. The case involved freezing orders, search and seizure orders, jurisdiction disputes, complex issues of Russian law and Russian asset valuation. The matter was the subject of comprehensive coverage in the national and international media, and was recognised as one of The Lawyer magazine’s top cases of 2012.
Berezovsky v Abramovich
[2012] EWHC 2463 (Comm); [2011] 1 WLR 2290
Mark acted in US$6 billion Commercial Court proceedings concerning Russian oil and aluminium assets. The proceedings involved complex issues of fact and Russian law, including the tort of intimidation, and choice of law for torts, contracts, and trusts. Extensively reported in the legal, national, and international media, the case was seen as a trailblazer in its time; the press described the three-month trial as the most significant private court case ever.
Reid v The Capita Group plc
[2008] EWHC 2722 (Ch)
Mark defended Capita against a contractual claim arising from its purchase of a costs negotiating business, which had been sold to Capita in exchange for a capital sum and further earn-out provision.
UK (Aid) Limited v Mitchell & Ors
[2007] EWHC 1052 (Ch); [2007] EWHC 1940 (Ch)
Mark obtained worldwide freezing injunctions, summary judgment, and committal orders for KPMG liquidators in a complex case arising from a multi-million pound fraud on GlaxoSmithKline. The case was reported in the legal press as an example of its type, setting a precedent on the appropriate penalty for contempt of court for a party in breach of a worldwide freezing order.
Industry Recognition
“Mark fights hard for clients, knows what they want and can see the bigger picture,” as various quotes from Chambers UK over the last decade have revealed; “the way he deals with clients is remarkable, he is extremely impressive.”
Mark “identifies what he wants to achieve on behalf of the client and then takes the steps that need to be taken to do it.” “[He] is “at the very top of his game”; [clients] appreciate his “attention to detail and unswerving commitment to putting his clients in as strong a position as possible. ”
“Sources label Mark Hastings, a “terrific” civil fraud practitioner. He advises on challenging pieces of fraud litigation, often spanning multiple jurisdictions.” Similarly, “He is a very staunch litigator with an encyclopaedic knowledge of the law, who isn’t afraid to roll up his sleeves.”
“His real strengths are his devotion to the case and his good judgment,” while one particular client quote describes Mark’s approach well: “He is a very focused individual, who has great attention to detail. He has relentless determination and is a fearless litigator.”
Chambers UK
Similar recommendations can be seen in the Legal 500, which has praised Mark for being “cool under fire” and “a go-to partner for large-scale litigation.”
“Mark Hastings always impresses,” Legal 500 have noted, as he is “excellent at handling client expectations,” “has incredible energy” and “provides rock-solid advice.”
Legal 500
“Mark Hastings enjoys a fantastic reputation, which is founded on navigating large, complex cases with ease.”
International Who’s Who of Asset Recovery Lawyers
“Hastings is well known for being a tenacious and persistent Rottweiler when it comes to the law, someone who pursues his clients’ interests with an unswerving determination. Yet he manages to combine this with a very personable style – no mean feat.”
The Lawyer, Hot 100
Education and Admissions
Oxford University
(BA (Hons))
City University, London
(Common Professional Examination)
The College of Law, London
(Legal Practice Course)
Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England & Wales
(2002)
Solicitor Advocate
(Higher Rights) (All Courts) (2004)
JOIN US
At Quillon Law, our strategy is about measured growth whilst being recognised as a destination practice of choice, in attracting like-minded practitioners. We aim to create a significant partnership covering all our key practice areas: commercial litigation, fraud and finance disputes, white collar and regulatory disputes, supported by the development of a class-leading approach to development, purpose, responsibility and inclusion across the firm as it grows. If you’d like to find out more about developing a career with us, drop us a line at
careers@quillonlaw.com