Our Team

Notable Representations

Ziyavudin Magomedov & Ors v TPG Group Holdings (SBS) LP & Ors

[2025] EWHC 59 (Comm)

Mark successfully defended FESCO – the largest transportation company in Russia – against a USD 13.8 billion conspiracy claim brought by Russian businessman Ziyavudin Magomedov and nine affiliated companies. The case, which was one of the largest ever brought in the English courts, involved applications for freezing and notification orders, as well as a three week application to challenge the jurisdiction of the English courts. FESCO’s jurisdiction challenge was successful on all grounds and it was awarded its costs on the indemnity basis.

Filatona Trading Limited and Oleg Deripaska v Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan UK LLP

[2024] EWHC 2573 (Comm)

Mark successfully represented Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska and his company Filatona in obtaining Norwich Pharmacal relief against law firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan. The Deripaska parties sought to determine the identity of a business intelligence consultancy which supplied a forged document (the Glavstroy Report) intended to deceive the court in a dispute with business rival Vladimir Chernukhin. This judgment is of particular significance in relation to what information can attract legal privilege and the extent to which Norwich Pharmacal relief can be obtained against solicitors.

Navigator Equities Limited and Chernukhin v Deripaska

[2024] EWCA Civ 268; [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 Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed the claimants’ appeal. The case raised important issues of Russian and Jersey law.

Maroil Trading Inc. v Cally Shipholdings Inc.

[2020] EWHC 3041 (Comm); [2019] EWHC 2949

Mark acted 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, which settled on confidential terms, 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. The proceedings involved applications for freezing and proprietary injunctions.

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.