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Andrew is not just bright but he is wise; he has that bigger picture perspective. Chambers UK Bar 2024
Andrew is a pleasure to work with. He is very good with clients, gives clear and robust advice, and is good on strategy and great on commerciality. Legal 500 UK Bar 2024
Corporate
  • Takeovers and M&A
  • Meetings and resolutions
  • Construction and drafting of constitutional documents
  •  Schemes of arrangement
  • Corporate reorganisations
  • Directors’ disqualification
  • Corporate governance
  • Shareholders rights

Andrew acts and advises in relation to all aspects of corporate law, both in litigation and in the transactional/ advisory context.

He advises on all matters of company law, frequently in relation to takeovers and M&A, shareholder rights, board appointments and removals, returns of capital, financial assistance and the conduct of general meetings and board meetings.

Examples of his recent and current contentious work include:

Re Jardine Strategic Holdings Ltd – acting for Jardine Strategic in ongoing merger appraisal proceedings in Bermuda arising from an amalgamation within the Hong Kong based Jardine Matheson Group (instructed by Linklaters; led by Jonathan Crow KC and Martin Moore KC).

1Globe Capital LLC v Sinovac Biotech Ltd – acting for Sinovac, the Chinese biopharma company, in an appeal to the Privy Council concerning an attempt to take control of its board through an alleged AGM ambush (instructed by Latham & Watkins; led by James Potts KC).

SOSBEIS v Adam and others – acting for a former finance director of Carillion in the largest and most complex disqualification proceedings ever brought (led by James Potts KC).

Re Northstar Financial Services (Bermuda) Ltd, Re Omnia Ltd, Re PB Life and Annuity Co Ltd – acting for the joint provisional liquidators of several insurers/financial services providers. Proceedings arising to date have concerned amongst other things, Bermuda’s Segregated Accounts Companies Act 2000 and its Insurance Act 1978 (led by Michael Todd KC).

Zavarco plc v Sidhu [2022] EWCA Civ 1040 – acted (on appeal only) for the successful respondent to an appeal concerning a member’s liability to pay up EUR 84 million of subscriber shares in a PLC in cash (led by Patrick Lawrence KC).

Kulkarni v Gwent Holdings Ltd [2022] EWHC 1368 (Ch) – acted for the successful company in resisting a summary judgment application concerning estoppel by deed in the context of an alleged allotment of shares (led by Andrew Thompson KC).

Re William Hill Plc [2021] EWHC 967 – acted for the objectors in the contested scheme for the takeover of William Hill by Ceasars Entertainment Inc (led by David Chivers KC).

Re Profile Partners Ltd [2020] EWHC 1473 (Ch) – acted in a complex shareholder dispute concerning an international sports media rights business headquartered in Germany, including in obtaining injunctive relief (as sole counsel, and led by James Potts KC).

Re Rockrose Energy Plc [2020] EWHC 2496 – acted for the objectors in the contested scheme for the takeover of Rockrose Energy Plc (instructed by Allen & Overy; led by Martin Moore KC).

Re Hollysys Automation Technologies Ltd – acted for the NASDAQ-listed company in resisting a challenge to amendments introduced to its articles in the context of a contested takeover bid (instructed by Latham & Watkins; led by Michael Todd KC).

Kaye v Oxford House [2019] EWHC 2181 – sole counsel for the successful claimants in challenging the chairman’s conduct of a requisitioned meeting.

TGL Group Ltd v Wojakovski [2019] EWHC 857 – acted for the successful applicants in obtaining permission to pursue derivative claims against a former managing director in the context of a complex, cross-border corporate group structure (led by Michael Todd KC).

TPD Investments [2017] EWHC 657 – acted in the trial of unfair prejudice proceedings and a linked Part 7 Claim in relation to the affairs of a company owning two of the largest hotels in the UK (led by Michael Todd KC).

SABMiller – acted in relation to the acquisition of SABMiller by Anheuser-Busch (led by Andrew Thompson KC).

Chagala Group Ltd – acted for the AIM-listed company in BVI proceedings concerning an alleged concert party takeover attempt and allegations of misuse of fiduciary powers (led by Michael Todd KC).

Shortly after commencing his tenancy at Erskine Chambers, Andrew spent time on secondment to corporate teams at Slaughter & May and Baker McKenzie.

Litigation & Arbitration
  •  Corporate disputes
  • Shareholder disputes and unfair prejudice
  • Joint venture disputes
  • Directors’ duties
  • Directors’ disqualifications
  • Warranties and indemnities
  • Civil fraud and asset recovery
  • Interim remedies

Examples of Andrew’s recent and current litigation and arbitration work include:

Re Jardine Strategic Holdings Ltd – acting for Jardine Strategic in ongoing merger appraisal proceedings in Bermuda arising from an amalgamation within the Hong Kong based Jardine Matheson Group (instructed by Linklaters; led by Jonathan Crow KC and Martin Moore KC).

1Globe Capital LLC v Sinovac Biotech Ltd – acting for Sinovac, the Chinese biopharma company, in an appeal to the Privy Council concerning an attempt to take control of its board through an alleged AGM ambush (instructed by Latham & Watkins; led by James Potts KC).

SOSBEIS v Adam and others – acting for a former finance director of Carillion in the largest and most complex disqualification proceedings ever brought (led by James Potts KC).

Zavarco plc v Sidhu [2022] EWCA Civ 1040 – acted (on appeal only) for the successful respondent to an appeal concerning a member’s liability to pay up EUR 84 million of subscriber shares in a PLC in cash (led by Patrick Lawrence KC).

Kulkarni v Gwent Holdings Ltd [2022] EWHC 1368 (Ch) – acted for the successful company in resisting a summary judgment application concerning estoppel by deed in the context of an alleged allotment of shares (led by Andrew Thompson KC).

Re Profile Partners Ltd [2020] EWHC 1473 (Ch) – acted in a complex shareholder dispute concerning an international sports media rights business headquartered in Germany, including in obtaining injunctive relief (as sole counsel, and led by James Potts KC).

Re Hollysys Automation Technologies Ltd – acted for the NASDAQ-listed company in resisting a challenge to amendments introduced to its articles in the context of a contested takeover bid (led by Michael Todd KC).

WWRT Ltd v Tyshchenko & Anor – acted for the successful claimant in obtaining ex parte worldwide freezing relief (upheld on the return date) against the former Chairman of a defrauded Ukrainian bank (led by Michael Todd KC and Ben Griffiths).

TGL Group Ltd v Wojakovski [2019] EWHC 857 – acted for the successful applicants in obtaining permission to pursue derivative claims against a former managing director in the context of a complex, cross-border corporate group structure (with Michael Todd KC).

TPD Investments Ltd [2017] EWHC 657 – acted in the trial of unfair prejudice proceedings and a linked Part 7 Claim in relation to the affairs of a company owning two of the largest hotels in the UK (with Michael Todd KC)

First Names v IFG [2017] EWHC 3014 – sole counsel for the successful claimants in the commercial court trial of a multi-million pound SPA indemnity claim involving matters of Jersey law.

JSC BTA Bank v Ablyazov – acted on behalf of the Claimant in relation to various asset recovery applications in the JSC BTA Bank v Ablyazov litigation (led by Tim Akkouh).

Chagala Group Ltd – acted in BVI proceedings concerning an alleged concert party takeover attempt and allegations of misuse of fiduciary powers (led by Michael Todd KC).

Confidential arbitrations, including in respect of a several hundred million dollar, cross-border joint venture.

Applications (as sole counsel) for ex parte interim relief, including freezing and proprietary injunctions

Restructuring & Insolvency
  • Restructuring
  • Schemes of arrangement
  • Contentious insolvency (including cross-border issues)
  • Winding-up proceedings
  • Administration proceedings
  • Pensions/ moral hazards

Examples of Andrew’s recent and current restructuring and insolvency work include:

SOSBEIS v Adam and others – acting for a former finance director of Carillion in the largest and most complex disqualification proceedings ever brought (led by James Potts KC).

Re Northstar Financial Services (Bermuda) Ltd, Re Omnia Ltd, Re PB Life and Annuity Co Ltd – acting for the joint provisional liquidators of several insurers/financial services providers. Proceedings arising to date have concerned amongst other things, Bermuda’s Segregated Accounts Companies Act 2000 and its Insurance Act 1978 (led by Michael Todd KC).

Ocean Rig – acted (with Michael Todd KC) for the opposing creditors in the complex Cayman Islands restructuring of £3.7bn of debt by way of interdependent schemes of arrangement (led by Michael Todd KC).

MedRe – acted on the urgent application for the appointment of administrators in respect of a reinsurance company and on subsequent freezing injunction and fraud proceedings (led by Peter Arden KC).

International & Offshore

Andrew has a substantial international and offshore practice. He is the most junior barrister to hold a Tier 1 Offshore ranking in Legal 500.

Andrew is called to the Bar of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court and is very familiar with the companies legislation and procedural rules of Bermuda, the BVI and the Cayman Islands. In addition to those jurisdictions, he has recently been instructed in proceedings in Antigua & Barbuda, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey and Singapore.

Examples of his recent work include:

Re Jardine Strategic Holdings Ltd –  acting for Jardine Strategic in ongoing merger appraisal proceedings in Bermuda arising from an amalgamation within the Hong Kong based Jardine Matheson Group (instructed by Linklaters; led by Jonathan Crow KC and Martin Moore KC).

1Globe Capital LLC v Sinovac Biotech Ltd – acting for Sinovac, the Chinese biopharma company, in an appeal to the Privy Council concerning an attempt to take control of its board through an alleged AGM ambush (instructed by Latham & Watkins; led by James Potts KC).

Re Northstar Financial Services (Bermuda) Ltd, Re Omnia Ltd, Re PB Life and Annuity Co Ltd – acting for the joint provisional liquidators of several insurers/financial services providers. Proceedings arising to date have concerned amongst other things, Bermuda’s Segregated Accounts Companies Act 2000 and its Insurance Act 1978 (led by Michael Todd KC).

Re Hollysys Automation Technologies Ltd – acted for the NASDAQ-listed company in resisting a challenge to amendments introduced to its articles in the context of a contested takeover bid (instructed by Latham & Watkins; led by Michael Todd KC).

Ocean Rig – acted for the opposing creditors in the complex Cayman Islands restructuring of £3.7bn of debt by way of interdependent schemes of arrangement (led by Michael Todd KC).

Chagala Group Ltd – acted in BVI proceedings concerning an alleged concert party takeover attempt and allegations of misuse of fiduciary powers (led by Michael Todd KC).

In early 2015, Andrew spent 3 months on secondment with Solomon Harris in the Cayman Islands, where he worked on a number of contentious and non-contentious insolvency matters relating to the liquidations of Bear Stearns, Weavering Capital and Caledonian Bank

Memberships & Publications

Chancery Bar Association

COMBAR

Contributor to FromCounsel

“Restructuring debt in the COVID-19 pandemic: class composition in creditors’ schemes” (with Michael Todd QC), Butterworths Journal of International Banking and Financial Law, March 2021

“Strangling the golden goose – why English law needs reform” (with Nigel Boardman and James Shirbin), Legal Business (2015)

Education & Awards 

Education

2007 – 2010: BA Law, Worcester College, Oxford (First Class; ranked 1st of 223 in Law Moderations)

2010 – 2011: Bachelor of Civil Law, Worcester College, Oxford (Distinction)

2011 – 2012: BPTC, BPP Holborn (Very Competent)

Andrew was a lecturer in contract law at the University of Oxford (Worcester College and University College) between 2012 and 2013.

 

Prizes and Scholarships

The Sweet and Maxwell Prize (best performance in Oxford University in law Moderations)
The Andrew Dixon Scholarship (best performance in Worcester College in Law Moderations)
The Ogilvie Thompson Scholarship (all round contribution to Worcester College)
Arts and Humanities Research Council full grant for the Bachelor of Civil Law
The Bruce Reynolds Prize (best Bachelor of Civil Law performance in Worcester College)
Lord Denning Scholarship (Lincoln’s Inn Award)
Hardwicke Entrance Scholarship (Lincoln’s Inn Award)

Recognition

Andrew has the highest ranking for his year of call in both Offshore (Legal 500 – Tier 1) and Company (Chambers and Partners). He was shortlisted for Company/Insolvency Junior of the year at the 2023 Chambers UK Bar Awards.

Ranked in Legal 500 2024  English Bar Offshore –  Tier 1

Ranked in Legal 500 2024 – Company Law and Commercial Litigation.

Ranked in Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2024 – Company and Offshore.

“Incredibly smart whilst also managing to be very practical and user-friendly.”

“Extremely bright, focused and practical in his approach.”

“A good advocate and a team player who provides well thought-through advice.”

“A strong, commercially aware junior with good drafting skills.”

“A very calm, even-tempered individual.”

“Andrew is very calm and knows his subject matter well.”

 

Webinar

10@12 Webinar: Injunctions and Corporate Transactions

 

Ranked in

Legal 500 2024 –
Company,The English Bar Offshore, Commercial Litigation

Chambers and Partners UK Bar 2024 –
Company, Offshore

News

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The Lawyer Top 20 Cases of 2023
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SUFFICIENT CONNECTIONS? ACCESSING THE COURT’S SCHEME JURISDICTION UNDER PART 26 CA 2006
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THE ISSUES FOR DETERMINATION AT A CONVENING HEARING
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