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Litigation & Arbitration

Seamus is a highly experienced litigator, including in trials, both from his years of practice in New Zealand and from during his time at chambers. Seamus accepts instructions to act in disputes in all chambers’ areas of expertise in company, insolvency and commercial law.

His litigation experience since joining chambers has included:

  • Acting (with James Potts KC) for the successful defendant in a large High Court fraudulent misrepresentation trial relating to a business acquisition transaction in Saxby v UDG Healthcare (UK) Holdings Ltd [2021] EWHC 144 (Ch);
  • Appearing both led and unled in numerous High Court and County Court hearings at all stages of proceedings, from applications to set aside default judgments and case management conferences through to various applications for enforcement;
  • Acting (with Martin Moore KC) on three large concurrent solvent schemes of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006 in 2021 and on a further similar scheme in 2022, the latter also alongside an application to amend the terms of an insurance business transfer scheme made under Part VII of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000;
  • Acting and advising both led and unled at the pre‑action stage and in drafting pleadings in a range of disputes across all chambers’ areas of expertise, including shareholder disputes, unfair prejudice petitions and commercial/contractual disputes;
  • Researching and advising in relation to a wide range of potential causes of action or exposure to potential causes of action, including for contractual claims, for claims in tort such as the economic torts and misfeasance in a public office, for civil fraud and asset recovery and for breaches of trust and other equity‑related claims, as well as in relation to various procedural and limitation issues;
  • Acting (with Michael Todd KC and Andrew Blake) on aspects of a large, high‑profile Bermuda claim involving allegations of breach of confidence and the misuse of trade secrets, including advising in respect of disclosure/discovery and privilege issues; and
  • Assisting Martin Moore KC and Andrew Blake (led by Jonathan Crow KC) in acting for the company in ongoing merger appraisal proceedings in Bermuda arising from an amalgamation of entities within a large corporate group.

Seamus also accepts instructions to act or assist in relation to all forms of alternative dispute resolution, including arbitration and mediation.

Corporate

Seamus accepts instructions in relation to all aspects of corporate/company law and the fields of law and practice related to it. He accepts instructions to act either on his own or as part of a team and both in litigation/disputes and in the corporate advisory or transactional context.

Examples of Seamus’s experience in this area include:

  • Shareholder disputes and unfair prejudice petitions – including advising and drafting correspondence pre‑action, pleadings and procedural aspects and hearings.
  • Acting (with Martin Moore KC) on three large concurrent solvent schemes of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006 in 2021 and on a further similar scheme in 2022, the latter also alongside an application to amend the terms of an insurance business transfer scheme made under Part VII of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.
  • Rectifications of the register at Companies House, including in relation to charges.
  • Rectifications of registers of members.
  • Company restoration and applications for vesting orders.
  • Drafting (with David Chivers KC) a proposed update to the Premier League’s Owners’ and Directors’ Test for Amnesty International UK along with a commentary explaining the basis for the proposal in the modern corporate governance context.
  • Advising in relation to the interpretation and drafting of constitutional documents, shareholders’ agreements and transactional documents, including share purchase agreements.
  • Advising in relation to a wide range of corporate/company law matters, including in relation to distributions, the duties of directors and a company’s ability to make calls on shares (and, during pupillage, assisting in relation to advice on matters including financial assistance and reductions of capital).
  • Advising in relation to contractual interpretation and, where applicable, the likely legal and practical consequences of various possible constructions.
  • Advising in relation to the interpretation and effect of jurisdiction agreements and the applicable conflict of laws principles.
Restructuring & Insolvency

Seamus accepts instructions in relation to all aspects of restructuring and insolvency law and the fields of law and practice related to it. He accepts instructions to act either on his own or as part of a team and both in litigation/disputes and in the advisory or transactional context.

Examples of Seamus’s experience in this area include:

  • Acting in various applications for and against office‑holders seeking the Court’s assistance in the course of insolvency proceedings, including conducting oral examinations held pursuant to s 236 of the Insolvency Act 1986.
  • Advising in relation to the conduct and strategy of company liquidations, including as to the pursuit of various potential claims.
  • Acting (with Martin Moore KC) on three large concurrent solvent schemes of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006 in 2021 and on a further similar scheme in 2022, the latter also alongside an application to amend the terms of an insurance business transfer scheme made under Part VII of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.
  • Advising directors and former directors of companies in or potentially about to enter insolvency proceedings in relation to potential claims by the insolvency office‑holders, including in respect of the duties of directors, wrongful trading and transaction avoidance (and, during pupillage, assisting in relation to advice on matters including the application of the solvency test).
  • Advising in relation to the operation of insolvency administration orders.
  • Advising in relation to the legislative provisions preventing the use of “phoenix” companies.
  • Acting and advising in relation to a disputed statutory demand of an individual.
  • Company winding‑up petitions – acting and advising on all aspects, both for petitioners and for companies, including in relation to:
    • disputed petitions; and
    • the jurisdiction to bring petitions and the applicable principles where there are or may be cross‑border aspects.
International & Offshore

Seamus accepts instructions to act in a wide range of international and offshore jurisdictions. He accepts instructions to act either on his own or as part of a team and both in litigation/disputes and in the advisory or transactional context.

Examples of Seamus’s experience in this area include:

  • Acting (with Michael Todd KC and Andrew Blake) on aspects of a large, high‑profile Bermuda claim involving allegations of breach of confidence and the misuse of trade secrets, including advising in respect of disclosure/discovery and privilege issues.
  • Assisting Martin Moore KC and Andrew Blake (led by Jonathan Crow KC) in acting for the company in ongoing merger appraisal proceedings in Bermuda arising from an amalgamation of entities within a large corporate group.
Education & Awards

Education

Master of Law (First) – Gonville & Caius College, University of Cambridge, 2018

Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) – University of Canterbury,
New Zealand, 2012

Prizes and Scholarships

Universities New Zealand William Georgetti Scholarship for postgraduate study – 2017

New Zealand Law Foundation Cleary Memorial Prize for most promising young lawyer – 2014

Gold Medal for graduating first in year in law at the University of Canterbury, as well as a range of subject prizes (including Company Law and Trial Advocacy) – 2008–2012

Winner of the University of Canterbury Mooting and Negotiation Competitions – 2011

Dux and Head Boy of Paraparaumu College, New Zealand – 2007

Memberships & Publications

Chancery Bar Association

COMBAR

Contributor to FromCounsel

Practical Law: author of current “Creditor’s petition to wind up a company: case study” and “Creditor’s winding up petition: procedure”

Enrolled Barrister & Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand

“Patents, PVRs and Pragmatism: Giving Effect to Wai 262” (2013) 19 Canterbury Law Review 97 (published Honours dissertation)

Webinar

10@12 Webinar : Warranties In Business Sales

 

News

THE PREMIER LEAGUE OWNERS’ AND DIRECTORS’ TEST AND INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS UPDATE – DAVID CHIVERS KC AND SEAMUS WOODS
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Saxby v UDG Healthcare (UK) Holdings Ltd [2021] EWHC 144 (Ch)
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The Premier League Owners’ and Directors’ Test and international human rights – David Chivers QC and Seamus Woods draft proposed changes for Amnesty International UK
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