Gideon Cohen
Barrister
Call 2010
Gideon undertakes a broad range of commercial work. He has a particular interest in arbitration, and has acted in a significant number of major international commercial arbitrations. He also has experience of substantial litigation before the High Court and Court of Appeal, and was instructed by British Airways in the ‘air cargo’ litigation.
Current / recent cases include:
- Phones 4U Ltd (in administration) v EE Limited & Ors
For the Claimant in an Article 101 TFEU claim against EE, Vodafone and O2 and their parent companies arising from alleged cartel conduct between those companies that caused the claimant to cease trading.- UNCITRAL Proceedings
For a Defendant (with Michael Sullivan QC and Hannah Brown QC) in a shareholder dispute in a large mining company.
- UNCITRAL Proceedings
- Acting for a Dutch social housing association in a claim arising out of losses incurred in derivatives trading by a treasurer who was taking bribes
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Examples of Recent Cases
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Arbitration
- UNCITRAL Proceedings
For a Defendant (with Michael Sullivan QC and Hannah Brown QC) in a shareholder dispute in a large mining company. - LCIA Proceedings
For the Defendant (with Alex Gunning QC) in a dispute concerning a coal mining contract. - Ad hoc proceedings
For the Defendant (with David Wolfson QC) in a large breach of warranty claim arising from the sale of a business. - LCIA Proceedings
For a Defendant (with David Wolfson QC and Richard Mott) in a dispute concerning a number of multi-billion dollar transactions entered into by one of the world’s largest Aluminium companies. - Ad Hoc Proceedings
For the Claimant (with Laurence Rabinowitz QC, Neil Kitchener QC, Jane McCafferty and Andrew Edge) in arbitral and associated Commercial Court proceedings concerning alleged breaches of duty by a partner and employees in a major asset management firm. - LCIA Proceedings
For the Defendants (with David Wolfson QC) in a substantial action brought against foreign entities by a major fashion company. - Ad Hoc Proceedings
For the Claimant major pharmaceutical company (with Alain Choo Choy QC) in a substantial action against a supplier.
- UNCITRAL Proceedings
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Commercial Litigation
- Phones 4U Ltd (in administration) v EE Limited & Ors
For the Claimant in an Article 101 TFEU claim against EE, Vodafone and O2 and their parent companies arising from alleged cartel conduct between those companies that caused the claimant to cease trading. - Tchenguiz v Grant Thornton and Others
For Vincent Tchenguiz (with David Cavender QC and Jonathan Crystal) in a high-profile proceedings arising out of a dispute between the Tchenguiz brothers and, amongst others, the SFO. - Emerald Supplies Limited & Anr v. BA Plc; La Guitana Farms SA & Ors v. BA Plc
For a major international airline (with Jon Turner QC, Conall Patton QC and Michael Armitage), in Chancery Division proceedings defending substantial economic tort and follow-on competition law claims brought by over 500 claimants. Successfully applied to strike out a large part of this claim in [2015] EWCA Civ 1024. - Bao Xiang International Garment Centre & Anr v. BA Plc [2015] EWHC 3071
For a major international airline (with Ken MacLean QC), in a successful application to strike out a claim brought by approximately 65,000 Chinese claimants. The claim was struck out for want of authority and/or as an abuse of process. - ITV Services Ltd v. HMRC [2013] EWCA Civ 867; [2013] BTC 633; [2013] STI 2563
For HMRC (with Malcolm Gammie QC) in Court of Appeal proceedings concerning the construction (and tax consequences) of various clauses in a number of actors’ contracts. - Adept Care & Education Ltd v. Clark
For Claimant company (with Ben Strong) in Mercantile Court proceedings, which ultimately settled, arising out of alleged breaches of an exclusivity clause in Heads of Terms for a proposed acquisition. - For the Claimant (with Daniel Toledano QC) in a claim for specific performance of a contract to purchase an insurance syndicate.
- Instructed by a recruitment agency in a claim for an introduction fee.
- Phones 4U Ltd (in administration) v EE Limited & Ors
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Banking and Financial Services
- Acting for a Dutch social housing association in a claim arising out of losses incurred in derivatives trading by a treasurer who was taking bribes
- Advised on potential counterclaims arising in a complex piece of property-related litigation.
- Acting (with Edmund Nourse QC) in a claim under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 involving large commercial loans
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Company and Insolvency
- Acted (with Stephen Auld QC) in an unfair prejudice petition against a large media company.
- Acted (with Neil Kitchener QC) in a substantial dispute arising from allegations against directors in a FTSE 250 company.
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Competition
- Phones 4U Ltd (in administration) v EE Limited & Ors. For the Claimant in an Article 101 TFEU claim against EE, Vodafone and O2 and their parent companies arising from alleged cartel conduct between those companies that caused the claimant to cease trading.
- Emerald Supplies Limited & Anr v. BA Plc; La Guitana Farms SA & Ors v. BA Plc For a major international airline (with Jon Turner QC, Conall Patton QC and Michael Armitage), in Chancery Division proceedings defending substantial economic tort and follow-on competition law claims brought by over 500 claimants. Successfully applied to strike out a large part of this claim in [2015] EWCA Civ 1024.
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Energy and Natural Resources
- Acted (with Lord Grabiner QC) in an application arising from injunctions granted against an oil company.
- Haven Power Ltd v. Thorne
For the utilities company in County Court proceedings recovering money owed under a deemed electricity contract. - Acorn Geophysical Services Ltd & Anr v. Bligh
For Defendant (with Michael Fealy) in Chancery Division proceedings alleging contractual and fiduciary claims against a director.
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Education
University of Cambridge, Jesus College: BA (Hons) Double First in English (Part I) and Law (Part II, graduated with top First in year) [2005–2009]
Harvard Law School: LLM (Kennedy Scholar) [2010–2011]
BPP Law School: BVC (Very Competent) [2009–2010] -
Academic Achievements
Kennedy Memorial Scholar, Harvard Law School [2010 – 2011]
Winner, Slaughter & May Prize for top First in year, Part II (University of Cambridge) [2009]
Winner, 3 Verulam Buildings Prize for top mark in Equity (University of Cambridge) [2009]
Winner, Glanville Williams Prize for top mark in Criminal Law (University of Cambridge) [2009]
Winner, Benefactor’s (2004) Prize (Jesus College, Cambridge) [2009]
Winner, Russell Vick Prize for Law (Jesus College, Cambridge) [2009]
Winner, College Prize for English, Part I (Jesus College, Cambridge) [2007]
Foundation Scholar (Jesus College, Cambridge) [2007, 2009]
Winner, College Moot (Jesus College, Cambridge) [2008]
Winner, Jesus College-Magdalene College Exhibition Moot [2008]
Queen Mother Scholar (Middle Temple) [2009-2010]
Harmsworth Entrance Exhibitioner (Middle Temple) [2009]