James Ruddell

• Hashwah & Ors v Qatar National Bank (QPSC) & Ors (Comm, KB)​​​​
  Acting (with Daniel Toledano KC) for the First Defendant in two sets of substantial proceedings brought by alleged victims of terrorism during the Syrian civil war. The claimants allege a terrorist financing arrangement involving various Qatari officials and institutions, including the First Defendant. The first claim was dismissed on state immunity grounds in 2022 and the second claim remains pending.​
• Skatteforvaltningen v Solo Capital Partners LLP (in administration) & Ors (Comm, EWCA, UKSC)
  Acting (as part of a wider team) for the Danish Tax and Customs Administration in a claim brought against c.100 defendants. The claim is in respect of an alleged conspiracy involving fraudulent withholding tax reclaim applications in the sum of DKK 12 billion (approximately £1.5 billion). James has appeared successfully as sole advocate in interlocutory matters. The case has been described by Foxton J as “one of the largest and most complex pieces of litigation to be heard in the Commercial Court”, and was identified by The Lawyer as a “Top 20 Case” for 2021 and a “Top 10 Appeal” for 2022.
• Maroil Trading Inc & Ors v Cally Shipholdings Inc & Ors (Comm)
  Acting (with Sonia Tolaney KC) for Burford Capital and Daniel Hall (the Third Parties) in complex and high profile proceedings for sums in excess of US$85 million. The Third Parties are alleged to have committed breaches of confidence and made fraudulent misrepresentations. The case is listed for a 9-week trial commencing in January 2024, and was identified by The Lawyer as a “Top 20 Case” for 2022.
• Vale v Steinmetz & Ors (Comm, EWCA)
  Acted (with Sonia Tolaney QC, Sebastian Isaac and Adam Rushworth) for the claimants in substantial (c.US$1.7 billion) civil fraud proceedings arising out of a JV to exploit mining rights in Guinea. The claimants alleged that the licences had been procured by bribery and corruption of Guinean government officials. James appeared successfully in the Court of Appeal defending a summary judgment application and in the Commercial Court obtaining orders for specific disclosure.
• Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation v Barclays & Ors (Comm)
  Acted (with Sonia Tolaney QC, Nehali Shah and Owain Draper) for Deutsche Bank in a claim brought by the FDIC against LIBOR panel banks and the British Bankers’ Association for alleged anti-competitive behaviour, deceit and conspiracy in connection with the alleged “lowballing” of USD LIBOR during the global financial crisis.
• Kian Gwan (Thailand) Plc v Meyer (Comm)
  Acted as sole counsel for the claimants in proceedings brought for repayment of c. £2 million advanced by the claimants under alleged oral loan agreements.
• Simon v Taché (Comm)
  Acted as sole counsel for the defendant art consultants in a claim brought in relation to advisory services for the purchase of valuable artwork. The defendants successfully challenged the jurisdiction of the English court, in an application giving rise to a number of novel legal issues.
• ABB Limited, Seoul v Myung Se Oh & Ors (Comm, QB, Ch)
  Acted as sole counsel for the claimant in proceedings to enforce a c. £42m South Korean judgment in England. The judgment was successfully enforced in Commercial Court proceedings and charging orders and orders for sale were subsequently obtained in the Queen’s Bench and Chancery Divisions.
• A v B (Channel Islands)
  Acted for the claimant in professional negligence proceedings against a “Big 4” auditor for alleged negligence in failing to detect substantial fraud.
• Gens v Goldenberg & Ors (Comm)
  Acted (with Anneliese Day QC) for the claimants in two sets of related proceedings between high net worth Russian businessmen (and their corporate vehicles) seeking the repayment of c. US$150m alleged to be due under oral loan agreements.
• Agrivert Renewables Ltd v Jones & Ors (Comm)
  Acted as sole counsel for the claimant in proceedings concerned with an investment in an organic waste treatment business.
• Capreon (UK) Limited v Winnersh Holdings LP (Comm)
  Acted (with Edmund Nourse QC) for the defendants in a claim for alleged breach of exclusivity and reasonable endeavours obligations in a Heads of Terms regarding the sale and purchase of a business park in Reading. The proceedings were settled shortly before trial.
• Deutsche Bank v Unitech (Comm)
  Acted (with Sonia Tolaney QC and Adam Sher) for Deutsche Bank in a claim to enforce a swap transaction, which is defended on the basis of alleged misrepresentations and/or implied terms as to suitability and LIBOR manipulation.
• Flyington Freighters Ltd v Airbus SAS & Ors (Comm)
  Acted (with Sonia Tolaney QC and Christopher Bond) for Airbus in a $50 million dispute with an Indian freight airline over a sale and purchase agreement for aircraft (settled on the eve of a four-week Commercial Court trial).
• Deutsche Bank v Banca Intermobiliare Di Investimenti E Gestioni SPA (Comm)
  Acted (with Orlando Gledhill QC) for the claimant bank in proceedings seeking payment of fees under an engagement letter.
• Sir Owen Glenn v Watson & Ors (ChD)
  Acted for the Third and Fourth Defendants (led by Anna Boase QC and later as sole counsel) in respect of claims brought in the Chancery Division arising out of a failed c. £125m joint investment venture.  The claims against the Third and Fourth Defendants were based on fraudulent misrepresentation, knowing receipt and tracing.
• Tower Trading Group Ltd v Gaunt (QBD)
  Acted (with David Cavender QC) for the Claimant trading platform provider in claims against former employees and shareholders for breach of a shareholders’ agreement, obligations of confidence and restrictive covenants. James appeared unled at the first CCMC in which there were contested issues regarding disclosure, confidentiality, amendments and costs budgets. The case settled shortly thereafter.
• Kintetsu World Express (UK) Ltd v Jeffery & Ors (QBD)
  Acted (with Jacques Algazy QC and Michael d’Arcy) for the Claimant in a claim against former employees and a competitor for breaches of confidence, contract and restrictive covenants, and for conspiracy following a team move.  (Settled shortly before a 7-day High Court Trial).

• Philipp v Barclays Bank UK Plc (UKSC)
  Acted (with Sonia Tolaney KC) for UK Finance in a Supreme Court appeal concerned with the novel and significant issue of whether a bank’s Quincecare duty applies in the context of authorised push payment fraud. UK Finance is the trade body representing the banking and finance industry in the UK and was given permission to make written and oral submissions as intervener. The case was identified by The Lawyer as a “Top 10 Appeal” for 2023.
• Hashwah & Ors v Qatar National Bank (QPSC) & Ors (Comm, KB)
  Acting (with Daniel Toledano KC) for the First Defendant in two sets of substantial proceedings brought by alleged victims of terrorism in Syria during the Syrian civil war. The claimants allege a terrorist financing arrangement involving various Qatari officials and institutions, including the First Defendant. The first claim was dismissed on state immunity grounds in 2022 and the second claim remains pending.
• VO Nala SARL v CAS Apollon Limited & Ors (Comm)
  Acted (with Sonia Tolaney KC) for the claimant alternative investment vehicle in proceedings regarding the construction and/or rectification of financing agreements relating to the acquisition of two container ships.
• Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation v Barclays & Ors (Comm)
  Acted (with Sonia Tolaney QC, Nehali Shah and Owain Draper) for Deutsche Bank in a claim brought by the FDIC against LIBOR panel banks and the British Bankers’ Association for alleged anti-competitive behaviour, deceit and conspiracy in connection with the alleged “lowballing” of USD LIBOR during the global financial crisis.
• Deutsche Bank v Unitech (Comm)
  Acted (with Sonia Tolaney QC and Adam Sher) for Deutsche Bank in a claim to enforce a swap transaction, which is defended on the basis of alleged misrepresentations and/or implied terms as to suitability and LIBOR manipulation.
• Deutsche Bank v Banca Intermobiliare Di Investimenti E Gestioni SPA (Comm)
  Acted (with Orlando Gledhill QC) for the claimant bank in proceedings seeking payment of fees under an engagement letter.
• Re Lehman Brothers International Europe (in Administration) (Ch)
  Acted (with Sonia Tolaney QC) for Barclays Capital Inc in an application in the LBIE administration regarding client money, statutory interest, set-off and currency issues (total value c. £350m). The matter settled on the morning of a 9-day trial.

• Skatteforvaltningen v Solo Capital Partners LLP (in administration) & Ors (Comm, EWCA, UKSC)
  Acting (as part of a wider team) for the Danish Tax and Customs Administration in a claim brought against c.100 defendants. The claim is in respect of an alleged conspiracy involving fraudulent withholding tax reclaim applications in the sum of DKK 12 billion (approximately £1.5 billion). James has appeared successfully as sole advocate in interlocutory matters. The case has been described by Foxton J as “one of the largest and most complex pieces of litigation to be heard in the Commercial Court”, and was identified by The Lawyer as a “Top 20 Case” for 2021 and a “Top 10 Appeal” for 2022.
• Vale v Steinmetz & Ors (Comm, EWCA)
  Acted (with Sonia Tolaney KC, Sebastian Isaac KC and Adam Rushworth) for the claimants in substantial (c.US$1.7 billion) civil fraud proceedings arising out of a JV to exploit mining rights in Guinea. The claimants alleged that the licences had been procured by bribery and corruption of Guinean government officials. James appeared successfully in the Court of Appeal defending a summary judgment application and in the Commercial Court obtaining orders for specific disclosure.
• Maroil Trading Inc & Ors v Cally Shipholdings Inc & Ors (Comm)
  Acting (with Sonia Tolaney KC) for Burford Capital and Daniel Hall (the Third Parties) in complex and high profile proceedings for sums in excess of US$85 million. The Third Parties are alleged to have committed breaches of confidence and made fraudulent misrepresentations. The case is listed for a 9-week trial commencing in January 2024, and was identified by The Lawyer as a “Top 20 Case” for 2022.

• General Dynamics United Kingdom Limited v The State of Libya (Comm, EWCA, UKSC)
  Acting (with Daniel Toledano KC) for the claimant in proceedings to enforce an arbitral award against Libya. The issue of service under section 12 of the State Immunity Act 1978 went to the Court of Appeal in 2019 and the Supreme Court in 2021, after which a final order for enforcement was made by the Commercial Court in 2022.
• SIAC Proceedings (Singapore seat)
  Acted (with Laurence Rabinowitz QC and others) for an oil and gas company defending a claim for US $5.5bn for alleged fraud and breach of warranty under an SPA.
• UNCITRAL Proceedings (London seat)
  Acted (with Henry Forbes Smith) in an arbitration under the UNCITRAL rules concerning the validity and consequences of termination of a property management agreement.
• LCIA Proceedings
  Acted as sole counsel for a claimant in arbitral proceedings seeking payment of fees due for telecommunication services provided in Iraq and sums due under a settlement agreement.

• SIAC Proceedings (Singapore seat)
  Acted (with Laurence Rabinowitz QC and others) for an oil and gas company defending a claim for $5.5bn for alleged fraud and breach of warranty under an SPA
• Vale v Steinmetz & Ors (Comm, EWCA)
  Acted (with Sonia Tolaney KC, Sebastian Isaac KC and Adam Rushworth) for the claimants in substantial (c.US$1.7 billion) proceedings arising out of a JV to exploit mining rights in Guinea.
• Warren’s and Warren’s Ltd v Timis Mining Corporation Ltd
  Acted as sole counsel for the defendant mining company, defending a claim for sums due under a consultancy agreement relating to a mine in Sierra Leone. Successfully contested jurisdiction and had the claim struck out.

• Re Lehman Brothers International Europe (in Administration) (Ch)
  Acted (with Sonia Tolaney KC) for Barclays Capital Inc in an application in the LBIE administration regarding client money, statutory interest, set-off and currency issues (total value c. £350m). The matter settled on the morning of a 9-day trial.
• Advised and appeared on behalf of creditors and debtors in respect of applications to set aside statutory demands.

• Tower Trading Group Ltd v Gaunt (QB)
  Acted (with David Cavender QC) for the Claimant trading platform provider  in claims against former employees and shareholders for breach of a shareholders’ agreement, obligations of confidence and restrictive covenants. James appeared unled at the first CCMC in which there were contested issues regarding disclosure, confidentiality, amendments and costs budgets.
• Kintetsu World Express (UK) Ltd v Jeffery & Ors
  Acted for the Claimant (with Jacques Algazy QC and Michael D’Arcy) in a claim against former employees and a competitor for breaches of confidence, contract and restrictive covenants, and for conspiracy following a team move. The matter settled shortly before the start of what was listed as a 7 day High Court Trial.
• Gamatronic v Hamilton
  Assisted (during pupillage) Anna Boase with a claim against former directors and shareholders for breach of directors’ duties, employment contracts and restrictive covenants, for rescission of a share purchase agreement and for restitution in relation to payments made to HMRC. Included assisting with the 7-day High Court trial, the PTR and an application for an unless order.

James regularly acts as sole counsel in High Court and County Court litigation and has both trial and interlocutory advocacy experience.    

• Simon v Taché (Comm)
  Appeared successfully as sole counsel for the defendants in a substantial application challenging the jurisdiction of the English court.
• Skatteforvaltningen v Solo Capital Partners LLP (in administration) & Ors (Comm)
  Appeared successfully as sole counsel for the claimant Danish Tax and Customs Administration in an application concerning c.£13.1m held in Court, which was subject to the claimant’s proprietary claim but which was sought by the lead defendant group for the payment of their legal expenses.
• ABB Limited, Seoul v Myung Se Oh & Ors (Comm, QB, Ch)
  Acted as sole counsel for the claimant in proceedings to enforce a c. £42m South Korean judgment in England. The judgment was successfully enforced in Commercial Court proceedings and charging orders and orders for sale were subsequently obtained in the Queen’s Bench and Chancery Divisions.
• Stroud & Burley Consultancy (A Firm) v Court Properties Ltd
  Appeared successfully as sole counsel for the claimant in a 2-day trial of a claim for the recovery of professional fees (design and associated works in respect of a proposed Marina in Surrey) and a counterclaim based on fraudulent misrepresentation and breach of contract.
• Warren’s and Warren’s Ltd v Timis Mining Corporation Ltd
  Appeared as sole counsel for a mining corporation successfully contesting jurisdiction and striking out a claim made for consultancy fees in relation to a Sierra Leone mine.