Katherine Boucher
Barrister
Call 2021
Katherine has a broad commercial litigation and arbitration practice encompassing civil fraud, banking, finance and cryptoasset disputes. She is comfortable working in counsel teams or alone and has appeared as sole counsel in the High Court and County Courts.
Katherine is experienced in cross-jurisdictional litigation, being instructed in cases in the ADGM and before international arbitration tribunals, including the LCIA and the ICC. A large part of Katherine’s work involves civil fraud. She is currently instructed in BNP Paribas Trust Corporation v Uro Property Holdings, acting for the Defendant in proceedings involving £250million allegedly due under a suite of financing documents, as well as Various Claimants v Serco Group Plc [2023] EWHC 119 (Ch), a claim under s.90A of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 for the publication of misleading information and one of The Lawyer’s Top 20 cases of 2024. She was also instructed in NMC Healthcare v Dubai Islamic Bank [2023] ADGMCFI 0017 and ADGMCFI 0020 representing Dubai Islamic Bank in a large finance dispute involving complex fraud claims.
Katherine holds a first class degree from Jesus College, Cambridge and received a number of academic scholarships and awards for academic performance. After leaving Cambridge, Katherine converted to law at City, University of London, where she was invited back as a Visiting Lecturer to teach public law and received top scholarships from Gray’s Inn.
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Examples of Recent Cases
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Civil Fraud
- Various Claimants v Serco Group Plc [2023] EWHC 119 (Ch) (2022 – ongoing) – Acting for investors bringing claims under s. 90A of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 for the publication of misleading information. Led by Andrew Onslow KC. The case was one of The Lawyer’s Top 20 Cases of 2024.
- Various Claimants v G4S Ltd (formerly G4S Plc), Commercial Court (2022 – 2023) – Acting for investors bringing claims under s. 90A of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 for the publication of misleading information. Led by Andrew Onslow KC.
- Acting for the defendant in a dispute concerning matched principal brokerage services and claims in contract, deceit, misrepresentation and conspiracy (led by Farhaz Khan KC and Kate Holderness).
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Commercial Litigation and Arbitration
- GAFTA Arbitration (2023 – ongoing) – Instructed as sole counsel to defend against a $2.6m claim for damages for breach of a sale and purchase agreement with a counterclaim for restitution.
- Pearson & Ors v Harpin [2023] EWHC 3274 (KB) (2023 – ongoing) – Instructed as sole counsel through to represent the defendant in a claim for declaratory and injunctive relief.
- ICC Arbitration (2022) – Acting for a leading Central European food manufacturer in €37m breach of tax warranty claim under share purchase agreement. Led by Will Day.
- Arbitration Secretary to Christopher Harris KC (2022 – ongoing) – Assisting Christopher Harris KC as Secretary to the Tribunal in a Zurich-seated arbitration under the Swiss Rules and applying Swiss law.
- Anon (2022) Instructed as sole counsel to advise on various claims in the DIFC involving restitution and breach of contract.
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Banking and Financial Services
- BNP Paribas Trust Corporation v Uro Property Holdings
Acting for the Defendant (with Kenneth MacLean KC and James MacDonald KC) in ongoing proceedings in which the Claimant claims over €250 million as allegedly due under a suite of financing documents. - NMC Healthcare v Dubai Islamic Bank [2023] ADGMCFI 0017 and ADGMCFI 0020 – Acting for Dubai Islamic Bank in a $400m Islamic financing dispute in the Abu Dhabi Global Markets Court arising from the NMC Healthcare fraud. Led by Ewan McQuater KC and David Quest KC.
- LCIA Arbitration (2022-2024) – acting for two leading Middle Eastern banks in a $500m dispute concerning security arrangements for sharia-compliant financings.
- BNP Paribas Trust Corporation v Uro Property Holdings
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Cryptoassets
- Anon Acting for investors bringing claims to recover sums subject to a cryptoasset fraud. Led by Chloë Bell.
- Advising on a series of disputes relating to the issue of a cryptocurrency, including allegations of fraudulent misrepresentation (LCIA Rules; as a pupil with Ali Malek KC and Chris Bond).
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Insolvency and Restructuring
- Re: OVH PC Ltd Successfully opposed winding up petitions in respect of OVH PC Ltd.
- Anon Advising the joint liquidators of a public company on whether sums paid by them to a subsidiary are held on trust in favour of a debtor. Led by Matthew Watson.
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Awards
- Prince of Wales Scholarship, Gray’s Inn, 2020
- Anne Ebsworth Scholarship, Gray’s Inn, 2018
- Academic Scholarship, Jesus College, Cambridge, 2018
- Academic Scholarship, Jesus College, Cambridge, 2017