Jeffrey Chapman QC
Call date
1989
Silk date
2010
Practice Areas
Commercial litigation including in particular:
- Banking;
- International Arbitration;
- Civil Fraud
- Insurance/Reinsurance;
- Professional Negligence
- Sport
Summary of Practice:
Jeffrey Chapman QC is a junior silk with extensive experience in all kinds of commercial litigation in particular complex multi-jurisdictional disputes. He is rated in Chambers UK 2012 in Banking and Finance, Commercial Dispute Resolution and Civil Fraud as well as in the Legal 500. Comments from Chambers UK include:
“Impresses both on paper and in court”
“A very hard working advocate who is excellent with clients.”
“Always accommodating and ready to assist even when he has got more than enough on his plate.”
“A great man to have on your side when the going gets tough.”
“Clear, clever and someone whom clients quickly warm to.”
Commercial Litigation
R (Leyton Orient FC) v Newham BC and others: Represented Orient in challenge to appoint West Ham as preferred bidder for the Olympic Stadium. Challenged as an unlawful State Aid. Preferred bid withdrawn a week before the substantive hearing was due to take place in October 2011.
Deutsche Bank AG v. Tongkah Harbour PCL and Tungkum Ltd: Acting for defendants in claims by Deutsche Bank arising out of a $35 million structured finance facility in complex inter-connected Commercial Court and LCIA proceedings. In August 2011, Tungkum Ltd successfully obtained a stay under Section 9 of the Arbitration Act 1996 in the Commercial Court: [2011] EWHC 2251 QBD (Comm) (Blair J.)
Proteus Property Partners Ltd v. South African Opportunities Plc: Acted for successful Claimant offshore investment manager, seeking damages of some £5 million in respect of unpaid Performance and Management Fees. Construction of contractual provisions and applicable accounting standards relating to Net Asset Value calculations: [2011] EWHC 768 (QB).
Parabola Investments v. MF Global and others: Court of Appeal decision on the proper measure of damages in the tort of deceit: [2010] EWCA Civ 486; arising out of substantial Commercial Court fraud trial concerning CFD and FOREX trading: [2009] EWHC 901 (Comm).
National Westminster Bank plc v. Rabobank Nederland: Acted for Rabobank Nederland (the AAA rated Dutch bank) between 2004 and 2009 in wide-ranging litigation in England and California. The case was described by The Lawyer as one of the top ten trials of 2006. It continued in 2007 with three further judgments in the Commercial Court, the last on 30 October 2007. The appeal was heard by the Court of Appeal for 2 weeks in October 2008 but settled before judgment was handed down.
Citco Global Custody NV v. Y2K Finance Inc: Unfair prejudice and liquidation proceedings (2007 to 2009) in the BVI Commercial Court and Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court arising out of Hedge Fund collapse.
DNA Productions (Europe) Limited v. Mr R. Manoukian: Contractual dispute concerning secret commissions and order at trial for delivery up and forensic examination of computer hard drives: [2008] EWHC Ch 943.
Mahme Trust v. Lloyds TSB Bank plc (2004-2006): Acting for Lloyds TSB Bank plc, defending complex claims for accounts and damages under English, Swiss and Liechtenstein law in trial before Mr Justice Evans-Lombe in the Chancery Division. The Bank was successful and awarded its costs on the indemnity basis: [2006] EWHC 1321 (Ch) and [2006] EWHC 1782 (Ch)
Manoukian v. Prince Jefri of Brunei: Civil fraud and contractual dispute (6 month+ Commercial Court case; settled during trial in March 1998)
Banking & Finance
Jeffrey is frequently instructed to provide confidential advice on all kinds of banking and financial services matters including ISDA, structured finance transactions and complex financial instruments and related regulatory matters. Recent litigation includes the following:
Deutsche Bank AG v. Tongkah Harbour PCL and Tungkum Ltd: Acting for defendants in claims by Deutsche Bank arising out of a $35 million structured finance facility in complex inter-connected Commercial Court and LCIA proceedings: 2011 and continuing.
National Westminster Bank plc v. Rabobank Nederland (2004-2009): details see above.
Mahme Trust v. Lloyds TSB Bank plc(2004-2006): details see above
Arbitration
Extensive ICC and LCIA experience. Recent matters include:
Deutsche Bank AG v. Tongkah Harbour PCL and Tungkum Ltd: Acting for defendants in claims by Deutsche Bank arising out of a $35 million structured finance facility in complex inter-connected Commercial Court and LCIA proceedings. In August 2011, Tungkum Ltd successfully obtained a stay under Section 9 of the Arbitration Act 1996 in the Commercial Court: [2011] EWHC 2251 QBD (Comm) (Blair J.)
2009 ICC arbitration concerning illegality and fraud: Details confidential.
2008 LCIA arbitration: Acting for an international company (identity confidential) in LCIA arbitration concerning commission claims of over US$20 million in relation to transactions in Zimbabwe.
Civil Fraud
Jeffrey advises on the implications of the Bribery Act 2010 and has wide-ranging experience of international civil fraud claims in many jurisdictions around the world including Russia, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, the British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands. Recent reported cases include the following:
Abdel Hadi Abdallah Al Qahtani & Sons Beverage Industry Company v. Andrew Antliff [2010] EWHC 1735 (Comm): Acted for Claimant in Commercial Court trial. Defendant found liable under Saudi law for receiving bribes while working in Saudi Arabia also ordered (under English law) to disclose what happened to the sums he received as bribes.
Parabola Investments v. MF Global and others [2010] EWCA Civ 486: details see above.
National Westminster Bank plc v. Rabobank Nederland (2004-2009): details see above.
Insurance & Reinsurance
Substantial experience advising predominantly insurers and reinsurers on coverage and avoidance issues.
Professional Negligence
Substantial experience advising in this field in particular in valuers’, solicitors’ IFA and accountants’ negligence.
Sport
Extensive experience in sponsorship disputes particularly in football and F1.
R (Leyton Orient FC) v Newham BC and others: Represented Orient in challenge to appoint West Ham as preferred bidder for the Olympic Stadium. Challenged as an unlawful State Aid. Preferred bid withdrawn a week before the substantive hearing was due to take place in October 2011.
Acted for Press Association Sport UK Limited in connection with disputes concerning rights to data relating to horse racing and other sports.
Counsel for Notts County Football Club in kit sponsorship and ground-share disputes in 2009.
Counsel for Sports World International Limited in litigation (2004-2006) with Diadora UK Limited concerning sponsorship of the Italian national football team as well as Sunderland, Birmingham City and other English football teams.
Education and Qualifications:
LLM First Class Cambridge University
BA First Class University of Sussex
Researcher for and Consultant to Law Commission 1987-1989
CEDR Accredited Mediator
Called to Bar of British Virgin Islands 1999
Prizes & Scholarships:
Queen Mother Scholarship, Middle Temple
Languages:
German speaker with working knowledge of French
Appointments:
Bar Standards Board Complaints Committee (since 2007)