The Commercial Court has handed down judgment in Ahmed v Sheikh Khalifa, dismissing the claims of an Egyptian businessman against a member of the Bahraini royal family.  The claimant, Mr Ahmed, alleged that he had been appointed as the Sheikh’s exclusive representative to arrange meetings between the Sheikh and a number of Bollywood film stars.  Mr Ahmed sued for damages of more than US$40 million claiming that Sheikh Khalifa had breached the alleged agreement.

Following a two week trial, Mr Justice Jacobs rejected the claim and found that there were “simply too many inconsistencies and improbabilities for the case advanced to be accepted”.

Sheikh Khalifa was represented at trial by Edward Levey of Fountain Court, led by Andrew Hochhauser QC of Essex Court chambers, and instructed by Neil Blake of Herbert Smith Freehills LLP.

A copy of the judgment is available here and some selected press coverage from the Financial Times and New York Times is available here and here.