Adam Collins
Team Leader
+44 (0)20 7842 3798
Click here to email
Call 2015
"Truly outstanding barrister - way beyond his years. Incredibly fast and efficient at getting through work."
Legal 500
Adam Collins
Team Leader
+44 (0)20 7842 3798
Click here to email
Alfie Sweeney
Team Leader's Assistant
+44 (0)20 3873 6855
Click here to email
Described by Legal 500 as a “very impressive junior” and “way beyond his years”, Max practises in commercial law (including banking and finance, and insurance law), international arbitration and regulatory law.
Max’s commercial practice includes some of the most widely reported disputes in recent years, including the Nigeria v P&ID case, the FCA business interruption insurance test case, alleged LIBOR, EURIBOR and FX manipulation, the Mozambique ‘tuna bonds’ controversy, and the sale of BHS. He has also been instructed in connection with Tesco’s profit misstatement and HP’s purchase of Autonomy Corporation.
His current cases include those approaching or exceeding billions in dispute. Many of his cases involve the overlap between the commercial and regulatory spheres.
Max also has experience of substantial arbitrations under LCIA, SCC, UNCITRAL and ICC rules.
Federal Republic of Nigeria v Process & Industrial Developments Ltd [2023] EWHC 2638 (Comm) (8 week trial 2023)
Acting for a company seeking to enforce an arbitral award against Nigeria worth over $10 billion, resisted on the grounds of alleged fraud and bribery (led by Lord Wolfson KC and Alexander Milner KC). Described by Bloomberg as “one of the world’s biggest lawsuits”, and one of The Lawyer’s Top 20 cases for 2023.
Targetfollow/Naghshineh v Bank of Scotland (30 day trial Jan-March 2024)
Defending a fraudulent misrepresentation claim worth over £1 billion in relation to alleged LIBOR manipulation (led by Andrew Mitchell KC). Claim discontinued on day 1 of the 30 day trial.
Fiesta Hotels and Resorts SL & ors v Deutsche Bank (10 week trial Jan-March 2025) [2024] EWHC 1422 (Comm)
Acting (with Laurence Rabinowitz KC and Tony Singla KC) for the Claimants in c.€500 million foreign exchange derivative dispute, including allegations of misrepresentation and in relation to capacity.
FX litigation
Acting for Citigroup in two sets of proceedings in the CAT (one of which began in the Commercial Court, and the other being proposed collective action proceedings), concerning alleged FX manipulation over 10 years (led by Richard Handyside KC). The proceedings were collectively one of The Lawyer’s Top 20 cases for 2020.
R(A) v BEIS and GEMA (2022)
Acting in a heavy JR concerning government intervention in the energy sector following recent price rises (led by James McClelland KC).
MedCo
Acting for MedCo in several linked judicial review challenges to decisions implementing the MoJ’s changes to medical reporting in soft-tissue injury claims, ultimately dismissed by the Administrative Court at [2017] EWHC 3258 (Admin) (as junior counsel).
HEFCE challenge
Acting for a higher education institution challenging funding decisions made by the Higher Education Funding Council (led by Michael Crane KC).
Much of Max’s work concerns banking, including derivatives, alleged rate manipulation, contractual disputes, and statutory instruments and schemes.
Fiesta Hotels and Resorts SL & ors v Deutsche Bank (10 week trial Jan-March 2025) [2024] EWHC 1422 (Comm)
Acting (with Laurence Rabinowitz KC and Tony Singla KC) for the Claimants in c.€500 million foreign exchange derivative dispute, including allegations of misrepresentation and in relation to capacity.
Targetfollow/Naghshineh v Bank of Scotland (6 week trial Jan-March 2024)
Defending a fraudulent misrepresentation claim worth over £1 billion in relation to alleged LIBOR manipulation (led by Andrew Mitchell KC). Claim discontinued on day 1 of the 30 day trial.
FX litigation
Acting for Citigroup in two sets of proceedings in the CAT (one of which began in the Commercial Court, and the other being proposed collective action proceedings), concerning alleged FX manipulation over 10 years (led by Richard Handyside KC). The proceedings were collectively one of The Lawyer’s Top 20 cases for 2020.
Marme v Natwest & Others [2019] EWHC 366 (Comm)
Defending a misrepresentation claim worth nearly a billion euros in one of The Lawyer‘s ‘Top 20’ cases and the first civil case concerning EURIBOR manipulation. All the claims against RBS were rejected.
ICICI Bank UK Plc v Assam Oil Company Ltd [2019] EWHC 750 (Comm)
Acting in Commercial Court proceedings, in which the Bank was granted summary judgment for >£40 million (as junior counsel). Allegations of fraudulent misrepresentation were dismissed, and the Bank recovered indemnity costs.
Frozen bank accounts
Acting for a bank in a claim relating to frozen bank accounts (2020, led by Nicholas Medcroft KC).
Partridge v Gomez & Co & Others
Defending a QC sued for over €15 million for alleged negligence including a failure to plead a EURIBOR misrepresentation claim (as junior counsel). Settled after pleadings.
Money Laundering policy
Assisting a KC to advise a well-known high-street brand regarding the adequacy of its anti-money laundering policy and compliance with the Money Laundering Regulations 2007.
Local Authority derivative capacity
Assisting a KC to advise a Local Authority as to its capacity to enter derivatives contracts, including consideration of the decision in Hazell v Hammersmith.
FX broker claim
Advising a commercial entity as to a claim against a forex broker for withholding substantial profits made on trades.
Mortgage mis-selling claims
Acting for the defendant mortgage and insurance services provider in multiple five- and six-figure mortgage mis-selling claims (all claims withdrawn in 2019).
Advising on and defending claims relating to the sale of PPI policies and alleged swaps mis-selling.
Fiesta Hotels and Resorts SL & ors v Deutsche Bank (10 week trial Jan-March 2025) [2024] EWHC 1422 (Comm)
Acting (with Laurence Rabinowitz KC and Tony Singla KC) for the Claimants in c.€500 million foreign exchange derivative dispute, including allegations of fraudulent misrepresentation. The case involved a number of contested applications, many concerning disclosure.
Targetfollow/Naghshineh v Bank of Scotland (6 week trial Jan-March 2024)
Defending a fraudulent misrepresentation claim worth over £1 billion in relation to alleged LIBOR manipulation (led by Andrew Mitchell KC). Claim discontinued on day 1 of the 30 day trial.
Federal Republic of Nigeria v Process & Industrial Developments Ltd [2023] EWHC 2638 (Comm) (8 week trial 2023)
Acting for a company enforcing an arbitral award against Nigeria worth over $10 billion, resisted on the grounds of alleged fraud and bribery (led by Lord Wolfson KC and Alexander Milner KC). Described by Bloomberg as “one of the world’s biggest lawsuits” and one of The Lawyer’s Top 20 cases for 2023.
Mozambique ‘tuna bonds’ controversy
Acting for secondary market purchasers in two separate claims in the Commercial Court against the Republic of Mozambique and Credit Suisse, arising from the so-called ‘tuna bonds’ controversy, including claims against Credit Suisse in fraudulent misrepresentation and unlawful means conspiracy (led by Michael Bloch KC).
Kingfisher UK Holdings Ltd v Lisa Powis and others
Acting in a multi-million pound claim for fraud and breach of warranty under an SPA for the sale of an insurance intermediary (2021, as junior counsel).
ICICI Bank UK plc v Assam Oil Company Ltd [2019] EWHC 750 (Comm)
Acting in Commercial Court proceedings, in which the Bank was granted summary judgment for >£40 million (as junior counsel). Allegations of fraudulent misrepresentation were dismissed, and the Bank recovered indemnity costs.
Marme v Natwest and others [2019] EWHC 366 (Comm)
Defending a fraudulent misrepresentation claim worth nearly a billion euros in one of The Lawyer’s ‘Top 20’ cases and the first civil case concerning EURIBOR manipulation. All the claims against RBS were rejected.
Visa v Luxottica Retail UK Ltd (trial listed February 2026)
Defending a claim brought by Visa alleging breach by Luxottica UK of a Settlement Agreement; including a counterclaim for rectification (led by Richard Coleman KC). The case is listed for trial in February 2026.
Bourlakova and others v Bourlakov and others [2024] EWHC 929 (Ch)
Acting for the applicant for an anti-suit injunction to restrain bankruptcy proceedings brought in Russia (led by Jeffrey Chapman KC).
Federal Republic of Nigeria v Process & Industrial Developments Ltd [2023] EWHC 2638 (Comm) (8 week trial 2023)
Acting for a company enforcing an arbitral award against Nigeria worth over $10 billion, and defending allegations of fraud and bribery (led by Lord Wolfson KC and Alexander Milner KC). Described by Bloomberg as “one of the world’s biggest lawsuits” and one of The Lawyer’s Top 20 cases for 2023.
FX litigation
Acting for Citigroup in two sets of proceedings in the CAT (one of which began in the Commercial Court, and the other being proposed collective action proceedings), concerning alleged FX manipulation over 10 years (led by Richard Handyside KC). The proceedings were collectively one of The Lawyer’s Top 20 cases for 2020.
Website urgent injunction
Obtaining an urgent, ex parte, interim injunction for a business whose website and confidential information was targeted by a third party (2021).
BI insurance test case [2020] EWHC 2448 (Comm), [2021] UKSC 1
Max acted for the FCA before the High Court and the Supreme Court in the test case considering whether certain business interruption insurance policies respond to the COVID-19 pandemic (led by Colin Edelman KC). Max is now advising numerous clients on issues of coverage and quantum, including aggregation.
Mozambique 'tuna bonds' controversy
Acting for secondary market purchasers in two separate claims in the Commercial Court against the Republic of Mozambique and Credit Suisse, arising from the so-called ‘tuna bonds’ controversy (led by Michael Bloch KC).
A Company v Secretariat [2020] EWHC 809 (TCC), [2021] EWCA Civ 6
Acting in this important Court of Appeal decision on whether independent experts owe fiduciary or contractual duties of loyalty to their instructing clients (led by Anneliese Day KC / Charles Hollander KC).
Gwynt-y-Mor Ofto v Gwynt-y-Mor Offshore Wind Farm [2020] EWHC 850 (Comm)
Acting in Commercial Court proceedings concerning the failure of undersea cables at an offshore wind farm (led by Richard Handyside KC).
Marme v Natwest & Others [2019] EWHC 366 (Comm)
Defending a misrepresentation claim worth nearly a billion euros in one of The Lawyer’s ‘Top 20’ cases and the first civil case concerning EURIBOR manipulation. All the claims against RBS were rejected.
ICICI Bank UK Plc v Assam Oil Company Ltd [2019] EWHC 750 (Comm)
Acting in Commercial Court proceedings, in which the Bank was granted summary judgment for >£40 million (as junior counsel). Allegations of fraudulent misrepresentation were dismissed, and the Bank recovered indemnity costs.
Kingfisher UK Holdings Ltd v Lisa Powis & Others
Acting in a multi-million pound claim for fraud and breach of warranty under an SPA for the sale of an insurance intermediary (2021, as junior counsel).
Mortgage mis-selling claims
Acting for the defendant mortgage and insurance services provider in multiple five- and six-figure mortgage mis-selling claims (all claims withdrawn in 2019).
Acting for a hospital in a substantial and complex contractual dispute with its catering services provider (led by Derrick Dale KC, 2019, settled).
Offshore interlocutory claims
Assisting a KC in response to an offshore Security for Costs application, including allegations of ex turpi causa.
BHS Group v Retail Acquisitions Ltd [2017] EWHC 1057 (Ch)
Acting in proceedings for the Arcadia Group in a petition brought to wind up RAL, the company incorporated to purchase BHS for £1.
Munnelly v October House Clothing (2017)
Acting in a successful claim for damages for failure to provide tailor-made suits, including an unusual award of damages for distress and disappointment.
FX broker claim
Advising a commercial entity as to a claim against a forex broker for withholding substantial profits made on trades.
Jurisdiction challenge: Acting for a Cypriot defendant challenging the jurisdiction of the Mercantile Court over claims brought against him (settled).
Advising on and defending claims brought against credit reference agencies.
Advising on and defending claims relating to the sale of PPI policies and flight delay claims.
Assisting members of chambers to advise a Local Authority as to its capacity to enter derivatives contracts, notwithstanding the decision in Hazell v Hammersmith.
R(A) v BEIS and GEMA (2022)
Acting in a heavy JR concerning government intervention in the energy sector following recent price rises (led by James McClelland KC).
Acting for the Defendant engineer in TCC proceedings relating to alleged failures during construction at a sports ground, sum claimed >£10 million (led by Anneliese Day KC).
Gwynt-y-Mor Ofto v Gwynt-y-Mor Offshore Wind Farm [2020] EWHC 850 (Comm)
Acting in Commercial Court proceedings concerning the failure of undersea cables at an offshore wind farm (led by Richard Handyside KC).
FX litigation
Acting for Citigroup in proposed collective action proceedings concerning alleged FX manipulation over 10 years (led by Richard Handyside KC). The proceedings, together with a Commercial Court action in which Max was also instructed, were one of The Lawyer’s ‘Top 20 Cases’ for 2020.
Business Interruption Insurance Test Case [2020] EWHC 2448 (Comm), [2021] UKSC 1
Acting for the FCA before the High Court and the Supreme Court in the test case considering whether certain business interruption insurance policies responded to the COVID-19 pandemic (led by Colin Edelman KC).
Various Eateries v Allianz [2022] EWHC 2549 (Comm), [2024] EWCA Civ 10
Acting for one of the claimants in the first instance hearing of the “Stonegate” test litigation (led by Leigh-Ann Mulcahy KC and Adam Kramer KC).
Multiple BI claims
Advising numerous clients on issues of coverage and quantum, including aggregation, per-premises/per-event limits, and broker negligence claims. Clients range from very small to very large, and include events businesses, professionals, manufacturers and suppliers, pubs, restaurants, hotels, up to multi-national and global holding companies.
Mesothelioma contribution (2021)
Advising an insurer on contribution claims based on Zurich v IEG and claims under the FSCS compensation scheme.
Kingfisher UK Holdings Ltd v Lisa Powis & Others
Acting in a multi-million pound claim for fraud and breach of warranty under an SPA for the sale of an insurance intermediary (2021, as junior counsel).
Life insurance policy claim (2020)
Acting for an insurer defending an alleged claim under a life insurance policy.
In addition to civil commercial claims, Max has several ongoing and high-value international arbitrations, all involving one or more foreign elements including Russia, the USA, Canada, Cyprus, Hong Kong, and offshore jurisdictions.
LCIA arbitrations
Acting for various respondents to substantial and confidential LCIA arbitrations approaching $100 million (2021, as junior counsel).
ICC arbitrations
Acting in a multi-million dollar ICC arbitration concerning alleged breaches of derivatives contracts (2021, as junior counsel).
SCC arbitration
Acting in a substantial SCC arbitration relating to IT (2021, as junior counsel).
Offshore arbitration
Acting over several years in two linked offshore >$50 million arbitrations arising out of the disputed sales of pledged shares (as junior counsel).
Max acts for professionals in both disciplinary proceedings and civil claims. Cases have involved the FRC, SRA, FCA, FSCS, GPhC, HEFCE and MedCo, and acting for and against barristers, solicitors, accountants, auditors, litigation experts, and construction professionals.
Max has acted in several cases for and against the SRA, including relating to solicitors prosecuted for misconduct, interventions, and applications for delivery up (as both sole counsel and as junior counsel).
Shareholders v Deloitte & Touche and another
Defending Deloitte against claims of over $100 million by shareholders in the former Lebanese Canadian Bank brought in the DIFC courts.
X v A Firm and A Barrister
Defending a leading solicitors’ firm and junior barrister against a civil claim worth over £20 million (as sole counsel, 2022).
FRC v Deloitte
Acting in disciplinary proceedings relating to Deloitte’s audits of the software company Autonomy. The Lawyer had included the prosecution in its ‘Top 20 cases for 2019’, describing the allegations as “unprecedented”.
Partridge v Gomez & Co & Others (2019)
Defending a QC sued for over €15 million for professional negligence, including an alleged failure to plead a EURIBOR misrepresentation claim (as junior counsel). Settled after pleadings.
FRC investigation
Advising the FRC in relation to proposed disciplinary proceedings arising out of a well-known recent financial scandal (2018-2019, as junior counsel).
Advising a well-known solicitors firm regarding a letter of request for documents by a former client (as sole counsel).
Acting for the defendant engineer in High Court proceedings relating to alleged failures during construction at a sports ground (as junior counsel).
Acting for the defendant mortgage and insurance services provider in multiple five- and six-figure mortgage mis-selling claims (six claims issued in 2018, all withdrawn in 2019 after Defences filed).
Acting for the FRC in several other major investigations, including against a Big Four firm which recently culminated in a settlement agreement and substantial fine (as junior counsel).
MedCo
Acting for MedCo in several linked judicial review challenges to decisions implementing the MoJ’s changes to medical reporting in soft-tissue injury claims, ultimately dismissed by the Administrative Court at [2017] EWHC 3258 (Admin) (as junior counsel).
HEFCE challenge
Acting for a higher education institution challenging funding decisions made by the Higher Education Funding Council (led by Michael Crane KC).
SRA v Mor Investments (2020) (High Court)
Successful application for delivery-up and a search and seizure order (sole counsel).
SRA v Scourfield (2020) (High Court)
Successful application for delivery up and enforcement of s44B and s44BB notices (sole counsel).
SRA v Rafiq (2020) (SDT; 12007-2019)
Successful prosecution of a PI-claims solicitor, including multiple findings of lack of integrity; strike off (sole counsel).
SRA v Anwar & Aziz (2019) (SDT; 11888-2018)
Successful prosecution of two solicitors for unlawful payment of referral fees (sole counsel).
Acting for senior partners at two City firms in their responses to allegations of serious misconduct; the case was withdrawn without prosecution (led by Tim Dutton KC).
Acting for directors of a high street firm in their responses to allegations of misconduct brought by the SRA (junior counsel).
Law Society v Sibley [2017] 1453 (Ch)
Acting for the SRA in proceedings which confirmed the width of the SRA’s powers to investigate solicitors working for bodies not regulated by the SRA (sole counsel).
Jeffersons v SRA & Others (2016) (High Court)
Successful strike out of claims brought against the SRA (sole counsel).
Max acts for professionals in both disciplinary proceedings and civil claims. Cases have involved the FRC, SRA, FCA, FSCS, GPhC, HEFCE and MedCo, and acting for and against barristers, solicitors, accountants, auditors, litigation experts, and construction professionals.
Max has acted in several cases for and against the SRA, including relating to solicitors prosecuted for misconduct, interventions, and applications for delivery up (as both sole counsel and as junior counsel).
Shareholders v Deloitte & Touche and another
Defending Deloitte against claims of over $100 million by shareholders in the former Lebanese Canadian Bank brought in the DIFC courts.
X v A Firm and A Barrister
Defending a leading solicitors’ firm and junior barrister against a civil claim worth over £20 million (as sole counsel, 2022).
FRC v Deloitte
Acting in disciplinary proceedings relating to Deloitte’s audits of the software company Autonomy. The Lawyer had included the prosecution in its ‘Top 20 cases for 2019’, describing the allegations as “unprecedented”.
Partridge v Gomez & Co and others
Defending a KC sued for over €15 million for professional negligence, including an alleged failure to plead a EURIBOR misrepresentation claim (as junior counsel). Settled after pleadings.
FRC investigation
Advising the FRC in relation to proposed disciplinary proceedings arising out of a well-known recent financial scandal (2018-2019, as junior counsel).
Advising a well-known solicitors firm regarding a letter of request for documents by a former client (as sole counsel).
Acting for the defendant engineer in High Court proceedings relating to alleged failures during construction at a sports ground (as junior counsel).
Acting for the defendant mortgage and insurance services provider in multiple five- and six-figure mortgage mis-selling claims (six claims issued in 2018, all withdrawn in 2019 after Defences filed).
Acting for the FRC in several other major investigations, including against a Big Four firm which recently culminated in a settlement agreement and substantial fine (as junior counsel).
MedCo
Acting for MedCo in several linked judicial review challenges to decisions implementing the MoJ’s changes to medical reporting in soft-tissue injury claims, ultimately dismissed by the Administrative Court at [2017] EWHC 3258 (Admin) (as junior counsel).
HEFCE challenge
Acting for a higher education institution challenging funding decisions made by the Higher Education Funding Council (led by Michael Crane KC).
SRA v Mor Investments (2020, High Court)
Successful application for delivery-up and a search and seizure order (sole counsel).
SRA v Scourfield (2020, High Court)
Successful application for delivery up and enforcement of s44B and s44BB notices (sole counsel).
SRA v Rafiq (2020) (SDT; 12007-2019)
Successful prosecution of a PI-claims solicitor, including multiple findings of lack of integrity; strike off (sole counsel).
SRA v Anwar and Aziz (2019) (SDT; 11888-2018)
Successful prosecution of two solicitors for unlawful payment of referral fees (sole counsel).
Acting for senior partners at two City firms in their responses to allegations of serious misconduct; the case was withdrawn without prosecution (led by Tim Dutton KC).
Acting for directors of a high street firm in their responses to allegations of misconduct brought by the SRA (junior counsel).
Law Society v Sibley [2017] 1453 (Ch)
Acting for the SRA in proceedings which confirmed the width of the SRA’s powers to investigate solicitors working for bodies not regulated by the SRA (sole counsel).
Jeffersons v SRA and others (2016) (High Court)
Successful strike out of claims brought against the SRA (sole counsel).
Adam Collins
Team Leader
+44 (0)20 7842 3798
Click here to email
Alfie Sweeney
Team Leader's Assistant
+44 (0)20 3873 6855
Click here to email