Call 2009
“Natasha is fantastically bright, her written product is absolutely superb and she is incredibly responsive; a definite future star KC in the making.”
Legal 500
Alfie Harper
Team Leader
+44 (0)20 7842 3806
Click here to email
Sam McCrone
Team Leader's Assistant
+44 (0)20 7842 3714
Click here to email
Natasha Bennett is a “formidable talent” with a “ferocious work ethic and intellect” (Chambers & Partners; Legal 500). She is frequently instructed in some of the most high-value and complex commercial cases, often involving an international element.
She is recommended in Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners directories as a leading junior in the fields of Commercial Litigation, Banking & Finance and Professional Negligence and has also been named a “Star of the Bar” by Legal Week. She was named “Commercial Litigation Junior of the Year” by Legal 500 in 2023.
Over the years, Natasha has acted in a number of high-profile cases including defending banks and car manufacturers in large-scale group litigation, defending claims relating to financial investments tainted by bribery and corruption and defending law firms and financial institutions from large professional negligence actions.
Before coming to the Bar, Natasha studied law at Cambridge University graduating with a starred double-first (placed 2nd in her year). She undertook postgraduate studies in law (BCL) at Oxford University where she was awarded a distinction and the Vinerian Scholarship for the best performance in her year.
The Libyan Investment Authority v Credit Suisse et al [2021] EWHC 2684 (Comm)
Instructed (with Timothy Howe KC and Simon Atrill) by Credit Suisse to defend a c.$200 million claim brought by the Libyan Investment Authority in relation to structured notes purchased by the Libyan Investment Authority from Credit Suisse, allegedly tainted by bribery and corruption.
Moorgate Capital v Sun European Partners [2020] EWHC 593 (Comm)
Defending a private equity firm, Sun, in the Commercial Court (as sole counsel) against a claim by a corporate finance advisor, based on an alleged oral / conduct agreement, for a success fee following an acquisition.
Investors in the Scotts Atlantic Film Finance Scheme v Andrew Thornhill KC
Instructed (with Anneliese Day KC) to act for over 100 investors who invested money into a film scheme allegedly having been negligently advised by Andrew Thornhill KC that the scheme would successfully allow them to mitigate their tax liabilities.
Morley Estates v RBS [2020] EWHC 88 (Ch) [2021] EWCA Civ 338
Defending RBS (with Paul Sinclair KC) at first instance and in the Court of Appeal against a claim brought by Morley Estates relating to RBS’s decision to transfer Morley Estates to RBS’s “GRG” division and the subsequent sale of Morley Estate’s portfolio of properties (worth around £90 million) to West Register (an RBS subsidiary).
The RBS Rights Issue Litigation [2017] EWHC 1217 (Ch), [2017] EWHC 463 (Ch), [2016] EWHC 3161 (Ch)
Acting for RBS (with David Railton KC, Sonia Tolaney KC et al) in a substantial piece of commercial litigation relating to the accuracy of the representations made in RBS’s Prospectus for its 2008 Rights Issue. The £4bn claim was described by The Lawyer as “perhaps the biggest banking case of the decade”.
Cryptocurrency
Advising (with Giles Wheeler KC) as to the recovery of stolen Bitcoin and related matters.
Stichting Vestia v SocGen
Instructed (with Richard Handyside KC) to defend SocGen against a claim by a Dutch Social Housing Association in respect of various interest rate derivative transactions which were alleged to be beyond the Social Housing Association’s capacity and/or tainted by bribery.
The Libyan Investment Authority v Credit Suisse et al
Instructed (with Timothy Howe KC and Simon Atrill) by Credit Suisse to defend a c.$200 million claim brought by the Libyan Investment Authority in relation to structured notes purchased by the Libyan Investment Authority from Credit Suisse.
Farol Holdings et al v Clydesdale Bank & National Australia Bank
Defending National Australia Bank (with Paddy Goodall KC) against a claim relating to the calculation of break costs and determination of the applicable fixed rate for Tailored Business Loans offered by Clydesdale Bank to its customers.
Roman Pipia v BGEO Group Limited
Defending BGEO Group Limited, the parent company of Bank of Georgia (with Sonia Tolaney KC) against a claim relating to the sale by Bank of Georgia of assets by auction following a default on a loan facility. Reported judgments: [2020] EWHC 1359 (Comm); [2020] EWHC 402 (Comm).
Morley Estates v RBS
Defending RBS (with Paul Sinclair KC) against a claim brought by Morley Estates relating to RBS’s decision to transfer Morley Estates to RBS’s “GRG” division and the subsequent sale of Morley Estate’s portfolio of properties (worth around £90 million) to West Register (an RBS subsidiary). Reported judgments: [2020] EWHC 88 (Ch), [2019] EWHC 2865 (Ch), [2019] EWHC 270 (Ch).
Arena Plaza v LIML & Rothschild
Defending LIML and Rothschild (with Patricia Robertson KC) against a claim for €31 million brought in respect of the restructuring of the financing for an investment in a Hungarian Shopping Centre.
Bhardwaj v RBS
Acting for RBS (as sole counsel) to strike out a claim brought in breach of a settlement agreement.
The RBS Rights Issue Litigation
Acting for RBS (with David Railton KC, Sonia Tolaney QC et al) in a substantial piece of commercial litigation relating to the accuracy of the representations made in RBS’s Prospectus for its 2008 Rights Issue. Reported judgments: [2017] EWHC 1217 (Ch), [2017] EWHC 463 (Ch), [2016] EWHC 3161 (Ch).
Wall v RBS
Acting (with Andrew Mitchell KC and Tamara Oppenheimer KC) for RBS in a c.£400 million claim brought by the owner of a student accommodation company Opal Property Group (now in administration), in respect of allegedly mis-sold derivatives linked to LIBOR.
Al-Besher et al v Credit Suisse
Acting (with Richard Handyside KC) for Credit Suisse in relation to three claims brought against Credit Suisse in respect of allegedly fraudulent misrepresentations and documents, in connection with the financing of the Hertsmere House development project in Canary Wharf.
Credit Suisse v Stichting Vestia [2014] EWHC 3103 (Comm)
Acting (with Timothy Howe KC and Henry King KC) for Credit Suisse in a claim against a Dutch Social Housing Association to recover €83 million owed under various interest rate derivative transactions. Issues raised in the case include, authority, capacity, Dutch law and contractual estoppel.
Basma Al Sulaiman v Credit Suisse & Plurimi Capital LLP [2013] EWHC 400 (Comm)
Acting (with Guy Philipps QC) in a multi-million pound claim against an investment bank and an investment advisory firm for alleged negligence and breach of regulatory duties in connection with the mis-selling of structured products.
Assisting Bankim Thanki KC in preparing an Expert Report, for the purposes of New York Proceedings, as to whether a parent bank has a legal right under English law to require that a subsidiary bank disclose its customer’s account information to the parent.
Garnet Investments Ltd v BNP Paribas SA (Royal Court of Guernsey)
Acting (with Timothy Howe KC and James McClelland KC) for a corporate investor claiming against a number of international financial institutions for alleged negligence in the management of >£65 million equity investment portfolios and FX trades.
Natasha was seconded to Barclays’ Global Retail Bank Litigation department in September 2010, during which she gained experience in a wide range of banking disputes.
Stichting Vestia v SocGen
Instructed (with Richard Handyside KC) to defend SocGen against a claim by a Dutch Social Housing Association in respect of various interest rate derivative transactions which were alleged to be beyond the Social Housing Association’s capacity and/or tainted by bribery.
The Libyan Investment Authority v Credit Suisse et al
Instructed (with Timothy Howe KC and Simon Atrill) by Credit Suisse to defend a c.$200 million claim brought by the Libyan Investment Authority in relation to structured notes purchased by the Libyan Investment Authority from Credit Suisse, allegedly as a result of bribery and corruption.
Natasha was named ‘Commercial Litigation Junior of the Year’ at The Legal 500‘s 2023 Bar Awards.
Diesel Emissions litigation
Acting (with Leigh-Ann Mulcahy KC) in the Diesel Emissions litigation for car manufacturers and authorised dealers in relation to a large number of claims brought by consumers alleging breach of applicable regulations and misrepresentation.
Moorgate Capital v Sun European Partners [2020] EWHC 593 (Comm)
Defending a private equity firm, Sun, (as sole counsel) against a claim by a corporate finance advisor, based on an alleged oral/conduct agreement, for a success fee following an acquisition.
Royal Petrol Trading v Total Oil India [2018] EWHC 1272 (Comm)
Acting (with Stephen Moriarty KC) for Total in relation to a claim by Royal Petrol for payment for the delivery of liquified petroleum gas from Iran.
Ron Dennis v Spink Construction
Acting for Ron Dennis in a claim relating to a high-end residential construction project.
Instructed (with Richard Handyside KC) in relation to a contractual dispute, subject to arbitration, turning on the construction of certain clauses in a mail delivery contract.
Natasha spent three months on secondment to Addleshaw Goddard (October 2010 to December 2010) during which she assisted with the disclosure exercise and the preparation of witness statements in a multi-billion pound claim brought by Boris Berezovsky against Roman Abramovich in relation to the ownership of Russian oil and aluminium assets.
In the context of an arbitration in Switzerland, advising on the applicable law governing the issues of capacity and authority.
Advising on the operation of Article 28 of the Brussels Regulation; in particular whether German Proceedings would be considered by the English Courts to be i) pending and ii) related to proceedings started in England.
Instructed on an application for permission to serve out of the jurisdiction on a securities brokerage firm incorporated in Delaware, USA, in the context of a contractual claim for non-delivery of certain bonds.
Advising on jurisdiction under Article 5(1)b of the Brussels Regulation in relation to a claim for >£2 million brought against a Greek company. The claim involved a telecommunications contract for the supply of capacity on a fiberoptic submarine cable which crossed many countries in Europe
HSBC Canada Limited v Roberts
Acting for an individual resisting the enforcement under the Foreign Judgments (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1933 of a judgment of the Supreme Court of British Columbia in England.
Instructed (with Mark Simpson KC) to act for an accountant, against whom a Formal Complaint had been made by the Financial Reporting Council, the independent disciplinary body for the accountancy and actuarial professions in the UK.
Advising (with Bankim Thanki KC) on the regulatory and other duties owed by a financial advisory firm under DIFC law, in the context of a contractual dispute subject to arbitration in Dubai.
SPL Private Finance (PF1) IC Limited and 17 others v Arch Financial products LLP
Instructed (with Richard Coleman KC and Giles Wheeler KC) in substantial litigation by a Guernsey incorporated cell against an investment manager concerning the negligent management of investments valued in excess of $150 million.
Basma Al Sulaiman v Credit Suisse and Plurimi Capital LLP [2013] EWHC 400 (Comm)
Acting (with Guy Philipps QC) in a multi-million pound claim against an investment bank and an investment advisory firm for alleged negligence and breach of regulatory duties in connection with the mis-selling of structured products.
Garnet Investments Ltd v BNP Paribas SA (Royal Court of Guernsey)
Acting (with Timothy Howe KC and James McClelland KC) for a corporate investor claiming against a number of international financial institutions for alleged negligence in the management of >£65 million equity investment portfolios and FX trades.
Diesel Emissions litigation
Acting (with Leigh-Ann Mulcahy KC) in the Diesel Emissions litigation for car manufacturers and authorised dealers in relation to a large number of claims brought by consumers alleging breach of applicable regulations and misrepresentation.
Farol Holdings et al v Clydesdale Bank & National Australia Bank
Defending National Australia Bank (with Paddy Goodall KC) against a claim made by hundreds of small and medium sized enterprises, relating to the calculation of break costs and determination of the applicable fixed rate for Tailored Business Loans offered by Clydesdale Bank to its customers.
Investors in the Scotts Atlantic Film Finance Scheme v Andrew Thornhill KC
Instructed (with Anneliese Day KC) to act for over 100 investors who invested money into a film scheme allegedly having been negligently advised by Andrew Thornhill KC that the scheme would successfully allow them to mitigate their tax liabilities.
The RBS Rights Issue Litigation [2017] EWHC 1217 (Ch), [2017] EWHC 463 (Ch), [2016] EWHC 3161 (Ch)
Acting for RBS (with David Railton KC, Sonia Tolaney KC et al) in a substantial piece of commercial litigation relating to the accuracy of the representations made in RBS’s Prospectus for its 2008 Rights Issue. The £4bn claim was described by The Lawyer as “perhaps the biggest banking case of the decade”.
Godiva Mortgages Limited v Travelers Insurance et al
Instructed (with Mark Simpson KC) by a solicitors firm’s secondary layer insurers in relation to aggregation issues following the discovery of a large number of mortgage frauds involving the solicitors firm.
Instructed (with Michael Crane KC) on a reinsurance arbitration concerning a captive reinsurer’s liability for settlement sums agreed between the insurer and the insured.
Heungkuk Fire & Marine Insurance v Eurasia Insurance
Instructed (with David Railton KC and Patrick Goodall KC) on a reinsurance dispute relating to Korean shipbuilding advance payment guarantees.
Collyer Bristow LLP v Lockton et al
Instructed (with Mark Simpson KC and James Cutress KC) by a solicitors firm’s primary layer insurers in relation to aggregation issues arising out of the Innovator litigation.
Chadwick v Elite Insurance Co Ltd
Appearing (as sole counsel in the Commercial Court) on a summary judgment application as to the correct construction of a Legal Expenses Insurance Policy and the interplay with the provisions relating to the assessment of solicitors’ bills under the Solicitors Act 1974.
Advising (with Bankim Thanki KC) on the regulatory and other duties owed by a financial advisory firm under DIFC law, in the context of a contractual dispute subject to arbitration in Dubai.
RBS Rights Issue Litigation [2016] EWHC 3161
Acting with Sonia Tolaney KC for RBS in respect of a claim for legal advice privilege over the notes of investigation interviews with current and former employees.
Advising (with Bankim Thanki KC) as to whether a letter was privileged and/or confidential.
JP SPC 1 & JP SPC 4 v Mayer Brown LLP
Defending Mayer Brown (with Mark Simpson KC) against a claim for professional negligence arising from Mayer Brown’s work in drafting documentation for the establishment of the Axiom Legal Financing Fund domiciled in the Cayman Islands.
Investors in the Scotts Atlantic Film Finance Scheme v Andrew Thornhill KC
Instructed (with Anneliese Day KC) to act for over 100 investors who invested money into a film scheme allegedly having been negligently advised by Andrew Thornhill KC that the scheme would successfully allow them to mitigate their tax liabilities.
Instructed (with Mark Simpson KC) to act for an accountant, against whom a Formal Complaint had been made by the Financial Reporting Council, the independent disciplinary body for the accountancy and actuarial professions in the UK.
Advising (with Bankim Thanki KC) on the regulatory and other duties owed by a financial advisory firm under DIFC law, in the context of a contractual dispute subject to arbitration in Dubai.
SPL Private Finance (PF1) IC Limited & 17 Others v Arch Financial products LLP
Instructed (with Richard Coleman KC and Giles Wheeler KC) in substantial litigation by a Guernsey incorporated cell against an investment manager concerning the negligent management of investments valued in excess of $150 million.
Basma Al Sulaiman v Credit Suisse and Plurimi Capital LLP [2013] EWHC 400 (Comm)
Acting (with Guy Philipps QC) in a multi-million pound claim against an investment bank and an investment advisory firm for alleged negligence and breach of regulatory duties in connection with the mis-selling of structured products.
Garnet Investments Ltd v BNP Paribas SA (Royal Court of Guernsey)
Acting (with Timothy Howe KC and James McClelland KC) for a corporate investor claiming against a number of international financial institutions for alleged negligence in the management of >£65 million equity investment portfolios and FX trades.
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Alfie Harper
Team Leader
+44 (0)20 7842 3806
Click here to email
Sam McCrone
Team Leader's Assistant
+44 (0)20 7842 3714
Click here to email
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