Alfie Harper
Team Leader
+44 (0)20 7842 3806
Click here to email
Call 2012
"Niamh is astonishingly bright and her analysis is always spot on. She is particularly adept at unravelling knotty areas of law. A junior who fights hard for her clients."
The Legal 500
Alfie Harper
Team Leader
+44 (0)20 7842 3806
Click here to email
Sam McCrone
Team Leader's Assistant
+44 (0)20 7583 3335
Click here to email
Niamh Cleary has a broad and varied commercial practice, with a particular emphasis on aviation, insurance and reinsurance, and professional negligence.
Her practice also encompasses banking and finance, public procurement, and regulatory / consumer law.
Niamh has extensive experience of heavy litigation and complex disputes, both domestic and international. She has extensive experience of large scale multi-partly claims. She is regularly instructed in the High Court and County Court on commercial matters, both as sole advocate and as part of a wider team. She has also acted in arbitration claims under a range of procedural rules.
On the Beach Limited & Ors v Ryanair UK Limited & Ryanair DAC
Instructed on behalf of Ryanair in a claim brought by a number of online travel agents under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018.
Inquest into the death of Emiliano Sala
Instructed for aircraft manufacturer Piper Aircraft Inc in the inquest into the death of Emiliano Sala, an international footballer who was killed when the aircraft he was travelling crashed into the English Channel in January 2019.
United Kingdom Trucks Claim v Daimler, DAF, Iveco, MAN, Volvo/Renault & Scania
Niamh is instructed as part of a team led by Rhodri Thompson QC in UKTC’s ‘opt-out’ class action for damages arising from the anti-competitive practices of a cartel of European truck manufacturers over a 14-year period. Listed in The Lawyer’s “Top 20 Cases” of 2019.
Rowe & Ors v Ingenious Media Holdings Plc & Ors
Led by Richard Coleman QC and David Yates QC, Niamh was instructed by Coutts in the Ingenious Litigation, which concerns claims brought by over 500 claimants in respect of their investments in the Ingenious film partnerships. Listed in The Lawyer’s “Top 20 Cases” of 2018.
Niamh has a wide and varied experience of aviation matters, ranging from aviation finance to consumer regulation.
On the Beach Limited & Ors v Ryanair UK Limited and Ryanair DAC
Instructed on behalf of Ryanair in a claim brought by a number of online travel agents under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018.
Inquest into the death of Emiliano Sala
Instructed for aircraft manufacturer Piper Aircraft Inc in the inquest into the death of Emiliano Sala, an international footballer who was killed when the aircraft he was travelling crashed into the English Channel in January 2019.
Successfully defended (as sole counsel) an airline under investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority.
Instructed for an airline in a competition damages claim in respect of an alleged abuse of dominant position.
Instructed (with Akhil Shah QC) by a bank seeking to vary a freezing order so as to permit the taking into possession and sale of the aircraft.
Instructed (with Akhil Shah QC) to advise on commercial dispute arising from a default on an aircraft financing agreement.
Instructed as sole counsel to advise in respect of a debt claim under an aircraft leasing arrangement.
Niamh has also advised airlines on a number of discrete regulatory issues, including: code-sharing and route access entitlements following Brexit, Regulation 2015/1998, immigration and border control, and various aspects of consumer law.
Niamh’s financial regulation advisory practice covers a diverse range of regulatory issues, including payment services, e-money, and consumer credit and protection.
CNM Estates (Tolworth Tower) Ltd v Vecref I Sarl [2020] EWHC 1605 (Comm)
Led by Mark Simpson QC in a dispute regarding the proper construction of certain terms of the LMA syndicated loan documentation.
Successfully represented the liquidators of a major financial institution in the adjudication of several confidential claims following the insolvency of the institution.
Jackson v Feeney [2018] EWHC 1490 (Ch)
Acting for a commercial party (led by Paul Sinclair QC) seeking to recover monies from an e-money provider at the centre of a multi-party fraud claim.
Niamh has extensive experience of claims involving the mis-selling of financial products and has appeared for a number of banks in a large variety of such claims, including HMG Investment Holdings Limited v Royal Bank of Scotland [2018] EWHC 3492 (Comm) where (led by Andrew Ayers QC) she successfully defended a bank in respect of the mis-sale of an interest rate hedging product.
Instant Access Property Limited v Rosser & Ors [2018] EWHC 756 (Ch)
Successfully defended a firm of accountants accused of having defrauded the claimant company as part of an alleged tax evasion scheme. Led by Mark Simpson QC, instructed by DAC Beachcroft LLP.
Jackson v Feeney [2018] EWHC 1490 (Ch)
Acting for a commercial party seeking to recover monies from an e-money provider at the centre of a multi-party fraud claim. Led by Paul Sinclair QC, instructed by Mishcon de Reya.
Cardiff City FC v Mackay & Ors
Represented the claimant football club in three separate sets of proceedings against its former head coach and others in relation to claims of conspiracy, misrepresentation, and unjust enrichment. Led by Jeff Chapman QC and Caspar Glyn QC, instructed by Mishcon de Reya.
Instructed as sole counsel to advise on a claim by a company against its former managing director for fraudulent diversion of its assets.
Cooper v dnata Catering Services Limited
Instructed as sole counsel in a claim arising from an alleged breach of a shareholders’ agreement.
Instructed (with Stephen Moriarty QC) to advise on a breach of warranty dispute.
Instructed as sole counsel to advise on a breach of warranty dispute arising out of an asset purchase agreement.
Kazakhstan Kagazy Plc v Zhunus [2017] EWHC 3374 (Comm) and [2018] EWHC 369 (Comm)
Acting (with Michael Ashcroft QC and Alexander Milner) for the respondent in respect of enforcement proceedings brought against a non-party, following a US$300 million judgment handed down against the principal defendants.
Instructed (with John Taylor QC) to advise on claims arising from breach of a property development joint venture.
White Oak Europe Acquisition Limited v Axis Managing Agency Limited
Instructed (with Patricia Robertson QC) in a claim under a Warranty and Indemnity policy.
A v B
Instructed (with Charles Béar QC and Ben Lynch QC) in an LCIA arbitration relating to a £500 million+ reinsurance dispute.
Instructed, as sole counsel, to advise on competition law issues arising from a trade credit insurance scheme.
Advice on coverage claims.
Niamh has acted in a number of arbitration under various institutional rules including, LCIA, ICC and SIAC.
A v B
Instructed in an LCIA arbitration relating to a professional negligence claim (with Stephen Moriarty QC).
A v B
Instructed in an LCIA arbitration relating to a £500 million+ reinsurance dispute (with Charles Béar QC and Ben Lynch QC).
A v B
Acting in an ICC claim relating to the licensing of football broadcasting rights (with Simon Browne-Wilkinson QC).
Instructed as sole counsel to advise on commercial claims arising from an alleged failure to comply with the Gambling Commission Regulations.
Cardiff City FC v Mackay & Ors
Represented the claimant football club in three separate sets of proceedings against its former head coach and others in relation to claims of conspiracy, misrepresentation, and unjust enrichment. Led by Jeff Chapman QC and Caspar Glyn QC, instructed by Mishcon de Reya.
Acted in an ICC arbitration relating to the licensing of football broadcasting rights. Led by Simon Brown Wilkinson QC.
Warren v Burns [2014] EWHC 3671
Defended the boxer Ricky Burns in respect claims and counterclaims arising from management and promotion agreements concluded between the parties. Led by Mark Simpson QC, instructed by Mishcon de Reya.
Good Law Project v The Secretary of Health for Social Care
Acting for the Secretary of Health for Social Care in a procurement challenge brought under the Public Contracts and Utilities Regulations in respect of the award of antibody testing contracts during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Secretary of State for Transport v Arriva Rail East Midlands Ltd [2020] EWHC 1568 (TCC)
Successfully defended the Secretary of State for Transport in four separate procurement claims arising the disqualification of bidders from three separate franchise competitions for failing to comply with the pension requirements of the competitions. Led by Rhodri Thompson QC and Fionnuala McCredie QC, instructed by DLA Piper LLP, Addleshaw Goddard LLP and Eversheds Sutherland International.
Instructed to advise the Ministry of Defence in a procurement challenge brought under the Public Contracts and Utilities Regulations.
Instructed to advise the Secretary of Health for Social Care in a procurement challenge brought under the Public Contracts and Utilities Regulations.
A v B
Instructed in an LCIA arbitration relating to a professional negligence claim (with Stephen Moriarty QC).
Rowe & Ors v Ingenious Media Holdings Plc & Ors (listed in The Lawyer's Top 20 Cases of 2018)
Instructed by Coutts in the Ingenious Litigation to defend claims arising from advice given in respect of investments in the Ingenious film partnerships. Led by Richard Coleman QC and David Yates QC, instructed by TLT LLP.
CNM Estates (Tolworth Tower) Limited v (1) Vecref I Sarl [2020] EWHC 1605 (Comm)
Acting for LPA receivers in a multiparty professional negligence claim. Led by Mark Simpson QC, instructed by Kennedys LLP.
Instant Access Property Limited v Rosser and Ors [2018] EWHC 756 (Ch)
Successfully defending a firm of accountants in a multiparty professional negligence and fraud claim. Led by Mark Simpson QC, instructed by DAC Beachcroft LLP.
Instructed as sole counsel to advise on a claim by a company against its solicitors for failing to prevent the fraudulent diversion of its assets.
Alfie Harper
Team Leader
+44 (0)20 7842 3806
Click here to email
Sam McCrone
Team Leader's Assistant
+44 (0)20 7583 3335
Click here to email