Katie Szewczyk
Deputy Senior Clerk
+44 (0)20 7842 3710
Click here to email
Call 1995 | Silk 2012
“Stuart is exceptional. One of the (if not the) most gifted oral advocates at the Bar – he is also razor sharp, dedicated, and an absolute pleasure to work with.”
Legal 500
Katie Szewczyk
Deputy Senior Clerk
+44 (0)20 7842 3710
Click here to email
Oliver Duane
Team Leader
+44 (0)20 7842 3779
Click here to email
Stuart Ritchie KC is recognised as one of the leading silks in practice at the Commercial Bar.
His practice encompasses domestic and international commercial disputes in litigation and arbitration. Particular areas of expertise include commercial contracts, civil fraud, disputes involving directors and senior executives and partners and LLP members.
Stuart is the author (with Andrew Stafford KC) of Fiduciary Duties: Directors and Employees.
Public Institution for Social Security v Al Rajaan & 37 Other Defendants
Acting as Lead Counsel for the Claimant in a claim for more than US$800 million alleging bribery against the former Director General of the Kuwaiti State Pension and Social Security Fund (one of The Lawyer’s ‘Top 20’ cases).
Golivina & Another v Rusal Plc
Instructed on behalf of the Defendant in connection with its challenge to the jurisdiction of the Jersey Court in a claim for breach of intellectual property rights by the Claimant and connected proceedings challenging redomiciliation under the Jersey Companies Legislation.
Sakho v WADA
Instructed by the former Liverpool footballer in connection with his claim against the World Anti-Doping Authority for negligence in connection with its allegations that he had taken a banned substance.
Various senior executives v Tesco Plc
Acting for Tesco in claims brought by senior executives arising out of the termination of their employment in connection with the 2014 misstatement of its accounts.
Katara v Guez [2018] EWHC 3063 (Comm)
Acting for the Claimant in claim to enforce guarantees in sum of US$60 million arising from sale of the business which held the Buddha Bar franchise.
Public Institution for Social Security v Al Rajaan & 37 Other Defendants
Acting as Lead Counsel for the Claimant in a claim for more than US$800 million alleging bribery against the former Director General of the Kuwaiti State Pension and Social Security Fund (one of The Lawyer’s ‘Top 20’ cases).
Iranian Offshore Engineering & Investment Company v Dean Investments & Others
Acting for the fifth and sixth defendants in a claim in respect of the first defendant’s allegedly fraudulent failure to deliver a large drilling rig for which the claimant paid US$87 million.
Pamplona v ISAM, Fink & Arora & Others - Cl 2016 404 (Comm)
Acting for the Claimant in its fraud claim against ISAM, Lord Fink and Surinder Arora arising out of the pre-emption provisions of the parties’ shareholders agreement.
DAAR & Bank Alkhair v Al Refai [2018] EWHC 616 (Comm); [2015] EWHC 1793
Acting for the main Defendant to conspiracy and fraud proceedings arising out of the termination of Mr. Al Refai’s directorship of the Claimant property company and bank and subsequent enforcement proceedings (one of The Lawyer’s ‘Top 20’ cases).
Bazhanov v Fosman [2017] EWHC 3403 (Comm)
Successfully challenging jurisdiction for a fraud claim on the part of a former government minister against alleged business partner.
VTB Capital v Nutritek Int Corp [2011] EWHC 3107 (Ch) [2011] EWHC 2842 (Ch)
Acting for the Claimant in the major fraud claim in connection with freezing relief and other interim issues.
Weight Watchers (UK) Ltd v Revenue & Customers Commissioners [2011] UKLT 433
Acting for Weight Watchers in their proceedings against the Revenue at both first instance, and in appeal, arising out of the tax and employment status of national “helpers” at their meetings.
Fiona Trust v Privalov
Acting for Mr. Privalov in the long-running Commercial Court fraud proceedings.
Public Institution for Social Security v Al Rajaan & 37 Other Defendants
Acting as Lead Counsel for the Claimant in a claim for more than US$800 million alleging bribery against the former Director General of the Kuwaiti State Pension and Social Security Fund (one of The Lawyer’s ‘Top 20’ cases).
Golivina & another v Rusal Plc
Instructed on behalf of the Defendant in connection with its challenge to the jurisdiction of the Jersey Court in a claim for breach of intellectual property rights by the Claimant and connected proceedings challenging redomiciliation under the Jersey Companies Legislation.
Katara v Guez [2018] EWHC 3063 (Comm)
Acting for the Claimant in claim to enforce guarantees in sum of US$60 million arising from sale of the business which held the Buddha Bar franchise.
Royal Westminster Investments v Varma [2012] EWHC 3439 (Comm)
Acting for the successful Defendant in resisting claim for interim relief under s, 25 CJJA arising out of alleged breach of a joint venture agreement and proceedings in BVI.
BAT Industries Plc v Windward Prospects Ltd [2013] EWHC 3612
Acting for the Defendant in proceedings concerning liability arising out of the remediation of the Fox River in Wisconsin and challenges brought by BAT in connection with reduction in capital and alleged unlawful distributions made by the Defendant.
Stobart Group v Tinkler LM 2018 113
Acting for the Defendant in the well-publicised dispute between the board members of the Stobart Group.
Pamplona v ISAM, Fink & Arora & Others - Cl 2016 404 (Comm)
Acting for the Claimant in its fraud claim against ISAM, Lord Fink and Surinder Arora arising out of the pre-emption provisions of the parties’ shareholders agreement.
DAAR & Bank Alkhair v Al Refai [2018] EWHC 616 (Comm); [2015] EWHC 1793
Acting for the main Defendant to conspiracy and fraud proceedings arising out of the termination of Mr. Al Refai’s directorship of the Claimant property company and bank and subsequent enforcement proceedings (one of The Lawyer’s ‘Top 20’ cases).
Nilon Ltd v Royal Westminster Investments SA [2015] UKPC 2
Acting for the successful Appellant in its challenge in the Privy Council from the Court of Appeal decision in the Court of the Eastern Caribbean: principal issue concerned the power to rectify a share register of members in the context of provisions to serve out of the jurisdiction: related proceedings.
Various senior executives v Tesco Plc
Acting for Tesco in claims brought by senior executives arising out of the termination of their employment in connection with the 2014 misstatement of its accounts.
Marathon Asset Management LLP v Seddon & Others [2017] EWHC 479 (Comm); [2017] EWHC 300 (Comm); [2016] EWHC 2615 Comm
Acting for the main Defendant to claims for conspiracy, breach of duty and breach of confidence arising from the alleged team move of the defendants to join Jeremy Hosking in joint venture. Involving detailed consideration of Wrotham Park/negotiating damages. Successfully argued that damages should be nominal only (one of The Lawyer’s ‘Top 20’ cases).
John Linwood v BBC [Employment Tribunal] 7 August 2014
Acting for the successful Claimant in proceedings brought against the BBC for unfair dismissal arising from his sacking as its Chief Technology Officer in connection with its Digital Media initiative.
Tullett Prebon v BGC Brokers LP & Others [2010] EWHC 989, [2010] EWHC 484
Acting for the lead individual Defendant in this leading team move case heard over 42 days of trial.
Stuart has extensive experience of domestic and international arbitration. Domestically, his experience is typically of disputes concerning professional services companies and firms and directors, LLP members or senior individuals within them. Internationally, arbitrations have concerned disputes arising out of commercial contracts in respect of sale of businesses and other financial transactions, many involving CIS parties. He has appeared in LCIA, ICC and ad hoc arbitrations.
L v I (LCIA 2010-2013)
Instructed for primary Respondent to a LCIA arbitration concerning alleged fraud and breach of fiduciary duty concerning sale of mineral business by an oligarch in a CIS state. Claim valued at in excess of $US200 million. Arbitration settled shortly before substantive hearing. Arbitral tribunal: Alan Redfern, David Sutton, Sir John Chadwick.
E v S (ICC 2013)
Instructed for Respondent in ICC arbitration concerning an operating agreement for a Guinea Gold Mine, in which both parties alleged that the other was in repudiatory breach, resulting in a temporary shut-down of the mine and a change of operating contractor. Arbitration settled shortly before substantive hearing. Arbitral Tribunal: John Marrin KC, Joe Smouha KC, Sir Gordon Langley.
T v A (LCIA 2011)
Acting for Respondent (counterclaiming claimant), an SPV owned by a CIS national in LCIA arbitration concerning fraud on a trading account operated by a major CIS bank. Instructed one month prior to hearing. Amended case and successfully obtained award for US$10million in respect of unauthorised trading. Arbitrator: Hilary Heilbronn KC.
G v J&Y (Ad hoc 212-2013)
Dispute between two leading law firms in relation to alleged unlawful team move of star earners from one of its litigation teams to a rival firm in alleged unlawful team move. Settled prior to arbitration. Arbitrator: Christopher Style KC.
S v Multiple Parties (LCIA 2014)
Dispute concerning fraudulent sale of shares in company operating Kyrghistan gold mine.
Golivina & Another v Rusal Plc
Instructed on behalf of the Defendant in connection with its challenge to the jurisdiction of the Jersey Court in a claim for breach of intellectual property rights by the Claimant and connected proceedings challenging redomiciliation under the Jersey Companies Legislation.
National Housing Trust of Jamaica v Seaton Associates [2015] UKPC 43
Acting for the successful Appellant in its challenge in the Privy Council to an arbitral award on compound interest.
Nilon Ltd v Royal Westminster Investments SA [2015] UKPC 2
Acting for the successful Appellant in its challenge in the Privy Council from the Court of Appeal decision in the Court of the Eastern Caribbean: principal issue concerned the power to rectify a share register of members in the context of provisions to serve out of the jurisdiction: related proceedings.
Royal Westminster Investments v Varma [2012] EWHC 3439 (Comm)
Acting for the successful Defendant in resisting claim for interim relief under s, 25 CJJA arising out of alleged breach of a joint venture agreement and proceedings in BVI.
Sakho v WADA
Instructed by the former Liverpool footballer in connection with his claim against the World Anti-Doping Authority for negligence in connection with its allegations that he had taken a banned substance.
Sakho v WADA
Instructed by the former Liverpool footballer in connection with his claim against the World Anti-Doping Authority for negligence in connection with its allegations that he had taken a banned substance.
Weight Watchers (UK) Ltd v Revenue & Customers Commissioners [2011] UKLT 433
Acting for Weight Watchers in their proceedings against the Revenue at both first instance, and in appeal, arising out of the tax and employment status of national “helpers” at their meetings.
Katie Szewczyk
Deputy Senior Clerk
+44 (0)20 7842 3710
Click here to email
Oliver Duane
Team Leader
+44 (0)20 7842 3779
Click here to email