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Practice Summary

Dan’s practice covers the full range of commercial litigation, arbitration and advisory work. He is regularly instructed in complex, high-value disputes, especially those with an international element. He brings particular expertise to energy and shareholder disputes from having worked at White & Case (London) and King & Wood Mallesons (Sydney).

Before joining chambers, Dan was an associate in the litigation and arbitration group of White & Case (London). While there, he acted in LCIA and ICC arbitrations across the energy, property and telecommunications sectors. Before that, he completed a training contract with the leading Australian firm King & Wood Mallesons, focusing on disputes and transactional work across the energy and construction sectors.

Recent highlights of Dan's practice include:

  • BGC Brokers LP v Tradition (UK) Ltd (QBD) – defending Tradition, one of the City’s main inter-dealer brokerage firms, from high-value and bitterly fought claims by one of its competitors. The case concerned alleged breaches of confidence and an alleged “team move” of brokers. Dan was heavily involved in a string of successful pre-trial hearings and appeals, preparing factual and expert evidence, and then the trial in late 2019. The case settled during cross-examination of the claimants’ key witnesses.
  • Kirk v Letschew (ChD) – as sole counsel, acting for the claimant in contribution proceedings arising out of a judgment against a company and its shareholders for software infringement.
  • Norwich Craft Beer Company Limited v Evans (ChD) – acting for the main shareholder and former director in proceedings against a minority shareholder for control of the Bullards brands of beer and gin. Dan drafted several pleadings and successfully obtained security for costs at the first CCMC.
  • RateSetter Trustee Services Limited v Purvis (Comm) – as sole counsel, defending a former company director from claims under his personal guarantee of a loan made to the company. The defence relies on misrepresentations by the lender and on collusion between the lender and the company’s subsequent controllers.  Dan was the advocate at the CCMC, dealing with disclosure issues and costs budgeting. A three-day trial is expected in late 2020.
  • Rosdale Pte Limited v Degevol UK Limited (Comm) – acting for companies that sought to recover Kazakh mining assets that had been misappropriated by the companies’ former directors and controllers. Dan was heavily involved in case strategy, drafting particulars of claim and preparing an application for permission to serve defendants outside the jurisdiction. The case settled shortly thereafter.