Emma Jones
Barrister
Call 2010
Emma Jones is a leading junior with a broad practice encompassing all aspects of commercial litigation, arbitration and advisory work. Emma was awarded Commercial Litigation Junior of the Year (Chambers UK Bar Awards 2022), and is ranked in Band 1 for Commercial Dispute Resolution (Chambers & Partners 2023). Emma has been described as “an absolute star” (Legal 500 2020) and an “incredibly bright and well-recognised junior” (Chambers & Partners 2021). Emma regularly acts in some of the most complex and high-profile commercial cases, and has extensive experience of high-value energy, banking and civil fraud disputes.
Emma consistently appears in many of the most significant, market leading commercial disputes of the day, including: ACL Netherlands BV (as successor to Autonomy Corporation Limited) & Ors v Lynch & Anr [2022] EWHC 1178 (Ch) relating to the acquisition of Autonomy by the HP group; Travelport Ltd v WEX [2020] EWHC 2670 (Comm), which is now one of the leading cases on material adverse effect clauses in English law; The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (as receiver for Amcore Bank) v Barclays Bank PLC & Ors, large-scale litigation brought by FDIC against a number of LIBOR panel banks in relation to alleged USD LIBOR misconduct; and Allianz Global Investors GmbH & Ors v G4S PLC [2022] EWHC 1081 (Ch); [2022] EWHC 1742 (Ch); [2022] EWHC 1719 (Ch), multi-action shareholder claims brought under section 90A and Schedule 10A of FSMA.
-
Examples of Recent Cases
-
Commercial Litigation
Emma was awarded Commercial Litigation Junior of the Year (Chambers UK Bar Awards 2022), and is ranked in Band 1 for Commercial Dispute Resolution (Chambers and Partners 2023).
Emma deals with a wide range of commercial disputes spanning multiple industries. She has been involved in a number of the most high-profile and complex commercial claims in recent years.
Chambers & Partners 2023 (Commercial Dispute Resolution) "Emma is incredibly intelligent, produces brilliant written work and is able to assimilate information very quickly in order to produce very clear advice."
Chambers & Partners 2023 (Commercial Dispute Resolution) "The quality of her written work is exceptional; she is destined to be a star."
- Various Claimants v G4S plc [2022] EWHC 1081 (Ch); [2022] EWHC 1742 (Ch); [2022] EWHC 1719 (Ch)
Acting (with Laurence Rabinowitz KC and Simon Colton KC) for G4S Limited, the multi-national security services company, defending shareholder claims arising out of alleged fraudulent misstatements in G4S’s annual reports. - Federal Deposit Insurance Company v Barclays & others
Acting (with Conall Patton KC and Josh Holmes KC) for Rabobank in a claim brought by the FDIC against a number of LIBOR panel banks in relation to alleged USD LIBOR misconduct. - Rasmala Trade Finance Fund v Trafigura Pte Limited
Acting (with Neil Kitchener KC) for the defendant, Trafigura, in a claim brought for the return of payments alleged to have been made on the basis of a mistake and/or as a result of the alleged fraud of a third party. - Crane Bank v DFCU Bank
Acting for one of the defendants in defending claims of unlawful means conspiracy arising out of the acquisition of a Ugandan banking business. - Travelport Ltd v WEX [2020] EWHC 2670 (Comm)
Acted (with Sonia Tolaney KC and James MacDonald KC) for the defendant buyer in the trial of certain preliminary issues relating to the interpretation and applicability of a “Material Adverse Effect” clause in a proposed US$1.7 billion acquisition in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. - The Carphone Warehouse Ltd v Telefónica UK Ltd
Acted (with Anna Boase KC) for the defendant, a well-known telecommunications company, in a contractual dispute concerning the availability of special offer tariffs and the provision of customer data. - Sotheby’s v Bersheda [2021] EWHC 20 (QB)
Appeared (with Sonia Tolaney KC) for the applicant, Sotheby’s, in relation to a letter of request seeking evidence in support of proceedings brought against Sotheby’s in the US by various companies associated with the oligarch, Dmitry Rybolovlev. - Libyan Investment Authority v JP Morgan Markets Limited
Acted (with Sonia Tolaney KC) for JP Morgan in a claim brought by the LIA concerning a US$200 million derivative transaction allegedly entered into as part of a fraudulent scheme. - CCUK Finance Ltd v Barclays Bank plc [2018] EWHC 304 (Comm)
Acted (with Sonia Tolaney KC) for Barclays Bank in a substantial claim concerning the alleged mis-selling of PBP in relation to a portfolio of credit cards. - Chesterfield United and others v Deutsche Bank & others
Acted (with Martin Pascoe KC and Sebastian Isaac) for a senior employee of Deutsche Bank joined in his personal capacity to claims by SPVs which invested in Kaupthing debt in 2008. - Philips Pension Trustees Limited v Aon Hewitt and AllianceBernstein
Acted (with Laurence Rabinowitz KC and Sebastian Isaac) for AllianceBernstein defending a claim for alleged breach of a discretionary fund management agreement. - BG Global Energy Ltd & ors v Talisman Sinopec Energy UK Limited & ors [2015] EWHC 110 (Comm)
Appeared (with Sa’ad Hossain KC) for Talisman in a trial of a number of preliminary issues relating to the proper interpretation of a transportation, processing and operating services agreement. - Sabbagh v Khoury [2014] EWHC 3233 (Comm)
Appeared (with Anthony Grabiner KC, Laurence Rabinowitz KC and Simon Colton) for Ms Sabbagh in a 5-day jurisdiction hearing concerning the Brussels Regulation and issues of forum conveniens. - Alphasteel Limited (In Liquidation) v Shahram Shirkhani & others [2012] EWHC 2407 (Comm) & [2013] EWCA Civ 1272
Appeared (with Neil Kitchener KC) for the Respondents in successfully opposing (at first instance and on appeal) an application brought under CPR r.31.22(1) for permission to use documents disclosed in proceedings that had been compromised in 2011. - Royal Mail Group Ltd v Manpower UK Ltd & another
Acted (with Camilla Bingham KC) for the defendants in an action for breach of contract/restitution arising out of the provision of temporary workers to a well-known government-owned business. - Acted (unled) for the claimant in a debt claim seeking to recover in the region of $2million under a loan agreement.
- Acted (unled) for a major online supermarket in successfully opposing an application by the defendant to set aside default judgment obtained in a claim brought by the supermarket for damages for breach of contract.
- Various Claimants v G4S plc [2022] EWHC 1081 (Ch); [2022] EWHC 1742 (Ch); [2022] EWHC 1719 (Ch)
-
Energy and Natural Resources
Emma has extensive experience of advising and acting in relation to energy disputes, including for super-majors. She regularly advises on the proper interpretation and application of gas sale agreements, joint venture operating agreements, transportation and processing agreements, and services agreements, particularly on issues relating to price, termination, and force majeure.
Legal 500 2022 (Energy) "A total superstar, absolutely brilliant and destined for the top, she has the makings of an excellent and calm advocate."
Chambers & Partners 2021 (Energy & Natural Resources) "An incredibly bright and well-recognised junior. She produces work of an exceptionally high quality and her responses are top-class."
Chambers & Partners 2017 (Energy & Natural Resources) "Draws impressive praise from peers and clients for her work across commercial energy matters. She has particular expertise in cases relating to gas sale, joint venture operation and services agreements."
- Last Mile Gas Ltd v E.ON Energy Solutions Ltd
Acted (unled) in a dispute concerning the liability of a registered user to pay meter removal charges under the independent gas transporters’ uniform network code. - LCIA proceedings
Acted (with Daniel Toledano KC) in a dispute concerning the effectiveness and interpretation of contractual provisions relating to third party access to an LNG regasification terminal. - ICC / UNCITRAL proceedings
Acted (with Laurence Rabinowitz KC and others) for ammonia plants in parallel disputes concerning the non-supply of gas by a state-owned entity on the grounds of alleged Force Majeure. - LCIA proceedings (2016 – 2017)
Acted (with Jeffrey Onions KC) for a state-owned entity in an arbitration relating to the termination of an agreement for the development of a wind farm in the North Sea. - BG Global Energy Ltd & ors v Talisman Sinopec Energy UK Limited & ors [2015] EWHC 110 (Comm)
Appeared (with Sa’ad Hossain KC) for Talisman in a trial of a number of preliminary issues relating to the proper interpretation of a transportation, processing and operating services agreement. - ICC proceedings
Appeared (with Daniel Toledano KC) in a dispute concerning the interpretation and application of pre-emption provisions in a joint venture operating agreement. - Advised (with Laurence Rabinowitz KC) on a dispute arising under an LNG sale and purchase agreement.
- Advised (with Laurence Rabinowitz KC) on a dispute raising issues of gas ownership and company law.
- Advised (with Laurence Rabinowitz KC) on the interpretation of the force majeure provisions and warranties in a series of related gas supply contracts.
- Advised (with Laurence Rabinowitz KC) on issues arising out of the construction of a contract for the operation and maintenance of a floating, production, storage and offloading vessel and related agreements.
- Advised (with Laurence Rabinowitz KC) the non-conflicted parties on the construction of interlocking gas transportation and processing agreements.
- Advised (with Laurence Rabinowitz KC) on the construction and termination of a processing and delivery services agreement.
- Acted (unled) for an electricity supplier in a one-day trial seeking to recover amounts due under unpaid invoices.
- Last Mile Gas Ltd v E.ON Energy Solutions Ltd
-
Banking and Finance
Emma regularly acts in banking and financial services disputes, including disputes involving regulatory matters, derivative transactions and allegations of mis-selling.
Emma is recommended in Legal 500 2022 (Banking & Finance) "A very impressive junior."
Legal 500 2021 (Banking & Finance) "A technically very gifted counsel with a superb eye for detail. She can master the arguments and she is spot on when it comes to case strategy. Very responsive and a pleasure to work with."
- Federal Deposit Insurance Company v Barclays & ors
Acting (with Conall Patton KC and Josh Holmes KC) for Rabobank in a claim brought by the FDIC against a number of LIBOR panel banks in relation to alleged USD LIBOR misconduct. - Crane Bank v DFCU Bank
Acting for one of the defendants in defending claims of unlawful means conspiracy arising out of the acquisition of a Ugandan banking business. - Libyan Investment Authority v JP Morgan Markets Limited
Acted (with Sonia Tolaney KC) for JP Morgan in a claim brought by the LIA concerning a US$200 million derivative transaction allegedly entered into as part of a fraudulent scheme. - CCUK Finance Ltd v Barclays Bank plc [2018] EWHC 304 (Comm)
Acted (with Sonia Tolaney KC) for Barclays Bank in a substantial claim concerning the alleged mis-selling of PBP in relation to a portfolio of credit cards. - Chesterfield United and others v Deutsche Bank and others
Acted (with Martin Pascoe KC and Sebastian Isaac) for a senior employee of Deutsche Bank joined in his personal capacity to claims by SPVs which invested in Kaupthing debt in 2008. - Philips Pension Trustees Limited v Aon Hewitt and AllianceBernstein
Acted (with Laurence Rabinowitz KC and Sebastian Isaac) for AllianceBernstein defending a claim for alleged breach of a discretionary fund management agreement. - Ian Hannam v Financial Conduct Authority [2014] UKUT 0233 (TCC)
Appeared (with Laurence Rabinowitz KC) for Ian Hannam in a reference to the Upper Tribunal challenging the decision of the FCA to impose a penalty for market abuse. The decision of the Upper Tribunal provides the most extensive analysis to date by any judicial tribunal of the market abuse provisions of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, including the definition of “inside information”.
- Federal Deposit Insurance Company v Barclays & ors
-
Civil Fraud
Emma has significant experience of advising and acting in disputes involving allegations of fraud and other serious wrongdoing, including the high-profile Autonomy litigation and the shareholder actions brought against G4S Limited under section 90A and Schedule 10A of FSMA.
- Various Claimants v G4S plc [2022] EWHC 1081 (Ch); [2022] EWHC 1742 (Ch); [2022] EWHC 1719 (Ch)
Acting (with Laurence Rabinowitz KC and Simon Colton KC) for G4S Limited, the multi-national security services company, defending shareholder claims for in excess of £100 million arising out of alleged fraudulent misstatements in G4S’s annual reports. - Crane Bank v DFCU Bank
Acting for one of the defendants in defending claims of unlawful means conspiracy arising out of the acquisition of a Ugandan banking business. - Federal Deposit Insurance Company v Barclays & others
Acting (with Conall Patton KC and Josh Holmes KC) for Rabobank in a claim brought by the FDIC against a number of LIBOR panel banks in relation to alleged USD LIBOR misconduct. - Rasmala Trade Finance Fund v Trafigura Pte Limited
Acting (with Neil Kitchener KC) for the defendant, Trafigura, in a claim brought for the return of payments alleged to have been made by the claimant on the basis of a mistake and/or as a result of the alleged fraud of a third party. - Autonomy v Lynch and Hussain [2022] EWHC 1178 (Ch)
Acting (with Laurence Rabinowitz KC, Patrick Goodall KC and Conall Patton KC) for companies within the HP group in claims for breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract and misrepresentation in relation to HP’s acquisition of Autonomy.
- Various Claimants v G4S plc [2022] EWHC 1081 (Ch); [2022] EWHC 1742 (Ch); [2022] EWHC 1719 (Ch)
-
Arbitration
- ICC / UNCITRAL proceedings
Acted (with Laurence Rabinowitz KC and others) for ammonia plants in parallel disputes concerning the non-supply of gas by a state-owned entity on the grounds of alleged Force Majeure. - LCIA proceedings
Appeared (with Jeffrey Onions KC) for a state-owned entity in a dispute relating to the termination of an agreement for the development of a wind farm in the North Sea. - ICC proceedings
Appeared (with Daniel Toledano KC) in a dispute concerning the interpretation and application of pre-emption provisions in a joint venture operating agreement. - LCIA proceedings
Acted (with Daniel Toledano KC) in a dispute concerning the effectiveness and interpretation of contractual provisions relating to third party access to an LNG regasification terminal.
- ICC / UNCITRAL proceedings
-
Company and Insolvency
- Autonomy v Lynch and Hussain [2022] EWHC 1178 (Ch)
Acting (with Laurence Rabinowitz KC, Patrick Goodall KC and Conall Patton KC) for companies within the HP group in claims for breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract and misrepresentation in relation to HP’s acquisition of Autonomy. - Re Coroin Limited [2012] EWHC 3343 (Ch) [2013] EWCA Civ 781
Appeared (with Kenneth MacLean KC, Sa’ad Hossain KC and Edmund Nourse KC) for the Barclay Interests in the expedited 30-day trial and related 3-day appeal of a combined section 994 petition and tortious claim concerning the ownership of The Connaught, Claridge’s and The Berkeley.
- Autonomy v Lynch and Hussain [2022] EWHC 1178 (Ch)
-
-
What the Directories Say
Chambers & Partners 2024 (Commercial Dispute Resolution) “Emma Jones is truly exceptional. Someone who clearly has an excellent legal brain, she is willing to be bold and has her own views on cases.”
Chambers & Partners 2024 (Energy & Natural Resources) “Emma Jones is a highly capable junior with excellent technical skills, knowledge of complex industry sectors and superb written advocacy.”
Legal 500 2024 (Commercial Litigation) “Exceptional advice and judgement. Emma is head and shoulders above other juniors.”
Legal 500 2024 (International Arbitration) ‘A brilliant mind who is hard working could not be either better or nicer. Absolutely top-class – an excellent choice for any arbitration that requires a top quality team.’
Legal 500 2024 (Banking & Finance) “Emma is an incredibly talented barrister, with a superb legal mind. She is exceptionally hard-working, writes beautifully, and thoroughly deserves her stellar reputation. She is definitely one of the future stars of the Bar.”
Legal 500 2024 (Energy & Natural Resources) “A brilliant mind with an unmatched work ethic, Emma is also modest. Undoubtedly one of the top juniors in this area.”
Chambers & Partners 2023 (Energy & Natural Resources) "Emma is incredibly intelligent, produces brilliant written work and is able to assimilate information very quickly in order to produce very clear advice."
Chambers & Partners 2023 (Commercial Dispute Resolution) "The quality of her written work is exceptional; she is destined to be a star."
Legal 500 2022 (Banking & Finance) "A very impressive junior"
Legal 500 2022 (Commercial Litigation) "Emma is superb - she does not sit on the fence and has clear views and advice."
Legal 500 2022 (Energy) "A total superstar, absolutely brilliant and destined for the top, she has the makings of an excellent and calm advocate."
Legal 500 2022 (International Arbitration) "Emma is proactive and responsive and was available throughout. Her legal analysis is excellent and her tactical advice is crucial."
Chambers & Partners 2022 (Commercial Dispute Resolution) "Excellent at drafting and strong intellectually. She is friendly and easy to work with as well."
Chambers & Partners 2022 (Energy & Natural Resources) "She is very thorough, quick and bright." "She is fantastic."
Legal 500 2021 (Banking & Finance) "A technically very gifted counsel with a superb eye for detail. She can master the arguments and she is spot on when it comes to case strategy. Very responsive and a pleasure to work with."
Legal 500 2021 (Commercial Litigation) "Emma is thoughtful and easy to work with. She has exceptional analytical ability and drafts beautifully. A real star."
Legal 500 2021 (Energy) "A rising star, very astute and hardworking, she has a deep understanding of energy issues and very sound commercial judgement."
Chambers & Partners 2021 (Commercial Dispute Resolution) "A very strong junior who knows the details of her cases inside out and is a great person to have at the end of the phone for advice." "She is hard-working and effective."
Chambers & Partners 2021 (Energy & Natural Resources) "An incredibly bright and well-recognised junior. She produces work of an exceptionally high quality and her responses are top-class."
Legal 500 2020 (Banking & Finance) "Very clever and gets points quickly, she is very able to deal with complex legal and regulatory issues - a superb junior."
Legal 500 2020 (Commercial Litigation) "Absolute star - incredibly clever and very thorough."
Chambers & Partners 2020 (Commercial Dispute Resolution) "A very clever junior who is really technically able, delivers good drafting and is easy to work with; she's always at the end of the telephone and she'll think through points with the solicitor."
Chambers & Partners 2020 (Energy & Natural Resources) "Her capacity for work is phenomenal and her drafting is exceptional. Her ideas are very useful and of a high standard."
Chambers & Partners 2019 (Commercial Dispute Resolution) "A real team player who is hard-working, willing to get stuck into the detail and very responsive." "Her views are always thoughtful and considered, and she takes a commercial approach."
Chambers & Partners 2019 (Energy & Natural Resources) "Can process a large amount of information extremely quickly and weave it into a very well-presented narrative." "She has an incisive legal mind and the quality of her legal analysis is excellent."
Legal 500 2019 (Banking & Finance) "A very responsive, hardworking junior."
Legal 500 2018 (Banking & Finance) "Responsive and thoughtful, her advice is always practical."
Chambers & Partners 2018 (Commercial Dispute Resolution) "Hard-working, willing to get stuck into the detail and very responsive, she has an understated assuredness that inspires confidence." "Grasps difficult issues quickly."
Chambers & Partners 2018 (Energy & Natural Resources) "Her drafting skills are first-rate and her legal knowledge is very impressive indeed."
Chambers & Partners 2017 (Commercial Dispute Resolution) “A promising and hard-working young junior who regularly handles high-value company and energy disputes involving both domestic and overseas clients.” "Her ability to turn out a 150-page submission in a short period of time to a ridiculously high standard was very impressive." "She is very methodical, diligent and hard-working."
Chambers & Partners 2017 (Energy & Natural Resources) “Draws impressive praise from peers and clients for her work across commercial energy matters. She has particular expertise in cases relating to gas sale, joint venture operation and services agreements."
Chambers & Partners 2016 (Commercial Dispute Resolution) “growing reputation as junior counsel to watch among peers and instructing solicitors”. “Very bright and hard-working, and a real joy to work with.” “She has an awesome intellect and very good client skills”
-
Academic Achievements
University of Oxford: John House Prize for best performance in Preliminary Examinations [2006]
University of Oxford, Hertford College: Adam Johnson scholarship [2007]
University of Oxford, Hertford College Scholar [2006 – 2008]
University of Oxford: Gibbs Prize for best performance in Final Honour School of Geography [2008]
University of Oxford: A.J. Herbertson Prize for best Human Geography Dissertation [2008]
Hertford College: Royal Geographical Society Historical Geography Research Group Prize for best undergraduate dissertation [2008]
GDL and BVC Exhibitioner, Inner Temple [2008 – 2010] -
Other Experience
Summer Analyst, UK Mergers & Acquisitions, Citigroup [2007]
-
Education
Hertford College, University of Oxford: BA (Hons) Geography (Double First) [2005 - 2008]
BPP Law School, GDL (Distinction, Top 5 in Year) [2008 - 2009]
BPP Law School, BVC (Outstanding, 1st in Year) [2009 - 2010]