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Practice Summary

Jeffery Onions undertakes a wide range of complex commercial and company law disputes work both as an advocate and in an advisory context.  He has particular expertise in banking and finance, company and insolvency, commercial litigation, civil fraud, energy/oil and gas, insurance and reinsurance, shareholder disputes and international arbitration. He is registered with DIFC on the Register of Practitioners (Part II) in Dubai and also accepts appointments as an arbitrator and expert.

Recent cases include: 

  • PCP/Staveley v. Barclays Bank plc appearing at trial (with Alexander Polley and Oliver Butler) for Barclays in this high profile dispute involving substantial claims arising from the alleged role of PCP and Ms Steveley in assisting Barclays to raise £7 billion a capital raising conducted by the bank during the 2008 financial crisis (one of The Lawyer's top cases of 2019 and 2020).
  • Acting in an international arbitration (ICC) involving Chinese investments in foreign based funds involving issues of contractual construction, rectification, foreign law and fraud.
  • Acting for the claimant in a substantial fraud claim in relation to Kazakhstan mining assets raising issues of Kazakh law, jurisdiction and proper law.
  • Acting for excess insurers in a confidential dispute relating to costs coverage issues.
  • Advising on issues related to the quantum of damage arising from an international arbitration relating to substantial shipbuilding contract and fraud/bribery related claims.
  • Acting in and confidential dispute involving a major infrastructure provider in relation to issues arising with the entities using the infrastructure, dealing with contractual claims by those entities and arising out of complex scheme established for the use of the structure and advising on strategies to avoid and minimise claims.
  • Acting in a substantial arbitration involving a dispute between private equity funds in relation to the purchase of telecom towers in Africa.
  • Advising on contractual construction issues arising from a joint venture agreement in relation to a substantial public procurement exercise and the effect of challenges to the validity of the procurement exercise.
  • Advising an electricity provider on claims arising from damage to the provider’s infrastructure.

Current directory recommendations:

"Brilliantly user-friendly and tech-savvy for someone of his seniority," he's "a lawyer with great cross-examination skills who sees the whole picture." Commercial Litigation, Chambers UK 2022

"Phenomenally clever, good fun to work with and incredibly versatile." "He is an absolutely fantastic advocate who is very skilful in his arguments." Commercial Litigation, Chambers Global 2021

"He has a ferocious intellect and an impressive ability to assimilate a huge volume of factual matter in order to distil focused and valuable advice." "He is incredibly knowledgeable in the energy sector and is excellent at distilling complex legal points into pragmatic commercial advice." "He is an excellent lawyer who gives very succinct advice." Energy & Natural Resources, Chambers UK 2022

"Amazing - in the top category of QCs." "Pragmatic, down-to-earth and firm with clients when he needs to be." "Extremely responsive, client-friendly and steeped in the oil and gas industry." Energy & Natural Resources, Chambers Global 2021

"When solicitors need a real heavyweight, Jeffery is one of their top choices. He will never shy away from a fight if it needs to be had, and his forensic legal analysis is uncompromising." Commercial Litigation, Legal 500 2021

"Brilliant, fully deserving of his reputation, he is one of the best cross-examiners at the commercial Bar." Energy, Legal 500 2021

“An impressive and very experienced barrister who is never afraid to take a view where others may sit on the fence.” Commercial Litigation, Legal 500 2020

"His analysis is extremely thorough and detailed, he's aware of the commercial drivers for the client, and he thinks about the problem in the round." "He gets stuck in, and he's a heavyweight who is very good on technical points."  Commercial Disputes Resolution, Chambers UK 2020

"A huge support to the team throughout and his analysis was extremely forensic."  Commercial Litigation, Legal 500 UK 2019-2020

"He is phenomenally intelligent yet client-friendly." "He is always willing to take time to bring people up to speed and is good at handling clients." "He is steeped in the oil and gas industry."  Energy & Natural Resources, Chambers UK 2020 

Other directory recommendations; 

"A formidable opponent – he has a tremendously impressive ability to master complex facts to distil high-quality legal advice.", ‘Extremely client friendly and quick-minded.’, ‘A class act on his feet, very good on the detail and a super cross-examiner.’, "He is incredibly hands-on and user-friendly for a very senior counsel, and his ability to synthesise arguments and present them effectively is very impressive." "He is a very thorough, very courteous and utterly reliable advocate.", "A real authority with years of experience; there's nothing he doesn't know. In court he has real presence and is a great cross-examiner.", "Has formidable technical knowledge, and is a demon cross-examiner." "He rolls up his sleeves and gets completely stuck in.", "He rolls up his sleeves and gets completely stuck in - he is consummately flexible and so immersed in his subject." "He is steeped in the oil and gas industry." "Phenomenally intelligent and very client-friendly.", "He's fantastically hands-on for such a senior leading counsel.", "Phenomenally intelligent yet client-friendly." "He's a very good cross examiner and very hard-working.", "A heavyweight advocate with real clarity of argument and courtroom presence". 

Significant and reported cases in specific practice areas are detailed in the full CV.