Robert Harris
Barrister
Call 2020
Ranked by Chambers & Partners for both general Commercial Dispute Resolution and Civil Fraud, Rob has a broad commercial practice across Chambers’ profile, with a particular focus on banking and finance, civil fraud, energy and natural resources, and general commercial disputes. He has extensive experience of both litigation and arbitration, with most of his work involving international elements. He works in counsel teams of various sizes (including frequently being led out of Chambers), and has appeared as sole counsel in the High Court and County Court.
Rob’s practice so far has been dominated by large ‘groups’ of cases, instructed across multiple sets of overlapping proceedings (both litigation and arbitration) for the same client, underpinned by complex commercial considerations. Many have featured in The Lawyer’s ‘Top 20’ cases.
His current and recent instructions include:
- Boohoo Securities Class Action: acting for Boohoo (led by Sonia Tolaney KC and Patricia Burns) defending ‘stock-drop’ class action proceedings brought by 59 shareholders, arising out of alleged breaches of ESG requirements by the fast-fashion retailer, pursuant to Section 90A of FSMA.
- EuroChem v SocGen & ING Bank: acting for ING (led by Neil Kitchener KC and James Weale) in an important case about whether EU sanctions preclude banks from making bond payments to a Russian fertiliser company founded by a sanctioned oligarch. One of The Lawyer’s ‘Top 20’ cases of 2025. The ground-breaking trial judgment found comprehensively in favour of the banks (who were awarded some of their costs on the indemnity basis): [2025] EWHC 1938 (Comm).
- PIFSS v Al Rajaan: acted for Union Bancaire Privée (a Swiss private bank) and members of the de Picciotto family (led by Tom Adam KC and Douglas Paine), defending claims based on alleged payment of secret commissions, as part of consolidated Commercial Court proceedings in which over US$900 million was sought against 45 defendants. One of The Lawyer’s ‘Top 20’ cases of both 2020 and 2025, and tried across 12 months in 2025-26.
- Virgin Enterprises v Brightline Holdings: acted for Virgin (led by Daniel Toledano KC and Max Schlote) in a claim about the value of the Virgin brand and the wrongful termination of a trade-mark licence agreement, with a particular focus on whether a complex M&A transaction constituted a ‘change of control’.
- APS & Alpine v Sumitomo Pharma: acted for Sumitomo Pharma (led by Sonia Tolaney KC and Andrew Blake) in proceedings in the Supreme Court of Bermuda, in which two hedge-funds sought an appraisal of the ‘fair value’ of the shares they used to own in a NYSE-listed pharmaceutical company (Myovant Sciences) prior to it being taken private.
- RAKIA v Azima: acted for Dechert LLP (led by Tom Adam KC and Craig Morrison KC) defending allegations of computer hacking and the procurement of a Court judgment by fraud in proceedings brought by a US-Iranian businessman against the Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority and others. One of The Lawyer’s ‘Top 20’ cases of 2020 and (until settlement) was listed for a 10-week trial in 2024.
- Al Sadeq v Dechert; Quzmar v Dechert; Stokoe Partnership Solicitors v Dechert: acted for Dechert LLP (led by Philip Edey KC, Phillippa Kaufmann KC, Luke Pearce KC, and Craig Morrison KC) in consolidated proceedings involving allegations of wrongdoing by solicitors in connection with a civil fraud investigation in the Middle East.
- Gerrard v ENRC & Diligence: acted for Neil Gerrard (a former partner at Dechert LLP) (led by Adam Wolanski KC) in proceedings about covert surveillance.
- AMMENA v AML: acted for Aston Martin Lagonda (led by Iain Quirk KC and Sophie Weber) in Commercial Court proceedings against its Middle Eastern distributor, involving debt claims by both sides and allegations of bad faith. Following trial, the Court comprehensively rejected the allegations of bad faith made against AML: [2023] EWHC 3285 (Comm).
- AML v PIMG: acted for Aston Martin Lagonda (led by Iain Quirk KC) in proceedings against its retail dealer in Kuwait about the restoration and sale of 33 ‘classic’ Aston Martin cars. Following trial, AML’s claims succeeded to such an extent that it was awarded its costs on the indemnity basis: [2024] EWHC 284 (Comm).
- Confidential Arbitration: acted for a FTSE 250 company in LCIA-administered arbitration proceedings under the UNCITRAL Rules.
- TRW v Kemet: acted for one of the world’s largest manufacturers of car parts (led by Paul Downes KC and David Caplan) against a supplier of defective capacitors which had caused a global recall of airbag control units.
- Total Waste Management v URM: acting as sole counsel in a High Court dispute between two recycling companies, including defending allegations of fraudulent overweighing and misappropriation said to have taken place over a period of many years.
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Examples of Recent Cases
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Agency
- RAKIA v Azima
Acted for Dechert LLP (led by Tom Adam KC and Craig Morrison KC) defending allegations of computer hacking and the procurement of a Court judgment by fraud in proceedings brought by a US-Iranian businessman against the Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority and others. One of The Lawyer’s ‘Top 20’ cases of 2020 and (until settlement) was listed for a 10-week trial in 2024. The Defendants were alleged to have been the agents of RAKIA, acting on the instructions of RAK’s Ruler.
- AMMENA v AML
Acted for Aston Martin Lagonda (led by Iain Quirk KC and Sophie Weber) in Commercial Court proceedings against its Middle Eastern distributor. The parties’ relationship was governed by a Distribution Agreement and an Agency Agreement, and the case raised many questions about agency. Following trial, the Court comprehensively rejected the allegations of bad faith made against AML: [2023] EWHC 3285 (Comm). - Volkswagen Emissions Litigation
Assisted Nick Sloboda KC and Emma Jones (during pupillage) in advising the Volkswagen Group on various questions about agency and attribution of knowledge.
- RAKIA v Azima
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Arbitration
- AMMENA v AML
Acted for Aston Martin Lagonda (led by Iain Quirk KC and Sophie Weber) in an appeal under Section 69 of the Arbitration Act 1996. The judgment (which upheld the Tribunal’s decision in AML’s favour) held that the test at the substantive hearing of a Section 69 appeal is always simply whether the Tribunal was ‘wrong’ even if it had been necessary for a higher merits threshold (‘obviously wrong’) to be satisfied at the permission stage: [2025] EWHC 2531 (Comm). - Confidential Arbitration
Acted for a FTSE 250 company in LCIA-administered arbitration proceedings under the UNCITRAL Rules. - Confidential Arbitration
Acted as an expert witness on English contract law in arbitration proceedings in Cyprus. - Confidential Matter
Advised on the procedure and prospects of success of an application for a stay pursuant to Section 9 of the Arbitration Act 1996. - ICC Arbitration
Assisted Alex Gunning KC, Sebastian Isaac KC, and others (during pupillage) acting for a Dutch infrastructure investment company in a US$2.5 billion dispute with its joint venture partner in relation to the building of a grain terminal in Russia. Worked in particular on allegations of conspiracy, and the possibility of frustration and force majeure. - LCIA Arbitration
Assisted Daniel Toledano KC and Emma Jones (during pupillage) in a contractual dispute about a commodity company’s rights in relation to an LNG regasification terminal in Pakistan. - General Dynamics UK v The State of Libya
Assisted Daniel Toledano KC and James Ruddell (during pupillage) in an appeal to the Supreme Court about the enforceability of an arbitration award against the State of Libya: [2021] UKSC 22.
- AMMENA v AML
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Banking and Finance
- EuroChem v SocGen & ING Bank
Acting for ING (led by Neil Kitchener KC and James Weale) in an important case about whether EU sanctions preclude banks from making bond payments to a Russian fertiliser company founded by a sanctioned oligarch. One of The Lawyer’s ‘Top 20’ cases of 2025. The ground-breaking trial judgment (which contained important analysis on the place of performance of on-demand financial instruments) found comprehensively in favour of the banks (who were awarded some of their costs on the indemnity basis): [2025] EWHC 1938 (Comm). - PIFSS v Al Rajaan
Acted for Union Bancaire Privée (a Swiss private bank) and members of the de Picciotto family (led by Tom Adam KC and Douglas Paine), defending claims based on alleged payment of secret commissions, as part of consolidated Commercial Court proceedings in which over US$900 million was sought against 45 defendants. One of The Lawyer’s ‘Top 20’ cases of both 2020 and 2025, and tried across 12 months in 2025-26. - Boohoo Securities Class Action
Acting for Boohoo (led by Sonia Tolaney KC and Patricia Burns) defending ‘stock-drop’ class action proceedings brought by 59 shareholders, arising out of alleged breaches of ESG requirements by the fast-fashion retailer, pursuant to Section 90A of FSMA. - APS & Alpine v Sumitomo Pharma
Acted for Sumitomo Pharma (led by Sonia Tolaney KC and Andrew Blake) in proceedings in the Supreme Court of Bermuda, in which two hedge-funds sought an appraisal of the ‘fair value’ of the shares they used to own in a NYSE-listed pharmaceutical company (Myovant Sciences) prior to it being taken private. - AJB v Citibank
Acted as sole counsel for Citibank in settling a Defence responding to allegations of breach of contract. - Khalid v Binance
Acted as sole counsel for Binance in proceedings about losses alleged to have been suffered as a result of margin calls on cryptocurrency loans. - HMRC v Domino’s Pizza
Acted as sole counsel for Domino’s Pizza in proceedings about Domino’s tax liabilities in respect of a senior management incentivisation scheme. - Kwok v UBS AG
Assisted Sa’ad Hossain KC, Sebastian Isaac KC, and Matthew Hoyle (during pupillage) in resisting the Defendant bank’s challenge to the jurisdiction of the English courts to hear claims relating to allegations of negligence and misrepresentation, arising out of the exercise by the bank of its security rights following a margin call. - Rasmala Trade Finance Fund v Trafigura
Assisted Daniel Toledano KC and Emma Jones (during pupillage) defending a commodity company against allegations that it was unjustly enriched and knowingly received payments from a trade finance fund which had been procured by a third party’s fraudulent scheme. - Crane Bank v DFCU Bank
Assisted Conall Patton KC and Emma Jones (during pupillage) acting for an affiliate of Rabobank in relation to a claim that a Ugandan bank was the victim of an unlawful means conspiracy to misappropriate its assets. - European Real Estate Debt Fund (Cayman) v Treon
Assisted Saul Lemer (during pupillage) in defending a deceit claim in relation to the purchase of loan notes allegedly procured by fraudulent misrepresentations.
- EuroChem v SocGen & ING Bank
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Civil Fraud and Economic Torts
- PIFSS v Al Rajaan
Acted for Union Bancaire Privée (a Swiss private bank) and members of the de Picciotto family (led by Tom Adam KC and Douglas Paine), defending claims based on alleged payment of secret commissions, as part of consolidated Commercial Court proceedings in which over US$900 million was sought against 45 defendants. One of The Lawyer’s ‘Top 20’ cases of both 2020 and 2025, and tried across 12 months in 2025-26.
- RAKIA v Azima
Acted for Dechert LLP (led by Tom Adam KC and Craig Morrison KC) defending allegations of computer hacking and the procurement of a Court judgment by fraud in proceedings brought by a US-Iranian businessman against the Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority and others. One of The Lawyer’s ‘Top 20’ cases of 2020 and (until settlement) was listed for a 10-week trial in 2024.
- Al Sadeq v Dechert; Quzmar v Dechert; Stokoe Partnership Solicitors v Dechert
Acted for Dechert LLP (led by Philip Edey KC, Phillippa Kaufmann KC, Luke Pearce KC, and Craig Morrison KC) in consolidated proceedings involving allegations of wrongdoing by solicitors in connection with a civil fraud investigation in the Middle East.
- Gerrard v ENRC & Diligence
Acted for Neil Gerrard (a former partner at Dechert LLP) (led by Adam Wolanski KC) in proceedings about covert surveillance.
- AMMENA v AML
Acted for Aston Martin Lagonda (led by Iain Quirk KC and Sophie Weber) in Commercial Court proceedings against its Middle Eastern distributor, involving debt claims by both sides and allegations of bad faith. The Court’s judgment considered novel arguments about the scope of good faith duties, and the extent to which they require a party to consider the other’s interests. It comprehensively rejected the allegations of bad faith made against AML [2023] EWHC 3285 (Comm).
- Total Waste Management v URM
Acting as sole counsel in a High Court dispute between two recycling companies, including defending allegations of fraudulent overweighing and misappropriation said to have taken place over a period of many years. - Stockvale & Miller Leisure v EDF Energy
Acting for EDF Energy in two related sets of proceedings, defending claims for equitable compensation brought on the basis that EDF allegedly paid secret commissions to energy brokers (and in doing so assisted in breaches of fiduciary duty) in order to procure energy supply contracts. - Ford v Holland
Acted as sole counsel in the trial of a civil fraud claim about conversion of second-hand vehicles. - HMRC v General Electric
Assisted Laurence Rabinowitz KC, Nick Sloboda KC, and others (during pupillage) in a dispute about the rescission of a settlement agreement for alleged fraudulent misrepresentation. The Court of Appeal considered whether the six-year limitation period for claims founded on the tort of deceit applies by analogy to a claim for equitable rescission: [2021] EWCA Civ. 534. - Confidential Matter
Assisted Lord Wolfson KC and Nick Sloboda KC (during pupillage) in relation to a dispute between wealthy individuals about the ownership of offshore assets, involving claims in unlawful means conspiracy, procuring breach of contract, dishonest assistance, knowing receipt, and unjust enrichment. - ICC Arbitration
Assisted Alex Gunning KC, Sebastian Isaac KC, and others (during pupillage) acting for a Dutch infrastructure investment company in a US$2.5 billion dispute with its joint venture partner in relation to the building of a grain terminal in Russia. Worked in particular on allegations of conspiracy, and the possibility of frustration and force majeure. - Tugushev v Orlov
Assisted Daniel Toledano KC, Emma Jones, and Joshua Crow (during pupillage) in relation to a dispute between wealthy businessmen about the ownership of an international fishing business. - Rasmala Trade Finance Fund v Trafigura
Assisted Daniel Toledano KC and Emma Jones (during pupillage) defending a commodity company against allegations that it was unjustly enriched and knowingly received payments from a trade finance fund which had been procured by a third party’s fraudulent scheme. - European Real Estate Debt Fund (Cayman) v Treon
Assisted Saul Lemer (during pupillage) in defending a deceit claim in relation to the purchase of loan notes allegedly procured by fraudulent misrepresentations.
- PIFSS v Al Rajaan
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Commercial Litigation
- Boohoo Securities Class Action
Acting for Boohoo (led by Sonia Tolaney KC and Patricia Burns) defending ‘stock-drop’ class action proceedings brought by 59 shareholders, arising out of alleged breaches of ESG requirements by the fast-fashion retailer, pursuant to Section 90A of FSMA. - EuroChem v SocGen & ING Bank
Acting for ING (led by Neil Kitchener KC and James Weale) in an important case about whether EU sanctions preclude banks from making bond payments to a Russian fertiliser company founded by a sanctioned oligarch. One of The Lawyer’s ‘Top 20’ cases of 2025. The ground-breaking trial judgment found comprehensively in favour of the banks (who were awarded some of their costs on the indemnity basis): [2025] EWHC 1938 (Comm). - PIFSS v Al Rajaan
Acted for Union Bancaire Privée (a Swiss private bank) and members of the de Picciotto family (led by Tom Adam KC and Douglas Paine), defending claims based on alleged payment of secret commissions, as part of consolidated Commercial Court proceedings in which over US$900 million was sought against 45 defendants. One of The Lawyer’s ‘Top 20’ cases of both 2020 and 2025, and tried across 12 months in 2025-26. - Virgin Enterprises v Brightline Holdings
Acted for Virgin (led by Daniel Toledano KC and Max Schlote) in a claim about the value of the Virgin brand and the wrongful termination of a trade-mark licence agreement, with a particular focus on whether a complex M&A transaction constituted a ‘change of control’. - APS & Alpine v Sumitomo Pharma
Acted for Sumitomo Pharma (led by Sonia Tolaney KC and Andrew Blake) in proceedings in the Supreme Court of Bermuda, in which two hedge-funds sought an appraisal of the ‘fair value’ of the shares they used to own in a NYSE-listed pharmaceutical company (Myovant Sciences) prior to it being taken private. - RAKIA v Azima
Acted for Dechert LLP (led by Tom Adam KC and Craig Morrison KC) defending allegations of computer hacking and the procurement of a Court judgment by fraud in proceedings brought by a US-Iranian businessman against the Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority and others. One of The Lawyer’s ‘Top 20’ cases of 2020 and (until settlement) was listed for a 10-week trial in 2024. - Al Sadeq v Dechert; Quzmar v Dechert; Stokoe Partnership Solicitors v Dechert
Acted for Dechert LLP (led by Philip Edey KC, Phillippa Kaufmann KC, Luke Pearce KC, and Craig Morrison KC) in consolidated proceedings involving allegations of wrongdoing by solicitors in connection with a civil fraud investigation in the Middle East. - AMMENA v AML
Acted for Aston Martin Lagonda (led by Iain Quirk KC and Sophie Weber) in Commercial Court proceedings against its Middle Eastern distributor, involving debt claims by both sides and allegations of bad faith. The Court’s judgment considered novel arguments about the scope of good faith duties, and the extent to which they require a party to consider the other’s interests. It comprehensively rejected the allegations of bad faith made against AML: [2023] EWHC 3285 (Comm). - AML v PIMG
Acted for Aston Martin Lagonda (led by Iain Quirk KC) in proceedings against its retail dealer in Kuwait about the restoration and sale of 33 ‘classic’ Aston Martin cars. Following trial, AML’s claims succeeded to such an extent that it was awarded its costs on the indemnity basis: [2024] EWHC 284 (Comm). - Confidential Arbitration
Acted for a FTSE 250 company in LCIA-administered arbitration proceedings under the UNCITRAL Rules. - Total Waste Management v URM
Acting as sole counsel in a High Court dispute between two recycling companies, including defending allegations of fraudulent overweighing and misappropriation said to have taken place over a period of many years. - Stockvale & Miller Leisure v EDF Energy
Acting for EDF Energy in two related sets of proceedings, defending claims for equitable compensation brought on the basis that EDF allegedly paid secret commissions to energy brokers (and in doing so assisted in breaches of fiduciary duty) in order to procure energy supply contracts. - TRW v Kemet
Acted for one of the world’s largest manufacturers of car parts (led by Paul Downes KC and David Caplan) against a supplier of defective capacitors which had caused a global recall of airbag control units. - Volkswagen Emissions Litigation
Assisted Charles Gibson KC, Prashant Popat KC, Nick Sloboda KC, Emma Jones, and others (during pupillage) acting for the Volkswagen Group in the ‘diesel-gate’ emissions claim, brought under the largest ever Group Litigation Order (around 100,000 Claimants). - Municipio de Mariana v BHP Group (Fundão Dam Litigation)
Assisted Daniel Toledano KC, Nick Sloboda KC, and others (during pupillage) acting for BHP in a US$7 billion claim by over 200,000 individual Brazilian Claimants in respect of the collapse of the Fundão Dam in Brazil. - HMRC v General Electric
Assisted Laurence Rabinowitz KC, Nick Sloboda KC, and others (during pupillage) in a dispute about the rescission of a settlement agreement for alleged fraudulent misrepresentation. The Court of Appeal considered whether the six-year limitation period for claims founded on the tort of deceit applies by analogy to a claim for equitable rescission: [2021] EWCA Civ. 534. - Kwok v UBS AG
Assisted Sa’ad Hossain KC, Sebastian Isaac KC, and Matthew Hoyle (during pupillage) in resisting the Defendant bank’s challenge to the jurisdiction of the English courts to hear claims relating to allegations of negligence and misrepresentation, arising out of the exercise by the bank of its security rights following a margin call. - Carphone Warehouse v Telefónica UK
Assisted Anna Boase KC and Emma Jones (during pupillage) acting for a well-known telecommunications company in a contractual dispute concerning the availability of special offer tariffs and the provision of customer data. - Last Mile Gas v E.ON Energy Solutions
Assisted Emma Jones (during pupillage) in a dispute concerning the liability of a registered user to pay meter removal charges under the Independent Gas Transporters’ Uniform Network Code. - Tugushev v Orlov
Assisted Daniel Toledano KC, Emma Jones, and Joshua Crow (during pupillage) in relation to a dispute between wealthy businessmen about the ownership of an international fishing business. - Rasmala Trade Finance Fund v Trafigura
Assisted Daniel Toledano KC and Emma Jones (during pupillage) defending a commodity company against allegations that it was unjustly enriched and knowingly received payments from a trade finance fund which had been procured by a third party’s fraudulent scheme. - Crane Bank v DFCU Bank
Assisted Conall Patton KC and Emma Jones (during pupillage) acting for an affiliate of Rabobank in relation to a claim that a Ugandan bank was the victim of an unlawful means conspiracy to misappropriate its assets.
- Boohoo Securities Class Action
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Company and Insolvency
- Boohoo Securities Class Action
Acting for Boohoo (led by Sonia Tolaney KC and Patricia Burns) defending ‘stock-drop’ class action proceedings brought by 59 shareholders, arising out of alleged breaches of ESG requirements by the fast-fashion retailer, pursuant to Section 90A of FSMA. - APS & Alpine v Sumitomo Pharma
Acted for Sumitomo Pharma (led by Sonia Tolaney KC and Andrew Blake) in proceedings in the Supreme Court of Bermuda, in which two hedge-funds sought an appraisal of the ‘fair value’ of the shares they used to own in a NYSE-listed pharmaceutical company (Myovant Sciences) prior to it being taken private. - RAKIA v Azima
Advised on the application of the rule against recovery of reflective loss. - Confidential Matter
Assisted Lord Grabiner KC (during pupillage) advising in relation to company directors acting for improper purposes. - Fonds Rusnano Capital SA v CRGF GP
Assisted Steven Elliott KC and Eleanor Campbell (during pupillage) in proceedings before the Royal Court of Guernsey to dissolve a limited partnership involving Russian parties. - Various
Acted for various parties (both petitioning creditors and debtor companies) in winding-up petitions in the High Court.
- Boohoo Securities Class Action
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Costs
- RAKIA v Azima
Successfully applied for and obtained security for costs on behalf of Dechert LLP. The Court’s judgment considered the principles which apply where there is little or no evidence as to the location, nature, and/or value of the Claimant’s assets due to their refusal to disclose such information: [2022] EWHC 1295 (Ch). - Municipio de Mariana v BHP Group (Fundão Dam Litigation)
Assisted Nick Sloboda KC (during pupillage) advising BHP on various matters in relation to costs, including the availability of indemnity costs and the costs liability of third-party litigation funders. - Carphone Warehouse v Telefónica UK
Assisted Emma Jones (during pupillage) advising on the costs consequences of amending a statement of case to delete a defence.
- RAKIA v Azima
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Energy and Natural Resources
- Stockvale & Miller Leisure v EDF Energy
Acting for EDF Energy in two related sets of proceedings, defending claims for equitable compensation brought on the basis that EDF allegedly paid secret commissions to energy brokers (and in doing so assisted in breaches of fiduciary duty) in order to procure energy supply contracts.
- Municipio de Mariana v BHP Group (Fundão Dam Litigation)
Assisted Daniel Toledano KC, Nick Sloboda KC, and others (during pupillage) acting for BHP in a US$7 billion claim by over 200,000 individual Brazilian Claimants in respect of the collapse of the Fundão Dam in Brazil. - LCIA Arbitration
Assisted Daniel Toledano KC and Emma Jones (during pupillage) in a contractual dispute about a commodity company’s rights in relation to an LNG regasification terminal in Pakistan. - Last Mile Gas v E.ON Energy Solutions
Assisted Emma Jones (during pupillage) in a dispute concerning the liability of a registered user to pay meter removal charges under the Independent Gas Transporters’ Uniform Network Code.
- Stockvale & Miller Leisure v EDF Energy
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Frustration and Force Majeure
- ICC Arbitration
Assisted Alex Gunning KC, Sebastian Isaac KC, and others (during pupillage) acting for a Dutch infrastructure investment company in a US$2.5 billion dispute with its joint venture partner in relation to the building of a grain terminal in Russia. Worked in particular on allegations of conspiracy, and the possibility of frustration and force majeure.
- ICC Arbitration
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Group Actions
- Boohoo Securities Class Action
Acting for Boohoo (led by Sonia Tolaney KC and Patricia Burns) defending ‘stock-drop’ class action proceedings brought by 59 shareholders, arising out of alleged breaches of ESG requirements by the fast-fashion retailer, pursuant to Section 90A of FSMA. - Volkswagen Emissions Litigation
Assisted Charles Gibson KC, Prashant Popat KC, Nick Sloboda KC, Emma Jones, and others (during pupillage) acting for the Volkswagen Group in the ‘diesel-gate’ emissions claim, brought under the largest ever Group Litigation Order (around 100,000 Claimants). - Municipio de Mariana v BHP Group (Fundão Dam Litigation)
Assisted Daniel Toledano KC, Nick Sloboda KC, and others (during pupillage) acting for BHP in a US$7 billion claim by over 200,000 individual Brazilian Claimants in respect of the collapse of the Fundão Dam in Brazil.
- Boohoo Securities Class Action
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Injunctions and Interim Applications
- RAKIA v Azima
Acted in relation to a number of interim applications. Successfully applied for and obtained security for costs on behalf of Dechert LLP ([2022] EWHC 1295 (Ch)), and successfully resisted applications for a split trial and for default judgment in circumstances where the lead Defendant had chosen not to take any further part in the proceedings ([2023] EWHC 2108 (Ch)). - Al Sadeq v Dechert; Quzmar v Dechert; Stokoe Partnership Solicitors v Dechert
Acted in a number of hearings dealing with novel questions about who should review stolen electronic devices for disclosure where multiple parties assert competing interests. - AML v PIMG
Successfully resisted applications for adjournment of the trial and for very late pleading amendments. - Khalid v Binance
Acted as sole counsel for Binance, including in relation to the setting aside of a default judgment, in proceedings about losses alleged to have been suffered as a result of margin calls on cryptocurrency loans. - HMRC v Domino’s Pizza
Acted as sole counsel for Domino’s Pizza, including in relation to an application by HMRC for relief from sanctions, in proceedings about Domino’s tax liabilities in respect of a senior management incentivisation scheme. - John Denby v ZF Automotive
Acted as sole counsel for ZF Automotive in successfully setting aside a default judgment. - Ambrosia Quality Food v Agora Greek Bakery
Acted as sole counsel for the Claimant in successfully obtaining relief from sanctions. - Marcham v Shaw and MIL (Pro Bono for CLIPS)
Assisted Sebastian Isaac KC (during pupillage) in applying for an injunction to prevent the Defendants from unlawfully interfering with the sale of the Claimant’s property.
- RAKIA v Azima
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Jurisdiction and Conflict of Laws
- PIFSS v Al Rajaan
Acted for Union Bancaire Privée (a Swiss private bank) and members of the de Picciotto family (led by Tom Adam KC and Douglas Paine), defending claims based on alleged payment of secret commissions, as part of consolidated Commercial Court proceedings in which over US$900 million was sought against 45 defendants. One of The Lawyer’s ‘Top 20’ cases of both 2020 and 2025, and tried across 12 months in 2025-26, at which a key issue was whether the applicable law was Kuwaiti law, Swiss law, or English law. - EuroChem v SocGen & ING Bank
Acting for ING (led by Neil Kitchener KC and James Weale) in an important case about whether EU sanctions preclude banks from making bond payments to a Russian fertiliser company founded by a sanctioned oligarch. One of The Lawyer’s ‘Top 20’ cases of 2025. The ground-breaking trial judgment found comprehensively in favour of the banks (who were awarded some of their costs on the indemnity basis): [2025] EWHC 1938 (Comm). Strategic considerations included the interplay with parallel proceedings commenced in Russia. - RAKIA v Azima
Acted for Dechert LLP (led by Tom Adam KC and Craig Morrison KC) defending allegations of computer hacking and the procurement of a Court judgment by fraud in proceedings brought by a US-Iranian businessman against the Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority and others. One of The Lawyer’s ‘Top 20’ cases of 2020 and (until settlement) was listed for a 10-week trial in 2024. A key issue was whether the applicable law was English law or US / Missouri law. - Confidential Matter
Advised on the procedure and prospects of success of an application for a stay pursuant to Section 9 of the Arbitration Act 1996. - Confidential Matter
Assisted Lord Wolfson KC and Nick Sloboda KC (during pupillage) advising on the governing law of various contractual-based, wrongdoing-based, and receipt-based claims in a complex, multi-jurisdictional dispute. - Kwok v UBS AG
Assisted Sa’ad Hossein KC, Sebastian Isaac KC, and Matthew Hoyle (during pupillage) in resisting the Defendant bank’s challenge to the jurisdiction of the English courts to hear claims relating to allegations of negligence and misrepresentation, arising out of the exercise by the bank of its security rights following a margin call. - Crane Bank v DFCU Bank
Assisted Conall Patton KC and Emma Jones (during pupillage) advising on the potential operation of the ‘foreign act of state’ doctrine as a jurisdictional defence.
- PIFSS v Al Rajaan
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Legal Professional Privilege
- RAKIA v Azima
Acted for Dechert LLP (led by Tom Adam KC and Craig Morrison KC) defending allegations of computer hacking and the procurement of a Court judgment by fraud in proceedings brought by a US-Iranian businessman against the Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority and others. One of The Lawyer’s ‘Top 20’ cases of 2020 and (until settlement) was listed for a 10-week trial in 2024. As the case related to allegations against a law firm of wrongdoing said to have been perpetrated during the course of a professional engagement, it raised various complex questions of legal professional privilege, including the scope of the ‘iniquity exception’. - Al Sadeq v Dechert; Quzmar v Dechert; Stokoe Partnership Solicitors v Dechert
Acting for Dechert LLP (led by Philip Edey KC, Phillippa Kaufmann KC, Luke Pearce KC, and Craig Morrison KC) in consolidated proceedings involving allegations of wrongdoing by solicitors in connection with a civil fraud investigation in the Middle East. As the case relates to allegations against a law firm of wrongdoing said to have been perpetrated during the course of a professional engagement, it raises various complex questions of legal professional privilege, including the scope of the ‘iniquity exception’. The High Court ([2023] EWHC 795 (KB)) and Court of Appeal ([2024] EWCA Civ. 28) recently considered various such questions.
- RAKIA v Azima
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Limitation
- Volkswagen Emissions Litigation
Assisted Nick Sloboda KC and Emma Jones (during pupillage) in advising the Volkswagen Group on various questions about limitation, including the application of Sections 32 and 35 of the Limitation Act 1980, and the start of the limitation period for a claim for breach of an implied term as to satisfactory quality. - HMRC v General Electric
Assisted Laurence Rabinowitz KC, Nick Sloboda KC, and others (during pupillage) in a dispute about the rescission of a settlement agreement for alleged fraudulent misrepresentation. The Court of Appeal considered whether the six-year limitation period for claims founded on the tort of deceit applies by analogy to a claim for equitable rescission: [2021] EWCA Civ. 534.
- Volkswagen Emissions Litigation
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Offshore
- APS & Alpine v Sumitomo Pharma
Acting for Sumitomo Pharma (led by Sonia Tolaney KC and Andrew Blake) in proceedings in the Supreme Court of Bermuda, in which two hedge-funds seek an appraisal of the ‘fair value’ of the shares they used to own in a NYSE-listed pharmaceutical company (Myovant Sciences) prior to it being taken private. - Fonds Rusnano Capital SA v CRGF GP
Assisted Steven Elliott KC and Eleanor Campbell (during pupillage) in proceedings before the Royal Court of Guernsey to dissolve a limited partnership involving Russian parties.
- APS & Alpine v Sumitomo Pharma
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Restitution
- AMMENA v AML
Successfully obtained restitution of a sum paid in the mistaken belief that a contract subsisted when in fact it had already been terminated: [2023] EWHC 3285 (Comm). - Confidential Matter
Assisted Lord Wolfson KC and Nick Sloboda KC (during pupillage) in relation to a dispute between wealthy individuals about the ownership of offshore assets, involving claims in unlawful means conspiracy, procuring breach of contract, dishonest assistance, knowing receipt, and unjust enrichment. - Rasmala Trade Finance Fund v Trafigura
Assisted Daniel Toledano KC and Emma Jones (during pupillage) defending a commodity company against allegations that it was unjustly enriched and knowingly received payments from a trade finance fund which had been procured by a third party’s fraudulent scheme.
- AMMENA v AML
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Sale of Goods and Supply of Goods and Services
- Stockvale & Miller Leisure v EDF Energy
Acting for EDF Energy in two related sets of proceedings, defending claims for equitable compensation brought on the basis that EDF allegedly paid secret commissions to energy brokers (and in doing so assisted in breaches of fiduciary duty) in order to procure energy supply contracts. - Hemingway v Harron Homes
Acted as sole counsel, drafted the Defence, Part 20 Claim Form, and Particulars of Additional Claim for a housing construction defect claim, involving claims in contract, misrepresentation, and under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, and involving a disputed settlement agreement. - Volkswagen Emissions Litigation
Assisted Charles Gibson KC, Prashant Popat KC, Nick Sloboda KC, Emma Jones, and others (during pupillage) acting for the Volkswagen Group in the ‘diesel-gate’ emissions claim, brought under the largest ever Group Litigation Order (around 100,000 Claimants). - Local Boy’z v Malu
Assisted Tamara Kagan (during pupillage) in seeking summary judgment in a case about the importation of non-conforming COVID-19 face masks. The High Court granted summary judgment on part of the claim: [2021] EWHC 2439 (Comm).
- Stockvale & Miller Leisure v EDF Energy
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Sanctions
- EuroChem v SocGen & ING Bank
Acting for ING (led by Neil Kitchener KC and James Weale) in an important case about whether EU sanctions preclude banks from making bond payments to a Russian fertiliser company founded by a sanctioned oligarch. One of The Lawyer’s ‘Top 20’ cases of 2025. The ground-breaking trial judgment found comprehensively in favour of the banks (who were awarded some of their costs on the indemnity basis): [2025] EWHC 1938 (Comm). It considers complex factual issues as to ‘ownership’ and ‘control’, allegations that a Bermudian discretionary trust was a sham and that deeds had been fraudulently backdated, legal analysis on the EU sanctions regime, the rule in Ralli Bros, the place of performance of on-demand financial instruments, and public policy. ING had to issue letters of request to compel EuroChem’s witnesses to give evidence, and strategic considerations included the interplay with parallel proceedings commenced in Russia.
- EuroChem v SocGen & ING Bank
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What the Directories Say
- Chambers & Partners 2026 (Commercial Dispute Resolution – Up and Coming)
“Rob is very bright and good at absorbing huge amounts of information quickly and working out what is important. His practice is very impressive”; “Robert Harris is absolutely excellent. He works incredibly hard and is very methodical. He’s also ingenious and comes up with unexpected stuff”; “Robert Harris is incredibly hard-working and detail-oriented. He's also clever well beyond his year of call.” - Chambers & Partners 2026 (Fraud: Civil – Band 5)
“Robert is incredibly hard-working and detail-oriented, as well as being clever well beyond his year of call”; “He is absolutely excellent. He works incredibly hard. He is very methodical and a good lawyer. He is ingenious and comes up with unexpected stuff.” - Chambers & Partners 2025 (Commercial Dispute Resolution – Up and Coming)
“He is incredibly hard-working and enthusiastic”; “Very clever and incredibly diligent. His work shows clarity and insight beyond his year of call”; “Robert is an extremely capable junior, who is up to speed on complicated facts and law. He quickly inspires a lot of confidence through the advice he gives.” - Chambers & Partners 2025 (Fraud: Civil – Up and Coming)
“Robert is very helpful and provides sound legal advice. He is an extremely capable junior who gets up to speed on complicated facts and law quickly and who inspires confidence in the advice he gives”; “He is a promising talent who is technically excellent and highly articulate and accessible.”
- Chambers & Partners 2026 (Commercial Dispute Resolution – Up and Coming)
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Education
- City Law School, University of London: Bar Professional Training Course (Outstanding – ranked 1st in the year) [2019-2020]
- Keble College, University of Oxford: BA (Hons) with Senior Status in Jurisprudence (First Class) [2017-2019]
- New College, University of Oxford: BA (Hons) in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (First Class) [2013-2017]
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Academic Awards
- Senior Scarman Scholarship (for the best overall performance in the year), City Law School, University of London [2020]
- Sweet & Maxwell Prize (for the highest mark in Company Law), City Law School, University of London [2020]
- Academic Scholarship, City Law School, University of London [2019]
- Princess Royal Scholarship (for the BPTC year), Inner Temple [2019]
- Wronker Prize (for the best performance in Jurisprudence), University of Oxford [2019]
- Gibbs Book Prize (for overall performance in Contract, Tort, Land Law, and Trusts), University of Oxford [2019]
- Academic Scholarship, Keble College, University of Oxford [2019]
- Six College Examination Prizes, Keble College, University of Oxford [2018]
- Princess Royal Scholarship (the top award for those converting to Law), Inner Temple [2018]
- In PPE finals’ examinations, ranked 1st in the year in 1 paper and top 5 in the year in 5 papers [2017]
- Academic Scholarship, New College, University of Oxford [2014]
- Distinction in PPE preliminary examinations, University of Oxford [2014]
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Publications
- ‘MWB: Modifications, Wrangles, and Bypassing’ [2018] LMCLQ 441, which has been cited by the Singapore Court of Appeal
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Previous Experience
- Pro bono tribunal advocate, Flat Justice CIC [2020]
- Tutor in Contract, Tort, and Trusts, Bloomsbury Law Tutors [2019-2020]
- Employment Law volunteer, Free Representation Unit [2018]
- Debating ‘Scholar-in-Residence’, EXPLO, Yale University [2016]
- President, the Oxford Union [2016]