Call 2016
Adam Collins
Team Leader
+44 (0)20 7842 3798
Click here to email
Dilly Stewart
Team Leader Assistant
+44 (0)20 3873 6858
Click here to email
Damien’s practice centres on civil fraud, banking and finance, and sports disputes. He acts for financial institutions, insolvency practitioners and businesses, and for broadcasters, promoters and clubs. He enjoys working closely with fellow counsel, solicitors and clients, and brings a collaborative, constructive and calm approach to his work.
He is used to cases that run for years and others that need to be resolved in weeks. He has spent much of the last five years on litigation arising from the collapse of NMC, once the largest private healthcare provider in the UAE, following the discovery of a multi-billion-dollar fraud. In 2026, that work led to a 15-week trial in the Abu Dhabi Global Market Courts, during which Bank of Baroda settled for USD 600 million without admitting liability. He also acted for DAZN in a dispute over the South Korean broadcasting rights to the FIFA Club World Cup. The case went from issue to the Court of Appeal in six weeks.
His other recent clients include the International Finance Corporation, part of the World Bank Group, in a claim against a Lebanese bank. He has also acted for the Financial Reporting Council in enforcement proceedings following the collapses of London Capital & Finance and NMCN. He was, for a time, part of the counsel team on the Dobbs Review into Lloyds’ handling of the HBOS Reading fraud.
Before pursuing law, Damien taught philosophy at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. He subsequently worked at the Law Commission and as a judicial assistant at the Constitutional Court of South Africa, before joining Fountain Court as a pupil in 2018. In 2020, he worked as a judicial assistant in the Commercial Court.
NMC Health: ADGM trial against Dr B.R. Shetty, Prasanth Manghat and Bank of Baroda
Acting for the NMC administrators and NMC Healthcare Ltd in claims concerning responsibility for the fraud that brought down the NMC Group and the resulting losses. The trial lasted 15 weeks before Sir Andrew Smith. Bank of Baroda settled during closing arguments for USD 600 million without admitting liability. Judgment on the claims against the founder and former CEO is reserved. The counsel team also included Bankim Thanki KC, Henry King KC, Robin Lööf, Alexandra Whelan and Jerome Squires.
NMC Healthcare v Dubai Islamic Bank [2023] ADGMCFI 0017
Acted for NMC group companies in successfully resisting Dubai Islamic Bank’s claim that two assignment agreements gave it security over their insurance receivables. The court held that the agreements did not assign those companies’ rights in the receivables and dismissed the bank’s rectification counterclaim. The case involved substantial questions of contractual interpretation and authority under UAE law, alongside the question whether rectification is governed by the law of the contract or the law of the forum. Acted with Bankim Thanki KC, Felicity Toube KC, Henry King KC, Nico Leslie, Alexandra Whelan and Matthew Abraham.
Coupang Inc v DAZN Ltd [2025] EWCA Civ 1083
Acted for DAZN in a dispute over whether an exchange of emails had created a sublicence of the South Korean broadcasting rights to the FIFA Club World Cup. Trial took place less than three weeks after issue, and the Court of Appeal determined the appeal before the tournament’s opening match. Led by Laura John KC.
FRC enforcement proceedings concerning BDO’s audit of NMCN
Acted for the Financial Reporting Council in enforcement proceedings concerning BDO’s 2019 audit of NMCN PLC, the listed construction and infrastructure group that collapsed into administration in 2021. BDO received a £2 million financial sanction, reduced to £1.33 million after discounts, and a severe reprimand. Led by Nicholas Medcroft KC.
International Finance Corporation v Bank Audi SAL
Acted for the IFC, part of the World Bank Group, and an IFC-managed fund in a Commercial Court claim to recover approximately USD 234 million of subordinated debt during Lebanon’s financial crisis. Led by Bankim Thanki KC.
NMC litigation
Acting for NMC companies and their administrators in claims concerning responsibility for a multi-billion-dollar corporate fraud and the resulting losses.
Advising defendants, including a prominent investor, on claims worth more than £100 million arising from the acquisition of a UK gaming business.
Defending a civil recovery claim brought by the National Crime Agency under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
NMC Healthcare v Dubai Islamic Bank
Acted for the NMC companies in litigation concerning security over insurance receivables, contractual interpretation and rectification.
International Finance Corporation v Bank Audi SAL
Acted for the IFC and an IFC-managed fund in a claim to recover approximately USD 234 million of subordinated debt.
Acting with Raymond Cox KC in a separate claim by an international lender to recover funds lent to a Lebanese bank.
Coupang v DAZN
Acted for DAZN in expedited litigation concerning contract formation, an employee’s authority and sports broadcasting rights.
Northern Trains Ltd v ASLEF
Acted with Paul Gott KC for Northern Trains to obtain an urgent High Court interim injunction against the train drivers’ union. The dispute concerned how drivers could be deployed when a new roster had not been agreed.
On secondment at Simmons & Simmons, worked on the defence of a large shareholder action under section 90A of the Financial Services and Markets Act.
Acted for Royal Mail in a claim alleging breach of its Universal Service Obligation.
Coupang v DAZN
Acted for DAZN in a dispute over South Korean broadcasting rights to the FIFA Club World Cup.
Acted with John Mehrzad KC for a high-profile promoter in an arbitration concerning the regulation of professional boxing, arising from the growth of influencer boxing.
Acted pro bono for a London sports club in a dispute with an expelled member.
BDO’s audit of NMCN
Acted for the Financial Reporting Council in enforcement proceedings resulting in financial and non-financial sanctions against BDO and the audit engagement partner.
London Capital & Finance
Worked on the FRC’s enforcement action arising from the audits of the mini-bond issuer, which entered administration owing approximately £237 million to more than 11,000 bondholders. Three audit firms were sanctioned, including PwC and EY.
Acting for war-risk insurers in the Commercial Court litigation over aircraft stranded in Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.
Advising on liability and insurance cover following a major fire at a newly built university building.
Acted in a multimillion-pound directors’ and officers’ insurance mediation.
BPTC
Cambridge
University of the Witwatersrand
Memberships
The fraud-related proceedings brought in the ADGM and England by the administrators…
Nicholas Medcroft KC and Damien Bruneau acted for the Financial Reporting Council…
On 8 August 2025, the Court of Appeal (Newey, Arnold and Popplewell…
Adam Collins
Team Leader
+44 (0)20 7842 3798
Click here to email
Dilly Stewart
Team Leader Assistant
+44 (0)20 3873 6858
Click here to email
BPTC
Cambridge
University of the Witwatersrand
Memberships
Search
Menu
