Call 2020
George Hack
Team Leader
+44 (0)207 842 3762
Click here to email
Dilly Stewart
Team Leader Assistant
+44 (0)20 3873 6858
Click here to email
Joseph is a commercial barrister with a busy practice in litigation and arbitration.
He has particular expertise in aviation, insurance, civil fraud and banking alongside general commercial litigation, but is a versatile practitioner able to master the details of industries as complex and varied as mining, fintech and software.
Much of his work is international in nature and raises issues of jurisdiction and/or conflicts of laws, in which he has a particular interest, and he deals frequently with difficult foreign law issues (including, in recent times, Russian, Indian, Israeli, US, French and Mexican law).
Recent instructions include a novel jurisdiction challenge concerned with the interaction between foreign insolvency proceedings and English enforcement proceedings; acting in some of the highest value insurance claims ever brought in the English Courts, arising from alleged losses of aircraft following the Russian invasion of Ukraine; and appearing for the successful claimants in Singapore-seated SIAC and ICC arbitrations of Indian shareholder disputes.
Before coming to the Bar, Joseph studied at Cambridge (where he took a Double Starred First) and at Yale (where he was the Henry Fellow). He has also worked as a full-time Judicial Assistant in the Commercial Court and Chancery Division, assisting Foxton J, Zacaroli J and Bacon J in a range of commercial trials and applications.
Beograd Innovation Ltd v Somovidis [2025] EWHC 1182 (Comm)
Appeared for the claimant successfully opposing an attempt to challenge the jurisdiction of the English courts in an enforcement claim on the basis of parallel Russian insolvency proceedings; the court held that there was no rule that a creditor proving in foreign insolvency proceedings becomes bound by the law governing those proceedings (with Alexander Milner KC, instructed by Steptoe International (UK) LLP).
AerCap Ireland Ltd v AIG Europe SA [2025] EWHC 1430 (Comm)
Multi-billion-dollar litigation following alleged losses of aircraft as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the imposition of western sanctions (with David Railton KC, Simon Atrill KC and Ian Bergson, instructed by Kennedys LLP); some of the largest and most complex insurance litigation ever decided by the English courts, and one of The Lawyer’s top 20 cases for 2024.
SIAC and ICC shareholder arbitrations
Appeared for the successful claimants in confidential Singapore-seated SIAC and ICC arbitrations of shareholder disputes between Indian parties, involving the obtainment of anti-suit relief and raising issues of jurisdiction and arbitrability (with Matthew Gearing KC).
ClearCourse Partnership AcquireCo Ltd & Anor v Jethwa & Ors [2023] EWHC 1122 (Ch)
Obtained strike-out and conditional summary judgment on a claim in deceit, arising from misrepresentations made in the course of the sale of a software company (with Andrew Mitchell KC).
McClean & Ors v Andrew Thornhill KC [2022] EWHC 457 (Ch)
Assisted Zacaroli J (as he then was) as a JA in the 3-week trial of a professional negligence claim by a group of investors against a leading tax KC (one of The Lawyer’s top 20 cases for 2021).
AerCap Ireland Ltd v AIG Europe SA [2025] EWHC 1430 (Comm)
Multi-billion-dollar litigation following alleged losses of aircraft as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the imposition of western sanctions (with David Railton KC, Simon Atrill KC and Ian Bergson, instructed by Kennedys LLP); some of the largest and most complex insurance litigation ever decided by the English courts, and one of The Lawyer’s top 20 cases for 2024.
Alterna Aircraft VB Ltd v SpiceJet Ltd [2023] EWHC 451 (Comm)
Appeared for the successful aircraft lessor in an application for summary judgment for more than $10 million in a claim against an Indian airline (with Akhil Shah KC, instructed by Stephenson Harwood LLP).
Saudi Arabian Airlines v International Airfinance Corporation
Acting in ongoing litigation concerned with the leasing of 50 aircraft, raising difficult expert issues of aircraft maintenance and the construction of related lease agreements (with Michael McLaren KC, instructed by A&O Shearman).
Airhelp Ltd v British Airways plc
Appeared as sole counsel for the successful claimant firm on a test-case trial before Stephen Jourdan KC; establishing that Article 261 claims for delayed flights are assignable (and not personal) and that standard terms in BA’s conditions of carriage do not prevent an assignee from bringing a claim for a delayed flight.
Acting both for and against airlines as sole counsel in passenger compensation claims, including a number of cases raising groundbreaking issues in the law of assignment.
Beograd Innovation Ltd v Somovidis [2025] EWHC 1182 (Comm)
Appeared for the successful claimant opposing an attempt to challenge the jurisdiction of the English courts in an enforcement claim (arising from breach of a loan and guarantee agreement) on the basis of parallel Russian insolvency proceedings; dismissing the challenge, the court reviewed the authorities on the principle of ‘modified universalism’ and held that there was no rule that a creditor proving in foreign insolvency proceedings becomes bound by the law governing those proceedings (with Alexander Milner KC, instructed by Steptoe International (UK) LLP).
Barclays Partner Finance Timeshare litigation
Acting for Barclays in defence of a large number of claims brought under s. 75 CCA by purchasers of timeshare products (instructed by Hogan Lovells International LLP).
Advising in a case concerning alleged deceit and misrepresentation in relation to LIBOR-rigging, raising fundamental issues in the law of misrepresentation (during pupillage).
Assisting with a bank’s successful resistance to an order for the production of documents under the Bankers Books Evidence Act 1879 for use in foreign extradition proceedings (during pupillage).
Assisting with a bank’s successful application to strike out a claim concerning interest rate hedging products on grounds of res judicata and abuse of process (during pupillage).
Assisting with a Bank’s successful application to strike out references in the Claimant’s pleaded case to a judgment given in French proceedings, in multi-jurisdictional litigation involving alleged breaches of confidence (during pupillage).
Advising a major bank on its defence to an unjust enrichment claim in which the claimant alleged that the bank’s customer had fraudulently procured a payment from the claimant’s account (during pupillage).
Acting regularly as sole counsel for a range of banks in defence of unfair relationship claims arising from the sale of PPI products.
ClearCourse Partnership AcqireCo Ltd & Anor v Jethwa & Ors [2023] EWHC 1122 (Ch)
Appeared for the claimant purchaser of a payment services company in a claim for deceit and breach of warranty against the sellers, raising complex issues under an SPA and in the law of misrepresentation; obtained strike-out and (conditional) summary judgment (with Andrew Mitchell KC, instructed by Gibson & Co).
Wirral Council v Indivior plc and Reckitt Benckiser plc
Acting for investors bringing claims against FTSE 100 and 250 companies under ss. 90 and 90A of FSMA 2000, alleging non-disclosure of misconduct in the US relating to the marketing of pharmaceuticals and dishonest conduct by executives (with Graham Chapman KC and Alex Barden KC, instructed by Mishcon de Reya LLP).
Assisting with the preparation of submissions to the Supreme Court in a case concerning the interaction of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and the law of constructive trusts (during pupillage).
Assisting with the defence of a claim by a sovereign wealth fund against a major bank involving allegations of corruption, breach of fiduciary duty, undue influence and illegality in the management of an investment portfolio (during pupillage).
Assisting with the defence of a claim for rescission of an agreement in a case involving allegations of duress, undue influence and corruption by Russian individuals (during pupillage).
Assisting with the defence of a claim for specific performance of an agreement for the sale of land, defended on grounds of illegality and involving allegations of money laundering and corruption (during pupillage).
Beograd Innovation Ltd v Somovidis [2025] EWHC 1182 (Comm)
Appeared for the successful claimant opposing an attempt to challenge the jurisdiction of the English courts in an enforcement claim on the basis of parallel Russian insolvency proceedings; dismissing the challenge, the court reviewed the authorities on the principle of ‘modified universalism’ and held that there was no rule that a creditor proving in foreign insolvency proceedings becomes bound by the law governing those proceedings (with Alexander Milner KC, instructed by Steptoe International (UK) LLP).
AerCap Ireland Ltd v AIG Europe SA [2025] EWHC 1430 (Comm)
Multi-billion-dollar litigation following alleged losses of aircraft as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the imposition of western sanctions (with David Railton KC, Simon Atrill KC and Ian Bergson, instructed by Kennedys LLP); some of the largest and most complex insurance litigation ever decided by the English courts, and one of The Lawyer’s top 20 cases for 2024.
SIAC and ICC shareholder arbitrations
Appeared for the successful claimants in confidential Singapore-seated SIAC and ICC arbitrations of shareholder disputes between Indian parties, involving the obtainment of anti-suit relief and raising issues of jurisdiction and arbitrability (with Matthew Gearing KC).
ClearCourse Partnership AcqireCo Ltd & Anor v Jethwa & Ors [2023] EWHC 1122 (Ch)
Appeared for the claimant purchaser of a payment services company in a claim for deceit and breach of warranty against the sellers, raising complex issues under an SPA and in the law of misrepresentation; obtained strike-out and (conditional) summary judgment (with Andrew Mitchell KC, instructed by Gibson & Co).
LCIA mining arbitration
Acting for the claimant in an ongoing LCIA mining arbitration, involving complex technical and expert evidence (with Paul Casey).
Saudi Arabian Airlines v International Airfinance Corporation
Acting in ongoing litigation concerned with the leasing of 50 aircraft, raising difficult expert issues of aircraft maintenance and the construction of related lease agreements (with Michael McLaren KC, instructed by A&O Shearman).
Acting in a major international sale of goods claim raising complex issues of jurisdiction, choice of law and Mexican law (with Ben Lynch KC).
Assisting with the defence of executives facing FCA enforcement action in the RDC and Upper Tribunal.
Acting for the Financial Services Compensation Scheme in successfully resisting a claimant’s application to set aside an order striking out his claim (as sole counsel).
Assisting counsel (during pupillage) in advising the Financial Services Compensation Scheme on issues around its statutory immunity and potential liability.
AerCap Ireland Ltd v AIG Europe SA [2025] EWHC 1430 (Comm)
Multi-billion-dollar litigation following alleged losses of aircraft as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the imposition of western sanctions (with David Railton KC, Simon Atrill KC and Ian Bergson, instructed by Kennedys LLP); some of the largest and most complex insurance litigation ever decided by the English courts, and one of The Lawyer’s top 20 cases for 2024.
Acting for the insured in a multi-million pound claim against insurers under a product safety and recall policy, resulting a favourable settlement (with Ben Lynch KC).
Determining coverage issues under a policy of Directors’ and Officers’ liability insurance by way of binding expert determination (with Ben Lynch KC, instructed by DAC Beachcroft LLP).
Rockliffe Hall Ltd v Travelers Insurance Co Ltd [2021] Bus LR 656
Assisting with the Defendant’s successful application to strike out a claim concerning business interruption cover in the COVID-19 pandemic (assisting Ben Lynch KC during pupillage).
SIAC and ICC shareholder arbitrations
Appeared for the successful claimants in confidential Singapore-seated SIAC and ICC arbitrations of shareholder disputes between Indian parties, involving the obtainment of anti-suit relief and raising issues of jurisdiction and arbitrability (with Matthew Gearing KC).
LCIA mining arbitration
Acting for the claimant in an ongoing LCIA mining arbitration, involving complex technical and expert evidence (with Paul Casey).
Sodzawiczny v McNally [2021] EWHC 3384 (Comm)
Assisting Foxton J (as a Judicial Assistant) in an application to enforce an award under s. 66 of the Arbitration Act 1996, raising questions as to the extent of the Court’s discretion to refuse to enforce discretionary relief granted by the arbitrator.
Advising an engine component manufacturer in an LCIA arbitration (during pupillage).
Assisting (during pupillage) with an insurer’s successful claim to operate a discharge clause in an ad hoc arbitration concerning cover for the costs of an inquiry (during pupillage).
Instructed in an application for an injunction to restrain a party’s solicitors from acting, involving allegations of improper access to privileged and confidential material (with Bankim Thanki KC and Tamara Oppenheimer KC, instructed by Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP).
Advising a firm (during pupillage) on the scope of its obligation to produce privileged documents to the SRA in compliance with a s. 44B notice.
In Beograd Innovations Ltd v Somovidis [2025] EWHC 1182 (Comm), handed down…
The trial of multi-billion dollar aviation insurance claims commenced today in the…
23 Fountain Court members are instructed in five of The Lawyer’s ‘Top…
George Hack
Team Leader
+44 (0)207 842 3762
Click here to email
Dilly Stewart
Team Leader Assistant
+44 (0)20 3873 6858
Click here to email
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