Call 2012
"The perfect barrister - super bright, great advocacy, and a joy to deal with."
Legal 500
Alfie Harper
Team Leader
+44 (0)20 7842 3806
Click here to email
Sam McCrone
Team Leader Assistant
+44 (0)20 7842 3714
Click here to email
Samuel Ritchie has broad commercial practice covering a wide range of commercial disputes, banking and financial litigation, civil fraud and aviation.
He is ranked as a leading junior in Civil Fraud (Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners) and Commercial Litigation (Legal 500) where he is described as “The perfect barrister – super bright, great advocacy, and a joy to deal with”.
Samuel has considerable experience in a range of heavy and complex disputes, both as sole counsel and as part of large teams of solicitors and counsel. Notable recent examples include acting for Peugeot Citroen DS in the Pan Nox Emissions Litigation, the largest group litigation ever brought in the English High Court; acting for the Republic of Argentina in litigation concerning GDP-linked sovereign debt in Palladian Partners & Ors v the Republic of Argentina & Anr; and acting in a suite of proceedings against Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd.
Many of Samuel’s cases involve an international element and engage cross border issues of jurisdiction and governing law. He has a particular interest in and experience of civil fraud, appearing in a number of cases engaging civil causes of action arising out of bribery and corruption in a range of contexts.
The Pan Nox Emissions Litigation
Acting for Peugeot Citroen DS in a team led by John Taylor KC in this unprecedented litigation brought by tens of thousands of purchasers and lessors of diesel vehicles over more than a decade which will determine the meaning of the Emissions Regulation as a matter of the post-Brexit law of England and Wales.
Air Europa v BOC Aviation
Led by Bankim Thanki KC, acting for Air Europa in a dispute regarding the repayment of Commitment Fees paid for aircraft that were ultimately not delivered in a dispute engaging the overlap between the law of contract and the law of restitution.
Aston Martin MENA Ltd v Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd
Led by Jeff Chapman KC, Samuel appeared in a rare appeal on a point of law from an arbitral award under s.69 of the Arbitration Act 1996 and determined the proper test to be applied.
Palladian Partners v LP & Ors v Republic of Argentina & Anr
Acting for the Republic of Argentina in the Commercial Court and the Court of Appeal, led by David Railton KC, Ben Valentin KC and Tamara Oppenheimer KC, in litigation brought against the Republic by holders of GDP linked bonds issued by the Republic as part of its national debt restructuring.
Samuel is also currently instructed in a high value international arbitration proceedings that will determine the ongoing value of an international distribution business.
Borish Wehlauer v Joseph Fine Art
Samuel acts for the Claimant in these proceedings concerning the non delivery of several art works by Defendant gallery, and also the meaning of certification in the context of art works by the artist known as Banksy.
Aston Martin Lagonda v Premier International Motor Group
Acting in a team with Jeff Chapman KC and Hannah Bernstein in a dispute concerning the sale and/or auction of rare and valuable vintage Aston Martin vehicles.
Advising on whether a dealer and gallery had reached a binding agreement in respect of a very valuable work by a major contemporary artist.
Samuel has also advised on a dispute concerning the sale and non-delivery of a high value work by a contemporary artist in a private sale.
Air Europa v BOC Aviation
Led by Bankim Thanki KC, Samuel is acting for Air Europa in a high value dispute concerning the non-delivery of Aircraft under lease agreements and whether the basis of the transaction has totally failed for the purposes of a restitutionary claim.
Led by Akhil Shah KC, Samuel acted for the liquidators of the GTLK group of companies in various disputes with airlines arising from the imposition of sanctions on Russian companies. The disputes raised important issues regarding the impact of sanctions on contracts, engaging issues such a supervening illegality and frustration.
Qatar Airways Group ACSC v Airbus SAS
Led by Sonia Tolaney KC and Rosalind Phelps KC, acting for Airbus SAS in the interim relief stage of a major dispute concerning allegations of manufacturing defects in A350 Aircraft, and the cross default provisions in interlinked Aircraft Supply Agreements (relating to the A321 Aircraft). The Claimant was seeking onerous (effectively mandatory) injunctions which Airbus successfully resisted.
Acting in international arbitral proceedings, led by Akhil Shah KC, concerning the manufacture and supply of aeroplane components and the allocation of risk between supply contracts.
Alpstream AG v PK Airfinance & GE Capital Aviation Services
Assisting Stephen Moriarty KC and Rosalind Phelps KC in relation to a substantial dispute arising from the collapse of the Blue Wings airline and the financing of 7 Airbus A380 aircraft.
Acing for various airlines to defend claims, including those arising under the Montreal Convention and under Regulation (EC) 261/2004 establishing common rules on compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of denied boarding and of cancellation or long delay of flights.
Handling several cases concerning the cases on the meaning of the “extraordinary circumstances” defence under Article 5(3) of Regulation 261/2004.
Samuel’s practice encompasses a wide variety of banking and finance litigation. Samuel has appeared for a number of banks in a large variety of claims involving allegations of negligence, breach of contract and breach of statutory duty (including claims arising under the Consumer Credit Act 1974, the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, and the FCA Handbook).
Elaine Masters v Barclays Bank & Ors; Elaine Masters v Tesco Bank
Samuel acts for the banks in these cases responding to group claim forms containing many thousands of claims brought by the Claimant as the successor trustee to IVAs. The claim engages important questions over IVA authority and valid assignment.
Abernethy & Ors v Barclays Bank & Ors
Led by Laura John KC, acting for the lead Defendant responding to a Group Litigation Order application concerning thousands of Claimants alleging the misselling of PPI products. The initial application for a Group Litigation Order was dismissed and the future conduct of the proceedings awaits the Court of Appeal decision in Angel v Blackhorse.
Palladian Partners v LP & Ors v Republic of Argentina & Anr
Acting for the Republic of Argentina, led by David Railton KC, Ben Valentin KC and Tamara Oppenheimer KC, in litigation brought against the Republic by holders of GDP linked bonds issued by the Republic as part of its national debt restructuring. Samuel is now acting in follow on proceedings regarding the reconstruction of discontinued historic GDP series.
The case also engaged principles of when judgments should be stayed pending appeal, which led to Samuel appearing with Tamara Oppenheimer KC in the Court of Appeal to determine the basis on which permission to appeal would be granted.
Arempa International v Barclays Bank (UK) Plc
Acting for the bank defending claims in negligence and unjust enrichment further to an alleged payment intercept fraud.
Sarbaz v Nedbank Private Wealth
Acting for the bank, led by Jeffrey Chapman KC, in an alleged breach of mandate case.
Morgan v NatWest
Acting as sole counsel for the Claimant in this piece of interest rate swap litigation.
MacDonald Hotels v Bank of Scotland Plc
Assisting a major UK hotel group, led by Richard Lissack KC, in its claim against Bank of Scotland for breach of a long-standing joint venture relationship.
Libyan Investment Authority v Goldman Sachs International
Acting as part of a team led by Roger Masefield KC for a sovereign wealth fund, in a multi-billion dollar claim in the Chancery Division concerning alleged undue influence with regard to equity derivative transactions.
Bank of Baroda v Imm International & Ors
Acting with Simon Browne Wilkinson KC to appeal a grant of summary judgment in a banking guarantee matter.
Acting on an intercreditor dispute, advising the junior creditors on their potential remedies against the senior creditors.
Acting on many cases concerning the mis-selling of interest rate hedging products, and several other mis-selling cases.
Advising a major international hedge fund on potential remedies against its master fund and directors.
Undertaking various work while completing a three-month secondment to Group Litigation and Investigations at Barclays PLC in 2012, including assisting in managing litigation on behalf of the Barclays Group and in reporting to both the Board of Directors and the market on the possible litigation risks facing the Bank. He also worked on a major project focused on Barclays’ regulatory capital requirements.
CCJSH Ltd v Lyndon Rushby & Ors
Led by Andrew Mitchell KC, acting for the Claimant SPV (ultimately owned by a hedge fund) in a dispute seeking rescission for fraudulent misrepresentation of an SPA under which a waste disposal company was purchased. The claim also engages claims of deceit and conspiracy.
Samuel is currently acting as sole counsel at pre action stage advising a US parent and UK subsidiary regarding claims which can be brought in respect of funds embezzled by a former director whilst acting on behalf of the companies to establish Middle East subsidiaries. The case engages complex choice of law questions.
Outlier Capital LLC v Tingo International Holdings
Acting for the Claimant fund as sole counsel in a dispute concerning an investment agreement where it transpired that the Defendant has been accused of a major fraud by the Securities and Exchange Commission, having its shares suspended and its CEO subject to an arrest warrant.
Acting in major arbitral proceedings involving allegations of bad faith between a distributor and manufacturer.
Devro Trust v Lloyd’s Bank PLC
Acting as sole counsel for the trustees of a family investment trust to obtain Norwich Pharmacal relief to identify the whereabouts of trust assets.
Palladian Partners v LP & Ors v Republic of Argentina & Anr
Acting for the Republic of Argentina, led by Ben Valentin KC and Tamara Oppenheimer KC, in litigation brought against the Republic by holders of GDP linked bonds issued by the Republic as part of its national debt restructuring. Very serious allegations of bad faith are have been made against the Republic, with the Claimants alleging that officials have deliberately misled the international financial community and the International Moonetary Fund with respect to the Republic’s GDP statistics.
Stokoe v Grayson & Ors [2021] EWCA Civ 626; [2021] 4 WLR 87
Led by Jeff Chapman KC, acting for a defendant accused of illegitimately obtaining and using the Claimant’s confidential information. In a judgment given in these proceedings, the Court of Appeal clarified the test for cross examining a Norwich Pharmacal deponent who is also a defendant before trial.
(1) Manek (2) Chandi (3) EAGM Ventures v Wirecard AG
Acting for Wirecard, led by Jeffrey Chapman KC, in successfully striking out proceedings brought by former minority shareholders alleging participation in fraud to acquire their shares in an Indian company acquired by Wirecard.
Shanghai Hongtou Network Technology Ltd v Jagex Ltd
Acting for the shareholders in a Chinese company, led by Jeffrey Chapman KC, which had been defrauded of its interest in shares in a valuable English gaming company. The case required several different kinds of interim relief in the form of injunctions, Stop Notices and Norwich Pharmacal orders.
The Libyan Investment Authority v Credit Suisse International Ltd
Acting as part of a team led by Roger Masefield KC pursuing allegations of fraud against the bank.
The Libyan Investment Authority v JP Morgan Markets & Ors
Acting as part of a team led by Roger Masefield KC pursuing allegations of fraud against JP Morgan Markets predecessor, Bear Stearns.
SKAT (the Danish Tax and Customs Authority) v Solo Capital Partners & Ors
Acting for one of the Defendants in the litigation brought by the Danish tax and customs authority in respect of tax arbitrage trading.
The Libyan Investment Authority v Société Générale & Ors
Instructed as part of a team led by Mark Howard KC, acting for a sovereign wealth fund, in a multi-billion dollar claim in the Commercial Court involving allegations of bribery and corruption across several jurisdictions and seeking set aside a series of complex derivative transactions for fraud.
Fundo Soberano de Angola v Jose Filomeno dos Santos
Acting for the sovereign wealth fund of Angola in interlocutory proceedings relating to a multi-billion dollar freezing injunction.
Advising numerous banks in circumstances where accounts held at the bank have been part of a fraud of which the bank was unaware.
Advising and acting in many tracing and asset recovery maters, and the restitutionary claims (both personal and proprietary) which arise. As a pupil, he assisted Simon Browne-Wilkinson KC in providing advice on enforcement of judgement against assets traced into various international trusts.
Samuel has significant experience across a broad range of commercial disputes. Much of his work is of an international character and he regularly advises and appears on matters giving rise to conflicts of laws and jurisdiction issues.
The Pan Nox Emissions Litigation
Acting for Peugeot Citroen DS in a team led by John Taylor KC in this unprecedented litigation brought by tens of thousands of purchasers and lessors of diesel vehicles over more than a decade which will determine the meaning of the Emissions Regulation as a matter of the post-Brexit law of England and Wales. The first phase of the litigation will determine whether a breach of the Emissions Regulation can found a claim for breach of statutory duty or a breach of statutory implied terms of satisfactory quality and/or sale by description.
Samuel appeared as sole counsel at the fortnightly progress meetings; and in successfully resisting an application for Claimants to be added to the GLO after the cut off date.
Aston Martin MENA Limited v Aston Marin Lagonda Limited
Led by Jeff Chapman KC, acting for the Claimant in these proceedings concerning the interpretation and termination of various agreements governing the distribution and sale of Aston Martin vehicles in the Middle East. The judgment in these proceedings was an important contribution to the ongoing development of the law of good faith in English law governed contracts.
Mulberry Waste Ltd v Unilever UK Ltd & Mitie Waste & Environmental Services
Led by Laura John KC, acting for the Second Defendant in a contractual dispute concerning the supply of waster disposal services.
Allianz Insurance v JD Williams and Company Limited
Acting for JD Williams, led by Paul Stanley KC and Laura John KC in high value litigation concerning the apportionment under the Civil Liability (Contribution) Act and engaging complex issues of regulatory and common law liability for the misselling of PPI.
Fulstow & Woods v Francis
Acting as sole counsel the Defendant in Chancery Division proceedings concerning share sale and allocation in a company with valuable land holdings.
Egyptian Sponge v Opus 2
Acting as sole counsel for Opus 2 to successfully strike out vexatious proceedings brought against it concerning the transcripts provided of an international arbitration.
Epoq Legal Ltd v DAS Legal Expenses Insurance Co Ltd
Successfully acting for the respondent to resist an impermissibly wide third party disclosure application.
Acting as sole counsel to enforce security on business financing provided by a family office.
Recently acting for a major oil and gas company in an international arbitration concerning a billion-dollar dispute with other shareholders in a specialist Middle Eastern oil and gas joint venture.
Frequently advising on choice of law for international tortious claims.
Acting for a major Baltic shipping company in a dispute with charterers.
Acting on a number of cases regarding the breach of contractual terms implied by the Sale of Goods Act 1979, dealing with matters as diverse as polymer coating, oak floorings, industrial boilers and high specification kitchen appliances.
Advising on a major collateral waiver of privilege inquiry.
Acting as Independent Counsel to assess privilege attaching to documents in an insolvency context.
Instructed by a major retail bank to assist with reviewing customer files for privileged documents.
Acting in the full range of interlocutory applications, including jurisdiction disputes and seeking to have service set aside.
Acting as junior counsel to assist in obtaining interim injunctions in aid of arbitral proceedings to restrain the payment of dividends in breach of a joint venture agreement.
Greenhalgh v Richards
Samuel acts as sole counsel for insurers in respect of a potential coverage dispute arising out of related personal injury proceedings in the context of a light aircraft crash.
Together with Richard Handyside KC, advising a purchaser of a large energy company whether they had claims under a policy of indemnity and warranty insurance.
Advising the Financial Services Compensation Scheme on coverage issues.
Advising on a number of insurance claims, including questions of contractual construction and avoidance.
Handling coverage issues arising from PPI mis-selling.
Acting in very high value arbitral proceedings between the international manufacturer and distributor of luxury goods, which will determine the future value of the business.
Aston Martin MENA Ltd v Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd [2025] EWHC 2531 (Comm)
Led by Jeff Chapman KC, Samuel appeared in a rare appeal on a point of law from an arbitral award under s.69 of the Arbitration Act 1996 and determined the proper test to be applied.
Acting in international arbitral proceedings, led by Akhil Shah KC, concerning the manufacture and supply of aircraft components and the allocation of risk between supply contracts.
Acting for a major oil and gas company in an international arbitration concerning a billion-dollar dispute with other shareholders in a specialist Middle Eastern oil and gas joint venture.
Acting as junior counsel to assist in obtaining interim injunctions in aid of arbitral proceedings to restrain the payment of dividends in breach of a joint venture agreement.
Executive Counsel to the FRC v David Costley Wood & KPMG
Instructed by the Financial Reporting Council as junior to Richard Coleman KC and Nicholas Medcroft KC in proceedings alleging lack of objectivity and lack of integrity brought against KPMG and one of its partners regarding the administration of the Silentnight Group of Companies.
In Aston Martin MENA Ltd v Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd [2025] EWHC…
16 Fountain Court members are instructed in three of The Lawyer’s ‘Top…
On 20 December 2023, the Commercial Court (Dame Clare Moulder DBE sitting…
Alfie Harper
Team Leader
+44 (0)20 7842 3806
Click here to email
Sam McCrone
Team Leader Assistant
+44 (0)20 7842 3714
Click here to email
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