John Wardell QC

Commercial CV 

John has experience of a wide variety of commercial cases and has recently developed a particular interest and expertise in fraud claims. 

Recent/notable cases include:

• Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi v Ferrero [2009] EWHC 1276 (acting for the claimant Banks in a complex commercial fraud claim in which they sought the recovery of €30m).
  
  
• Iesini v Westrip and others [2009] EWHC 2526 (proposed derivative claim arising out of the transfer or intended transfer of the company's interests in mining tenements in Greenland to an associated company).
  
  
• Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi v Ferrero [2009] EWHC 1696 (decision on the impact of presenting a false case on the recovery of costs by an otherwise successful defendant).
  
  
• Acting for the claimant in respect of a substantial claim for damages arising out of  a breach of a joint venture agreement [ongoing].
  
  
• Acting for a claimant who is seeking to recover his trial costs from shareholders who were defending the claim for their own personal benefit [ongoing].
  
  
• Advising the claimant in respect of a substantial claim for damages arising out of the sale of his cable business in Bulgaria (ongoing).
  
  
• Advising on a dispute arising out of a joint venture relating to the re-development of part of Oxford Street [ongoing].
  
  
• Advising prospective defendants in respect of a claim for conspiracy/breach of a shareholders agreement arising out of the acquisition of a renewable energy business [ongoing].
  
  
• Advising brokers on a potential fraud claim arising out of the trading of carbon emission allowances [2009].
  
  
• Acting for a claimant who is seeking to set aside a company voluntary arrangement [ongoing].
  
  
• Obtaining a worldwide freezing order on behalf of two property investment funds against former advisers/directors [2008].
  
  
• Langbar International v Rybak and others [2007-8] (acting for the only active defendant in a complex commercial fraud arising out of the collapse of a company listed on the Alternative Investment Market.  The case settled on day 56 of the trial).
  
  
• Bottin International v Venson Group [2006] EWHC 3112 (acted for the successful claimant in an action in deceit arising out of the acquisition of the defendant company).
  
  
• Whitehead Mann v Cheverny [2007] EWHC (acting for the claimant on the recovery of the balance due to him on the sale of his employment consultancy business). 
  
  
• Bakwin v Sothebys (acting for the successful claimant in seeking to recover stolen artwork) 
  
  
• Acting in an arbitration concerning a multi-million pound claim arising out of  the sale of defective cargoes of oil to the state of Romania [2005].  
  
  
• CIBC Mellon Trust v Stolzenberg [2004] EWCA 827 (relief from sanctions when a fair trial was still possible).
  
  
• Hamilton v Fayed [2003] 2 WLR 128 (acting for one of the successful defendants in the leading case relating to third party funding).
  
  
• Successfully recovering the balance due under a share purchase agreement even though the trigger for the final payment was never going to occur: Finsoft v Rowil.
  
  
• Kieron Healey v Mercedes Benz [2000] CA (Successfully defended Mercedes Benz from a claim in negligent misstatement by a disgruntled franchisee).