Nikki Singla

Practice

Nikki specialises in commercial law and litigation and his expertise covers a wide range of commercial and chancery matters, particularly complex contractual disputes, trusts litigation, professional negligence, company law and partnership disputes.

He is an experienced advocate and appears regularly in the High Court and overseas courts. He has appeared in several reported cases.

Legal 500 in its 2007 edition described him as “an able communicator and litigator for any size of case” and he is recommended for company litigation particularly “in resolving acrimonious shareholder disputes”.

He is a team player and provides an effective and highly professional service for his clients.


Notable Recent Cases

International

He has represented clients in several overseas jurisdictions, such as the Cayman Islands, the Turks & Caicos Islands and the Isle of Man.

Some of his notable cases are the Anders Jahre Trusts litigation (complex breach of trust claims); Cayman General Insurance Co Ltd & Others v Crawford Adjusters & Others (acting for building contractors in defending claims in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan); Re a Trust (represented the Claimant beneficiary in a large family trusts dispute against professional trustee); Grand Cay Developments Ltd (in liquidation) v Griesel & Others (acting for the liquidators in a misfeasance claim against former directors); Segoes Holdings Ltd v Benbow (acting for the Claimant in a share sale agreement dispute).

Commercial

He has acted in a number of complex and high profile cases. Leeds United FC v The Football League (acting for Leeds United FC in respect of its 15-points deduction); Re a Syndicate of Banks (advising a syndicate of investment banks in relation to Islamic finance and claims under Sharia compliant loans); Flogas UK Ltd (1) v Calor Gas Ltd & Another [2007] EWHC 1303 (QB) (acted for the Defendant in restraint of trade dispute and injunctive relief); Bouverie No 1 Ltd v De Vere Hotels & Leisure Ltd [2006] EWHC 2242 (acting for the owners of the Belfry Hotel); Hemmings v Cassels & Other (acted for Claimant in partnership dispute over antique business); Byfield & Others v Business F1 Magazine Ltd & Others (defamation claim by associates of Jenson Button against Formula 1 magazine); The Welcome Break Group (advising bond holders in dispute relating to the acquisition of the Welcome Break chain); NCR Ltd v Riverland [2004] 16 EG 110 (issues of sham, reverse premium).


Partnership and Company Disputes

Re Aviva (advising the policyholders in relation to Norwich Union’s “orphan assets”); Sleetree Ltd v Reston Ltd [2006] EWHC 2489; Re a Company [2006] (enforcement of shareholders’ agreement, joint venture, conflict of laws); British Midland Tool v Midland International Tooling & Others [2003] 2 BCLC 523 (directors’ fiduciary duties and the duty not to compete); Levi v Taylor [2008] (acted for Defendant director sued for wrongs of the company); Walton v Reverter Plus Ltd (meaning of “holding” and “subsidiary” companies in the Companies Act); Hanover Securities v Dore [2005] LTL 29/2/2008; Reeves v Sprecher & Others [2007] EWHC 3226 (Ch) (partnership dispute over a substantial hedge fund business); Re a Firm of Solicitors [2008] (complex partnership dispute between partners in a firm of solicitors) and he has acted in several matters of unfair prejudice and minority shareholder oppression.

Professional Negligence

He has acted in several professional negligence claims against solicitors and surveyors on behalf of insurers. Recent cases include Environment Agency v Lewin Fryer Partners & Another [2006] (multi-million pound action by the Environment Agency against a firm of hydraulic engineers); Strong v Lamberts (negligence claim against solicitors).


Trust and Charities

Bath and North East Somerset Council v Attorney General & The Treasury Solicitor [2002] 5 ITELR 274 (whether the rugby ground used by the Bath Rugby Club was part of land held on a charitable trust for recreational purposes); Re a London Gurdwara (advising trustees in relation to the management of a major Sikh temple in London); Re Sikh Gurdwaras (litigation in respect of 3 UK Sikh temples, foreign charity, dispute over ownership of assets and right to manage temples).


Memberships

He is a member of the Commercial Bar Association, the Chancery Bar Association, the Professional Negligence Bar Association and the London Common Law and Commercial Bar Association. He is also a member of the Bar Pro Bono Panel.