Ram Lakshman

Civil fraud and asset recovery

Ram has acted in a number of high-profile civil fraud disputes. He has particular expertise in urgent injunction applications, including applications for worldwide freezing orders, proprietary injunctions and search orders. Feedback for Ram’s work in this area includes:

“Ram is a fantastic junior. He is very thorough in his analysis, his drafting is strong and in Court he is cool, calm and collected. Importantly, he is very approachable and has obtained some great results for our client”- Managing Associate at Mishcon de Reya

Ram’s recent work in this area includes:

• Assisting David Mumford KC and Watson Pringle acting for one of the Defendants to the high-profile Magomedov litigation. The claim (which is based on an alleged conspiracy) seeks to recover approximately US$ 14 billion, and is believed to be amongst the biggest ever brought in the English Courts.
• Acting, led by Carmine Conte in Invenia Technical Computing Corporation and another v Hudson. Carmine and Ram act on behalf of the Claimants, a Canadian corporation and its English subsidiary, who are bringing civil fraud proceedings (seeking approximately £11.5 million) against its founder, former CEO and majority shareholder. Ram has appeared as the sole advocate in a number of hearings in both the main High Court proceedings and ancillary proceedings in the ICC, and on each occasion has either been successful or is awaiting judgment. A previous version of this website erroneously stated that a proprietary injunction had been obtained – in fact an application for a proprietary injunction was made but the injunction has not been obtained to date.
• Acting, led by Andrew Mold KC in the matter of Core VCT Plc. Andrew and Ram are acting for a group of investors in Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs), now in liquidation, in relation to substantial claims (in excess of £100 million) for breach of fiduciary duty against the former managers, directors and liquidators of the VCTs. The case has featured in the Times.

Download Civil fraud and asset recovery CV

Insolvency

Ram has a strong insolvency practice, both led and in his own right. He has particular expertise acting in complex corporate insolvencies with large numbers of creditors or shareholders, as well as dealing with matters where injunctive relief is required on an urgent basis. Feedback for Ram’s work in this area includes:

“Ram is quick to become well attuned with the complexities of a case and his knowledge of insolvency legislation and procedure is second to none.  He is commercially minded, eminently sensible and gets involved in every aspect of the case, with a particular skill for acknowledging wider strategy and commercial considerations for the client.”- Managing Associate at Mishcon de Reya

Ram’s recent work in this area includes:

• Acting, led by Lexa Hilliard KC, in the matter of Raedex consortium limited. Lexa and Ram are acting on behalf of the joint administrators in this complex administration involving the intermingling of assets between group companies. Liabilities of approximately £50 million are owed to more than 800 retail creditors (some of whom may have claims to security or trust interests). Ram appeared as sole counsel on an application to extend the administration and successfully obtained a 3-year extension.
• Appearing, led by Jack Watson, in the matter of Louise Mary Brittain (as trustee in bankruptcy of Jonathan Ferster) v (1) Jonathan Ferster (a bankrupt) (2) Jonathan Seeds and (3) Evolution Software (UK) Ltd [2022] EWHC 1060 (Ch). Jack and Ram acted for the applicant trustee in bankruptcy and successfully obtained a suspension of the bankruptcy to its fifth anniversary as well as extensive orders for the disclosure of information and documentation.
• Appearing as sole counsel in complex insolvency proceedings arising out of the service of five statutory demands claiming debts totaling nearly US$ 100 million. Ram successfully obtained an injunction restraining presentation of a winding up petition, and successfully resisted six interim applications brought by the Respondent.

Download Insolvency CV

Pensions

A substantial proportion of Ram’s practice relates to pensions disputes.

Recent work in this area includes:

• Acting, led by Jonathan Hilliard KC and Sebastian Allen, in relation to a complex and high-value pensions dispute involving the validity of benefit changes made to a pension scheme across a period of more than 20 years. The cost of the benefit changes being invalid would be in excess of £100 million.
• Advising on various contentious pensions matters, including in relation to the entitlement of the beneficiary of a Jersey trust to the payment of an annuity.

Download Pensions CV

Trusts, probate and estates: contentious

Ram has acted in a number of high-value and complex trusts cases, both led and his own right. He has acted or advised in cases in most of the major offshore jurisdictions. He also has a broad estates practice, including dealing with cases involving challenges to the validity of wills and complicated construction issues. Feedback for Ram’s work in this area includes:

“Ram’s involvement has been a godsend from our perspective. I am not sure we could be anywhere near as advanced on everything without his involvement.”– Partner at Ogier

Recent work in this area includes:

• Acting, led by Jonathan Hilliard KC, Michael Ashdown and Joseph Steadman, on behalf Trustees bringing an application seeking the Court’s directions in relation to a number of significant matters concerning the administration of the trust. The issues affect the vast majority of the US$ 1 billion of assets held in the trust.
• Acting as junior counsel to Jonathan Hilliard KC advising trustees in relation to very high-value divorce proceedings (with the sums at stake being in excess of £100 million)  in which the wife was seeking orders for the trusts to be varied or otherwise treated as a matrimonial resource.
• Acting as sole counsel on behalf of a category of beneficiaries in High Court proceedings involving the construction of will trusts. The assets in issue are in excess of £1 million.
• Acting as sole counsel on behalf of an executor and beneficiary of an estate in High Court proceedings dealing with the question of whether certain Wills should be set aside for undue influence and/or lack of capacity. The matter is listed for a 3-day trial later this year.
• Acting as junior counsel to Jonathan Hilliard KC advising the defendants to a complex multi-jurisdictional estates dispute. The claimants were seeking to set aside a number of payments (worth approximately US$ 2.5 million) made by the deceased prior to her death on the grounds of undue influence, lack of capacity, and breach of fiduciary duty.

Download Trusts, probate and estates: contentious CV