Source: https://www.20essexst.com/member/thomas-leary
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 02:48:52+00:00

Document:
Tom is a versatile junior with a broad practice in commercial litigation, arbitration and public law. He frequently acts as both sole and junior counsel in domestic and international disputes (including arbitrations under the LCIA, UNCITRAL, ICC, SCMA, SIAC and KLRCA rules). Tom is appointed to the Attorney General’s C Panel of Counsel with effect from 1 March 2019 and was appointed to the Welsh Government B Panel of Junior Counsel (Public Law) in 2017. He also undertakes pro bono work in international human rights law.
The majority of Tom's work has an international element and his clients or opposing parties include companies or individuals based in China, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, USA, Russia, India, Qatar, UAE, Columbia, Venezuela, Mozambique, South Sudan, Greece, Romania, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands and Germany.
Tom previously worked as the Judicial Assistant to Lord Mance in the UK Supreme Court and studied law at Oxford, Leiden and Toronto.
Acting as sole counsel in a one-week US$1m+ commodities arbitration in Singapore.
Acting as sole counsel in a US$9m+ High Court claim for breach of a hotel management agreement.
Representing the Welsh Ministers in the consequentials hearing for the R (ClientEarth) (No3) judicial review of the 2017 Air Quality Plan.
A six-week US$200m+ arbitration claim for breach of a development agreement, expropriation of concessions, breaches of lease and defamation (led by John Passmore QC).
Enforcement proceedings for a Romanian bank following complex international frauds amounting to US$133m+ (led by Philip Riches).
High Court claim for payment under a referral agreement following the successful marketing and sale of a building for Euros 490m+ (as sole counsel).
High Court claim of US$9m+ for breach of a hotel management agreement (as sole counsel).
Advising a debt-cancellation charity on the potential illegality of major bank loans (amounting to US$1.8b+) to State-backed African companies.
Acting for Joint Liquidators in a £7m+ claim against a co-surety under a facility agreement and a guarantee and indemnity (led by Blair Leahy).
Application for worldwide freezing orders in support of an arbitration concerning a US$12m credit facility (led by Michael Ashcroft QC).
Application for worldwide freezing orders in support of an arbitration concerning an investment fund facility (led by Tim Hill QC).
High Court claim of US$1.6m+ for breach of a design services agreement for the development and sale of residential properties (as sole counsel).
Share-purchase dispute of US$2m+ concerning payments out of an escrow account (as sole counsel.
High Court claim for £800,000 concerning an alleged multi-stage boiler room fraud involving the sale of "fancy" coloured diamonds (as sole counsel).
Acting for an international platform for ticketing services in respect of a claim for breach of a contract for the implementation and configuration of financial accounting software (as sole counsel.
Acting for a company in respect a dispute over rights of access to an online trading platform for transportation services (as sole counsel).
Acting for a national provider of telecommunication services in relation to potential claims under several telemetry agreements.
Acting for a corporate client in relation to termination of a contract for the provision of internet marketing services (as sole counsel.
Acting for a customer in relation to a dispute over the sale and resizing of an engagement ring.
Acting for brokers in relation to a substantial claim for commission arising from the sale of a superyacht.
Jetivia SA v Bilta (UK) Ltd  UKSC 23: concerning whether the illegality defence bars claims by a company against its directors for breach of their duties and whether section 213 of the Insolvency Act 1986 has extra-territorial effect (as a Judicial Assistant to Lord Mance).
Bunge SA v Nidera BV  UKSC 43: concerning the construction and application of the GAFTA Default Clause and the application of The Golden Victory  2 AC 353 (as a Judicial Assistant to Lord Mance).
One-week commodities arbitration in Singapore concerning a US$1m+ commodities dispute raising complex issues of sub-agency and jurisdiction (as sole counsel).
KLRCA arbitration concerning an RM37m+ dispute under a lump-sum FIDIC contract for earthworks in Malaysia (led by Murray Pickering QC).
UNCITRAL Arbitration in a US$300m+ dispute under a drilling services contract (led by Duncan Matthews QC and Edward Ho).
Six-week ad hoc arbitration concerning a US$200m+ claim against a Caribbean state for breach of a development agreement, expropriation of concessions, breaches of lease and defamation (led by John Passmore QC).
LMAA arbitration concerning a US$3.5m+ claim under an MOA for the sale of a vessel, giving rise to issues of construction, misrepresentations and rectification.
LMAA arbitration concerning US$7m+ of damage to a chemical tanker following an explosion during line blowing (led by Tim Hill QC).
LCIA arbitration arising out of a dispute under an LLP agreement.
SCMA arbitration concerning alleged short delivery of bundles of electrolytic copper.
Application for worldwide freezing orders in support of an arbitration concerning a US$12m credit facility and in support of an LCIA Award (led by Michael Ashcroft QC).
Energy arbitration claim of £2m+ concerning the charter of a jack-up barge for off-shore borehole drilling.
Arbitration concerning damage to a chemical tanker following overpressurisation of the cargo tanks during loading (assisting Charles Kimmins QC and Thomas Corby).
Five-week arbitration concerning a US$500m+ dispute arising out of the construction and delivery of semi-submersible drilling rigs from Chinese to Brazilian interests (as a pupil).
ICSID and ICC arbitrations involving the Governments of Pakistan and Balochistan and concerning a dispute about a joint venture agreement for the exploration of minerals (as a pupil).
Assuranceforeningen Gard Gjensidig v The International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund 1971  2 Lloyd's Rep 219: concerning a freezing order in support of claims arising out of an oil spill in Venezuela (as a pupil).
Acting for a Romanian bank in enforcement proceedings, including obtaining worldwide freezing orders and permission to serve out, in respect of complex frauds and attempts to evade a Romanian judgment debt of US$133m+ (led by Philip Riches).
Acting for Joint Liquidators in a £7m+ claim against a co-surety under a facility agreements and a guarantee and indemnity (led by Blair Leahy).
Waterfall III insolvency litigation (led by Stephen Atherton QC and Tony Beswetherick).
Advising on the potential illegality of major bank loans (amounting to US$1.8b+) to State-backed African companies.
Drafting submissions for an international bank in a High Court dispute arising out of a revolving loan and overdraft facility.
Advising Joint Liquidators in respect of preferences and transactions alleged to have been made at an undervalue.
Crédit Agricole Corporation and Investment Bank v Papadimitriou  UKPC 13: concerning the test of constructive knowledge for the purposes of determining whether a bank is a bona fide purchaser of assets without notice of a prior interest (as a Judicial Assistant to Lord Mance).
LMAA arbitration concerning a dispute over the supply of corrosive bunkers in Russia (led by Thomas Raphael QC).
Application for worldwide freezing orders in support of an arbitration concerning a US$12m credit facility for the purchase of goods (led by Michael Ashcroft QC).
£2m+ energy arbitration concerning the charter of a jack-up barge for off-shore borehole drilling.
Advising cargo interests in respect of a US$14m+ dispute over a consignment of steel coils following the hijacking and release of the vessel and raising issues of jurisdiction and sub-bailment (with David Lewis QC).
Acting for the defendant in a US$22m+ FOSFA arbitration arising out of an alleged failure to complete loading or accept cargo.
Claim for contribution arising out of a fatality during life-boat testing (led by Malcom Jarvis).
Advising brokers on interim measures in relation to a substantial claim for commission arising from the sale of a superyacht.
British America Tobacco Denmark A/S and others v Kazemir Transport BV; British America Tobacco Switzerland SA v H Essers Security Logistics BV and another  UKSC 65: concerning the jurisdiction of the English court in relation to successive carriers under the CMR Convention 1958 (as a Judicial Assistant to Lord Mance).
Bunge SA v Nibulon Trading BV  1 Lloyd's Rep 393: concerning the relationship between the discretions of first-tier tribunals and boards of appeal to admit claims that are time barred under the GAFTA arbitration rules (as a pupil).
Acting for the Liquidator of a Romanian bank in enforcement proceedings, including obtaining worldwide freezing orders in respect of complex frauds and attempts to evade a Romanian judgment debt of US$133m+ (led by Philip Riches).
Acting as junior counsel in the Waterfall III litigation, arising from an application for directions in the Lehman Brothers insolvency and raising issues of contributory rights, fiduciary duties and recharge liabilities (led by Stephen Atherton QC and Tony Beswetherick).
Advising a Trustee in Bankruptcy on the merits of an appeal and a contribution claim of £11m+ arising out of alleges breaches of fiduciary duty by a company director.
Trustees of the Olympic Airlines SA Pension and Life Assurance Scheme v Olympic Airlines SA  UKSC 27: concerning the meaning of "establishment" in EU Regulation 1346/2000 on Insolvency Proceedings (as a Judicial Assistant to Lord Mance).
Acting for a billionaire in relation to a receivership order and proceedings in the Turks and Caicos for the recovery of assets, which raise allegations of fraud and breach of fiduciary duty.
£800,000 High Court claim concerning an alleged multi-stage boiler room fraud involving the sale of "fancy" coloured diamonds.
Advising in relation to fraudulent overbilling for the laying of fibre ducting.
Advising on the liability of an international charity to its institutional funders for potential fraud by its foreign partners.
Acting as sole counsel for the claimant in an on-going £2m+ energy arbitration concerning the charter of a jack-up barge for off-shore borehole drilling.
Acting as junior counsel for major national oil company in a US$300+ million UNCITRAL Arbitration in a dispute under a drilling services contract (led by Duncan Matthews QC and Edward Ho).
Six-week arbitration concerning a US$200m+ claim against a Caribbean state for breach of a development agreement, expropriation of concessions, breaches of lease and defamation (led by John Passmore QC).
Acting for an assured shipowner in respect of a US$20m+ claim under an ITC policy, following a collision in which a naval vessel sank.
Acting for vessel mortgagees in respect of a US$19m+ claim under a Mortgagees Interest Insurance (MII) policy.
Acting for an assured in respect of claims under a buildings insurance policy for alternative accommodation following water damage.
Acting for an assured in respect of claims under a buildings insurance policy for storm and flood damage to flats, including loss of rent and roof repairs.
Representing the Welsh Ministers for the consequential hearing in R (ClientEarth) (No3)) v (1) Secretary of State for Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (2) The Secretary of State for Transport and (3) Welsh Ministers  EWHC 315 (Admin), successfully resisting an extended liberty to apply order which would have by-passed the normal permission stage for subsequent judicial reviews (and was granted, exceptionally, against the Secretaries of State).
Acting for an international NGO in relation to ongoing proceedings arising out of the Bhopal gas disaster in India in 1984, considered to be the world's worst industrial disaster.
Acting for an international NGO in drafting communications to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women concerning sexual violence in South Sudan (with Monica Feria-Tinta).
Acting for Latin American market traders at a Public Inquiry concerning a Compulsory Purchase Order pursuant to a controversial £60m+ redevelopment in Tottenham and raising issues of cultural, property and children's rights (with Monica Feria-Tinta and Alistair Wooder).
Assisting the Commonwealth Secretariat in creating a Legal Knowledge Exchange Portal for countries throughout the Commonwealth.
Advising on the potential liability of an international charity to its institutional funders for potential fraud by its foreign partners.
United States of America v Nolan  UKSC 63: concerning whether the collective redundancy consulting and information obligations imposed by section 188 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consilidation) Act 1992, implementing the EU Collective Redundancies Directive, applied to the redundancies resulting from the jure imperii decision of the United States to close a US Army watercraft repair facility at Hythe.
R (on the application of Bancoult No 2) v Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs  UKSC 35: concerning whether the judgment of the House of Lords in R (on the application of Bancoult No 2) v Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs should be set aside on the alleged ground of material non-disclosure by the respondent and, if so, whether the appellant should be permitted to adduce fresh evidence at the rehearing of the appeal.
Keyu and others v Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and others  UKSC 69: concerning whether there is a legal duty (under the ECHR or customary international law) to hold a public inquiry into the historic killing of unarmed civilians by a patrol of Scots Guards in Batang Kali, Malaysia. A further issue was whether the UK continued to have legal responsibility for the actions of the Scots Guards following Malaysian independence in 1957.
In the matter of an application by JR38 for Judicial Review (Northern Ireland)  UKSC 42: concerning the Article 8 implications of publishing photos from which children suspected of criminal activity could be identified.
R (on the application of Evans) and another v Attorney General  UKSC 21: concerning correspondence between The Prince of Wales and government ministers and the legality of using the power under section 53 of the Freedom of Information Act to override tribunal decisions.
Pham v Secretary of State for the Home Department  UKSC 19: concerning statelessness and an order depriving the appellant of his British citizenship.
R (on the application of Catt) v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and another; R (on the application of T) v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis  UKSC 9: joined appeals concerning the power to retain personal data for police purposes under Article 8 ECHR.
R (on the application of Rotherham MBC and others) v Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills  UKSC 6: concerning a challenge to the distribution of funds provided form EU Structural Funds and the public sector equality duty.
Recovery of Medical Costs for Asbestos Diseases (Wales) Bill: Reference by the Counsel General for Wales  UKSC 3: concerning whether the Welsh Assembly would, under the Government of Wales Act 2006, have legislative competence to enact the Recovery of Medical Costs for Asbestos Diseases (Wales) Bill.
"Access to justice in the 21st century: how can it be maximised?", winner of the Jonathan Brock Memorial Essay Competition (Runner-Up) Prize 2017.
Non-Party Intervention in Investor-State Arbitration: Bernhard von Pezold v Republic of Zimbabwe, case comment in The Journal of World Investment & Trade.
The Insurer's Obligations of Good Faith and the Insurance Act 2015, in The Modern Law of Marine Insurance: Volume 4 (co-authored with Christopher Hancock QC).
Tom has given talks to law firms and clients on topics which include: EU private international law, good faith obligations in commercial contracts, entire agreement clauses, res judicata, contractual damages and shipbuilding disputes.

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