Source: https://4stonebuildings.com/barrister/james-knott/
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 16:45:22+00:00

Document:
Advising a party to a property development joint venture as to potential remedies against his co-venturer.
Acting (with Jonathan Crow QC) for the Claimants in a multi-million pound solicitors negligence claim relating to the purchase of a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant.
Advising a company in the transport sector in relation to a commission claim by a purported sale agent.
Acting (with Jonathan Crow QC) for the defendants in a multi-million pound fraud claim and shareholders’ dispute over a successful family run bakery business.
Acting (with Jonathan Crow QC) for Sonja Kohn in her successful defence of the high profile claim brought by the liquidators of Madoff Securities International Limited against its former directors and third parties: Madoff Securities International Ltd v. Raven & Ors  EWHC 3147 (Comm);  Lloyd’s Rep. F.C. 95 (one of The Lawyer’s “Top 10 cases of 2013″).
Acting on behalf of the Receivers appointed in the high profile Commercial Court litigation between JSC BTA Bank and Mukhtar Ablyazov (alongside Gregory Denton-Cox, Andrew De Mestre and Robert Miles QC).
Acting (with Hilary Stonefrost and Robert Miles QC) for JP Morgan Europe Limited in its successful defence of claims brought against it by mezzanine lenders following a non-consensual restructuring under a syndicated finance agreement: Saltri III Ltd v. MD Mezzanine SA SICAR & Others  EWHC 3025 (Comm);  1 All E.R. (Comm) 661;  2 B.C.L.C. 217 .
Advising a shareholder in a multi-million baked-goods business as to potential remedies against a fellow shareholder.
Acting for the petitioner and claimant in a petition under s.994 CA 2006 and a number of related claims concerning disputes over a family business and jointly owned real estate.
Acting for a company resisting an application under s.125 CA 2006 to rectify its register of members.
Acting for a petitioner under s.994 CA 2006 through to a successful settlement in respect of a multi-million pound multimedia consultancy business.
Advising (with Richard Hill QC) a shareholder in a Scottish company in relation to an unfair prejudice petition brought before the Scottish Courts and a successful application by the shareholder in the Scottish Courts for injunctive relief to prevent a vote on a hostile resolution seeking to strip the shareholder of its voting rights.
Acting (with Andrew De Mestre and Orlando Fraser QC) for a claimant energy investment company in an account of profits, following the diversion from it of a number of business opportunities relating to a potentially revolutionary oil and gas technology, culminating in a six week Enquiry before Mrs Justice Asplin in 2015.
Acting (with Robert Miles QC) for a former public company in a multi-million pound claim against its former directors for alleged breaches of fiduciary duty.
Acting as sole Counsel for an alleged de facto director in an action brought by joint liquidators for alleged breaches of fiduciary duty in connection with an multi-million pound VAT fraud.
Acting (with Richard Hill QC) for the defendant shareholders in a dispute over the ownership of an electricity generating plant in the Quetta region of Pakistan.
Acting for the petitioner in section 994 proceedings brought in respect of a group of estate agency companies.
Advising and acting (with John Brisby QC) in relation to derivative proceedings brought by a healthcare software developer, including obtaining ex parte injunctions to prevent continued interference with the company’s business.
Acting (with Peter Griffiths) for the Respondent and successful Cross-Petitioner in proceedings under s.994 CA 2006: Re Abbington Hotel Ltd  EWHC 635 (Ch);  1 B.C.L.C. 410.
Advising and acting (with Peter Griffiths) for the claimant and cross-respondent in proceedings in the Technology and Construction Court involving disputes in relation to a number of construction joint ventures and a derivative claim.
Acting (with Andrew De Mestre) to obtain disclosure of documentation and information from various third parties under the Court’s equitable jurisdiction to order the provision of information in relation to trust asset: Global Energy Horizons Corp v Gray  EWHC 2925 (Ch).
Acting (with Paul Greenwood and George Bompas QC) in the DXPCC v Prudential litigation.
Successfully acting for a number of creditors in COMI challenges on foreign debtors’ bankruptcy petitions, including a two-day witness action in the High Court (Eck v. Zapf  BPIR 499).
Acting (with Hilary Stonefrost and Robert Miles QC) for JP Morgan Europe Limited in its successful defence of claims brought against it by certain mezzanine lenders following a non-consensual restructuring under a syndicated finance agreement: Saltri III Ltd v. MD Mezzanine SA SICAR & Others  EWHC 3025 (Comm);  1 All E.R. (Comm) 661;  2 B.C.L.C. 217 .
Successfully defending claims brought against a trustee in bankruptcy in respect of the trustee’s fees and management of the estate.
Advising (with John Brisby QC) an Icelandic Bank in relation to potential claims against an English financial services advisor in administration.
Advising and acting for petitioners and companies in relation to all stages of the winding up process.
Advising and acting for petitioners and debtors in relation to bankruptcy proceedings, including applications to set aside statutory demands.
Advising and acting for both petitioners and trustees in bankruptcy on annulment applications under s.282 IA 1986.
Advising the liquidators of a manufacturing company on potential claims against former directors under IA 1986.
Advising the liquidators of a printing company on the lawfulness of dividends paid to former directors under CA 2006.
Acting for the administrators of a group of care home companies on an application for the extension of the administrations.
Acting (with Jonathan Crow QC) for the defendants in a multi-million pound fraud and conspiracy claim and shareholders’ dispute over a successful family run bakery business.
Advising (with Robert Miles QC) a former shareholder in a public company in relation to potential claims under s.90 of FSMA 2000 and for insider trading and unlawful means conspiracy.
Acting (with Rachel Oakeshott and Stephen Auld QC) for the claimants in a multi-million pound claim in deceit, conspiracy and professional negligence against a solicitor in connection with the purchase of a substantial piece of real property on the river Thames.
Acting (with Tom Gentleman and John Brisby QC) for the successful Defendant in a three week trial in the Queen’s Bench Division involving a multi-million pound contract dispute and findings of fraud against the Claimant (Butler-Creagh v. Hersham  EWHC 2525 (QB)), including successfully obtaining ex parte injunctive relief in respect of a prospective costs liability.
James has experience of advising and acting for clients in relation to offshore litigation. His recent work in this area includes advising (with John Brisby QC) in relation to multi-million dollar trust litigation in the Bahamas, including a claim for the removal of a corporate trustee arising out of alleged breaches of trust.
These are by their nature confidential but James is experienced in acting in both mediations and international arbitrations.
Gertner v CFL Finance Limited  EWCA Civ 1781; Creditors’ meetings; Good faith; Individual voluntary arrangements; Material irregularity; Non-disclosure; Settlement agreements; Voting rights. The case considered the application of the “good faith principle” identified in Cadbury Schweppes Plc v Somji  1 W.L.R. 615.
Lynch v Aldermore Bank Plc & Anor (16 November 2017, unreported); summary judgment / strike out; locus; security for costs. James successfully defendant a summary judgment / strike out application by the applicant bank. The Court considered whether an applicant seeking to challenge the admission of a proof of debt in his bankruptcy estate had to show a tangible interest in the bankruptcy or whether it was sufficient for him to come within the wording of r.6.105(2) of the Insolvency Rules 1986.
Mayr & Ors v CMS Cameron McKenna LLP  EWHC 3264 (Comm); security for costs; adequacy of ATE and Deeds of Indemnity. James was led by Jonathan Crow QC in successfully resisting an application for security for costs. The case considered the extent to which After the Event insurance combined with a Deed of Indemnity was sufficient to demonstrate that no order for security for costs was appropriate. The decision has since been applied at first instance in Recovery Partners GB Ltd v Rukhadze  EWHC 95 (Comm);  1 W.L.R. 1640.
CFL Finance Ltd v Rubin  EWHC 111 (Ch);  B.P.I.R. 336; Creditors’ meetings; Good faith; Individual voluntary arrangements; Material irregularity; Non-disclosure; Settlement agreements; Voting rights. The case considered the application of the “good faith principle” identified in Cadbury Schweppes Plc v Somji  1 W.L.R. 615. James also acted on the appeal to the Court of Appeal (see above).
Madoff Securities International Ltd v. Raven & Ors  EWHC 3147 (Comm);  Lloyd’s Rep. F.C. 95 Directors’ powers and duties; fraud; knowing receipt; dishonest assistance; restitution (one of The Lawyer’s “Top 10 cases of 2013″).
Saltri III Ltd v. MD Mezzanine SA SICAR & Others  EWHC 3025 (Comm);  1 All E.R. (Comm) 661;  2 B.C.L.C. 217 Non-consensual restructuring; duties owed by security trustee under intercreditor agreement; rights of senior and mezzanine lenders.
Handles a range of company-related cases. He takes instructions in non-contentious matters as well as disputes, and is experienced in Companies Court and High Court claims.
Recent work: Acted in Pyrrho Investments Ltd v MWB Property Limited and Others, a high-value breach of directors’ duty dispute.
Enjoys a broad practice handling litigation and advisory work involving company law. He has acted in the Companies Court on a range of applications and is regularly instructed in directors’ duties and shareholder claims.
Recent work: Acted in a multimillion-pound breach of directors’ duty claim concerning inter-company loans and undisclosed interests.
James is a member of the Commercial Bar Association and the Chancery Bar Association.

References: v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 EWCA 
 v. 
 v.