Source: https://www.maitlandchambers.com/barristers/thomas-grant
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 14:08:43+00:00

Document:
Thomas practises in the commercial chancery, professional negligence, property, and art and entertainment fields, as well as being instructed in a wide range of general chancery and commercial litigation. He practises mainly in the Chancery Division and Commercial Court and has particular experience in heavy multi-party disputes. Thomas is particularly highly regarded as a trial and appellate advocate and he spends a good part of his professional life in the courtroom. His advocacy has been commended by the Court of Appeal in two recent leading cases as “lucid and compelling” (Zinda v BOS) and as “engaging and very able” (Platform Home Loans v BOS).
Thomas is well known for his experience in contempt claims, having been instructed in three of the leading cases: Newson-Smith v Al Zawawi  EWHC 1876 (QB) (mens rea necessary when alleged to have made a false statement; JSC BTA Bank v Ablyazov  EWHC 1522 (case management of claim with multiple counts); Sectorguard Plc v Dienne Plc  EWHC 2693 (Ch) (abuse of process; strike out).
Thomas is used to working in teams and prior to taking silk in 2013 was frequently instructed to lead junior juniors. In recent years he has been involved in a number of large scale and high profile cases including Company 1 v Company 2  EWHC 3219 (Arbitration Act, freezing orders); Newson-Smith v Al Zawawi  EWHC 1876 (QB) (committal/CPR Part 71); J Toomey Motors v Chevrolet (UK) Ltd  EWHC 276 (Comm) (franchise agreements, repudiatory breach); Skelwith (Leisure) Ltd v Armstrong  1 Ch 345 (mortgagees’ remedies); Metropolitan Housing Trust v Taylor  EWHC 2897 (Ch) (freezing orders); Santander v R A Legal  PNLR 20 (breach of trust, section 61 of the Trustee Act) , Aeroflot v Berezovsky  1 CLC 53 (Court of Appeal, enforcement of foreign judgments), In Re the Estate of Platon Elenin (Aka Boris Berezovsky)  EWCA Civ 431 (confidential information), Gorbunova v Berezovsky  EWHC 76 (Ch) (£300m freezing order); Balgobin v South West Regional Health Authority  1 AC 582 (election and estoppel, Privy Council); Scullion v Bank of Scotland  1 WLR 3212 (duty of care, CA); JSC BTA Bank v Ablyazov  EWCA Civ 1141,  EWHC 1522 (Comm), EWHC 2664 (Comm) (receivership/freezing order applications, featured as one of the top cases of 2011 by Legal Week); Milsom v Ablyazov  Lloyd’s Rep FC 98 (privilege against self-incrimination); the litigation concerning Halliwells’ former offices; the 107 Cheapside litigation (Menolly v Cerep (2009) 125 Con LR 75); IPCO v Nigerian National Petroleum Company (most recently reported at  1 Lloyds Rep 89); the 2009 Skype v Joltid litigation (concerning rights to the source code of Skype); Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi v Ferrero Rocher, and the Ritz Hotel fraud claims. Thomas is well known for his expertise in obtaining and defending freezing and related interim orders. He is also instructed to provide chancery and company law input in very high value matrimonial disputes.
Thomas is a General Editor of Lender Claims (Sweet & Maxwell), which was published in July 2010. He is a contributor to the second and third editions of Flenley and Leech on Solicitors’ Negligence and Liability, published in 2008 and 2012.
He is current writing, as a general editor, Civil Fraud (2018, forthcoming, Sweet and Maxwell). For a number of years Thomas was a consulting editor of the Lloyds Law Reports, Professional Negligence. Thomas has also previously co-authored two books in the professional negligence and property fields.
Thomas is a member of the Chancery Bar Association, sits on the committee of the Professional Negligence Bar Association, and is a member of COMBAR. He is recommended for commercial chancery, real estate litigation and professional negligence in Chambers UK 2018 and is recommended for professional negligence, commercial litigation, company and partnership, and professional negligence in Legal 500 UK 2017.
• Company 1 v Company 2  EWHC 3219 (Arbitration Act, freezing orders).
• Newson-Smith v Al Zawawi  EWHC 1876 (QB) (committal/CPR Part 71).
• Galazi v Christroforou  EWHC 2042 (Ch) (capacity to act/indemnity costs).
• J Toomey Motors Ltd v Chevrolet  EWHC 276 (Comm) - claimed by car dealerships for alleged repudiatory breach of distribution agreements.
• Agents’ Mutual v Moginie James  EWHC 3384 (Ch) and  EWHC B34 (Ch) (misrepresentation, disclaimers, property portals).
• Skelwith (Leisure) Ltd v Armstrong  1 Ch 345 – multi-party proceedings concerning mortgagees’ remedies in case relating to alleged sale by mortgagee to an associate.
• Metropolitan Housing Trust v Taylor  EWHC 2897 (Ch) discharge of freezing order; case examines principles on which freezing orders will be granted.
• Thomas recently appeared in the Court of Appeal in Aeroflot v Berezovsky  EWCA Civ 20 (enforcement of foreign judgments), In Re the Estate of Platon Elenin (Aka Boris Berezovsky)  CA (confidential information).
• Gorbunova v Berezovsky  EWHC 76 (Ch). Thomas was instructed with Anthony Trace QC for Boris Berezovsky on his successful application to set aside a £300million freezing order.
• Bank of Scotland plc v Greville Developments (2012-2013). Alleged mortgage fraud, freezing orders, cross-examination on affidavit.
• Appeal concerning the proper approach to valuing shares under a buy-out order after a finding of unfair prejudice.
• HSH Nordbank Ltd v Saad Air  EWHC 3213 (Comm). Aircraft financing; right to inspect court file.
• Acted for the bank in the important Court of Appeal decision in Zinda v Bank of Scotland plc  1 WLR 728, concerning enforcement of suspended possession orders. This decision will affect mortgage possession practice across the country.
• Thomas was one of the lead juniors in JSC BTA Bank v Ablyazov and was involved in a number of hearings in 2010 and 2011, including the committal directions hearing (Teare J), the security for costs application (Teare J), and the funding application (Christopher Clarke J).
• Clipper Logistics Group Ltd v Monsoon Accessorize Ltd  EWHC 419 (Ch). Construction of indemnity clause in compromise agreement.
• Acted for Mr Ablyazov in Milsom v Ablyazov  EWHC 1846 (Ch),  Lloyd’s Rep FC 98 (Roth J) (leading Alexander Winter), an important decision on the privilege against self-incrimination.
• Acted in the trial in Rok plc v S Harrison Group Ltd  EWHC 270 (Comm), (leading Alexander Winter), relating to sufficiency of notice in a warranty claim.
• Appeared at trial for defendant in Everton Football Club v Sail Group  EWHC 126 (QB) in breach of warranty claim concerning a football tournament in South Africa.
• Appeared (leading Thomas Munby) on 7 day application to discharge freezing and search orders/strike out parts of the claim in Irish Response Ltd v Direct Beauty Products  EWHC 37 (QB), a claim for alleged inducement of breach of a distribution agreement and conspiracy.
• JSC BTA Bank v Ablyazov  EWHC 1779 (Comm);  EWCA Civ 1141. Appeared (with Anthony Trace QC and Duncan Matthews QC) for the defendant on claimant’s application for appointment of interim receivers, in the context of one of the largest claims ever brought in an English court.
• Menolly v Cerep  EWHC 516 (Ch), (2009) 125 Con LR 75. Appeared (with David Friedman QC and Anthony Trace QC) for the defendant vendor in relation to claim over the £150million sale of 107 Cheapside.
• Instructed by Joltid Limited in claim relating to ownership of the Skype source code (led by Mark Vanhegan QC) – Skype v Joltid (2009).
• Acted, leading Jonathan Allcock, in Sectorguard plc v Dienne plc  EWHC 2693 (Ch), a successful application to strike out a committal application in the context of a confidential information case.
• Acted for the claimant in the IPCO v NNPC litigation, concerning the enforcement of a New York Convention award, most recently reported in the Court of Appeal at  1 Lloyd's Rep 89 (led by Michael Lyndon-Standford QC).
• Instructed in the warranty claim of Reid v Capita  EWHC 2722 (Ch) (led by Anthony Trace QC).
• Appeared (leading Thomas Munby) in Apvodedo v Collins  EWHC 775 (Ch), raising issues concerning common law mistake.
• Acted for Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi at the jurisdiction hearing, and later hearings, of its claim for conspiracy against the Ferrero Rocher companies, reported as Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi v Baskan Gida  2 Lloyds Law Rep 395 and  EWHC 659 (Ch).
• Two week wrongful dismissal/share sale trial in 2008 (leading Alec McCluskey): Shilton Holdings v Knowles.
• Defended £3million directors' breach of fiduciary duty claim (leading Ciaran Keller). Claim abandoned by claimant.
• Appeared (with Anthony Trace QC for the claimant in the Ritz Hotel fraud claim, London Allied Holdings Ltd v Lee  All ER (D) 25 (Sep), raising issues concerning constructive trusts in respect of moneys procured by deceit.
• Appeared on behalf of the insurer defendant in Noblebright Ltd v Sirius UK  Lloyds Rep IR 584,  All ER (D) 120 (Apr), concerning alleged waiver of right to disclosure of material information by insurer.
• Instructed by Cleveland Bridge UK Limited in the litigation concerning Wembley Stadium against Multiplex plc. Appeared (with Hugh Tomlinson QC and Simon Hargreaves QC) in four week preliminary issues trial: Multiplex Constructions v Cleveland Bridge (UK) (2006) 98 Con LR 1.
• Appeared in franchise agreement case of CBR (Wakefields) Ltd v Puccino’s Ltd (No 2)  All ER (D) 374 (Nov), where the court was persuaded court to exercise its Barrell jurisdiction to recall an earlier draft judgment.
• Acted for the claimant in substantial four week High Court product liability/sale of goods trial Trac Time Controls v Rowan & Moss  All ER (D) 06 (Jan) (LTL, 26 January 2005). Damages of over £1.5million awarded.
• Instructed in development agreement case of Intense Investments v Development Ventures  BLR 478.
• Acted for Lola Cars plc at trial of a conspiracy claim in 2005 arising out of the award of chassis building contract for the American Indie Racing League.
• Acted for HH Maximillian von Habsburg in long-running Commercial Court proceedings flowing from decision in Dyer v Piclux SA  EWHC 1266 (Comm).
• Instructed at the jurisdiction hearing in the case of Network Telecom (Europe) Ltd v Telephone Systems International Inc  1 All ER (Comm) 418, concerning Afghan telecoms.
• Instructed in the longrunning Westminster Oil and Gas v Bordbar litigation, relating to the sale of helicopters to the Angolan government.
• Instructed in substantial High Court fraud case Frenstorm Ltd v Irvin  EWHC 402 (QB) arising out of purchase of chain of amusement arcades.
• Appeared on behalf of successful appellant in Northern Foods Ltd v Focal Foods Ltd  EWCA (Civ) 1262, involving forward commodity contracts.
• Appeared for claimant in Bolton Group (International) Ltd v Keegan  All ER (D) 96 (May), a case about share sales.
• Frequently instructed in sale of goods cases including the leading case on rejection of goods, Truk v Tokmakidis  1Lloyds Rep 543, and a multi-million claim concerning defective caravans.
Particular expertise in food-contamination litigation.
• Frequently instructed in warranty and guarantee claims.
• Frequently instructed in cases involving obtaining interim remedies, including freezing orders.
• Barclays Bank plc v TBS&V Ltd  EWHC 2948 (QB). Valuers’ negligence, relating to complex valuation of a care home (8 day trial).
• Redstone Mortgages v Countrywide Surveyors (14 January 2013). Valuer’s negligence.
• Mortgage Agency Services Number Five Limited v Optima, 2012, High Court trial of solicitors’ negligence claim, raising issues of duties under fast-track remortgaging retainers.
• CHL Mortgages v Countrywide Surveyors  3 EGLR 153. Appropriation of damages. Thomas successfully argued that the manner in which a lender had appropriated the proceeds of sale of its security meant that it had suffered no loss arising from the alleged negligence of the defendant.
• Appeared (led by Tom Leech QC) in Court of Appeal in the seminal decision in Scullion v Bank of Scotland  1 WLR 3212 (CA).
• Appeared for the defendant (leading Alexander Winter) in the important Court of Appeal decision in Platform Home Loans v Bank of Scotland  2 WLR 1016. Moore-Bick LJ described Thomas' submissions as "engaging and very able".
• Acted for defendant in George v Countrywide Surveyors Ltd  Lloyds Rep PN 141.
• Currently acting for numerous lending institutions in substantial multi-case claims against solicitors and valuers.
• Acted for defendant (leading Alec McCluskey) in a claim (the first of its kind) brought by a barrister suing for fees under a public access agreement. The 3 day strike out hearing is reported at Dunn v Glass Systems (UK) Ltd  Adj.L.R. 07/11.
• Instructed in claim against city firm in relation to acquisition of valuable central London lease. Claim settled for £900,000 2 weeks before trial to be heard in October 2007.
• Instructed in claim against a firm of solicitors arising out acquisition of premises to be used as a kitchen for substantial home-delivery company. Claim settled for £750,000 in summer 2007.
• Currently instructed in numerous cases involving alleged negligence relating to conveyancing transactions.
• Recently acted for the successful defendant in the valuer’s negligence case of Preferred Mortgages Ltd v Countrywide plc  PNLR 9 raising issues of bracket and expert evidence.
claimant asserted that he was the victim of undue influence, one of the first such cases: Bowser v Caley and Brooke North (17 February 2006, LTL), a two week Chancery Division trial.
• Appeared for the successful appellant in the Court of Appeal case of Aldi plc v Holmes Building plc  PNLR 9, an appeal in the multi-party Dallow Road litigation, which eventually settled 2 weeks into a three month trial.
• Appeared for the successful appellant in the Court of Appeal case of Sweetman v Nathan  PNLR 7, concerning abuse of process and res judicata questions in high value solicitor’s negligence claim.
• Instructed on behalf of Abbey Life Assurance plc in very substantial valuer’s negligence claim concerning the valuation of 6 nursing homes, settled shortly before trial.
• Acted for successful valuers in trial of Preferred Mortgages v Countrywide plc  All ER (D) 262 (May), raising issues of interest, contributory negligence.
• Instructed on behalf of defendant accountants in 5 day hearing in the Chancery Division involving issues concerning the role of experts and specific disclosure, Stephen Hill Partnership v Supaglazing  All ER (D) 229 (Oct).
• Acted for the successful appellant in the Court of Appeal solicitor’s negligence case of Kenburgh Investments (Northern) Ltd v David Yablon Minton (2001) BCC 648.
• Instructed by Chris Evans in a surveyor’s negligence arising out of the purchase of Hascombe Court.
• Instructed by Bank of Scotland/Halifax in 2006 in a claim against an allegedly fraudulent solicitor in relation to over 10 mortgage applications. Claim worth many £milllions.
• Acted on behalf of Halifax plc in the global mediation of its solicitors’ negligence claims (exceeding 100 separate cases).
• Instructed by numerous banks and building societies in solicitors’ and surveyors’ negligence cases. Especial expertise in negligence claims relating to property transactions with numerous ongoing cases concerning claims concerning defective leases.
• Bank of Scotland plc v Qutb  CP Rep 14 (CA). Personal liability for costs on the basis of a breach of warranty of authority of intermeddler in mortgage litigation.
• Hague Farming Ltd v Hague (2012), 5 week trial of proprietary estoppel claims.
• Acted (leading James Sheehan) in claim against former partners in Halliwells in claim on authorised guarantee agreements relating to the firm’s former premises.
• Acted for the bank in Bank of Scotland v Hussain  EWHC 2812 (Ch),  EWCA Civ 264 (leading Laurie Scher). Raising issues of estoppel and capacity in mortgage lending context.
• Acted for appellant on appeal in Dominion v Debenhams  23 EG 106 (CS), a case concerning contractual termination procedures. The appeal was compromised.
• Appeared in break clause case of Hexstone Holdings v AHC Westlink Ltd (2010) 32 EG 62.
• Appeared in the Lands Tribunal in Clarke v Murphy  22 EG 118 (CS), which upheld a claim that certain properties were subject to a building scheme.
• Appeared (leading Alexander Winter) for the successful tenant in the Court of Appeal case of Andre v Robinson  All ER (D) 235 (Dec), considering issues of surrender of leases in Rent Act cases.
• Instructed in case of Hepworht Group Ltd v Stockley concerning proceedings for specific performance of a contract to purchase a hotel, later reported at  2 All ER (Comm) 82.
• Appeared at trial of Walsh v Alderson, a decision involved consideration of the Court of Appeal judgment in Crest Nicholson Residential (South) Ltd v McAllister  1 WLR 2409.
• Instructed by Mr Lakshmi Mittal (led by Andrew Hochhauser QC) in defence of claim brought by agent for commission arising out of purchase of what was reported as the world’s most expensive house.
• Appeared for the successful appellant in the Court of Appeal in the leading case of CPL Distribution v Starmark  Ch 306, concerning time of the essence clauses in rent review provisions (led by Kim Lewison QC).
• Instructed in Hart Investments Ltd v Burton Hotels  L&TR 8, involving construction of a commercial lease.
• Appeared in Intense Investments v Development Ventures Limited  BLR 478, concerning development agreements.
• Instructed by Valentino Rossi’s manager in claim brought by Mr Rossi concerning termination of the management contract.
• Instructed by Joltid Limited in claim relating to Skype (led by Mark Vanhegan QC) – Skype v Joltid.
• Appeared on behalf David and Victoria Beckham in relation to their claim for breach of confidence against their former nanny, Abbie Gibson.
• Acted for Archbishop of Westminster in relation to application for third party disclosure in the Ivereigh v Associated Newspapers libel case.
• Instructed by the Saatchi Gallery in a claim brought against a well-known painter for breach of contract.
• Instructed by the Marlborough Gallery (led by Michael Briggs QC) in defending a very substantial undue influence and breach of fiduciary duty claim brought by the estate of the artist Francis Bacon: Clarke v Marlborough Fine Art Ltd (No 2)  1 WLR 1731 and Clarke v Marlborough Fine Art Ltd (No 3)  EWHC 11 (Ch). The claim was settled shortly before a three month trial was due to commence.
• Acted for 118 118 in relation to claim made by the runner David Bedford arising out image rights issues relating to the two 118 118 runners.
• Instructed by Viscount Boyle in a claim to recover the Boyle family paintings.
• Acted for owners in claims to recover various high value Mesopotamian artefacts.
• Instructed by Glynn Williams in relation to a claim for damage to certain of his sculptures lent to a museum.
• Acted for Mike Nolan in the litigation concerning the pop band “Bucks Fizz”.
• Instructed recently by antiquarian book dealers in relation to contract to catalogue and sell high value collection.
• Instructed by boxing promoter Frank Warren in a solicitors’ negligence claim arising out of this dispute with Don King.
• Instructed by the Marlborough Gallery in defending a very substantial undue influence and breach of fiduciary duty claim brought by the estate of the artist Francis Bacon: Clarke v Marlborough Fine Art Ltd (No 2)  1 WLR 1731 and Clarke v Marlborough Fine Art Ltd (No 3)  EWHC 11. The claim was settled shortly before a three month trial was due to commence.
• Acted in case In re Trusts of X Charity  1 WLR 2751, Beddoe proceedings relating to an action brought in US against an English charity (led by Michael Briggs QC).
• Frequently instructed by banks and building societies on mortgage claims, including issues of undue influence, subrogation and title rectification.
"Described as "a true star," he has a strong commercial chancery practice that takes in cases concerning receivership, freezing orders and unfair prejudice petitions."
"Praised for being "brilliant in every way.""
"He is good in court and on paper, and he gets plaudits for his excellent client care."
"A much-admired silk with experience of the full range of property litigation disputes, he has a particular focus on commercial cases and professional negligence-related claims."

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