Source: http://www.2tg.co.uk/people/stuart-benzie/
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 04:27:46+00:00

Document:
"A very persuasive and tenacious cross-examiner"
"He always helps to overcome difficult issues"
"He is not afraid to think outside the box"
"He's very personable, and he interacts well with clients"
"Clients like his tough but pragmatic approach"
Stuart is an experienced commercial advocate who has represented commercial clients in the Commercial Court, Chancery Division, Court of Appeal and in arbitration matters in disputes covering a broad spectrum of commercial law. He is recommended in Chambers UK under Commercial Dispute Resolution, noted for being “very personable” and that he “interacts well with clients” who like his “tough but pragmatic approach”.
Stuart was employed as a strategy consultant by McKinsey & Company and as a senior member of HSBC’s London based securitisation team. Consequently, he combines his extensive legal skills and experience with a real understanding of the commercial needs and objectives of his clients.
Stuart’s practice covers a wide range of areas of commercial law and as well as his extensive experience of commercial, contractual disputes, he has significant experience of disputes in areas such as commercial agency, commercial fraud, , restrictive covenants and restraint of trade (in commercial agreements and in contracts of employments), shareholder disputes, financial products, credit and security, professional negligence, construction (especially fraud in the construction industry) and disputes with government agencies and local authorities.
Stuart is a true specialist in dealing with urgent interim application, including freezing and search orders, springboard injunctions, gardening leave injunctions and other prohibitory and mandatory orders (Stuart has appeared in the Queen’s Bench and Chancery Division applications courts on over 50 occasions in the last three years). As a consequence of this specialisation, Stuart has extensive experience of committal applications and has appeared in several applications (for applicants) in cases which resulted in sentences from suspended sentences of imprisonment to a Respondent who was imprisoned for 20 months.
Stuart is the author on the Chapter on ‘Sale of Goods on Credit’ in Christou “Sale of Goods” (Second Edition. Sweet & Maxwell) and is currently engaged in writing an updated version of a practitioner work on Freezing and Search Orders and contributing to a book on property damage.
Aquinas Education Ltd v. Miller and others  EWHC 404 (QB): Stuart acted for the new employer of two former employees of the Claimant (represented by Adam Tolley QC and Simon Paul) and the managing director of the new employer (Co-defending with Ruth Kennedy). The claim involved the Claimant’s attempt to seek a ‘springboard injunction’ against the two former employees who had commenced employment with a competitor. Stuart was successful in persuading the Judge to discharge a ‘springboard injunction’ which had been granted at an earlier hearing (Instructed by Freeths LLP).
Sports Invest Limited v. Letang (Unreported QBD December 2017). Stuart acted for Olivier Letang, the former director of football at Paris St Germain successfully resisting an urgent application made by Sports Invest (represented by Paul Gilroy QC) for a ‘garden leave’ injunction to restrain him from commencing employment with Stade Rennais FC another French League One football club (instructed by Gateley LLP).
Fieldfisher LLP v. Persons Unknown (Unreported December 2017). Stuart acted for a City law firm that had been the victim of fraud where funds had been dishonestly transmitted to a bank in Turkey (leading Emily Albou). Stuart appeared before Phillips J and sought one of the first worldwide freezing orders obtained against persons unknown. This case is one of a number of cases in 2017 where Stuart has acted in what are known as ‘push payment’ frauds or ‘Friday afternoon’ frauds. (instructed by Mills & Reeve LLP).
The English Electric Company Limited v. Alstom UK Limited  EWHC 1748 (QB) (Mercantile Court HHJ Waksman QC). Stuart acted for the Defendant against the Claimant (represented by David Lewis QC and Thomas Corby) in a further claim made pursuant to a chain of indemnities going back to the early 1970s. The case involved issues relating to the construction of contractual agreements, the various rules of construction and detailed examination of historic documents. (Instructed by Pinsent Masons LLP).
The English Electric Company Limited v. Alstom UK Limited  EWCA Civ 1314. Stuart acted for the Appellant (with James Drake QC) in this appeal against the Judgment of HHJ Mackie QC insofar as it related to his approach to contractual construction. The Appellant argued that the Judge was wrong to depart from the natural and ordinary meaning of the language of a record of an indemnity to give effect to what he found to be the commercial purpose of the parties (Instructed by Pinsent Masons LLP).
International Arbitration (Confidential July 2016). Stuart appeared (leading Emily Albou) in a US$350 million fraud claim conducted under the rules of the London Maritime Association. Stuart acted for the Applicant and succeeded in a case which related to the ownership of a vessel which was in the possession of the Defendant (represented by Nicholas Vineall QC). The case involved cross-examination of witnesses by video-link from Mexico (Instructed by Laytons LLP).
General agency, particularly with regard to finance transactions.
Breach of covenant cases in business sale agreements.
Matters involving complex expert evidence.
Stuarts current practice includes acting for clubs, national bodies and individual athletes in a range of contractual, regulatory and disciplinary matters.
Stuart previously advised on a number of high-value finance transactions for sports bodies. Stuart advised on various issues including the FIA rules and other contractual and insolvency issues in the US$1.4 billion bond issue (Formula 1 Finance BV) and thereafter has advised investors on the structure of proposed investments relating to promotion rights and television rights in other areas of Formula 1 and the World Rally Championship. Stuart has also advised drivers in other areas of motorsport in relation to sponsorship and other contracts.
Stuart has recently advised a number of Premiership football clubs and an Italian Serie A club in relation to funding (and refinancing) structures for stadia. Such advice included consideration of the relevant FA and Premiership rules and regulations as well as the contractual and company law issues.
Stuart is currently advising a Premier League football club in relation to a dispute with an Italian Serie A club. The advice relates to contractual issues, the interaction of the transfer agreement with the player’s Premier League Contract and the relevant parts of the FIFA Status and Transfer of Players Regulations.
Stuart acted for West Ham in a dispute with Viagogo relating to the sponsorship agreement between the parties and ticketing arrangements.
Stuart acted for West Ham in a dispute with Morrisons in relation to the aborted purchase of the Boleyn Ground by Morrisons.
Stuart acted for AFC Bournemouth in a dispute with a shareholder of the club. The dispute primarily related to breaches of the FA Rules on club ownership and Stuart advised on the FA Rules and related contractual issues.
Stuart acted for Charlton Athletic in a dispute with a former sponsor in relation to a promotion offered to season ticket holders.
Stuart represented the Fédération Française de Rugby (FFR) in relation to the dispute as to the future of the Heineken cup. Stuart advised in relation to the enforceability of the existing contract with Sky television, the extent to which French clubs could participate in any future contract with BT Sport and the relevant IRB (now World Rugby) Rules.
Stuart acted in an application for an urgent injunction to prevent certain trading concessions from continuing to trade at their Welford Road ground.
Stuart advised a grass roots player in relation to allegations of serious misconduct heard by an RFU Disciplinary Panel. Stuart advised the player in relation to the rules of the RFU, evidential matters and prospects for judicial review.
Stuart advised Ross Gunn in relation to his BRDC Formula 4 driving contract and agreements (2014) and subsequently in relation to his driving contract with Beechdean Aston Martin Racing in the British GT Championship (2015).
Stuart acts for an insurer in a dispute relating to damage to a stadium at Epsom Racecourse.
Stuart has acted in numerous commercial fraud matters and is able to advise at all stages from the initial investigation, the obtaining of disclosure and other interim relief (particularly freezing and search orders) through to the management of proceedings, trial (or settlement) and enforcement. Many of these cases have been multi-jurisdictional in nature and Stuart has advised in cases involving parties or assets in numerous jurisdictions including Switzerland, the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands, Gibraltar, USA, Iran and Iraq.
Stuart has also acted in a number of cases involving breaches of restrictive covenants by employees, where the employee has misused confidential information to assist a competitor or to go into competition with the employer.
Recent instructions include acting for a major London property company in relation to a fraud committed by a senior employee, acting for the victim of a fraud committed by a group of employees against a major Midlands housing association and a case involving the protracted investigation of the misuse and conversion of equipment belonging to a major UK gas supplier (which resulted in the court granting a committal order against the Defendants).
Stuart has also developed particular expertise in dealing with committal applications arising out of commercial fraud cases and has acted in a number of cases where applicants have succeeded in having respondents committed to prison. His recent cases include the leading case on sentencing of F.W Farnsworth Ltd & Anor v. Lacy & Ors  EWHC 3487 (Ch).
Stuart also regularly advises solicitors and other professionals in relation to money laundering and issues emanating from the Bribery Act 2010. Stuart speaks regularly at conferences and other events on issues relating to the investigation and prevention of commercial fraud.
Stuart is an experienced commercial litigator with extensive experience of property damage cases particularly in the TCC. He has acted in cases involving floods, fires, defective design, product liability and subsidence.
Stuart recently represented the Claimant in a three week trial which was the first major TCC trial to hear concurrent expert evidence (“hot-tubbing”) Brookhouse Engineering (Evesham) Ltd v. Willbros Construction (U.S.) LLC. Stuart brings a wealth of experience from his broader commercial practice and is particularly experienced in dealing with complex expert evidence.
Stuart’s current cases include a series of claims relating to fires caused by defective electrical equipment and a claim relating to damage to the roof of a major sports stadium.
Stuart’s employment practice is focused on commercial disputes between employers and employees with a strong emphasis on restrictive covenants, confidential information and breaches of fiduciary and directors’ duties.
Stuart acted for the employer in FW Farnsworth Ltd v Lacy and others  IRLR 2830 (Ch); an important decision in relation to the incorporation of employment contracts by implied consent (see Harvey Bulletin 412 November 2012). Stuart’s employment practice often overlaps with his sport practice where he has advised a number of Premier League football clubs in relation to contractual disputes with players.
Stuart is highly experienced in applying for urgent interim relief to enforce restrictive covenants and the unlawful use of confidential information. He has also appeared in a number of committal applications where employees have been sentenced for breach of such injunctions including F.W Farnsworth Ltd & Anor v. Lacy & Ors  EWHC 3487 (Ch) a leading case on sentencing for committal.
Stuart has been involved in insurance law for in excess of 20 years. Stuart is regularly instructed in disputes arising from all policy types (e.g. professional indemnity, public liability and employers’ liability). He deals with construction and coverage disputes, subrogation issues, non-disclosure, brokers’ negligence, and fraudulent claims.
Stuart acts for insurers in the specialist field of sports law (where Stuart is a recognised leading practitioner), recently advising MS Amlin in relation to coverage issues following storm damage to a stand at the Epsom racecourse and advising in relation to the potential liabilities of a Premier League football club in relation to a player with serious health issues.
Abena UK Ltd v Zackaria & others  LTL 16/11/2015 (Lawtel Document no. AC9502269)(QBD Simler J).
Reference  EWHC 2119 (Ch) but went further in being the first order to grant access to details of an on-going police investigation. (Instructed by Mills & Reeve LLP).
Stuart appeared for the appellant in a case which considered the interaction of the relief from sanction regime after the decision in Mitchell and the ability to appeal orders imposing sanctions on a party. (Instructed by Gateley plc).
A committal hearing in which the managing director of the Defendant companies was committed to prison for a period of 12 weeks on each of two counts of contempt of court, suspended for 12 months. In sentencing the court relied upon the judgment of Proudman J in Stuart’s earlier case of F.W Farnsworth Ltd & Anor v. Lacy & Ors  EWHC 3487 (Ch). Stuart appeared for the Applicant, Flogas Britain Ltd (instructed by Freeth Cartwright).
An application for an order remedying a procedural defect and/or relief from sanction in a case where a costs budget was signed by a trainee solicitor (from the Defendant’s previous solicitors) and contained certain errors. The court held that a trainee solicitor was not a “senior legal representative” for the purpose of Practice Direction 3E but also held that the failure to have the document signed by a senior legal representative and the other errors did not render the costs budget a nullity and as such CPR Rule 3.14 was not engaged and there was no need for relief from sanction. The judge ordered that the defect could be remedied pursuant to CPR Rule 3.10. Stuart acted for the applicant, Tesco Stores Limited (instructed by Berwin Leighton Paisner).
A three-week trial in the TCC concerning a dispute over contracts for hire of mechanical plant used for laying oil-pipelines. As well as raising issues relating to contract formation, and the burden of proof within actions for bailment, the case was one of the first commercial cases to hear concurrent expert evidence (“hot-tubbing”). Stuart appeared for the Claimant Brookhouse Engineering (leading Will Clerk of 2TG) (instructed by Freeth Cartwright LLP).
An application to commit three defendants for breaching the terms of a prohibitory injunction. The judge (Proudman J) considered the list of matters which a court must consider when sentencing a contemnor set out by Lawrence Collins J in Crystalmews Limited v Metterick  EWHC 3087 and added a further four matters which the court should consider in addition to that list. Stuart acted against leading counsel for the applicants F.W. Farnsworth and Northern Foods plc (instructed by Freeth Cartwright).
A trial in the Manchester Mercantile Court relating to a contractual dispute between a recruitment company and a major logistics and haulage company. The case raised interesting questions as to the application of the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003 in circumstances where the alleged employment business had adopted tax structures using an “umbrella” company to employ temporary workers. Stuart was instructed by the Defendant logistics company, CML plc (instructed by Freeth Cartwright LLP).
A case involving an alleged conspiracy between a former employee of the Claimant and a competitor to use the Claimant’s confidential information. The case considered the enforceability of restrictive covenants in the context of internet based retail businesses. Stuart appeared for the Claimant (instructed by Gateley).
A high value fraud action against a former employee and contractors who provided services to the claimant. Stuart acted for Cadogan Estates (instructed by Pinsent Masons LLP).
A high value fraud in the construction industry involving a former member of the claimant’s staff. Stuart acted for the claimant (instructed by Pinsent Masons LLP).
An application to strike out an unfair prejudice on the grounds that the petitioner had refused to accept a reasonable offer to purchase his shares (instructed by Harvey Ingram LLP).
Hearing before the President of the Lands Tribunal on the construction of a letter of claim and the extent to which the letter set out a claim against the local authority (instructed by Eversheds).
Court of Appeal case reviewing the requirements to admit fresh evidence before an appellate court post CPR. Stuart acted for Lloyds TSB at first instance and in the Court of Appeal (instructed by Eversheds).
A high value engineering dispute relating to the supply of parts for oil rigs. Stuart appeared for the Defendant in an application relating to the extent to which the Defendant had taken a step in the proceedings for the purposes of an application to stay proceedings pursuant to the Arbitration Act 1995. Stuart appeared at first instance and on the appeal (instructed by Pannone LLP).
Application for summary judgment in the Commercial Court in a case dealing with failure to comply with the requirements of s.2 Law of Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1989 and the application of the rule against penalties. Stuart acted for Cantor Fitzgerald (instructed by Berwin Leighton Paisner).
Trial dealing with commercial agency, alleged fraud and database rights. The first case to consider the ownership of database rights in agency relationships. Stuart acted for the commercial agent in a seven day trial before Bean J (instructed by Anthony Collins).

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