Source: https://www.20essexst.com/member/paul-lowenstein
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 14:39:17+00:00

Document:
Paul Lowenstein QC is a leading commercial silk in domestic and international litigation and arbitration. Paul has been listed for many years as a leading silk in several categories including Commercial Dispute Resolution and Civil Fraud in all the principal directories, being cited most recently as: "A wonderful cross-examiner, who is very tenacious and has good client-handling instincts" and "A very formidable advocate, who's prepared to regularly stress-test your case in detail" in Chambers & Partners UK 2018; as "A star at the Bar and brilliant to work alongside", "A brilliant team player and leader, and good with clients" and "incredibly focused and fastidious" in Legal 500 2017; as "An outstanding advocate who wades through the complexities making headline points" in Legal 500 2015 and as "an enormous talent; fastidious, focused and hugely energetic" and "a forceful advocate, who is completely committed to his cases" in Legal 500 2014. Paul has appeared in many of the most prominent commercial and fraud cases of the past few years, including obtaining the first-known Worldwide Freezing Injunctions against 'persons unknown' and was notably instructed as lead advocate in the two competition damages trials brought in the Commercial Court by 12 major national retailers against MasterCard and Visa, listed among The Lawyer newspaper’s Top 20 Cases of 2016.
A preeminent courtroom advocate, he is sought after for heavy trials, applications and forensic cross-examination. Paul's key practice areas are: Commercial Dispute Resolution; Civil Fraud; Banking & Finance; Information Technology and Telecommunications; Professional Negligence and Media and Entertainment and Arbitration.
Acknowledged as a team player and an expert strategist with a highly commercial approach, Paul is regularly asked to lead groups of barristers both within his core fields of practice and in diverse and specialist areas.
Paul is regularly instructed in international and domestic arbitration and in English court proceedings in aid of arbitral proceedings and in connection with the enforcement of arbitration awards. He advises overseas lawyers on issues arising in domestic and international litigation and arbitration and gives expert evidence on questions of English law and procedure arising in foreign proceedings. Paul is also a qualified mediator and an experienced mediation advocate.
Paul is a member of the Harbour Litigation Funding Investment Committee.
Paul Lowenstein QC is instructed in high-profile, heavy or sensitive commercial disputes of all kinds, including in specialised fields and jurisdictions. Paul is particularly known for his strength of advocacy, strategic thinking and commercial approach.
He has particular experience of commercial, multinational and fraud work, including: jurisdiction and choice of law issues; injunctions, freezing, search, imaging and Norwich Pharmacal and other disclosure orders and other interim remedies; asset tracing; enforcement action to secure the payment of domestic and foreign judgments and awards; applications for committal for contempt of court; conflict of laws international and domestic arbitration; letters of request; banking and other financial transactions; claims arising out of business and asset sale agreements; "boardroom bust-ups"; domestic and international trade disputes; commercial agency; technical IT, the Internet and disputes relating to claims concerning defective plant and machinery and property disputes. Paul has most recently led teams in several ground-breaking fraud actions, including obtaining the first-known Worldwide Freezing Injunctions against 'persons unknown' and in 2016-17 led a specialist team of counsel in the two competition damages trials brought in the Commercial Court by 12 major national retailers against MasterCard and Visa.
Paul is also a member of the Investment Committee of Harbour Litigation Funding.
SAS Institute Inc v World Programming Ltd (2017-19) (Commercial Court) (with Josephine Davies) - acted for the defendant software company in its successful resistance at trial of the enforcement in England of a US$26 million court judgment on grounds that the enforcement action was contrary to public policy and an abuse of the process in the light of an earlier trial in England, with subsequent appeal to the Court of Appeal and reference to Europe, involving the same parties. Judgment at  EWHC 3452 (Comm) (And with Thomas Raphael QC, Josephine Davies and Oliver Caplin) Anti-suit injunction.
A v B (2019) (with Tamara Oppenheimer) – acting for the claimant in related substantial LCIA commercial and financial claims against a bank and others in relation to a metal ore mine and in defence of bank guarantee claims.
E D & F Man Capital Markets Ltd v Come Harvest Holdings Ltd and anor (2018) (Commercial Court) (with Benjamin Woolgar) - defence of an alleged substantial commodities (Nickel) trading fraud - allegations of the passing of fraudulent warehouse receipts.
A v B (2018-19) (with Belinda McRae) – acting for a defendant to a LCIA arbitration – claim for unpaid money under commercial instruments – defence that the instruments are fraudulent.
X v Y (2018-19) (with Luke Pearce) – acting for the Claimant in an LCIA arbitration concerning a dispute over the establishment of an energy production plant in the Caucuses.
A v B (2018) – advised an LCIA award creditor with substantial associated litigation in India and Mauritius on availability of Freezing Injunction and Chabra injunctive relief in England.
Manek and others v IIFL and others (2018) (Commercial Court) (with Peter de Verneuil Smith) - acting for two of the Defendants, based in India, in relation to a Worldwide Freezing Injunction obtained against them in an action where fraud is alleged in connection with a sale of company shares.
A v B (2018) advised a major litigation funder and the proposed claimant on the merits of a proposed fraud claim by a foreign national against an 'oligarch'.
A v B (2018) (with Simon Mills) - advised an ultra-high net worth individual in relation to overseas contempt of court committal proceedings served on him and others in London.
Be in v Google (2017-2018) (Commercial Court) (with Oliver Caplin) - acted for an online tech company in respect of its claims against one of the largest 'Tech Giants' for alleged misappropriation of business secrets in the face of a non-disclosure agreement.
A v B (2017-18) (Commercial Court) (with Adam Kramer, Philip Hinks and Sam Goodman) - acting for a major overseas financial institution which has collapsed into insolvency with regard to its very substantial proposed fraud claims against former directors.
Business claims against a clearing bank and others (2017-19) - advising a group of individuals who make serious allegations including fraud against one of the big four UK clearing banks and others after the assets of their companies were 'stripped' and their business taken from them by allegedly dishonest officers of the Impaired Asset division of the Bank and by 'turnaround' consultants imposed on them by the Bank.
CNM Estates Ltd v VCREF 1 S.a.r.l and others (2018) (Commercial Court) (variously with Rupert Hamilton and Sebastian Clegg) - acted for the owner of a valuable development site with regard to claims against lenders for breach of contract, other parties for procuring that breach and against LPA receivers who propose to sell the asset at an alleged undervalue.
Re: An Application in Private (Part 36) (Commercial Court) (with Vikram Sachdeva QC and Hannah Glover) - Acted for a group of claimants who (during trial) made a successful application to accept an offer made to them before trial under CPR Part 36. The court refused permission, under CPR r.36.10(3), for a group of defendants to withdraw the Part 36 offer while the trial was in progress. A judgment handed down in a case concerning similar issues did not amount to a change in the legal landscape which would make it unjust to hold the defendants to the offer. Judgment at  EWHC 3606 (Comm).
A v B (2017) Commercial Court - obtained a very substantial worldwide freezing order on behalf of a well-known overseas bank in support of intended LCIA arbitral proceedings.
Montblanc v Doshi (2017) Commercial Court - acting for the Claimants on the enforcement in England of a substantial ICC arbitration award - worldwide freezing order.
Dispute related to the VW emissions litigation (2017) Ch.D - acted for a firm of solicitors in litigation over the right under a non-disclosure agreement containing solicitors' undertakings to represent claimant clients in the VW emissions litigation.
Enforcement of Russian arbitral award (2017) - advised the claimant in respect of a contested claim for the enforcement in England of a very substantial Russian arbitral award.
Retailers (Asda, Arcadia, Wm Morrison and others) v MasterCard and Retailers v Visa: Payment Card Interchange Fee Competition Damages Claims (2015-2017) (with Fergus Randolph QC, Christopher Brown, Max Schaefer and Hannah Glover) - instructed as lead counsel for the 12 claimant groups, all well-known national retailers, in their separate Commercial Court competition damages actions worth hundreds of millions of pounds against MasterCard and Visa to recoup credit and debit card charges (Multilateral Interchange Fees) on the basis that the defendants operated alleged cartel arrangements in connection with their charging structures. The action against MasterCard was tried in the Commercial Court over 20 days in 2016:  4 C.M.L.R. 32. Permission to appeal to the Court of Appeal was granted in August 2017. The claims against Visa settled in February 2017 after 33 days of trial. These actions were named amongst the ‘Top 20 Cases of 2016' and 2014 by The Lawyer newspaper and said to be the largest ever such claims launched in the English courts.
Kazakhstan Kagazy Plc v Zhunus and ors (2013-17) (with David Head and Paul Wee) acted for the first defendant in an alleged £100 million corporate fraud claim said to have taken place in Kazakhstan; and in connection with associated claims. Jurisdiction, choice of law / foreign law, security for costs (judgment at  EWHC 996 (Comm)) and other preliminary issues including successful resistance of application to amend to introduce proprietary claims (judgment at  EWHC 117 (Comm)) and successful application for substantial interim payment on account of costs (judgment at  EWHC 404 (Comm)). Non-molestation injunction. Security for costs, with issues over the enforceability of an English costs judgment in Kazakhstan. Further dispute between defendants regarding Contribution Notice and the right of a CN applicant to seek a Worldwide Freezing Order against a co-defendant (judgement at  4 WLR 86). Also acted in the related action: Alliance Bank JSC v Zhunus and ors (2014-15) (Commercial Court).
Globe Motors Inc. and another v TRW Lucas Varity Electrics Steering Ltd (2011-16) (Court of Appeal and Commercial Court) (with Rajesh Pillai and - earlier - Richard Hanke) - represented the Claimant, a major US automotive parts manufacturer throughout the litigation and at the trial over approximately 11 weeks in spring and summer 2014 in its successful claim at trial against its UK customer for breach of a long-term exclusive agreement for the supply of electric motors for incorporation in power assisted steering units in cars arising out of when it sourced "second generation" electric motors for those systems from another supplier rather than from the Claimant. Issues of contractual construction and breach of contract and misrepresentation in the context of a long-term exclusive supply agreement. Detailed technical and expert evidence to explain the complex technology in the product. Decision reversed on a point of contractual construction. Interim decision at  EWHC 3134 (QB). Trial judgment at  EWHC 3718 (Comm). Quantum judgment at  EWHC 553 (Comm). Appeal judgment at  EWCA Civ 396.
Integrated Global Card Payments IT Services: Earn-out and Warranty Dispute (2014-15) (with Adam Kramer) - acted for the sellers of a substantial hi-tech business which provided payment card processing solutions in connection with their claims against the buyers for unpaid earn-out payments, and in defence of threatened warranty cross-claims. Significant technical detail overlaying a complex contractual framework.
Ecotricity Group Ltd v Tesla Motors (2014) (Ch) (with Nicholas Craig) - represented Tesla Motors, the respondent electric battery-powered volume car manufacturer in its defence of the claimant power supplier's claims for injunctions for alleged procurement of breach of contract and misuse of confidential information and counterclaims alleging breach of UK and European Competition Law.
Tamara Ecclestone v Omar Khyami and ors (2013) (QBD - Dingemans J) (with Jeremy Reed and David Head) - represented Tamara Ecclestone at trial of this substantial action in a dispute that concerned claims and cross-claims in privacy, breach of confidence, non-molestation and the title to and damages flowing from the alleged conversion of a Lamborghini car. Successful restriction of the principal damages counterclaim from £6+ million originally claimed and from the £415,000+ asserted at trial to a judgment award of only £7,500. Trial judgment at  EWHC 29 (QB).
S v S (2013) (Family Division) (with Katie Cowton) - acted for the creditor wife on the successful and speedy enforcement of a £14 million unpaid matrimonial finance consent order where the former husband, his assets and the family trusts were primarily based abroad.
JSC BTA Bank v Soldochenko and others (the AAA Litigation) (2011-15) (Ch) - acting for Anatoly Ereschenko (17th Defendant) in his defence of claims in which he is alleged to have assisted in the facilitation of serious fraud said to have been suffered by the claimant Kazakh bank. Concurrent issues relating to Norwich Pharmacal disclosure obligations. Contested application to cross-examine regarding disclosure determined by Henderson J in April 2011  EWHC 843 (Ch). Extended interim cross-examination on Norwich Pharmacal disclosure in June and November 2011. Successful defence at trial before Vos J of contempt of court / committal proceedings in which the claimant bank alleged that Ereshchenko had lied in evidence given in response to the disclosure order and under cross-examination  EWHC 1891 (Ch). Successful defence of the bank's appeal against Vos J's refusal to commit Mr Ereshchenko for contempt of court  EWCA Civ 1961. Several further interim judgments on applications in committal proceedings including  EWHC 550 (Henderson J) and LTL 3/5/2012 (x 2) (Peter Smith J).
Paul Lowenstein QC is regularly instructed in the heaviest international and domestic fraud cases of the day. His work here overlaps to a great degree with his commercial, banking and professional negligence practice. Paul has most recently led teams in several ground-breaking fraud actions, including obtaining the first-known Worldwide Freezing Injunctions against 'persons unknown'.
He has particular relevant experience of: jurisdiction and choice of law issues, injunctions, freezing, search, imaging and Norwich Pharmacal and other disclosure orders, anti-suit injunctions and other interim remedies; asset tracing; enforcement action to secure the payment of domestic and foreign judgments and awards; conflict of laws international and domestic arbitration; domestic and international banking and other financial transactions and the relationship between deceit and contract/negligence claims against professionals.
CMOC v Persons Unknown and others (2017-18) (Commercial Court) (variously with Harris Bor, Philip Hinks, Philip Riches and Matt McGhee) – acted for an international commodities business which fell victim to a sophisticated Business Email Compromise (payments fraud) following the hacking of its email system. Obtained first-known worldwide freezing injunction against 'Persons Unknown' as well as Shapira and other disclosure orders against many banks worldwide. Obtained blanket permission for the enforcement of the WFO worldwide and orders for service of documents by alternative means including by (1) Facebook Messenger (2) web-based data room and (3) WhatsApp. Liability established against all 29 remaining defendants to the action at trial in July 2018. Trial judgment at  EWHC 2230 (Comm). Interim judgments at  EWHC 3599 (Comm) (ex parte) and  EWHC 3602 (Comm) (return date).
Gorbachev v Guriev (2018-19) (Manchester Circuit Commercial Court) (with Tony Beswetherick) – acting for the Claimant whose claims approximately a quarter of in a very substantial phosphate-based fertiliser in Russia (PhosAgro) by virtue of representations and/or declarations made to him by the Defendant in London.
SKAT (the Danish Customs and Tax Administration) v Solo Capital Partners LLP and ors (2018-19) (Commercial Court) (with Charlotte Tan) – acting for six of the Defendants to a very substantial fraud action said to arise out of alleged false claims for refunds of Danish Withholding Tax relating to shareholder dividends.
X v Y (2018-19) (with Belinda McRae) – acting for a defendant to a LCIA arbitration – claim for unpaid money under commercial documents and instruments – defence that the instruments are fraudulent.
A v B (2018-19) (with Sam Goodman) – advising a first class Russian Bank in connection with a proposed substantial fraud action and associated pre-emptive remedies to be brought in England against an ultra-high net worth individual.
E D & F Man Capital Markets Ltd v Come Harvest Holdings Ltd and anor (2018-19) (Commercial Court) (with Benjamin Woolgar) - Defence of an alleged substantial commodities (Nickel) trading fraud - allegations of the passing of fraudulent warehouse receipts.
Arcadia Petroleum and ors v Bosworth and ors (2015-19) (Commercial Court) (formerly with David Head) – advised and acted for two of the defendants (based in Dubai and Mauritius) in substantial Commercial Court oil trading-related fraud litigation said to be worth $335 million.
Manek and others v IIFL Wealth (UK) Ltd and others (2018) (Commercial Court) (with Peter de Verneuil Smith) - acting for two of the Defendants, based in India, in relation to a Worldwide Freezing Injunction obtained against them in an action where fraud is alleged in connection with a sale of company shares.
A v B (2017-18) (Commercial Court) (variously with Adam Kramer, Philip Hinks and Sam Goodman) - acting for a substantial overseas financial institution with regard to its very substantial proposed fraud claims against former directors.
Business claims against a clearing bank and others (2017-18) - advising a group of individuals who make serious allegations including fraud against one of the big four UK clearing banks and others after the assets of their companies were 'stripped' and their business taken from them by allegedly dishonest officers of the Impaired Asset division of the Bank and by 'turnaround' consultants imposed on them by the Bank.
Group Seven and Equity Trading Systems v Notable Services and ors (2015-16) (Ch) (with Peter de Verneuil Smith) - defended a Swiss bank, LLB Verwaltung (Switzerland) AG, against allegations of fraudulent conspiracy and dishonest assistance following banking references allegedly given to English solicitors by one of its employees which were said to have caused the wrongful payment-away of the claimants' money.
Kazakhstan Kagazy Plc v Zhunus and ors (2013-17) (Commercial Court) (with David Head and Paul Wee) - acted for the first defendant in an alleged £100 million corporate fraud claim said to have taken place in Kazakhstan; and in connection with associated claims. Jurisdiction, choice of law / foreign law, security for costs (judgment at  EWHC 996 (Comm)) and other preliminary issues including successful resistance of application to amend to introduce proprietary claims (judgment at  EWHC 117 (Comm)) and successful application for substantial interim payment on account of costs (judgment at  EWHC 404 (Comm)). Non-molestation injunction. Security for costs, with issues over the enforceability of an English costs judgment in Kazakhstan. Further dispute between defendants regarding Contribution Notice and the right of a CN applicant to seek a Worldwide Freezing Order against a co-defendant (judgment at  4 WLR 86).
Alliance Bank JSC v Zhunus and ors (2014-15) (Commercial Court) (with David Head and Paul Wee) - acting for the first defendant in an alleged £170 million banking fraud claim said to have taken place in Kazakhstan. Discharge of freezing order.
Professional Negligence Fraud Claims - (ongoing) (with William Edwards and Charlotte Eborall) - acting for a number of mortgage lenders (including nationalised banks) in their multi-claim managed actions against fraudulent and negligent conveyancing solicitors, valuers and other individuals.
PJSC Vseukrainskyi Aktsionernyi Bank v Maksimov (2015) (Commercial Court) - committal proceedings for contempt of court - adjournment - issues of access to justice where the alleged contemnor was in a refuge in the Ukraine and subject to Ukrainian asset freezing order which prevented him using his own money to pay English costs.
Metal Ore Mine Joint Venture Arbitration (2019) (LCIA Arbitrations) (with Tamara Oppenheimer and Mark Tushingham) - Acting for a foreign mining company in four closely-related substantial LCIA commercial, banking, guarantee and financial claims against and brought by a bank and others in relation to a metal ore mine joint venture.
Eric Daniels v Lloyds Banking Group (2017-18) (Commercial Court) - acted for the former group chief executive of Lloyds Banking Group in his successful claims for unpaid bonuses payable on the integration of HBOS into Lloyds Banking Group. Judgment at  EWHC 660 (Comm);  I.R.L.R. 813.
A v B (2019) (with Tamara Oppenheimer) – acting for the claimant in related substantial LCIA commercial and financial claims against a bank and others in relation to a metal ore mine.
A v B (2017-19) (Commercial Court) (with Adam Kramer, Philip Hinks and Sam Goodman) - acting for a substantial overseas financial institution with regard to its very substantial proposed fraud claims against former directors.
Business claims against a clearing bank and others (2017-18) - advising a group of individuals who make serious allegations including fraud against one of the big four UK clearing banks and others after the assets of their companies were ‘stripped’ and their business taken from them by allegedly dishonest officers of the Impaired Asset division of the Bank and by 'turnaround' consultants imposed on them by the Bank.
Retailers (Asda, Arcadia, Wm Morrison and others) v MasterCard and Retailers v Visa: Payment Card Interchange Fee Competition Damages Claims (2015-2017) (with Fergus Randolph QC, Christopher Brown, Max Schaefer and Hannah Glover) - instructed as lead counsel for the 12 claimant groups, all well-known national retailers, in their separate Commercial Court competition damages actions worth hundreds of millions of pounds against MasterCard and Visa to recoup credit and debit card charges (Multilateral Interchange Fees) on the basis that the defendants operated alleged cartel arrangements in connection with their charging structures. The action against MasterCard was tried in the Commercial Court over 20 days in 2016:  4 C.M.L.R. 32. Permission to appeal to the Court of Appeal was granted in August 2017. The claims against Visa settled in February 2017 after 33 days of trial. These actions were named amongst the 'Top 20 Cases of 2016' and 2014 by The Lawyer newspaper and said to be the largest ever such claims launched in the English courts.
Kazakhstan Kagazy Plc v Zhunus and ors (2013-17) (with David Head and Paul Wee) acted for the first defendant in an alleged £100 million corporate fraud claim said to have taken place in Kazakhstan; and in connection with associated claims. Jurisdiction, choice of law / foreign law, security for costs (judgment at  EWHC 996 (Comm)) and other preliminary issues including successful resistance of application to amend to introduce proprietary claims (judgment at  EWHC 117 (Comm)) and successful application for substantial interim payment on account of costs (judgment at  EWHC 404 (Comm)). Non-molestation injunction. Security for costs, with issues over the enforceability of an English costs judgment in Kazakhstan. Further dispute between defendants regarding Contribution Notice and the right of a CN applicant to seek a Worldwide Freezing Order against a co-defendant (judgment at  4 WLR 86). Also acting in the related action: Alliance Bank JSC v Zhunus and ors (2014-15) (Commercial Court).
Group Seven and Equity Trading Systems v Notable Services and ors (2015-16) (Ch) (with Peter de Verneuil Smith) - defended a Swiss bank, LLB Verwaltung (Switzerland) AG, against allegations of fraudulent conspiracy and dishonest assistance following banking references allegedly given to English solicitors by one of its employees which were said to have caused the wrongful payment-away of the claimants' money. Choice of law and Swiss banking secrecy issues.
Integrated Global Card Payments IT Services: Earn-out and Warranty Dispute (2014-15) (with Adam Kramer) - acted for the sellers of a substantial hi-tech business which provided payment card processing solutions in connection with their claims against the buyers for unpaid earn-out payments, and in defence of threatened warranty cross-claims. Significant technical detail overlaying a complex contractual and financial framework.
Ignis Asset Management Ltd. v Heming (2014) (Ch) (with James MacDonald) - acting for the Defendant software developer in a claim for alleged breach of confidence etc relating to proprietary software following his resignation from the employment of the Claimant asset managers. Imaging orders.
Hedge Fund Introducer Commissions (2013-14) - advised a leading hedge fund on a dispute over contractual arrangements for the payment of introduction of business commissions.
JSC BTA Bank v Soldochenko and others (the AAA Litigation) (2011-15) (Ch) - acting for Anatoly Ereschenko (17th Defendant) in his defence of claims in which he was alleged to have assisted in the facilitation of serious fraud said to have been suffered by the claimant Kazakh bank. Concurrent issues relating to NorwichPharmacal disclosure obligations. Contested application to cross-examine regarding disclosure determined by Henderson J in April 2011  EWHC 843 (Ch). Extended interim cross-examination on Norwich Pharmacal disclosure in June and November 2011. Successful defence at trial before Vos J of contempt of court / committal proceedings in which the claimant bank alleged that Ereshchenko had lied in evidence given in response to the disclosure order and under cross-examination  EWHC 1891 (Ch). Successful defence of the bank's appeal against Vos J's refusal to commit Mr Ereshchenko for contempt of court  EWCA Civ 1961. Several further interim judgments on applications in committal proceedings including  EWHC 550 (Henderson J) and LTL 3/5/2012 (x 2) (Peter Smith J).
Information Technology and Telecommunications disputes including internet, website, computer, hardware, software, e-publishing, High-Tec and "dot.com" disputes and of all aspects of fixed and cellular telecoms contractual and service litigation. His experience also leads him to be instructed in cases where IT is applied to litigation, such as in applications for imaging orders. His work in this area often overlaps with complex commercial, financial, banking, fraud and professional negligence disputes.
Be In v Google (2017-18) Commercial Court (with Oliver Caplin) - acted for an online tech company in respect of its claims against Google for losses suffered following alleged misappropriation and use in 'Google Hangouts' of business secrets in the face of a non-disclosure agreement.
Neurosoft SA v Barclays Bank Plc (2018) QBD (with Andy Feld) – acting for the claimant in respect of its substantial action to recover damages and compensation following termination of a project for the design and supply of a specialised banking software platform.
Mortgage Express v Countrywide (2013-16) Leeds ChD (with Charlotte Eborall) - acted for the claimant lender in its successful claims brought in deceit for damages arising out of losses sustained following gross over-valuation of rental assessments used to support buy-to-let mortgages over 40+ properties in Eastbourne. Trial in January 2016:  EWHC 224 (Ch).
NRAM v Lambert Smith Hampton (2015-) (with Charlotte Eborall) - acted for the claimant in its claim arising out of the allegedly negligent over-valuation of a group of commercial care homes.
Mortgage Express and NRAM v Countrywide (2013-15) (with William Edwards) - acted for the claimants who are suing valuers for damages for alleged dishonest and/or negligent over-valuations of 70+ buy-to-let properties in Leeds. Successful appeal to the Court of Appeal regarding the construction of a limitation standstill agreement, which had the effect of allowing Mortgage Express to advance 40+ of its claims in the tort of deceit:  EWCA Civ 1110.
Powernet Telecom Plc v Teathers (in liquidation) (2012-13) (Ch) (with William Edwards) - acted for the joint liquidators of the respondent firm of stockbrokers in insolvency and related Chancery proceedings. Core allegations of negligence in connection with a retainer to assist the applicant to raise finance in a private placement of shares in a dot com. Issues concerning the viability of the business plan of the subject Telecom / Internet Service Provider.
GMAC-RFC Ltd v (1) Watson & Brown (2) Connells and others (London Mercantile Court) (with Rajesh Pillai) - advised and acted for the claimant Lender in its 200+ simultaneous managed claims for conveyancing negligence and breach of fiduciary duty against the first defendant solicitors and for valuation negligence against the second defendant valuers.
Mortgage Express v SFM Legal Services Ltd. and others (Manchester Mercantile Court) (with Charlotte Eborall) - solicitor's fraud, breach of equitable duties and conveyancing negligence in relation to 724 conveyancing transactions - acting for the Claimant lender - obtained a series of search, property preservation, delivery-up, 'gagging' freezing and Norwich Pharmacal orders against the Defendant solicitor and others.
Entertainment and Media cases, including actions for breach of confidence and privacy; video and interactive games litigation; royalty accounting and distribution disputes. Paul is also experienced in art litigation, including high profile disputes over the ownership and provenance of artworks, artefacts and antiquities. Paul’s work in this area regularly overlaps with his commercial and fraud practice.
Tamara Ecclestone v Omar Khyami and ors (with Jeremy Reed and David Head) - represented Tamara Ecclestone at trial and earlier mediation of this substantial action in a dispute which concerned claims and cross-claims in privacy, breach of confidence, non-molestation and regarding the title to and damages flowing from the alleged conversion of a Lamborghini car. Successful restriction of the principal damages counterclaim from £6+ million originally claimed and from the £415,000+ asserted at trial to a judgment award of only £7,500. Trial judgment at  EWHC 29 (QB).
Newspaper Group Fulfilment Contract Dispute - advised a leading national newspaper and media group in relation to a dispute with its former contractor for the fulfilment of customer services and online customer orders.
Islamic Republic of Iran v Berend  2 All E.R. (Comm) 132 (QB, Eady J) - dispute over title to ancient movable property (a fragment originally from Persepolis in Iran) and offered for sale by auction in London - successful defence at trial of Iran's claim to possession. Conflict of laws - law applicable to movable property abroad. First judicial consideration of the relevance of the doctrine of renvoi to the transfer of title to tangible movable property abroad. Consideration of French domestic law and conflict of laws.
HIT Entertainment Ltd v Gaffney International Licensing Pty Ltd  EWHC 1282 (Ch, Sir Donald Rattee) jurisdiction - principles applicable at common law to application for stay where the claimant relies on a non-exclusive jurisdiction clause - effect of Art.23 of EC Regulation 44/2001 - whether scope for application of doctrine of forum non conveniens in Art.23 cases.
Sawyer v Atari Interactive Inc  EWCA Civ 170 (CA) - interactive video games royalty accounting dispute - acted for the Defendant on its successful appeal against the striking out of its counterclaim - consideration of the principles on which new evidence is admitted on appeal - consideration of appropriate procedure on appeal when the law applied by the judge on striking out part of the counterclaim is presently under consideration in the House of Lords. The claim proceeded until it settled after a mediation (which I attended) on the eve of trial in January 2008 (led by Ian Mill QC). I appeared alone for the Claimant during the jurisdiction phase and at the hearings at first instance (Ch).
Crave Entertainment Inc v Computer Game Play Ltd (2007) (Ch) acted (with Rajesh Pillai) - for the U.S. - based claimant interactive video game development house in a licence fee dispute against an English game publisher. The action was stayed when the Defendant went into administration on the eve of trial.
Rachmaninoff v (1) Sotheby's (2) Terenyi  (QB, David Steel J) acted for Mrs Terenyi in her defence of the claim for possession of the manuscript of Rachmaninoff's second symphony, which had been left to her in a will.
Paul Lowenstein QC is instructed in high-profile, heavy or sensitive commercial disputes proceeding in domestic and international arbitration, both institutional and ad hoc. Particularly known for his strength of advocacy, strategic thinking and commercial approach, Paul is regularly retained for difficult and complex arbitrations with highly-contested facts or where substantial witness or expert examination is required.
Paul has particular experience of applications in the Commercial Court in London in support of arbitral proceedings in England and overseas and in connection with the enforcement or resistance of enforcement of arbitral awards. In particular, he is regularly retained for Jurisdiction and choice of law issues; freezing, search, imaging and Norwich Pharmacal and other disclosure orders required in connection with arbitral proceedings; anti-suit injunctions and on court arbitration applications and challenges.
A substantial part of Paul’s recent practice has been taken up in enforcement proceedings relating to arbitration, including pre-emptive remedies in support of such action.
In recent years Paul has been involved in arbitration and arbitration-related proceedings arising out of or connected with England, Singapore, the Gulf States, India, Russia and the CIS states, Ukraine and Hong Kong.
Paul Lowenstein QC accepts appointments as arbitrator in domestic and international arbitrations.
Acting for a foreign mining company in four closely-related substantial LCIA commercial, banking, guarantee and financial claims against and brought by a bank and others in relation to a metal ore mine joint venture (with Tamara Oppenheimer and Mark Tushingham).
Acting for a defendant to a LCIA arbitration – claim for unpaid money under commercial documents and instruments – defence that the instruments are fraudulent (with Belinda McRae).
Advising the BVI companies parties who defend a substantial corporate dispute in LCIA arbitration.
Acting for the Claimant in an ICC arbitration concerning a dispute over the establishment of an energy production plant in the Caucuses (with Luke Pearce).
Advised an LCIA award creditor with substantial associated litigation in India and Mauritius on availability of Freezing Injunction and Chabra injunctive relief in England.
Acted for Indian personal clients sued in England and made subject of an English freezing injunction in alleged breach of an Indian arbitration agreement (with Peter de Verneuil Smith).
Obtained a very substantial Commercial Court worldwide freezing injunction on behalf of a well-known overseas bank in support of intended LCIA arbitral proceedings (with Andrew Fulton).
Montblanc v Doshi – Commercial Court – acted for the Claimants on the enforcement in England of a substantial ICC arbitration award - worldwide freezing order.
Enforcement of Russian arbitral award – advised the claimant in respect of a contested Commercial Court claim for the enforcement in England of a very substantial Russian arbitral award.
Gulf State banking fraud claim – acted for a substantial Gulf State-based industrial conglomerate alleged to have been in dishonest breach of banking arrangements with the claimant multinational banking group.
Paul is a qualified CEDR mediator and regularly appears as an advocate in mediations. He has an intimate knowledge of the mediation process derived from his training as a mediator and through his experience in mediation.
Integrated Global Card Payments IT Services: Earn-out and Warranty Dispute (2014-15) - acted at mediation for the sellers of a substantial hi-tech business which provided payment card processing solutions in connection with their claims against the buyers for unpaid earn-out payments, and in defence of threatened warranty cross-claims. Significant technical detail overlaying a complex contractual framework.
Taxi Despatch Software Licensing Dispute (2014) - advised and represented (at mediation) a firm of specialist software developers and engineers who had licensed bespoke despatch and scheduling software to a well-known London private hire taxi company. Allegations of misuse and issues concerning the global resolution of the relationship between the parties.
Ecotricity Group Ltd v Tesla Motors (2014) (Ch) represented Tesla Motors, the respondent electric battery-powered volume car manufacturer at mediation in a dispute where it is defending the claimant power supplier's claims for injunctions for alleged procurement of breach of contract and misuse of confidential information and counterclaims alleging breach of UK and European Competition Law.
Tamara Ecclestone v Omar Khyami and ors (2013) (QBD) - represented Tamara Ecclestone at trial and earlier mediation of this substantial action in a dispute which concerned claims and cross-claims in privacy, breach of confidence, non-molestation and regarding the title to and damages flowing from the alleged conversion of a Lamborghini car. Successful restriction of the principal damages counterclaim from £6+ million originally claimed and from the £415,000+ asserted at trial to a judgment award of only £7,500. Trial judgment at  EWHC 29 (QB).
ANC Harlow & ors v FedEx UK Ltd and anor (the “FedEx Franchisee Litigation”) (2010-11) - represented FedEx at mediation in its defence of claims by 23 of its franchisees for further payments under a franchise bonus scheme.
EMDA Business Holding Corporation & Ors v GEV Offshore & ors (2010) (Commercial Court) - represented the claimant oil exploration industry maintenance contractors at mediation in connection with their action against Defendant company and former directors of the claimant who had taken very large sums of money from the claimant company and had set up a competing business.
Sectrack NV v. (1) Satamatics Ltd (2) Jan Leemans (2008) commercial injunction and misuse of confidential information dispute. For the Claimant at the mediation, held urgently after the return date of the injunction application in the Commercial Court. The mediation lasted approximately 37 hours.
Co-authored ‘Breaking new ground in fraud recovery claims in London – international pursuit of cyber fraudsters’ – IBA International Litigation Newsletter (May 2018).
Co-authored the chapter on Interim Injunctions to "Cases that Changed our Lives, Volume 2" pub. LexisNexis (2014).
Contributed the chapter on Mareva Injunctions / Freezing Orders to "Cases that Changed our Lives" pub. LexisNexis (2010).
Co-authored ‘Location, Location, Location - Why London Has Become the Centre for International Litigation' (2012) NLJ 534.
Paul is a Chairman of the Trustees of the International Law Book Facility (www.ilbf.org.uk), a registered charity which provides used printed legal texts to the developing world. Paul was nominated for the 2015 Sydney Elland Goldsmith Bar Pro Bono Award announced by the Bar Pro Bono Unit. The award is presented annually in recognition of outstanding commitment to pro bono work. Paul was nominated for his work with the ILBF.
The Lawyer newspaper has listed among its 'Top 20 Cases of 2016' Retailers v MasterCard and Retailers v Visa in which Paul is instructed to lead the counsel team in the forthcoming competition damages trials brought in the Commercial Court by 12 major national retailers against MasterCard and Visa. The Lawyer also featured Varma v Mittal in which Paul acted for Lakshmi Mittal (Commercial Court) amongst its 'Top 20 Cases of 2013' and (in January 2014) in its 2014 survey of the ‘Top Cases of Last Year'.

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