Herbert Smith outwits Linklaters in oil project court battle

Herbert Smith has emerged victorious from a long-running dispute relating to an oil and gas development project in Liverpool Bay.
A team led by partner Charles Plant and solicitor advocate Alexandra Truesdale has been advising a consortium of operators of the development headed by BHP Billiton Petroleum Ltd, since 1996.
The consortium claimed that linepipe provided by Dalmine SpA, a leading Italian steel maker advised by Linklaters partner Tom Lidstrom, was the cause of leaks in the Liverpool Bay oil and gas development, which appeared within six weeks of its main pipeline coming into operation.
Dalmine admitted falsifying key certificates in relation to the specification of its linepipe. However, its denials of liability have been struck out by the Court of Appeal. Dalmine now faces a damages claim of £300m, plus interest.
Herbert Smith instructed Mark Howard QC and Alec Haydon, both of Brick Court Chambers.