Howard Kennedy, Brick Court face negligence accusation

Howard Kennedy and Brick Court Chambers' Andrew Lydiard QC have found themselves the target of a claim brought by a former client who says he suffered loss of opportunity following their advice.

The case, currently being heard in the High Court before Mr Justice Cooke, is brought by a Portuguese businessman.

Antonio Anibal Andrade Baptista Lopes filed the case after the failure of his application to be joined to an earlier action relating to the acquisition of aircraft and spare parts from British Aerospace by Portuguese company Euroair.

In the current action, Lopes claims that Howard Kennedy failed to join him to the spares action and also claims that Lydiard failed to give him appropriate advice.

Kennedys partner Matt Andrews, representing Howard Kennedy, said: "It's unfortunate that we had to go to court, but we've been and we remain confident that Dr Lopes's claim will fail."

Andrews is instructing Four New Square's Justin Fenwick QC. Barlow Lyde & Gilbert partner Richard Harrison is instructing Three Verulam Buildings' Ali Malek QC for Lydiard.

Harrison said: "We do not accept that Mr Lydiard was negligent, nor that his advice caused any loss to Dr Lopes. Hextalls, instructing Four New Square's Nicholas Davidson QC for Lopes, did not comment.