Litigation

In court this week: SKAT, oligarchs and anti-suits

Mammoth SKAT case finally hits Commercial Court for longest-ever hearing The Danish Customs and Tax Administration (SKAT) begins its trial in the Commercial Court today (15 April), marking what is due to be the longest scheduled hearing in the Court’s history. One of The Lawyer’s Top 20 Cases of 2024, the 12-month trial will tackle […]

newcastle

“No arguable case”: Newcastle United defeats Travers’ kit injunction

The Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) has refused to grant Sports Direct an injunction that would force Newcastle United Football Club to supply it with replica kit, following a hearing on Tuesday. Newcastle United, defended by Northridge partner James Eighteen, granted exclusive retail rights for its kit to competitor JD Sports from next season. However, Sports […]

Apple phone

Gibson Dunn fails to have £800m class action against Apple dismissed

Apple has failed to have a nearly £800m class action brought against it thrown out, following a hearing before the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) in January. The opt-out claim is brought by class representative Dr Sean Ennis on behalf of around 1,500 app developers in the UK. He has instructed Geradin Partners’ partners David Gallagher […]

St Botolph, Clyde & Co

Commercial Court throws out bulk of $100m negligence claim against Clyde & Co

The Commercial Court has dismissed the lion’s share of a negligence claim brought against Clyde & Co, two XXIV Old Building barristers and offshore firm Harney Westwood & Riegels in a judgment handed down today. The claim, brought by Emirati businessman Riad Al Sadik in 2021, alleged that the three legal outfits failed to properly […]

document assess inquiry

Spotlight: Hogan Lovells and its high-stakes investigations

This week on Spotlight, we take a look at the global investigations, white collar and fraud (IWCF) practice group at Hogan Lovells.  Hogan Lovells’ investigations, white collar and fraud practice: Globally, the practice group holds over 120 lawyers and operates in the UK, the US, Germany, Spain, France, China, Indonesia, Singapore, Australia, Mexico and Brazil.  Many lawyers […]

Blackrock

Simmons loses tax appeal over $13.5bn BlackRock deal

The world’s largest asset manager, BlackRock, has had its appeal for tax relief dismissed following a hearing against HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in March. The appeal concerned the complex structure that BlackRock, represented by Simmons & Simmons’ partner Heather Rowlands, had used to buy Barclays Global Investors (GBI) for $13.5bn in 2009. In the […]

fintech mobile phone

Kirkland and Reed Smith lead as key FRAND case settles

Kirkland & Ellis and Reed Smith have taken leading roles in the settlement of the UK’s first “implementer-led” Fair, Reasonable and Non-Discriminatory (FRAND) action. The settlement was reached on 4 April and decided via a Tomlin Order, rendering the details of the parties’ settlement confidential. A first instance trial was set to heard tomorrow (12 […]

Claim spotter: EasyGroup takes on more “brand thieves”, while Barclays and NatWest team up

EasyGroup takes on “brand thieves” again in new suit EasyGroup, the owning group of budget airline EasyJet, has filed a part 7 “passing off and trade marks claim” in the Intellectual Property List, continuing its long-running campaign against what it calls “brand thieves”. Stephenson Harwood has been called in to represent EasyGroup in this latest […]

From left to right: Leah Bouckley, Stuart McDonald, Sufyan Mulla, Ben Acheson and Alicia Robinson

Hill Dickinson swipes two more Irwin Mitchell teams to build Birmingham office

Hill Dickinson is swiftly growing its new Birmingham office, with the addition of two more teams from Irwin Mitchell. The firm has significantly strengthened its real estate capabilities in the Midlands, adding expertise in both transactions and litigation to the five-strong corporate team it onboarded in February to launch the office. The real estate team […]