Instruct Laurence

To instruct Laurence please contact our clerks on +44 (0)20 7842 5555 or email [email protected].

Laurence Page is a leading commercial and infrastructure advocate, whose practice includes some of the highest value and most complex litigation and arbitrations currently before the English courts, the DIFC and DIAC.

He is recognised as a “tier 1” barrister by Legal 500 and Chambers in Middle East disputes, encompassing a significant domestic and international commercial and professional negligence practice. He has acted in some of the largest Commercial Court shareholder and fraud disputes of recent years including Skatteforvaltningen v Solo Capital Partners LLP, described as “one of the largest and most complex pieces of litigation to be heard in the Commercial Court”, and a multi-billion dollar shareholder DIFC-LCIA arbitration. Laurence is highly rated in the directories as a “determined and thorough” advocate who “grasp of the facts and the evidence is encyclopaedic.”

Much of Laurence’s work focuses on large-scale, frequently multi-party disputes concerning emerging technologies. He has acted in major disputes concerning start-ups in new satellite technology, food delivery apps, direct-to-consumer optical services, horticultural lighting, dark kitchens, carbon capture and storage and spread betting. His wider energy and infrastructure experience has included natural gas shipping contracts, bitumen import/exports, sea-wall defences, and (allegedly) the world’s largest privately-owned fish-tank.

Laurence frequently appears as sole advocate in heavy arbitrations and litigations, whilst also being led by KCs on very high profile disputes.

In addition to appearing in cases before the English Commercial Court, Technology and Construction Court, and Court of Appeal, Laurence appears regularly before the Dubai International Financial Centre Courts and the Qatar International Court. Laurence has a particular focus on disputes in the Middle East; his work takes him to the region most months.

 

Laurence is recommended in Chambers UK and Legal 500 for Commercial Litigation, and in Legal 500 for Construction, Fraud (Civil) and Professional Negligence.  He is also recommended for Commercial Dispute Resolution in Chambers Global and as a leading junior for Middle East Commercial work in Legal 500 EMEA.

  • “Extremely commercially astute. He grasps the technical points very quickly, as well as the legal points.” (Legal 500)
  • “Very responsive, highly intelligent and great fun to work with. A legal polymath who seems to have an expert grip on many different areas of law.” (Legal 500)
  • “Very pro-active, user-friendly, understands the legal framework in the UAE and the interplay between onshore and offshore regimes. He is very friendly and willing to attend preliminary meetings or provide preliminary advice, which is often well received by clients.” (Legal 500)
  • “Laurence is diligent, intelligent and I like that he gets on with things. He has excellent judgement and is very easy to work with.”
  • “Laurence is always available to assist on very urgent matters; he is available 24/7.” (Chambers Global)
  • “His advocacy is incredible; he is pragmatic and he is thoughtful.” (Chambers Global)
  • “Very hard-working, he is wonderful both with clients and solicitors. He takes responsibility and consistently delivers.” (Chambers Global)
  • “Laurence Page is a well-known London-based barrister who has a strong DIFC practice. He is regularly instructed on matters concerning allegations of white-collar fraud, and often assists with cases involving freezing injunctions and search orders.” (Chambers Global, EMEA)
  • ‘Charismatic, commercially astute, very good with clients and solicitors, and extremely hard working.’ (Legal 500)
  • ‘Very easy-going and calm, and has a good court presence. He is a pleasure to work alongside.’ (Legal 500)
  • “Has an in depth grasp of the commercial realities, pressures and drivers that means he talks his client’s language and understands their needs in a way that is rare amongst the Bar.” (Legal 500)
  • “Bright, practical and invaluable on significant issues – he will become one of the DIFC regular go-to counsel in the next few years.” (Legal 500, EMEA)
  • “A good advocate who knows his cases inside out, works hard and is immensely likeable.” (Chambers UK)
  • “He is easy to work with and very approachable.” (Legal 500)
  • “A good advocate who knows his cases inside out, works hard and is immensely likeable.” (Chambers Global)
  • “His grasp of the facts and the evidence is encyclopaedic.” (Legal 500)
  • “He is very determined and thorough.” (Legal 500)
  • “An intelligent lawyer with a good grasp of the legal principles and how they are applied.” (Legal 500)

Laurence is involved in a number of very high value banking and finance related disputes.  Recommended by both Chambers & Prs and Legal 500 for his commercial expertise both in the UK and internationally, he has experience working with institutional clients on high-profile disputes and in technical claims.

Featured Banking and Finance cases

  • Acting for the successful claimants at trial in Bank Audi LLC v Al Fardan Investment Company LLC and others [2022] QIC (F) 20. The case concerned losses linked to an investment scheme conducted by the Central Bank of Lebanon which the World Bank labelled as ‘Ponzi Finance’.
  • Acting for the principal defendants in Skatteforvaltningen v Solo Capital Partners LLP and others, a c£2 billion banking and tax fraud claim listed for a four-week preliminary issue trial in January 2023 and a 24-week main trial commencing April 2024. Solo Capital Partners was a London/Dubai based hedge fund which provided credit to and a platform/structure for 100+ pension funds in USA and Malaysia to engage in ‘cum-ex’ trades entitling them to apply for withholding tax reclaims. The struck out as an extraterritorial attempt to recover taxes in [2021] EWHC 974 (Comm). It was restored by the Court of Appeal in [2022] EWCA Civ 234, and permission to appeal has been granted by the UK Supreme Court. There are approximately 20 reported decisions in the case.
  • Commercial Bank of Dubai PSC v Totora LLC and others CFI 047/2017: Acting for the successful Claimant in DIFC banking claim and associated actions against guarantors. The claim was the first occasion where the Joint Judicial Committee agreed that the DIFC Court, as opposed to the Dubai Court, had jurisdiction to hear the claim.
  • Royal London Mutual Insurance Society Limited and others v a FTSE 250 company. Acting for for a group of institutional investors in a section 90 FSMA claim for c£180 million
  • Stavrinides and others v Cyprus Popular Bank Public Co Ltd and another [2018] EWHC 313 (Ch): Acting for Claimants in civil fraud banking claim. Successful defence of £1.8 million security for costs application.
  • Steinhoff Investment Holdings NV. Advising group of institutional investors on potential claims arising from alleged accounting fraud and misleading statements to the market in South Africa and the Netherlands.
  • Georgallides v Timblo: Acting for Defendant in £2 million dispute arising from loan notes, with penalty clause and CCA issues.
  • Fitzkriston LLP v Cyprus Popular Bank Company: Acting for Claimant in £2.5 million civil fraud claim concerning alleged settlement of loans.
  • Menico Financial Services Limited v Philippou and another: Acting for Claimant in successful 2-week trial concerning fraud, unregulated lending and unfair relationship. Per HHJ Parfitt “I agree with Mr Page that the Defendant’s claim owes more to Pulp Fiction than to reality.”
  • Acting for Hong Kong trustees against a Greek bank in CHF20 million loan facility concerning an alleged event of default following without notice freezing injunction.

Laurence’s commercial experience includes agency, banking, civil fraud, economic torts, equity, financial services, guarantees, and restitution. He has extensive practical experience of freezing injunctions, proprietary injunctions, search orders and stakeholder applications.  He is recommended by both Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 for his commercial expertise both in the UK and internationally.

Featured Commercial Litigation and Arbitration cases

  • Acting for the principal defendants in Skatteforvaltningen v Solo Capital Partners LLP and others, a c£2 billion banking and tax fraud claim listed for a four-week preliminary issue trial in January 2023 and a 24-week main trial commencing April 2024. Solo Capital Partners was a London/Dubai based hedge fund which provided credit to and a platform/structure for 100+ pension funds in USA and Malaysia to engage in ‘cum-ex’ trades entitling them to apply for withholding tax reclaims. The struck out as an extraterritorial attempt to recover taxes in [2021] EWHC 974 (Comm). It was restored by the Court of Appeal in [2022] EWCA Civ 234, and permission to appeal has been granted by the UK Supreme Court. There are approximately 20 reported decisions in the case.
  • Acting for Singapore company at trial in an LCIA-DIFC arbitration in a US$30 million shareholder dispute concerning a company operating in central Africa.
  • Acting for clean coal electricity producer in £2 million ad-hoc arbitration against raw material suppliers following alleged force majeure event.
  • Cesfin Ventures and another v Al Ghaith Holding Company PJSC. Acting for defendant in English and DIFC proceedings for 80 million USD arising from New York arbitral proceedings
  • Phytolux Limited v Plessey Semiconductors Limited: Acting for successful claimant in 1-week trial concerning licence relating to horticultural lights. Issues included contractual interpretation, common mistake, unilateral mistake, breach of confidence and fitness for purpose of stock. See a copy of the judgment here.
  • SBM Bank (Mauritius) Ltd v (1) Renish Petrochem FZE (2) Hitesh Mehta (3) Prime Energy FZE CFI-054-2018a. Acting for third defendant in USD c40 million claim brought by the bank against its customer (D1) and a commercial counterparty (D3) for unlawful conspiracy, on the basis that D1-D3 had combined to fraudulently induce the bank to enter into a trade finance facility. The claim against the third defendant was dismissed by consent on the first day of trial, and the freezing order was set aside.
  • A £1 billion+ DIFC-LCIA arbitration. Acting for the company in an unfair prejudice claim concerning control of a multi-billion USD food delivery/technology company in Saudi Arabia.
  • Al-Jassim v (1) Socii Synergy Investment LLC (2) Reed Smith LLP (3) Tracey Revington CFI-031-2019. Successfully acting for second and third defendant concerning validity of shareholder resolutions.
  • Heidrick & Struggles (Middle East) Limited v Michael Morcos CFI 003/2021. Acting for Claimant in claim against a former executive of a listed executive recruitment company for breach of confidence and breaches of restrictive covenants.
  • Acting for group of institutional investors evaluating third party funders’ proposals to bring a securities action against Danske Bank A/S for allegedly misleading and deceptive representations to the market arising from the estimated €200 billion of suspicious money flowing through its Estonian branch between 2007 and 2015.
  • Interplan Electrics v Cahill. Acting for Claimant in successful freezing injunction arising from breach of contract and fiduciary duties by senior employee.
  • Renoir Global (Private) Limited v Watteau Holdings (PVT) Limited – Acting for Claimant in freezing injunction following unlawful means conspiracy by CEO and a director with third party company.
  • Interactive E-Solutions JLT v O3b Africa Ltd: Acting for DIFC registered company in £55 million commercial court claim concerning satellite-based communication systems in Pakistan
  • Acting for Defendant in successful Commercial Court reverse summary judgment application in claim for £42 million

Laurence has a very busy construction and engineering litigation, arbitration and adjudication practice. He acts for employers, contractors and subcontractors on a large number of projects. He is highly experienced in issues of adjudication enforcement.

Featured Construction & Engineering cases

  • Global Aerospares Limited v Airest A/S. Acting for claimant in dispute concerning the supply of aircraft parts over a seven year period. The parties’ contract contains an inchoate arbitration agreement and the respondent has refused to engage, such that an application is being issued to the High Court under s.18 of the Arbitration Act 1996.
  • Willmott Dixon Holdings Limited v Imtech Aqua Building Services. Acting for defendant in Part 8 claim concerning the right to adjudicate of an assignee.
  • An adjudication and an ICE Arbitration. Successfully defended a £2.3 million adjudication followed by an arbitration arising from the construction of a harbour wall and a promenade on the north coast of Wales.
  • An engineering (M&E issues) Expert Determination. Acting for referring party in £3.5 million dispute arising from defective M&E works in a large care home/nursing home complex.
  • Axis M&E UK Ltd v Urbacon Trading & Contracting Limited. Acting for main contractor in adjudication arising from redevelopment of two embassies into a residence at Princes’ Gate, London (project value is well in excess of £100m).
  • National Resources Body for Wales v HaskoningDHV UK Ltd. Acting for claimant in c£3 million dispute arising from defective construction of sea defences that caused significant damage to, Friog Corner, a Welsh valley.
  • UK Oil Pipelines Limited v (1) Fabricon (2) Eco-Drill. Acting for second defendant in £1 million TCC claim arising from horizontal drilling of an oil pipe that caused significant damage to a marina owned by the Canal & River Trust.
  • London Affordable Homes Ltd v Executive Homes Ltd. Acting for contractor in adjudication enforcement proceedings concerning alleged fraudulent misrepresentations.
  • BDB Design and Build Limited v Tubular Erectors Design & Build Ltd and others. Acting for steel subcontractors (and principal defendant) in £16 million claim arising from collapse of five Audi garages. Claim settled pre-action.
  • A JCT/CIMAR Arbitration (Clarks Legal). Acting for the Claimant in a 1-week arbitration for £1.5 million between a firm of heating engineers and a local authority relating to a boiler installation/maintenance contract for 10,000+ properties over an 8-year period.
  • Acting for main contractor in adjudication relating to ultra high net worth property in London SW7 (redevelopment and conversion of two adjoining embassies into residences).
  • Acting for clean coal electricity producer in £2 million ad-hoc arbitration against raw material suppliers following alleged force majeure event.
  • Acting for sub-contractor in a £1.6 million adjudication concerning Crossrail stabling facilities.
  • Acting for waterproofing sub-contractor in £800,000 adjudication arising from redevelopment of a major commercial site in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, following substantial water ingress.
  • Acting for employer in adjudication and related proceedings arising from construction of a mixed use development (including 32 flats) in Brixton.
  • Advising architects in £1.5 million defect and delays claim concerning brickwork mortar failures.
  • Acting for contractor in 800 million QAR arbitration (with Sean Brannigan KC).
  • Acting for claimant in County Council of Durham v MGH Card LLP and others, in fire safety dispute concerning a major mixed-use development in Durham city centre called ‘Milburngate’.
  • Exyte Hargreaves Limited v NG Bailey Limited [2023] EWHC 94 (TCC) acting for contractor in adjudication enforcement proceedings arising from 11 adjudications issued within a one month period. Case concerns the contractual stage in which an employer may be entitled to set off adjudicators’ decisions by way of liquidated and ascertained damages.

Many of Laurence’s claims arise from contractual, technical or shareholder disputes relating to start-ups and innovative technology. He is a committee member of the SCL’s Competition and Tech Group.

Featured Competition and Technology cases

  • Advising KSA food technology company responding to investigation into abuse of dominant market position by the General Authority for Competition of Saudi Arabia.”
  • Al-Jassim v (1) Socii Synergy Investments LLC (2) Reed Smith LLP and another CFI 031/2019: Acting for second defendants in DIFC proceedings arising from shareholder disputes over Hungerstation, a major tech start-up in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
  • TST Digital Limited v LGL Limited Acting for defendant start-up company concerning scope of liabilities owed to co-founder and website developer following onward sale to VisionExpress.
  • Skatteforvaltningen v Solo Capital Partners LLP and others c£2 billion fraud claim concerning, in part, whether proprietary trading software properly enabled over 100 US and Malaysian pension funds to become legal and beneficial owners of shares shortly prior to dividend dates. Reported judgments to date are [2020] EWHC 1658 (Comm) (CPR 84 issue), [2020] EWHC 1624 (Comm) (non-fraud defendant strike out application), [2020] EWHC 2161 (Comm) (release of proprietary injunction funds), 2020 EWHC 2022 (Comm) (preliminary issues trial)
  • O3b Africa Limited v Interactive E Solutions DMCC: Acting for claimant in £70m claim concerning satellite mobile telephony and bandwidth services in northern Pakistan.
  • Dunley v Conran Holdings Limited Successfully acting for former finance director of the Conran Group concerning rights granted under share option agreement.
  • Phytolux Limited v Plessey Semiconductors Limited [2018] 7 WLUK 407: Acting for successful claimant at trial concerning application of horticultural lighting technologies and the scope of rights granted to it under a 10-year licence. Issues included contractual interpretation, common mistake, unilateral mistake, breach of confidence and fitness for purpose of stock. See a copy of the judgment here.

Laurence is involved in many very substantial professional negligence claims, frequently as sole counsel appearing against senior juniors or KCs.

Featured Professional Negligence cases

  • His Highness Nawaf Al Khalifa v (1) Isam Adam (2) Arkas Law LLP Acting for member of the Bahraini royal family in fraud and professional negligence claim against a consultant solicitor in £1.7 million unlawful means conspiracy raising a number of difficult agency/vicarious liability issues
  • Various v (1) Graham & Rosen Solicitors, (2) DKLM LLP (3) Kingfields Solicitors (4) Millichips Solicitors. Acting as sole counsel for c50 Claimants in c£9.5 million claim against four firms of solicitors that structured, marketed and thereafter acted as conveyancers of hotel rooms in developments known as Hever Hotel and Needham Hotel.
  • Andrew Barclay-Watt and 117 others v 3 Cypriot Lawyers (and 64 others). Acting for firm of Cypriot Lawyers in substantial group action arising from the development of various houses and apartments in Paphos, Cyprus.
  • Axholme Limited v Gilderson Accountancy Services Acting for defendant accountants in substantial claim arising from allegedly overpaid tax for a period of 12 years
  • Just Inc Limited v DP Business Consultancy Acting for defendants in £300,000 claim arising from alleged failures to prepare accounts adequately.
  • Advising company and directors on potential claim against solicitors arising from an unsuccessful swaps misselling claim.
  • O’Neill (1) O’Neill (2) v Bull & Bull Solicitors – acting for defendant firm of conveyancing solicitors in successful trial concerning the proper application of SAAMCo following BPE Solicitors v Hughes-Holland.
  • Bashir v Warwick Solicitors: Acting for defendant firm of solicitors in High Court (QBD) claim alleging negligent conduct of criminal proceedings.
  • Sir Christopher and Lady Evans v PricewaterhouseCoopers [2019] EWHC 1505 (Ch) Acting for claimants in £4 million claim concerning negligent tax planning..
  • Group of claimants v firm of solicitors – advising group of 500 claimants on coverage issues in claim arising from investments induced by fraud in Brazilian housing development.
  • TJ Properties (UK) Limited v Benson Watkins & Singh LLP. Acting for defendant solicitors in £1.5 million claim arising from a commercial conveyance induced by fraudulent misrepresentation.
  • An insurer v A major city law firm – Advising claimant insurers in £1 million claim arising from negligent advice concerning an ATE policy relied on to defend a security for costs application.
  • Achillion v Girlings Solicitors. Acting for Claimant in £3.4 million loss of chance claim arising from failed litigation concerning 14 property joint ventures.

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Tel-Aviv Arbitration Week 2023

Alex Charlton KC, Matthew Lavy and Laurence Page will be attending Tel-Aviv Arbitration Week 2023 taking place from 26...

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Laurence Page successful in Bank Audi LLC ‘BAQ’ v Al Fardan Investment Company and Others [2022] QFC (F) 20

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Instruct Laurence

To instruct Laurence please contact our clerks on +44 (0)20 7842 5555 or email [email protected].

Laurence Page

  • Techbar
  • Combar
  • YFLA
  • London School of Economics, BSc
  • King’s College London, MA
  • College of Law, LLB
  • French

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