Callum Reid-Hutchings

Practice overview

Callum has a keen interest in developing his practice in commercial litigation, employment law, company law, insolvency, and defamation. Throughout his pupillage, he has gained valuable experience in these areas by assisting on complex legal issues such as setting aside default judgments in high-value debt recovery cases, handling partnership disputes involving allegations of fraud, and advising on employment law disputes with a focus on self-employed contractor rights and discrimination claims. He has also tackled intricate defamation matters, assessing the meaning of defamatory words in common law, and worked on high-value breach of contract cases involving fraudulent misrepresentation.

In insolvency matters, Callum has dealt with cases involving trading at an undervalue, unfair prejudice, and director duties under the Companies Act 2006, making him well-versed in corporate governance and the strategic management of insolvency disputes. His involvement in winding up proceedings and successfully applying for the suspension of automatic discharge of bankruptcy under the Insolvency Act 1986 in the High Court as Sole Counsel has further sharpened his expertise in this area.

Callum’s other business ventures, including running a fashion company and involvement in a fitness app startup, provide him with a practical understanding of the commercial realities his clients face, allowing him to offer commercially-minded advice that seeks the most efficient and appropriate solutions. His experience as a designated advocate for the Cambridge team in the Vis Moot finals, combined with his role as a tribunal assistant in a high-value SIAC arbitration involving both commercial and construction disputes, makes him well-equipped to handle arbitration matters.

Callum has taught at the University of Cambridge for two years, delivering the full array of company law issues. He is due to assist the university in preparation for the Vis Moot. In addition, Callum has designed and helped deliver two bespoke master's courses for qualified lawyers at Westminster University, which have been running for three years. One course focuses on investment banking law, while the other covers international project finance and the interpretation of financing agreements. He also delivers seminars in tort, contract, and property law at the London School of Economics and King's College.

Before starting pupillage, Callum worked as a commercial litigation paralegal at leading London boutique CANDEY, gaining experience in a wide range of commercial litigation matters, particularly unlawful conspiracy claims and advising on steps related to freezing orders. Additionally, he gained further legal experience as a Judicial Assistant in the High Court (Commercial Division) for Cockerill J, Butcher J, and HHJ Pelling KC, working on several high-profile trials, including:

• CRF I Limited v Banco Nacional de Cuba & Republic of Cuba [2023] EWHC 774 (Comm): issues involving the enforcement of two sovereign debts arising from loan agreements made in the 1980s. The court ruled that it had jurisdiction to hear the creditor's claim, as there had been a valid assignment of the loan agreements, even though the creditor was not the original lender. However, the court found it lacked jurisdiction to hear the claim against Cuba, which had guaranteed one of the debts.
• Goyal & Anor v BGF Investment Management Limited & Ors [2023] EWHC 1180 (Comm): former chief finance officer and company shareholder, dismissed after a minority shareholding was transferred to an investment group, failed to establish claims of deceit and unlawful means conspiracy. The court ruled that the alleged misrepresentations regarding his position post-transaction were not proven.
• Virgin Enterprises Limited v Brightline Holdings Ltd [2023] EWHC 2240: US company wrongly terminated an agreement to license the VIRGIN brand and trademarks for its rail services business. The court found that this amounted to a repudiatory breach of contract, as the claim that the VIRGIN brand had lost its high reputation following Virgin Trains' loss of the West Coast franchise, and would cause damage to the company's reputation or business, was not established.
• Loreley Financing Jersey No.30 Limited v Credit Suisse [2023] EWHC 2759 (Comm): assisted in a seven-week trial where a bank was found not liable for damages in relation to a synthetic collateralised debt obligation transaction. The claims for fraudulent and negligent misrepresentation were time-barred, and the claimant failed to prove that the representations had been made or relied upon. In obiter, the High Court referenced the test from Geest Plc v Fyffes Plc as a helpful factor in determining whether representations were made, and confirmed that awareness of the representations by the representee is essential for reliance.

Callum has also served as a Tribunal Assistant in a high-value construction arbitration under SIAC rules.

Outside of law, Callum previously played for Forest Green Rovers and competed at an amateur level in boxing and MMA.