Practice overview
Thomas accepts instructions in all of chambers’ practice areas, with a particular focus on commercial dispute resolution, construction and professional negligence.
Thomas is currently acting as junior counsel for the main Defendants in Skatteforvaltningen (Danish Customs and Tax Authority) v Solo Capital Partners LLP & Ors, led by Nigel Jones KC, Sarah McCann, Lisa Freeman (of Furnival Chambers) and Emily Betts. The case involves claims for £1.4bn in deceit, conspiracy, unjust enrichment, breach of constructive trust, dishonest assistance, and knowing receipt arising out of complex share trading.
The case is listed as one of The Lawyer’s Top 20 cases for 2024. The main trial is listed start on 9 April 2024 and is timetabled to finish in April 2025. It is the most complex case which has been case managed in the Commercial Court. Mr Justice Baker previously remarked that this case was “litigation on a massive scale”.
Recent instructions as sole counsel include:
- Acting for the Claimant in a three-day construction trial, which included issues such as the identity of the contracting parties, the validity of a loan agreement, the value of the works, and allegations of defective works.
- Acting for the Claimant in a trial listed for two days to determine the effect of a clawback provision in a share purchase agreement.
- Acting for the Defendant in a one-day preliminary issue trial to determine whether the Claimant had forged the Defendant's signature on a trust deed.
- Advising on and drafting a director's misfeasance claim worth approximately £800,000.
- Advising on the validity of a brokering agreement on an urgent basis following the collapse of a well-known energy company.
- Appearing in an interest assessment hearing following a claim for breach of a loan agreement of over £1.5 million.
Recent instructions as junior counsel include:
- Assisting David Lewis KC and Charles Raffin acting for a major national franchisor in a termination dispute with former franchisee.
- Lead by Sara Ibrahim in a professional negligence dispute valued at over £2 million.
- (During pupillage) assisting Emily Betts and Ryan Hocking with Isaac v (1) Tan (2) Cardiff City Football Club (Holdings) Ltd [2022] EWHC 2023 (Ch), a one-week trial of an unfair prejudice petition.
- (During Pupillage) assisting Charles Raffin in acting for master franchisee of an international brand in a termination dispute (International Arbitration, LCIA Rules).
Prior to pupillage, Thomas worked for a Legal Tech company where he taught a machine learning programme to recognise different types of contractual terms. The programme is used by M&A lawyers at leading firms to undertake due diligence more quickly and more accurately.
Thomas studied Law at St Anne’s College, Oxford, where he was elected JCR President and won a college prize for his performance in finals. He was awarded an advocacy scholarship and graded Outstanding on the Bar course.
In his spare time, Thomas enjoys playing, watching and talking about cricket.
Areas of expertise
- Commercial dispute resolution
Commercial dispute resolution
Recent work
- Represented the successful Claimant in a three-day trial for breach of a loan agreement, where the identity of the contracting parties was in dispute.
- Represented the successful Claimant in a one-day trial for recovery of solicitor’s fees.
- Advised on the validity of a brokering agreement in order to meet an urgent deadline from an impending injunction, where the amount in dispute was over £100,000.
- Appearing in an interest assessment hearing following a claim for breach of a loan agreement of over £1.5 million.
- (During pupillage) assisted with Isaac v (1) Tan (2) Cardiff City Football Club (Holdings) Ltd [2022] EWHC 2023 (Ch), a one-week trial of an unfair prejudice petition.
- Construction & engineering
Construction & engineering
Recent work
- Represented the successful Claimant in a three-day construction trial where both the identity of the contracting party and the value of the works were in dispute.
- Represented the successful Claimant in a one-day construction trial where the contractor was denying allegations that the works were defective.
In addition to his busy court practice, Thomas regularly settles pleadings in construction disputes, including in multi-party disputes, and has experience in adjudication.
- Professional liability
Professional liability
Recent work
- Working as junior to Sara Ibrahim in bringing a claim of professional negligence against a solicitor worth over £2 million.
- Successfully defended a chartered surveyor against allegations of negligence in a one-day trial.
Seminars and articles
Thomas is a contributing author to the Practical Law Arbitration Blog. With other members of chambers, Thomas gives talks to junior solicitors on how solicitors and counsel can work together to get the best results for the client.
Please view the ‘insights’ tab for further information.
