Practice overview
Tom accepts instructions in all of chambers’ practice areas, with a particular focus on commercial dispute resolution, construction (and associated professional negligence and insurance), and insolvency.
Tom is currently is currently acting as junior counsel for a Defendant group 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), Emily Betts, and Miguel Henderson. 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”.
Tom is equally happy acting as sole counsel. He acts unled in multi-day trials, and regularly appears in all manner of interim applications in both the High Court and County Court.
Click on the tabs at the side to see his expertise.
Tom is happy to consider instructions under Gatehouse Chambers' Fixed Fee Adjudication Scheme.
Prior to pupillage, Tom 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.
Tom 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, Tom enjoys playing, watching and talking about cricket.
Areas of expertise
- Civil fraud
Civil fraud
Recent instructions as junior counsel include:
- Acting for a defendant group 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), Emily Betts, and Miguel Henderson for a Defendant group in Skatteforvaltningen (Danish Customs and Tax Authority) v Solo Capital Partners LLP & Ors. 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 defendant in a one-day preliminary issue trial to determine whether the claimant had forged the defendant’s signature on a trust deed.
- Acting in a claim involving three allegations of forgery.
- Advising and drafting in relation to a suspected ‘romance fraud’.
- Commercial dispute resolution
Commercial dispute resolution
Recent instructions as junior counsel include:
- Acting for a defendant group 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), Emily Betts, and Miguel Henderson for a Defendant group in Skatteforvaltningen (Danish Customs and Tax Authority) v Solo Capital Partners LLP & Ors. 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”.
- Assisting David Lewis KC and Charles Raffin acting for a major national franchisor in a termination dispute with former franchisee.
- (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).
Recent instructions as sole counsel include:
- Acting for the claimant in a three-day trial involving a disputed loan agreement.
- Acting for the claimant in a trial listed for two days to determine the effect of a clawback provision in a share purchase agreement. Tom was successful in striking out the defendant’s defence on the first morning.
- Acting in a one-day trial in relation to a disputed loan agreement.
- Acting in an application for summary judgment by a major national franchisor.
- Advising on the validity of a brokering agreement on an urgent basis following the collapse of a well-known energy company.
- Advising on the enforceability of guarantees totalling £150,000.
- Construction & engineering
Construction & engineering
Recent instructions as sole counsel include:
- Acting for the employer in a three-day trial where both the identity of the contracting party and the value of the works were in dispute.
- Acting for the employer in a one-day trial involving allegations of poor workmanship.
- Acting in a mediation for a contractor who was being sued for poor workmanship.
- Providing urgent advice to a contractor on their right to terminate a contract.
In addition to his busy court practice, Tom regularly settles pleadings in construction disputes, including in multi-party disputes, and has experience in adjudication.
- Injunctions and interim applications
Injunctions and interim applications
Recent instructions as sole counsel include:
- Acting in both interim and final hearings in applications for anti-social behaviour injunctions.
- Acting (including on an urgent basis) in applications for injunctions against trespassers (including against persons unknown).
- Acting for applicants for access injunctions, in both the civil and criminal courts.
- Acting in enforcement hearings for breaches of Tomlin and consent orders.
- Advising (on an urgent basis) on the prospects of an injunction to restrain a winding up petition.
- Drafting an application for specific disclosure.
- Acting in a claim to controlled goods under Part 85.
Tom regularly appears in all manner of interim applications, including applications for strike out, summary judgment, security for costs, amendment, and extensions of time.
- Insolvency, companies & partnership
Insolvency, companies & partnership
Recent instructions as junior counsel include:
- Led by Jonathan Titmuss in advising a trustee in bankruptcy on realising the assets of a limited liability partnership.
- 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.
Recent instructions as sole counsel include:
- Advising on the prospects of, and drafting a director’s misfeasance claim worth approximately £800,000.
- Acting for the claimant in a trial listed for two days to determine the effect of a clawback provision in a share purchase agreement. Tom was successful in striking out the defendant’s defence on the first morning.
- Advising on the prospects of an injunction to restrain a winding up petition on an urgent basis following the collapse of a well-known energy company.
Tom also regularly appears in the High Court and County Court in bankruptcy and winding-up petitions, and related hearings.
- Professional negligence
Professional negligence
Recent instruction as junior counsel include:
- Led by Sara Ibrahim in a professional negligence dispute valued at over £2 million.
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.
