Angharad Start

Angharad Start

Call: 1988

"She has a razor-sharp mind and is fantastic to deal with."

- Chambers & Partners UK Bar (2022)

Practice Overview

Having returned to full time practice after a career break, Angharad has been ranked as a "Leading Junior" for many years (Legal 500, Chambers & Partners and Legal Experts) consolidating her ongoing recognition in the Commercial and Chancery market. She came to the Bar after working for some years in finance in the PRC, moving first to a Chancery set in Lincoln’s Inn. Her litigation has included the heavyweight “InnovatorOne” fraud/FSMA litigation concerning failed tax schemes, the arbitrated shareholder fight over one of the world's largest companies, the Pender/Cable & Wireless litigation concerning the running of C&W‘s captive insurer Pender and in the Icelandic banks’ litigation her client in the UK and Paris successfully challenged the Icelandic moratorium. This work was undertaken alongside trials and arbitrations on high profile deposit taker duties, stolen business opportunities, challenges to the transfer of an international retail chain, a £6bn invoicing fraud, the Wembley Stadium Development and County Hall.

Angharad has a significant specialist practice in art and cultural objects. She is ranked as a leading practitioner in both The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2023 Guide for Media, Art and Cultural Property and has been shortlisted for 2023 Junior of the Year in this area by The Legal 500.

Her practice started when instructed by Coutts in litigation alleging the bailment of Michelangelo’s modello for ‘David’. She has for many years acted for a number of auction houses and fine art dealers on contested title, conversion and bailment claims. Angharad has been involved in a number of confidential cases on behalf of foreign states concerning the return of artefacts of national importance from English auction houses.With Tom De Vecchi, she succeeded in resisting the first full scale commercial bailment claim to come before the Courts in over 100 years concerning the world’s rarest stamp, the Yellow Treskellen against the late Norman Palmer QC. She acted for Sotheby’s in Jeddi v Sotheby’s & others in an ownership dispute over an antique Islamic crystal jar and defended a high profile group against a large claim in respect of the alleged loss of highly valuable jewellery, coin collections and gold bullion. She has been involved in a number of cases addressing the restitution of confiscated art. She was instructed as London Counsel for the Claimant in the US case (Accent Delight International Limited and ors v Sothebys and ors “the Bouvier Affair”). She is additionally acting in two confidential cases concerning cultural objects of very significant value and in a recently launched case in the British Courts concerning The Idols’ Eye leading Victor Steinmetz.

She regularly appears against or co-defends with leaders sometimes as sole advocate, but often leading a counsel team in her own right. Her clients include foreign and international banks, insurers, brokers, building societies, accountants, construction groups, auction houses and range from FTSE listed companies, government bodies, foreign governments and charities through to individuals. Angharad's practice includes general commercial litigation, wide-ranging professional indemnity work (generally in the fields of law, accountancy, financial services, insolvency, and construction), insurance, corporate and personal insolvency, company law (incl. disqualification), banking and financial services, POCA, restraint of trade, breach of confidence and art and cultural property law.

In 2020, Angharad was appointed to the JAC (Judicial Appointments Commission) Advisory Group.

"Excellent and gifted", 'according to peers, she has "an extremely effective courtroom style". ‘She is "terrifyingly bright", "just so clever" and "really razor sharp", say solicitors.' ‘Peers agree that Angharad Start is "an incredibly impressive advocate who pulls no punches". "An impressive junior", "Talented and hard-working", she specialises in litigation and asset recovery. "A real insolvency specialist who's enormously talented" and is "widely regarded as a real fighter who's always in the front row pushing her client's case forward". "Extraordinarily sharp and robust individual who clearly thinks around problems." "Excellent breadth of expertise." "An expert in large-scale personal and corporate insolvency disputes. Sources praise her for her creativity and idiosyncratic approach to issues." "A cross-border specialist". "She is able to think outside the box, and works well in a team."  "She is cool under pressure, great at handling difficult clients and has great clarity of thought."  "Her great strength is that she is a person who can think outside the box."

"A very experienced practitioner." Chambers & Partners 2021

"She's a real fighter." Chambers & Partners 2021

"She has an excellent strategic approach. Angharad is very passionate about cases, thorough in her preparation and often approaches cases from interesting angles." Legal 500 2021

"In court, she is an absolutely fearless advocate, and has the skill of bringing sceptical judges around." Legal 500 2021

"She has great attention to detail and is always thinking outside of the box and looking at running things with different angles. She is a great thinker who is very good on her feet in court and isn't fazed by seniority on the other side." Chambers & Partners 2020

"She masters her brief and is a robust advocate." Chambers & Partners 2020

“A tour de force who commands the attention of the court.” Legal 500 2020

“She is a tremendous fighter, who also writes extraordinarily well.” Legal 500 2018

“Excellent.”  Legal 500 2018

"A junior who is recognised for her quality contribution to a number of high-profile insolvency cases. She demonstrates expertise across the board, regularly acting in matters such as shareholder disputes, wrongful trading litigation and misfeasance claims." Chambers and Partners 2018

"Angharad is a very motivated litigator who can handle anything." Chambers and Partners 2018

"She's smart, thorough and tenacious - a highly impressive practitioner.” Chambers and Partners 2017

"Particularly good in complex insolvencies." Legal 500 2017

"Vast experience." Legal 500 2017

"She has first-class expertise." Legal 500 2016

“Impresses with her oral advocacy, which is clear and robust, and gets her points across well." Legal 500 2016

Arbitration work undertaken is generally the subject of confidentiality but has ranged from claims against Sovereign States, to cross-border insolvency and fraud through to shareholder disputes including the arbitrated shareholder fight over one of the world’s largest companies. Angharad was most recently instructed in a large LCIA international arbitration concerning international mineral supply and separately another concerning RosGas.

During her career Angharad has acted for and against all the major banks and building societies and is a Co-author of the latest edition of Paget. Early 2016 promises a two week Commercial Court trial on a £27.5 million guarantee claim.

Cases include:

Norwich and Peterborough Building Society v McGuiness, CA,: Second appeal certified as a case of public importance concerning the use of guarantees as claims for liquidated amounts in insolvency and the nature of primary and secondary guarantee liability. Successful acting for building society at all three levels along with Richard Hanke.

Global Fixed Income Limited (in liquidation) v HSBC Financial Services (Cayman) Limited.Euro Fixed Income Limited (in liquidation) v HSBC Financial Services (Cayman) Limited.: Acting for Claimants in £mms Caymanian suits alleging serious breach of custodian agreements.

Baron Andre & Anor  v Clydesdale Bank plc: Three week trial against a team led by Norman Palmer QC successfully resisted a £mms claim against Clydesdale Bank, together with Tom de Vecchi, where Claimants alleged loss of a highly valuable stamp collection, including 7  of the world’s most famous stamp: The Yellow Treskellen.

Bishop v Lloyds & others: Acting for Lloyds and receivers in £mms negligence case brought against them and others. Successfully struck out . Concerned duty of care, reflective loss, limitation.

Re A PLC (bank name confidential). Acting on behalf of major clearer on challenge to clearance procedure, currently pre-action.

The Innovatorone Litigation, Commercial Court: Representing bank in multihanded litigation in Commercial Court brought by 500 investors. £mms claim involving financial services, alleged fraud and professional negligence, tax schemes. Secured dropping of the claim with costs for client bank.

Court of Protection and Commercial Court: Acting on behalf of Royal Bank of Scotland successfully resisting application by account-holder for £ms transfer out of joint account where notice received that joint account-holder lost capacity.

Acting on behalf of far-eastern bank in threatened liquidation in Quistclose claim for government funds.

Greenwich v. Natwest: Acting for Natwest in relation to purchase of development property, determination on status of Isle of Man in European law.

Angharad has established herself as a strong civil fraud practitioner over the years including advising various professionals/institutions in relation to POCA duties and acting for receivers. She is currently defending a well known firm of insolvency practitioners in a challenge to fees alleged to be the subject of bribes and false accounting.

The Innovatorone Litigation, Commercial Court: Representing bank in multihanded litigation in Commercial Court brought by 500 investors. £mms claim involving financial services, alleged fraud and professional negligence, tax schemes. Secured dropping of the claim with costs for client bank.

Cable & Wireless & Anor v Valentine & ors Commercial Court. Acting for two of the principal defendants (2 of 17) in vigorously defended large scale alleged insurance/reinsurance fraud upon Cable & Wireless and Pender: subject matter alleged to involve secret profits, knowing assistance and receipt, procuring breach of contract and fiduciary duty and conspiracy. Value of claims not capped but alleged to be in excess of £100m.

Wilkinson v Sir Tom Hunter & ors, Gadgetshop Instructed in original stages of this leading case on behalf of two major city figures against two other high profile ‘serial entrepreneurs’ to advise and seek to recover alleged fraudulent diversion of maturing business opportunity Gadgetshop, with alleged value of £30m.

Lattice Group plc v Fisher, Chancery Division: Instructed by the group to pursue £mms fraudulently diverted from its treasury in sensitive case.

In Re Safe Solutions and Asciom Solutions: Related winding up petitions, provisional liquidators and later suits brought by liquidators claiming £18m against directors alleging breach of fiduciary duty in diverting corporate funds. together with appearing in Court of Appeal.

In Re Hill & Ors, brought in as commercial junior for Criminal Court of Appeal, concerning test for establishing power to make restraint orders.

Samas Group v Cityspace Corporate limited & ors, Queens’ Bench Division. Instructed by Dutch Claimant in chasing £mms funds fraudulently diverted from it.

Re Dubai Aluminium, Chancery Division. Confidential case – heard in chambers – follow on to House of Lords decision in Aluminium v Salam & Ors [2002] UKHL 48.

The Innovatorone Litigation, Commercial Court: Representing bank in multihanded litigation in Commercial Court brought by 500 investors. £mms claim involving financial services, alleged fraud and professional negligence, tax schemes. Secured dropping of the claim with costs for client bank.

Cable & Wireless & Anor v Valentine & ors Commercial Court. Acting for two of the principal defendants (two of 17) in vigorously defended large scale alleged insurance/reinsurance fraud upon Cable & Wireless and Pender: subject matter alleged to involve secret profits, knowing assistance and receipt, procuring breach of contract and fiduciary duty and conspiracy. Value of claims not capped but alleged to be in excess of £100m.

Honeywell Control Systems Limited v Multiplex Constructions (UK) Limited: Acting in commercial claim against Multiplex Constructions (UK) Limited in relation to the Wembley Stadium redevelopment.

The Independent Insurance Company Limited (in Liquidation) Advising in relation to substantial inter-group claims.

Global Fixed Income Limited (in liquidation) v HSBC Financial Services (Cayman) Limited.Euro Fixed Income Limited (in liquidation) v HSBC Financial Services (Cayman) Limited. Acting for Claimants in suits alleging serious breach of custodian agreements.

Smolenski v Wheeler & Anor, Commercial Court: Acting for Claimant in indemnity/warranty dispute over purchase of TVR.

Cable & Wireless & Pender Insurance v Valentine & ors, Commercial Court. Acting w/o leader for two of the principal defendants (2 of 17) in vigorously defended alleged large scale insurance/reinsurance fraud upon Cable & Wireless and Pender: subject matter alleged to involve secret profits, knowing assistance and receipt, procuring breach of contract and fiduciary duty and conspiracy. Value of claims not capped but alleged to be in excess of £100m.

Baron Andre & Anor  v Clydesdale Bank plc: Three week trial against a team led by Norman Palmer QC successfully resisted a £mms claim against Clydesdale Bank, together with Tom de Vecchi, where Claimants alleged loss of a highly valuable stamp collection, including seven  of the world’s most famous stamp: The Yellow Treskellen.

Lattice Group plc v Fisher, Chancery Division. Acting for the claimant group in successfully pursuing funds diverted from it in sensitive case.

Samas Group v Cityspace Corporate Limited & ors, Commercial Court and Chancery Division. Instructed by Dutch creditor (and later liquidator) in chasing funds fraudulently diverted through web of companies and off-shore vehicles

Re Dubai Aluminium, Chancery Division. Confidential case – heard in chambers – follow on to House of Lords decision in Dubai Aluminium v Salam & Ors [2002] UKHL 48.

Matra Marconi & Ors v Co-Ord 3, Commercial Court Acting for Italian defendant in litigation concerning supply of allegedly defective rocket satellite-system.

Engineering Medical Systems v Bregas AB, Commercial Court. Acting for Swedish defendant in series of interlocutory/summary applications linked to related US litigation arising out of alleged misuse of licences, patents and wrongful termination of contract.

Acting for Claimant Leading Pop Group in £mms historical royalties claim.

EF v JK & ors (parties’ identity confidential) Acting in landlord and tenant dispute concerning County Hall.

Marrache & Co (in liquidation): Acting for provisional liquidators of Marrache & Co and equitable receiver in collapse of this international law firm with arrest of two of its partners.

Angharad is highly regarded in the company and insolvency world as a very compelling advocate with real breadth of relevant experience. She has recently completed a three week trial on behalf of liquidators concerning s214, (currently awaiting judgment). This followed shortly after the successful conclusion to a £multi million misfeasance claim in a confidential case where she was acting for well-known liquidators. She is currently defending a market leading firm of insolvency practitioners in a challenge to fees alleged to be the subject of bribes and false accounting. She was also instructed for the joint venture Claimant in the arbitrated shareholder fight over one of the world’s largest companies.

Norwich and Peterborough Building Society v McGuiness, CA,: Second appeal certified as a case of public importance concerning the use of guarantees as claims for liquidated amounts in insolvency and the nature of primary and secondary guarantee liability. Successfully acted for building society at all 3 levels along with Richard Hanke.

Marrache & Co: Acted for provisional liquidators of Marrache & Co and equitable receiver in recent collapse of this international law firm with arrest of two of its partners.

Landsbanki Moratorium in Iceland Acting for creditors In multi-juriisdictional claim and seizure. Directive 2001/24/EC on the reorganisation and winding up of credit institutions. The Credit Reorganisation and Winding up) Regulations 2004 (S!/1045) (as amended) Banking (Special Provisions) Act 2008, Banking Bill (HL Bill 21)

The Wembley Stadium Redevelopment: Advising major group on insolvency aspects.

Smailes & Anor v Zolfo Cooper/Simmons & Simmons : Successfully resisting £ms misfeasance claim asserted by liquidators against administrators Zolfo Cooper for failing to litigate/maximise large-scale property development.

Alphasteel Ltd v Rosbank: Acting for creditor in £ms claim against the late Christopher Morris & joint administrators & Rosbank: settled.

In the Matter of D&D Wines International Ltd (in liquidation):  Advising creditor with a claim to recover monies post administration, concerns new points on agency, currently awaiting 2016 Supreme Court determination.

Credit Suisse v Tisun Investments: Acting for Defendant on margin call following Lehman Brothers collapse.

Re Charit Email LLP: Successful defending £28m first ever winding-up petition against LLP, with John Jarvis QC.

Global Fixed Income Limited (in liquidation) v HSBC Financial Services (Cayman) Limited.Euro Fixed Income Limited (in liquidation) v HSBC Financial Services (Cayman) Limited. Acting for Claimants in £mms Caymanian suits alleging serious breach of custodian agreements.

Rock Financial Services Liquidation (Gibraltar) : Instructed by liquidators of Caymanian creditors in the Court of Appeal: proprietary claims, disclaimer, approval of arrangements.

The Independent Insurance Company Limited (in Liquidation) Advising professional indemnity insurers in relation to substantial disputed proofs.

Smolenski v Wheeler & Anor: Acting for Claimant in indemnity/warranty dispute over purchase of TVR.

Safe Solutions Accounting Ltd (in liquidation) v Goddard & ors, ASCIOM Solutions Ltd (in liquidation) v Goddard & ors, Chancery Division and Court of Appeal. Acting for alleged de facto director in £18m breach of fiduciary duty claims together with related POCA restraint orders.

Re A Leading Sports Car Company (confidential – heard in chambers) Acting for the company in application to strike out winding-up petition brought against it and related litigation concerning solicitors’ fees/negligence.

The Gadgetshop, Wilkinson & Anor v Sir Tom Hunter & Ors: Instructed on behalf of two major city figures in £ms claim between entrepreneurs concerning Gadgetshop, alleging fraudulent diversion of a maturing business opportunity from a JVC. Involves s459 Companies Act 1985, secret profits, knowing assistance and receipt, procuring breach of contract/fiduciary duty and conspiracy.

LA Gold Group Liquidation:  Instructed with junior by liquidator to progress liquidation and £ms recoveries of LA Gold Group. General asset recovery, corporate governance and money laundering.

Re Dubai Aluminium, Chancery Division. Confidential case – heard in chambers – follow on to House of Lords decision in Dubai Aluminium v Salam & Ors [2002] UKHL 48.

Samas Group v CitySpace Corporate Ltd & ors: Instructed by liquidator in recovering assets disseminated through chain of companies and offshore vehicles: insolvency, directors’ duties, misfeasance, constructive trusts.

Historical Cases:

Instructed by Australian liquidators in the Bond litigation.

In Re a Debtor (88 of 1991) [1992] 3 W.L.R 1026 V.C. Resisting statutory demand on untaxed solicitor and own client fees. Gave rise to Law Society recommendation that solicitors not to use this procedure.

In Re A Debtor; JP v. A Debtor [1999] BPIR 206 Individual Voluntary Arrangements: construction of Rules and Act: Rule 12 creditors not to be prejudiced by IVA which does not specifically preserve their rights. Appellate decision of Sir John Vinelott.

Smith v Ian Simpson & Co & Anor CA [2001] Ch 239 First full Court of Appeal decision on change of carriage orders, in particular whether Insolvency Rules are ultra vires Section 262 Insolvency Act 1986.

West Bromwich Building Society v Crammer [2003] BPIR 783 Instructed on appeal to Court of Appeal. Limitation, appropriation and interest on debt.

In Re Teletalk Mobil Engros ApS Acting for foreign liquidator held entitled to recover English assets notwithstanding funded by principal creditor foreign revenue.

Government of India v. Taylor, QRS 1 Aps C/A (1999) considered and distinguished: proceedings in Commercial and Companies Court.

Re [x] London Borough (identity confidential): Successful application on behalf of the Borough to strike winding up petition served on grounds no jurisdiction to wind-up a London Borough.

Angharad has most recently successfully defended a well-known commercial firm against a £multi million claim over a three week trial concerning advice on a corporate acquisition.

AB v XY & ors (parties’ identity currently confidential), Commercial Court: acting for firm of accountants on Part 20 against well-known tax silk.

The Independent Insurance Company Limited (in Liquidation) Advising professional indemnity insurers in relation to group claims.

Harrison v Bloom Camillin, Chancery Division: Acting for solicitors in leading ‘loss of chance’ case arising from HL litigation

Glaister v Greenwood, Chancery Division: Acting for Defendant pensions’ advisor in leading case on date of damage and constructive knowledge in pension mis-sales.

Bishop v Lloyds & others, Chancery Division: Acting for receivers and others in £mms negligence case brought against them and other professionals in relation to large portfolio of properties due to come to trial 2006 but successfully struck out.

Kirit Doshi v Bruce Robinson & ors, Chancery Division: Acting for Bruce Robinson and related companies in negligence/breach of fiduciary duty claim against accountants.

AB v XY & ors (parties’ identity currently confidential) Acting for Defendant architect in protocol stage concerning high profile London building.

Don Millers v Memery Crystal, Chancery Division: Acting for property developers in £ms claim for failure to advise re lease/franchise portfolio.

CD v VW & ors (parties’ identity confidential) Acting for solicitors in professional negligence claim concerning draft of commercial lease in favour of clearing bank headquarters.

John Laing Construction Ltd/Laing Construction plc v XY Acting on behalf of solicitors in relation to matters arising from litigation concerning Great Eastern Hotel.

Winner: UK Bar Awards 2023
The Lawyer Awards 2022: Chambers of the Year