Clarissa Jones
Call: 2018
Practice Overview
Clarissa has a broad commercial practice, including banking and finance, civil fraud, asset recovery and international arbitration. She has a particular interest in disputes involving allegations of fraud and the dissipation of assets, complex financial transactions and enforcement (particularly of foreign judgments).
Current/recent practice highlights:
- The Suppipat litigation: representing the defendant bank in a c$2bn fraud claim, culminating in a 5-month Commercial Court trial. The case was one of The Lawyer’s “Top 20 cases of 2022”. Led by Jonathan Davies-Jones KC, David Simpson and Georges Chalfoun.
- Strategic Technologies v Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of China: representing the Ministry of National Defence of Taiwan in High Court enforcement proceedings and consequential matters, including a number of successes unled. Clarissa also appeared in the Court of Appeal in the leading case on the enforceability of foreign “judgments on judgments”: [2020] EWCA Civ 1604. Led by Andrew Onslow KC.
- QIPCO v Elanus: representing the Claimant in an ongoing contractual dispute relating to the loan of the “Idol’s Eye” diamond to an offshore asset holding company. Led by Andrew Onslow KC.
- Representing the defendant in a c£10mn civil fraud claim relating to the management of trust assets, including a jurisdiction challenge and an application for a freezing injunction. Led by David Head KC.
- NCA v Amanda Nuttall: representing the National Crime Agency in long-running civil recovery proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, involving allegations of PAYE/NI fraud and significant international money laundering. Led by Rory Phillips KC (and previously Andrew Sutcliffe KC).
Further, as a pupil, Clarissa assisted with work on some notable cases, including:
- The ongoing SKAT litigation: a multi-billion-krone fraud claim brought by the Danish tax authorities against numerous companies and individuals. Assisting supervisor Tom De Vecchi.
- Avonwick Holdings v Azitio Holdings & Ors: a complex dispute between Ukrainian oligarchs, their corporate vehicles and various third parties under Ukrainian and English law. Assisting Peter Ratcliffe.
- Loches Capital v Goldman Sachs: a successful pre-action disclosure application against Goldman Sachs relating to the circumstances of the 2007 ArcelorMittal merger. Assisting supervisor Lisa Lacob and Richard Salter KC.
- Cole v Carpenter: a claim relating to the sale of Pablo Picasso’s painting, “Le Sauvetage” or “The Rescue”, including an application for permission to bring contempt proceedings. Assisting Yash Bheeroo.
Prior to joining Chambers, Clarissa spent a year working as a paralegal in the Structured Finance department at Linklaters. During this year, she worked on high-value loan portfolio sales, swaps, covered bonds and secured group financing structures. She is able to draw on her experience of complex transactional work in her practice as a barrister.
Clarissa has a First Class degree in History from Trinity College, Oxford. Her academic focus was on 19th century French politics and art. With this background, she is always interested in cases relating to art and historical artefacts.
Banking and Finance
Current/recent instructions include:
- The Suppipat litigation: representing the defendant bank in a $2bn fraud claim, culminating in a 5-month Commercial Court trial. The case was one of The Lawyer’s “Top 20 cases of 2022”. Led by Jonathan Davies-Jones KC, David Simpson and Georges Chalfoun.
- Representing the successful claimants in a c$2mn LCIA arbitration arising out of the defendant’s failure to provide a letter of credit, involving Covid-related force majeure arguments. Led by Nicholas Craig KC.
- Representing the claimant in an LCIA arbitration relating to the provision of M&A advisory services. Led by Andrew Onslow KC.
- Advising a retailer in relation to a prospective FOS claim against their bank for losses caused by a bounced cheque.
- Successfully representing banks in the County Court in various interim applications (often applications to set aside default judgment).
Civil Fraud
Current/recent instructions include:
- The Suppipat litigation: representing the defendant bank in a $2bn fraud claim, culminating in a 5-month Commercial Court trial. The case was one of The Lawyer’s “Top 20 cases of 2022”. Led by Jonathan Davies-Jones KC, David Simpson and Georges Chalfoun.
- Representing the defendant in a £10mn civil fraud claim relating to the management of trust assets, including a jurisdiction challenge and an application for a freezing injunction. Led by David Head KC.
Clarissa also has experience advising in relation to the enforcement of foreign judgments, often in the context of fraud claims.
Asset Recovery
Current/recent instructions include:
- National Crime Agency v Amanda Nuttall: representing the NCA in long-running civil recovery proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, involving allegations of PAYE/NI fraud and significant international money laundering. Led by Rory Phillips KC (and previously Andrew Sutcliffe KC).
- National Crime Agency v Candy-Wallace & Ors: representing the NCA in civil recovery proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, involving allegations of PAYE/NI fraud and significant international money laundering. Led by Rory Phillips KC (and previously Andrew Sutcliffe KC).
- Successfully representing the National Crime Agency in an application for a forfeiture order, involving the alleged use of an illegal banking network known as “Chinese Underground Banking”.
Commercial Litigation
Current/recent instructions include:
- Strategic Technologies v Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of China: representing the Ministry of National Defence of Taiwan in High Court enforcement proceedings and consequential matters, including a number of successful unled hearings. Clarissa also appeared in the Court of Appeal in the leading case on the enforceability of foreign “judgments on judgments”: [2020] EWCA Civ 1604. Led by Andrew Onslow KC.
- QIPCO v Elanus: representing the Claimant in an ongoing contractual dispute relating to the loan of the “Idol’s Eye” diamond to an offshore asset holding company. Led by Andrew Onslow KC.
- QED v A4G & Ors: successfully acting for the defendants in a 1-week trial of a contractual claim arising out of the sale of an accountancy business. Led by Saima Hanif KC.
- Zymurgorium v Hammonds of Knutsford: acting for an alcohol wholesaler in a two-week High Court trial of their claim against the defendant, involving relational contract arguments. Led by William Edwards.
- Advising a film company seeking coverage under a business interruption insurance policy for Covid-related losses.
International Commercial Arbitration
Current/recent instructions include:
- Representing the successful claimants in a c$2mn LCIA arbitration arising out of the defendant’s failure to provide a letter of credit, involving Covid-related force majeure arguments. Led by Nicholas Craig KC.
- Representing the claimant in an LCIA arbitration relating to the provision of M&A advisory services. Led by Andrew Onslow KC.
- Acting as Administrative Secretary to Christopher Harris KC sitting as Sole Arbitrator in high-value ICC arbitration proceedings.
Art and Cultural Property
Current/recent instructions include:
- QIPCO v Elanus: representing the Claimant in an ongoing contractual dispute relating to the loan of the “Idol’s Eye” diamond to an offshore asset holding company. Led by Andrew Onslow KC.
Financial Services
Current/recent instructions include:
- FCA v Forster & Ors: acting for the first defendant in proceedings relating to an alleged collective investment scheme involving investments in a number of UK care homes. Led by Saima Hanif KC.
- QED v A4G & Ors: successfully acting for the defendants in a 1-week trial of a contractual claim arising out of the sale of an accountancy business. Led by Saima Hanif KC.
- Advising a retailer in relation to a prospective FOS claim against their bank for losses caused by a bounced cheque.
