John Yap
Call: 2024
Practice Overview
John is building a busy practice across Chambers’ specialisms. Since commencing practice, he has been instructed in high-profile and significant litigation, international arbitration, mediation, and advisory matters. Highlights of his ongoing and recent instructions include:
- The Supreme Court appeal from SKAT v MCML Ltd [2025] EWCA Civ 371: acting for MCML in seeking to uphold the Court of Appeal's decision to strike out SKAT’s c. £56 million claim on the grounds of issue estoppel.
- A widely reported c. USD 1 billion ICSID investor-state treaty arbitration: acting for an investor in the banking and finance services sector in pursuing a claim for expropriation, discrimination, and breach of the fair and equitable treatment obligation.
- A high-value investment management dispute: instructed by an investment manager in the digital asset sector to advise on potential claims of up to nine figures.
John obtained his BA in Jurisprudence (First Class, 2nd in Year) and Bachelor of Civil Law (Distinction) from the University of Oxford – winning, among other accolades, the Martin Wronker Proxime Prize. He won awards at international moots (including the Willem C Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot) and helmed the Law Faculty’s pro bono legal advice clinic. He completed his Bar Vocational Studies (Distinction) as a Gray’s Inn scholar.
Outside of practice, John teaches at the University of Oxford. He previously spent time as a visiting researcher at the National University of Singapore and scholar of Des Voeux Chambers in Hong Kong. His legal research has been published in leading journals and cited in academic and practitioner texts. He is a co-author of the forthcoming expanded and retitled second edition of Professor Andrew Higgins’ Legal Professional Privilege for Corporations (OUP 2014).
John also volunteers his time to advancing access to justice and education. He is currently acting unled (under the aegis of Advocate / Pro Bono Connect) in advising and representing a pro bono client in pursuing a six-figure negligence claim and enforcement proceedings. He was featured in the Pro Bono Recognition List 2026.
Having lived in Singapore and Hong Kong, John maintains a keen professional interest and close connections in both jurisdictions. He previously served national service as a lieutenant in the Singapore Air Force, winning the Sword of Honour and National Serviceman of the Year Award.
Commercial Dispute Resolution
Supreme Court appeal in SKAT v MCML (formerly ED&F Man Capital Markets Ltd): Currently acting for MCML in the upcoming Supreme Court appeal seeking to uphold the Court of Appeal’s decision [2025] EWCA Civ 371 to strike out SKAT’s c. £56 million claim on the grounds of issue estoppel. Led by Ali Malek KC and Adam Temple.
Fibula Air Travel v Just Us Air: Currently acting for Fibula in relation to its appeal from the Commercial Court’s decision [2025] EWHC 3259 (Comm) relating to Just Us’ c. €5 million debt claim under an aircraft wet lease in the context of COVID-19 disruption. Acting with Alexander Yean.
Confidential investment management dispute: Instructed by an investment manager in the digital asset sector to advise on potential claims of up to nine figures. Led by Adam Kramer KC.
Confidential high-stakes shareholder dispute: Assisted Hefin Rees KC in advising on a dispute between rival shareholder factions over the control and governance of a high-profile NASDAQ-listed company.
Advising on the exercise of share options: Assisted Yash Bheeroo in advising on a shareholder dispute in relation to the exercise of share options and construction of “bad leaver” provisions in a shareholder agreement.
International Arbitration
Investor v State: Currently acting for an investor in the banking and finance services sector in pursuing a c. USD 1 billion ICSID investor-state treaty arbitration claim for expropriation, discrimination, and breach of the fair and equitable treatment obligation.
Enforcement of an HKIAC award: Currently acting unled in English enforcement proceedings relating to a c. USD 2 million HKIAC award.
Water Seller v Water Purchaser: Assisted Richard Hanke in acting for a Middle Eastern water purchaser in a UNCITRAL arbitration concerning the operation of inflation price adjustments under a long-term desalinated water supply agreement.
Republic of Kosovo v Selmani: Assisted Yash Bheeroo and Ravi Jackson in acting for the claimant, the Republic of Kosovo, in recognition and enforcement proceedings in the Commercial Court.
Investor v State: Assisted Cameron Miles in acting for and advising the respondent, a Latin American State, in relation to proceedings for the registration and enforcement of an ICSID award.
Challenge to an arbitral award: Assisted Yash Bheeroo and Ravi Jackson in a procedural challenge to a DIAC arbitral award under Article 41(2)(a)(ii) and (iii) of the DIFC Arbitration Law (based on Articles 32(2)(a)(ii) and (iii) of the UNCITRAL Model Law).
Civil Fraud
The Conditioning House Ltd v JBG Enterprises Ltd & Anor [2025] EWHC 3260 (Ch): Defended a c. £7 million claim for unlawful means conspiracy and dishonest assistance. Led by David Simpson.
Pleading a defence to a high-value, complex civil fraud claim: Assisted Peter de Verneuil Smith KC in pleading a defence to a c. USD 80 million claim for (among other things) unlawful means conspiracy in relation to the acquisition of a mining company.
Alawwal Capital JSC v Rasmala Investment Bank Limited: Assisted Yash Bheeroo and Ravi Jackson in an appeal from DIFC CFI 038/2023 involving a c. USD 7 million claim for misrepresentation and financial mis-selling.
Confidential advice on potential claims for financial mis-selling: Assisted Adam Temple in advising on potential claims for misrepresentation and financial mis-selling in the fallout of a high-profile Ponzi-type scheme.
Banking & Financial Services
Barclays Bank UK Plc v Ellis: Acted unled for the claimant, Barclays Bank UK Plc, in successfully resisting the defendant’s set aside application and obtaining judgment on personal guarantees in the sum of c. £140,000.
IDBI Bank Limited v Axcel Sunshine Ltd and Siva Industries and Holdings Ltd [2025] EWHC 442 (Comm) Assisted Adam Temple (led by Nigel Tozzi KC) in acting for IDBI Bank in successfully pursuing a c. USD 67 million claim against Axcel Sunshine and Siva Industries and Holdings under a credit facility and guarantee / indemnity.
Litasco SA v Banque El Amana SA [2025] EWHC 312 (Comm): Assisted Will Day in acting for Litasco in an application for summary judgment raising novel issues on the application of the Ralli Bros foreign illegality rule to cross-border payment obligations.
Lay v Independent Vetcare Limited [2025] EWHC 1098 (Comm): Assisted Richard Hanke in acting for Independent Vetcare Limited in an application for strike out / summary judgment raising novel issues under the Payment Services Regulation.
Recognition
