William Edwards
Call: 2002
Practice Overview
William is a leading junior at the commercial Bar. He specialises in commercial litigation and arbitration, frequently with an international aspect.
William is recognised by Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 as a leading junior in three areas, banking and finance, commercial litigation, and civil fraud, and has particular expertise at the intersection of banking, insolvency, and civil fraud. He also has specialist expertise in aviation and company and partnership disputes.
Directories have in recent years described him as “always a pleasure to deal with”, “a devastating cross-examiner and effortlessly and quickly gets the Court on side with the arguments he is making. He makes it look easy”, “A formidable advocate who has the ability to make incisive points at key moments“, “A standout junior and a very clever advocate”, and “very bright and technically strong”.
William is admitted to practice in the British Virgin Islands and has appeared in the Abu Dhabi Global Markets courts. He has also been involved in disputes before the courts of the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong, Jersey, and the Isle of Man.
William contributes the insolvency section to Paget’s Law of Banking and also contributes to Banking Litigation. Upon request, he can provide talks and seminars in his core practice areas.
Aviation & Aerospace
William regularly acts in commercial disputes in the aviation and aerospace sector. His experience includes:
- Disputes in relation to aircraft leases, the rent payable under aircraft leases, the termination of aircraft leases, and the sums payable on termination (including the enforcement of guarantees given by lessors).
- A substantial lease dispute resulting from the refusal of a subsidiary of Ryanair to take delivery of four Airbus A320s (Peregrine Aviation Bravo Ltd v Laudamotion GmbH [2023] EWHC 48 (Comm)).
- A dispute about security interests in respect of aircraft.
- A dispute about the termination provisions in a contract for the sale of an aircraft by a manufacturer (Gesner Investments Ltd v Bombardier Inc [2011] EWCA Civ 1118).
Commercial Disputes
From the beginnings of practice, William has acted and continues to be instructed in a wide range of commercial and business disputes, including negligence claims against professionals. His cases are frequently international and he has considerable expertise in relation to the jurisdictional issues to which such claims give rise.
William is admitted to practice in the British Virgin Islands and has appeared in the Abu Dhabi Global Markets courts. He has also been involved in disputes before the courts of the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong, Jersey, and the Isle of Man.
His experience includes:
- Acting for a former director (against whom allegations of deliberate wrongdoing are made) in a claim brought by a Cayman Islands investment fund (in liquidation) against its former Investment Manager, one of its former directors, and a director of the Investment Manager.
- Acting for a bank in a claim to enforce in England a Dubai judgment on a bank guarantee and to reverse transactions under section 423 of the Insolvency Act 1986 (Emirates NBD Bank PJSC v Almakhawi [2023] EWHC 1113 (Comm)).
- Acting for the wholesaler in a dispute between a manufacturer of alcoholic drinks and a wholesaler (Zymurgorium Ltd v Hammonds of Knutsford plc [2023] EWCA Civ 52).
- Acting for a lender in a claim to enforce a loan agreement, involving disputes about cheques given as security and the effect of proceedings in the UAE on the claims in England (Sethia London Ltd v Sethi [2021] EWHC 367 (Comm), [2021] EWHC 2907 (Comm), [2022] EWHC 3361 (Comm)).
- An arbitration (and related BVI insolvency proceedings) resulting from attempts to take control of an important Russian group.
- Acting for the lessor in substantial aircraft lease dispute resulting from the refusal of a subsidiary of Ryanair to take delivery of four Airbus A320s (Peregrine Aviation Bravo Ltd v Laudamotion GmbH [2023] EWHC 48 (Comm)).
- Various proceedings between two UAE businessmen and their companies (and separate proceedings against a firm of solicitors) resulting from the purchase of extensive real estate in the UK and disputes about the meaning and effect of a settlement agreement concluded between them (Bin Obaid v Al-Hezaimi [2018] EWHC 243 (Ch), [2019] EWHC 1953 (Ch), [2022] EWHC 2460 (Ch).
- Acting for Dubai Islamic Bank in three long-running sets of related proceedings by and against the bank arising from a settlement agreement concluded following the discovery of a US$501 million fraud on the bank (Dubai Islamic Bank v PSI Energy Holdings Co [2013] EWHC 3781 (Comm); Plantation Holdings (FZ) LLC v Dubai Islamic Bank [2017] EWHC 520 (Comm); Ridley v Dubai Islamic Bank [2022] EWHC 1213 (Comm)).
- Acting for the claimant in claim about the interpretation of an agreement entered into following the termination of a partnership where it was commercially necessary for there to be a very quick decision (Harris v Holland [2020] EWHC 3104 (Ch)). The claim was issued on 26 October 2020; an expedited trial was ordered on 20 October 2020 and the claim was then tried on 6 November 2020 and judgment given on 19 November 2020.
- A dispute about a “joint business” to develop and operate farmers’ markets in Moscow (Rogachev v Goryainov [2019] EWHC 1529 (QB)).
- Acting for the former clients in a claim by solicitors to recover fees under a CFA (Healys LLP v Partridge [2019] EWHC 2471 (Ch)).
- A claim by liquidators against a former director (Re Guardian Care Homes (West) Ltd [2019] EWHC 2994 (Ch)).
- A claim in relation to an alleged joint venture agreement (Andrews v Stanway [2017] EWHC 2248 (QB), [2017] EWHC 3734 (QB)).
- A claim in which it was alleged that an earlier judgment in relation to trade finance had been obtained by fraud (William obtained the summary dismissal of the claim) (Century Financial Holdings Ltd v Jamtoff Trading Ltd [2018] EWHC 3135 (Comm)).
- Various claims acting for mortgage lenders in proceedings against valuers and solicitors (including Mortgage Express v Abensons [2012] EWHC 1000 (Ch) and Mortgage Express v Countrywide Surveyors [2015] EWCA Civ 1110).
Banking & Finance
William’s pre-eminence as a banking junior is recognised by the directories. His expertise extends to all aspects of commercial and retail banking and corporate finance, including trade finance, bonds, investment advice and mis-selling, derivatives and swaps (particularly under the ISDA Master Agreement), guarantees, mortgages and other security interests, options, structured products, and issues in relation to investment funds.
William contributes the insolvency section to the leading practitioner work, Paget’s Law of Banking and also contributes to Banking Litigation.
William is admitted to practice in the British Virgin Islands and has appeared in the Abu Dhabi Global Markets courts. He has also been involved in disputes before the courts of the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong, Jersey, and the Isle of Man.
His experience includes:
- Acting for a former director (against whom allegations of deliberate wrongdoing are made) in a claim brought by a Cayman Islands investment fund (in liquidation) against its former Investment Manager, one of its former directors, and a director of the Investment Manager.
- Acting for a noteholder in a claim to require the issuer to convert the notes into equity pursuant to an option.
- Acting for a defendant in a claim alleging a conspiracy in relation to the termination of a master introducer agreement in relation to a bond.
- Acting in a claim in which it is alleged that the payment of €1 million in relation to the sale of an investment was a bribe.
- Acting for a bank in a claim to enforce in England a Dubai judgment on a bank guarantee and to reverse transactions under section 423 of the Insolvency Act 1986 (Emirates NBD Bank PJSC v Almakhawi [2023] EWHC 1113 (Comm)).
- Acting for Dubai Islamic Bank in three long-running sets of related proceedings by and against the bank arising from a settlement agreement concluded following the discovery of a US$501 million fraud on the bank (Dubai Islamic Bank v PSI Energy Holdings Co [2013] EWHC 3781 (Comm); Plantation Holdings (FZ) LLC v Dubai Islamic Bank [2017] EWHC 520 (Comm); Ridley v Dubai Islamic Bank [2022] EWHC 1213 (Comm)).
- Acting for a lender in a claim to enforce a loan agreement, involving disputes about cheques given as security and the effect of proceedings in the UAE on the claims in England (Sethia London Ltd v Sethi [2021] EWHC 367 (Comm), [2021] EWHC 2907 (Comm), [2022] EWHC 3361 (Comm)).
- Acting for Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank in proceedings to enforce a mortgage in respect of commercial property in Abu Dhabi before the ADGM first instance court (Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank v KBBOBRS Investments Holdings Ltd [2021] ADGMCFI 0002).
- Acting for the bank in a claim to enforce a loan met by a defence based on the “prevention principle” (Union Bank of India (UK) Ltd v Alectrona Energy Pvte Ltd [2020] EWHC 3344 (Comm)).
- Acting for Kazakhstan in two sets of proceedings involving an attempt to enforce an arbitral award against the National Fund of Kazakhstan (National Bank of Kazakhstan v The Bank of New York Mellon [2017] EWHC 3512 (Comm), [2018] EWCA Civ 1390, [2020] EWHC 916 (Comm)).
- Acting for the bond issuer in very complex dispute about the alleged unenforceability of a Sharia-compliant finance transaction (including the grant of anti-suit relief): Dana Gas PJSC v Dana Gas Sukuk Ltd [2018] EWHC 277 (Comm), [2018] EWHC 278 (Comm)).
- Acting for a creditor in a dispute about the validity of the appointment of administrators (Re BW Estates Ltd [2017] EWCA Civ 1201).
- Acting for the lender in a dispute about a loan advanced to construct a power station in Africa, including a protracted jurisdiction challenge (Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Ltd v Independent Power Tanzania Ltd [2015] EWHC 1640 (Comm), [2016] EWCA Civ 411, [2016] EWHC 2908 (Comm)).
- Acting for the customer in a dispute about the circumstances in which a bank may act on an instruction not in accordance with its mandate (Senex Holdings Ltd v National Westminster Bank plc [2012] EWHC 131 (Comm).
- Acting for the bank in a claim alleging mis-selling of SCARPs (Zaki v Credit Suisse [2011] EWHC 2422 (Comm), [2012] EWCA Civ 583).
- Acting for the lender in proceedings (in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court) in which it was contended that a mortgage was unenforceable by reason of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 (Southern Pacific Securities 05-2 plc v Walker [2010] UKSC 32).
- Various claims by bond trustees seeking to enforce payment following the occurrence of events of default.
- Various claims acting for mortgage lenders in proceedings against valuers and solicitors (including Mortgage Express v Abensons [2012] EWHC 1000 (Ch) and Mortgage Express v Countrywide Surveyors [2015] EWCA Civ 1110).
- Various claims to enforce guarantees.
Civil Fraud
Civil fraud is a core practice area for William. He is frequently instructed in cases involving allegations of fraud (and related allegations, such that structures are being used to shield assets from enforcement efforts by creditors and tracing claims) by both claimants and defendants. He is able to bring to bear in this field his knowledge of banking and insolvency.
William is admitted to practice in the British Virgin Islands and has appeared in the Abu Dhabi Global Markets courts. He has also been involved in disputes before the courts of the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong, Jersey, and the Isle of Man.
His experience includes:
- Acting for a defendant in a claim in which it is alleged that the payment of €1 million in relation to the sale of an investment was a bribe.
- Acting for a former director (against whom allegations of deliberate wrongdoing are made) in a claim brought by a Cayman Islands investment fund (in liquidation) against its former Investment Manager, one of its former directors, and a director of the Investment Manager.
- Acting for a defendant in a claim alleging a conspiracy in relation to the termination of a master introducer agreement in relation to a bond.
- Acting for a bank in a claim to enforce in England a Dubai judgment on a bank guarantee and to reverse transactions under section 423 of the Insolvency Act 1986 (Emirates NBD Bank PJSC v Almakhawi [2023] EWHC 1113 (Comm)).
- Acting for Dubai Islamic Bank in three long-running sets of related proceedings by and against the bank arising from a settlement agreement concluded following the discovery of a US$501 million fraud on the bank (Dubai Islamic Bank v PSI Energy Holdings Co [2013] EWHC 3781 (Comm); Plantation Holdings (FZ) LLC v Dubai Islamic Bank [2017] EWHC 520 (Comm); Ridley v Dubai Islamic Bank [2022] EWHC 1213 (Comm)).
- Acting for one of the defendants (against whom a BVI judgment had been entered) in a claim in which it was alleged that a particular asset was held on resulting trust for him (Cobussen Principal Investment Holding Ltd v Akbar [2020] EWHC 476 (QB), [2020] EWHC 2805 (QB), [2020] EWHC 3628 (QB)).
- Acting for the claimants in a claim in which it was alleged that substantial sums had been wrongfully misapplied in the acquisition of real property in England (Bin Obaid v Al-Hezaimi [2018] EWHC 243 (Ch), [2019] EWHC 1953 (Ch)).
- A claim in which it was alleged that an earlier judgment had been obtained by fraud where William obtained the summary dismissal of the claim (Century Financial Holdings Ltd v Jamtoff Trading Ltd [2018] EWHC 3135 (Comm)).
- Acting for the lender in a claim in which it was alleged that a valuer was deceitful in relation to certain valuations (Mortgage Express v Countrywide Surveyors [2015] EWCA Civ 1110).
Insolvency, Company & Partnership Disputes
William is regularly instructed in insolvency, company, and partnership disputes, especially when there is a banking and/or civil fraud aspect (he contributes the insolvency section of Paget’s Law of Banking).
William is admitted to practice in the British Virgin Islands and has appeared in the Abu Dhabi Global Markets courts. He has also been involved in disputes before the courts of the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong, Jersey, and the Isle of Man.
His recent experience includes:
- Advising a bank in relation to the appointment of administrators of a substantial entertainment business.
- Advising in relation to a long-running dispute involving the position of the holders of non-voting preference shares.
- Advising in relation to a claim involving allegations of dishonesty on the part of the former senior management of a company.
- Acting for a former director (against whom allegations of deliberate wrongdoing are made) in a claim brought by a Cayman Islands investment fund (in liquidation) against its former Investment Manager, one of its former directors, and a director of the Investment Manager.
- An arbitration (and related BVI insolvency proceedings) resulting from attempts to take control of an important Russian group.
- A claim about the interpretation of an agreement entered into following the termination of a partnership (Harris v Holland [2020] EWHC 3104 (Ch)).
- A claim by liquidators against a former director (Re Guardian Care Homes (West) Ltd [2019] EWHC 2994 (Ch)).
- Acting for a creditor in a dispute about the validity of the appointment of administrators (Re BW Estates Ltd [2017] EWCA Civ 1201).
Injunctive Relief
William’s practice frequently involves the obtaining of injunctive relief, including freezing and proprietary injunctions, and applications to vary or discharge injunctions (and/or applications for an expedited trial).
His recent experience includes:
- A claim where a limited freezing injunction was obtained without notice along with asset disclosure orders and subsequently, following the provision of information, a more extensive freezing injunction was obtained (Emirates NBD Bank PJSC v Almakhawi [2023] EWHC 1113 (Comm))
- A claim about the interpretation of an agreement entered into following the termination of a partnership where it was commercially necessary for there to be a very quick decision (Harris v Holland [2020] EWHC 3104 (Ch)). The claim was issued on 26 October 2020; an expedited trial was ordered on 20 October 2020 and the claim was then tried on 6 November 2020 and judgment given on 19 November 2020.
- A claim which was begun with the obtaining without notice of a proprietary and freezing injunction and Norwich Pharmacal relief (Bin Obaid v Al-Hezaimi [2018] EWHC 243 (Ch), [2019] EWHC 1953 (Ch)).
- A claim in which William acted for the Defendant where an interim injunction obtained by the Claimant without notice was discharged and the Court refused to continue the injunction (Rogachev v Goryainov [2019] EWHC 1529 (QB)).
- A claim where a proprietary injunction was granted in relation to a solicitor’s lien (Healys LLP v Partridge [2019] EWHC 2471 (Ch)).
- A claim in which William acted for the applicant where a freezing injunction was granted and a subsequent application by the respondent to vary the injunction refused (Andrews v Stanway [2017] EWHC 2248 (QB), [2017] EWHC 3734 (QB)).