Hugo Murphy

For the Respondents in a substantial claim for fraudulent breach of warranty and misrepresentation arising out of the sale of of a business (led by Andrew Green KC and Gayatri Sarathy).

For the sole Defendant in proceedings concerning an alleged team move with an estimated value of over £50m (led by Richard Leiper KC).

For the Defendant in proceedings for breach of contract concerning the rights to broadcast top-division football in Belgium (led by Andrew Hunter KC and Harry Adamson).

For the Tenth Defendant in proceedings concerning an alleged conspiracy to seize strategic Russian assets with a claimed quantum of over US$10 billion (assisting Leona Powell).

For the Claimant in a jurisdiction challenge arising out of proceedings for breach of contract and unlawful means conspiracy, involving issues of Saudi and Canadian law (assisting Anthony Peto KC and Shane Sibbel).

For the First and Second Defendants in a substantial fraud claim brought by the Kuwaiti Public Institution for Social Security for a claimed quantum of over US$850 million (assisting Tom Weisselberg KC and Harry Adamson). The case was one of The Lawyer's Top 20 Cases of 2025.

For the Severn Trent Defendants in a restitution claim concerning the provision of information by water and sewerage companies to personal search companies, for a claimed quantum of over £150 million (assisting Monica Carss-Frisk KC and Jason Pobjoy). The decision was the first High Court ruling on the scope and application of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.

For a world champion boxer in a claim brought by his former promoter seeking to enforce a matching right in his promotional agreement (led by Nick De Marco KC).

For the Defendants in a civil fraud claim relating to investments in a resort in Thailand, raising questions of Thai law (assisting Shane Sibbel).

For the Premier League in disciplinary proceedings concerning Leicester City FC's breach of the English Football League's Profitability and Sustainability Rules in the 2023/24 season, in which Leicester City FC challenged the Premier League's application of those rules on competition law and other grounds (led by James Segan KC). The proceedings were widely reported by e.g. the BBC and Sky News. The Disciplinary Commission's decision can be found here (with a summary here), and the Appeal Board's decision can be found here.

For the Club in proceedings concerning the validity of an option to extend the term of a player's playing contract and the PRDC's jurisdiction to determine the same (led by Nick De Marco KC).

For the Premier League in proceedings concerning the validity of the Premier League's APT Rules (led by Andrew Hunter KC and Jason Pobjoy KC). A public statement regarding the proceedings, which settled in September 2025, can be found here.

For the respondents in various in RFU disciplinary proceedings (unled).

For the Cricket Regulator in safeguarding proceedings (unled).

For the Premier League in disciplinary proceedings against Everton FC concerning alleged breaches of financial fair play regulations in the 2022/23 season (led by Jason Pobjoy KC). The proceedings, which were discontinued in January 2025, were widely reported by e.g. the Guardian and ESPN. A joint statement regarding the discontinuance of the proceedings can be found here.

For the Premier League in disciplinary proceedings against Everton FC concerning breaches of financial fair play regulations in the 2021/22 season (assisting Adam Lewis KC and Jason Pobjoy). The case, which was the first to be decided under the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules, was widely reported by e.g. the BBC and Sky Sports. The Disciplinary Commission’s decision can be found here, and the Appeal Board's decision can be found here.

For a tennis player in safeguarding proceedings brought by the International Tennis Federation (led by Adam Lewis KC).

For the FA in a competition law challenge to its implementation of FIFA regulations concerning the maximum fees agents can charge for their services (assisting Adam Lewis KC and Jason Pobjoy). The proceedings were widely reported, including here.

For a world champion boxer in a claim brought by his former promoter seeking to enforce a matching right in his promotional agreement (led by Nick De Marco KC).

For a Premier League football club seeking to enforce post-termination restrictive covenants against a departing senior employee who intended to take up a new role at a competitor club (led by Nick De Marco KC).

For the Appellant in a landmark appeal concerning whether the Investigatory Powers Tribunal has the power to make orders as to costs in its proceedings (led by Ben Jaffey KC).

For the Home Secretary in proceedings concerning the powers to issue technical capability notices under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (led by Sir James Eadie KC).

For Ofwat in judicial review proceedings concerning the rationality of its approach to allocating enhancement expenditure to water and sewerage undertakers for the purposes of achieving environmental outcomes (led by Ravi Mehta).

For the Claimants in a challenge to the Heather and Grass etc. Burning (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (led by Jason Pobjoy KC).

Advising UK Deaf Sport on discrimination and public law issues in relation to the Government's decision to cease funding pathways for elite deaf athletes in the UK (unled).

For the Law Society in its challenge to the UK Government’s failure to implement the findings of the Bellamy Review in the legal aid system (assisting Tom de la Mare KC and Jason Pobjoy).

For the Lord Chancellor in judicial review proceedings concerning the compatibility of legal aid policy with the right to a fair trial under Article 6 ECHR in the context of appeals against permanent school exclusions (assisting Shane Sibbel).

For journalists in a challenge to the European Parliament’s decision to refuse to provide public access to documents relating to expenses of a Member of Parliament found guilty of leading a criminal organisation (assisting Jason Pobjoy).

For the Cabinet Office in an appeal under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (assisting Fraser Campbell).

For the Claimant in an appeal against the Secretary of State’s refusal of a protection claim based on a risk of persecution resulting from the Claimant’s sexual orientation (assisting Fraser Campbell).

Advising the Secretary of State for the Home Department on questions of nullity in the context of mistakenly granted citizenship (assisting Sir James Eadie KC and Shane Sibbel).

Advising the BBC on various matters, including freedom of information (FOI) requests, equality impact assessments and due impartiality obligations (with Jason Pobjoy).

Advising Ofwat on the applicability of various environmental duties in the context of its 2024 Price Review (with Ravi Mehta).

For the Secretary of State in an appeal against a decision to deregister an independent special educational institution for failures to meet educational and welfare standards (assisting Fraser Campbell).

For the Secretary of State in judicial review proceedings concerning a decision to recategorise the status of a serving prisoner in light of his involvement in a serious incident in prison (assisting Harry Adamson).

Advising the Cabinet Office on matters of constitutional and contractual law in relation to the UK Covid Inquiry (with Shane Sibbel).

For the Home Secretary in proceedings concerning the powers to issue technical capability notices under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (led by Sir James Eadie KC).

Assisting counsel in a foreign Commonwealth jurisdiction in a Supreme Court appeal in relation to government decisions discriminating against individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation (pro bono, through the Human Dignity Trust, led by Tim Otty KC).

Advising UK Deaf Sport on discrimination and public law issues in relation to the Government's decision to cease funding pathways for elite deaf athletes in the UK (unled).

Assisting counsel in a foreign Commonwealth jurisdiction on a strategic challenge to laws which persecute individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation (pro bono, through the Human Dignity Trust, led by Tim Otty KC).

For the Law Society in its challenge to the UK Government’s failure to implement the findings of the Bellamy Review in the legal aid system (assisting Tom de la Mare KC and Jason Pobjoy).

For the Lord Chancellor in judicial review proceedings concerning the compatibility of legal aid policy with the right to a fair trial under Article 6 ECHR in the context of appeals against permanent school exclusions (assisting Shane Sibbel).

For the Claimant in an appeal against the Secretary of State’s refusal of a protection claim based on a risk of persecution resulting from the Claimant’s sexual orientation (assisting Fraser Campbell).

Advising the Secretary of State for the Home Department on questions of nullity in the context of mistakenly granted citizenship (assisting Sir James Eadie KC and Shane Sibbel).

For a UK media group defending claims of religious discrimination by a US evangelistic association (assisting Jason Pobjoy).

For the sole Defendant in proceedings concerning an alleged team move with an estimated value of over £50m (led by Richard Leiper KC).

For the Respondent in an appeal to the Supreme Court concerning discrimination protections for part-time workers (led by Tom Mountford).

For the Respondents in large-scale Employment Tribunal proceedings involving allegations of sex discrimination and victimisation (led by Jane Mulcahy KC).

For the claimant in an expedited LCIA arbitration culminating in a two-week trial concerning the enforceability of non-compete agreements in the field of quantitative trading (led by Thomas Croxford KC).

For a private equity firm in proceedings concerning the expulsion and post-termination conduct of a former partner (led by Tom Croxford KC).

For the Claimant in a claim for direct disability discrimination by association (unled).

For a Premier League football club seeking to enforce post-termination restrictive covenants against a departing senior employee who intended to take up a new role at a competitor club (led by Nick De Marco KC).

Advising a former senior employee on issues of territorial jurisdiction and foreign law in a bonus dispute across both the High Court and the Employment Tribunal (unled).

For the Respondents in a substantial claim for fraudulent breach of warranty and misrepresentation arising out of the sale of of a business (led by Andrew Green KC and Gayatri Sarathy).

For the Premier League in proceedings concerning the validity of the Premier League's APT Rules (led by Andrew Hunter KC and Jason Pobjoy KC). A public statement regarding the proceedings, which settled in September 2025, can be found here.

For the claimant in an expedited LCIA arbitration culminating in a two-week trial concerning the enforceability of non-compete agreements in the field of quantitative trading (led by Thomas Croxford KC).

For a private equity firm in proceedings concerning the expulsion and post-termination conduct of a former partner (led by Tom Croxford KC).

For a world champion boxer in a claim brought by his former promoter seeking to enforce a matching right in his promotional agreement (led by Nick De Marco KC).

For the FA in a competition law challenge to its implementation of FIFA regulations concerning the maximum fees agents can charge for their services (assisting Adam Lewis KC and Jason Pobjoy). The proceedings were widely reported, including here.

For a Premier League football club seeking to enforce post-termination restrictive covenants against a departing senior employee who intended to take up a new role at a competitor club (led by Nick De Marco KC).