Robert Howe KC

Instructed for Shell Plc against ClientEarth’s unsuccessful attempt to obtain permission to proceed with a derivative action for alleged breaches of directors' duties regarding the company’s climate risk policies.

Instructed for major sports body in relation to claim for substantial payments in respect of sports rights agreement.

Instructed for the respondent solicitors in a dispute over privilege concerning a number of important documents arising out of an ongoing commercial fraud claim for c. $2 billion.

Instructed for the claimant betting company re claims in the CAT and the High Court concerning the grant of exclusive sports data rights in respect of the Premier League.

Instructed for five defendants in a c.$250 million claim concerning the collapse and sale of one of Uganda’s largest banks. It is alleged that the sale was the result of a corrupt scheme and unlawful means conspiracy, involving various Ministers of the Ugandan Government, and the Bank of Uganda.

Instructed for the claimant, the Premier League, in a successful $215 million claim for sums due under various agreements granting rights in the Far East for the broadcasting of Premier League matches.

Instructed for the claimants in a successful c. £20 million claim against a competitor and former employees for breach of duties, breach of confidence and infringements of copyright and database rights.

Instructed for defendant in successful dismissal of attempt by casino to enforce alleged unpaid balance under a settlement agreement.

Acted for the successful claimants in a $300 million international fraud claim against former shareholders and officers of the claimants.  Obtained judgment for $300 million following trial.

A highly complex, multi-jurisdictional international fraud case, involving a large number of contested hearings and leading, reported Commercial Court decisions, including: 

[2015] EWHC 3059 (Comm) – dismissal of applications for summary judgment and discharge of freezing orders

[2016] EWHC 2363 (Comm) – disclosure, discontinuance and jurisdiction

[2017] EWHC 3374 (Comm) – 300+ page main judgment following trial

[2018] EWHC 369 (Comm) – concluding judgment, complex issues of damages and interest, resulting in final judgment for the claimants for $300 million (plus costs).

[2019] EWHC 80 (Comm) | [2019] 1 WLUK 151 – judgment ordering extensive additional disclosure of assets under Worldwide Freezing Order.

[2019] EWHC 97 (Comm) | [2019] 1 WLUK 165 – judgment considering variations of Worldwide Freezing Orders and Charging Orders over a number of valuable London properties (c. £50 million), to allow the properties to be leased pending resolution of the claims.

[2019] EWHC 878 (Comm) | [2019] 4 WLUK 96 – judgment ordering extensive disclosure under the new Disclosure Pilot Scheme

[2019] EWHC 1693 (Comm) | [2019] 6 WLUK 508 – judgment ordering cross-examination of the defendant’s wife on her assets, as part of the enforcement of a Worldwide Freezing Order

[2019] EWHC 2630 (Comm) [2019] 10 WLUK 83  - a rare Third Party Order for costs order, for £13.2 million under Section 51 of the Senior Courts Act 1981, against defendant’s wife and  mother-in-law on the grounds that they had funded the defendant’s defence.

Instructed for the defendant US investment fund in a $500 million dispute over the ownership of an online games company (the publisher of "Runescape").  Obtained an order for £35m fortification of an injunction.

Instructed for the defendant, one of India’s best-known businessmen, in a $700 million claim under a personal guarantee.

Instructed for the defendant, Bank of America Merrill Lynch in $850 million dispute with a Vincent Tchenguiz property group, concerning issues arising out of termination of the loan facility and interest rate & inflation swaps.

Instructed by claimant, PwC LLP, in injunction proceedings in support of an arbitration against a former partner for breaches of contract and enforcement of restrictive covenants.

Instructed for the defendant in claim against a former director and shareholder.  One of a number of concurrent proceedings arising out of a dispute concerning a private equity investment in the family company.

Instructed for claimant, HPE, in £20m claim against suppliers concerning substantial conspiracy to defraud.

Instructed for claimant, HP, in $50 claims against suppliers concerning unauthorised sale of goods, fraudulent international conspiracy and trade mark infringement.

Instructed for the sovereign defendant, the Republic of Venezuela, in claim concerning $20 million in bonds, and $1.2 bn gold reserves held at the Bank of England.

Instructed for defendant estate of Iraqi businessman in $45 million Commercial Court claim for alleged fraudulent misrepresentations, concerning ownership and $1bn sale of a Iraqi telecoms network.

Instructed for claimants in a $175m claim concerning arising out of a shareholders’ dispute involving two Saudi Princes.  Complex matter raising contested issues of sovereign immunity, jurisdiction, fraud, privacy and default judgments, including two interim Court of Appeal hearings.

Instructed for claimant, HP, in claims against suppliers concerning conspiracy to defraud.

Instructed for defendant in Euro 40 million conspiracy and conversion claim, arising out of dispute concerning a large shipment of sugar.

Instructed for defendant in £10m claim by former employee for alleged ownership share, salary and bonus, from financial advisory LLP.

Instructed for claimant, HP, in $17 million fraud and breach of contract claim concerning multi-jurisdictional supplies of black and grey market HP products.

Instructed for claimant in £3 million fraud claim against former employee.

Instructed a leading professional services firm in a substantial arbitrations against former partners.

Instructed for claimant in action for anti-suit injunction to restrain Californian proceedings.

Instructed for the defendant in a dispute concerning the recognition and enforcement of an $11m Arizona judgment.

Instructed for the Central Bank of Laos in application to discharge freezing injunction; and subsequent claim for damages under the cross-undertaking.

Instructed for Compass Group in claim arising out of termination of a hospital outsourcing contract.

Instructed for Samsung in jurisdictional aspects of global dispute concerning infringement of various IP rights (in iPads, iPhones, etc).

Instructed for defendant (subsidiary of Barratt Homes) in £30 million claim concerning proposed housing development.

Instructed for five defendants in a c.$250 million claim concerning the collapse and sale of one of Uganda’s largest banks. It is alleged that the sale was the result of a corrupt scheme and unlawful means conspiracy, involving various Ministers of the Ugandan Government, and the Bank of Uganda.

Acted for the successful claimants in a $300 million international fraud claim against former shareholders and officers of the claimants.  Obtained judgment for $300 million following trial.

A highly complex, multi-jurisdictional international fraud case, involving a large number of contested hearings and leading, reported Commercial Court decisions, including: 

[2015] EWHC 3059 (Comm) – dismissal of applications for summary judgment and discharge of freezing orders

[2016] EWHC 2363 (Comm) – disclosure, discontinuance and jurisdiction

[2017] EWHC 3374 (Comm) – 300+ page main judgment following trial

[2018] EWHC 369 (Comm) – concluding judgment, complex issues of damages and interest, resulting in final judgment for the claimants for $300 million (plus costs).

[2019] EWHC 80 (Comm) | [2019] 1 WLUK 151 – judgment ordering extensive additional disclosure of assets under Worldwide Freezing Order.

[2019] EWHC 97 (Comm) | [2019] 1 WLUK 165 – judgment considering variations of Worldwide Freezing Orders and Charging Orders over a number of valuable London properties (c. £50 million), to allow the properties to be leased pending resolution of the claims.

[2019] EWHC 878 (Comm) | [2019] 4 WLUK 96 – judgment ordering extensive disclosure under the new Disclosure Pilot Scheme

[2019] EWHC 1693 (Comm) | [2019] 6 WLUK 508 – judgment ordering cross-examination of the defendant’s wife on her assets, as part of the enforcement of a Worldwide Freezing Order

[2019] EWHC 2630 (Comm) [2019] 10 WLUK 83  - a rare Third Party Order for costs order, for £13.2 million under Section 51 of the Senior Courts Act 1981, against defendant’s wife and  mother-in-law on the grounds that they had funded the defendant’s defence.

Instructed for claimant, HPE, in £20m claim against suppliers concerning substantial conspiracy to defraud.

Instructed for defendant in Euro 40 million conspiracy and conversion claim, arising out of dispute concerning a large shipment of sugar.

Instructed for defendant estate of Iraqi businessman in $45 million Commercial Court claim for alleged fraudulent misrepresentations, concerning ownership and $1bn sale of a Iraqi telecoms network.

Instructed for claimant, HP, in claims against suppliers concerning conspiracy to defraud.

Instructed for claimant, HP, in $50 claims against suppliers concerning unauthorised sale of goods, fraudulent international conspiracy and trade mark infringement.

Instructed for claimants in a $175m claim concerning arising out of a shareholders’ dispute involving two Saudi Princes.  Complex matter raising contested issues of sovereign immunity, jurisdiction, fraud, privacy and default judgments, including two interim Court of Appeal hearings.

Instructed for the Central Bank of Laos in application to discharge freezing injunction; and subsequent claim for damages under the cross-undertaking.

Instructed for claimant, HP, in $17 million fraud and breach of contract claim concerning multi-jurisdictional supplies of black and grey market HP products.

Instructed for medical products company in breach of contract, infringement, and conspiracy claim against former finance director.

Instructed for claimant in £3 million fraud claim against former employee.

Instructed for claimant in action for anti-suit injunction to restrain Californian proceedings.

Instructed for the Defendant, Sony, in a multi-jurisdictional dispute concerning copyrights and performers’ rights in Jimi Hendrix’s recordings

Instructed by defendant Tune-In Inc (a global online platform for radio stations), against Warner/Sony in leading case concerning provision of music online.  The case raises the difficult and fundamental issue of whether (and if so when) hyperlinks are a form of “communication to the public”, and accordingly whether they need to be licensed or not.

Instructed by the hospitality industry trade bodies, representing UK pubs, restaurants, hotels and nightclubs, in major Copyright Tribunal proceedings against PPL regarding its proposed tariff for playing music at special events (such as discos, dances, parties etc).

Instructed by PRS for Music in major Copyright Tribunal proceedings against BBC re its broadcasting and production licences.

Instructed for claimants, Force India Formula One Team, in $45 million claim for monies said to be due under a sponsorship agreement with Diageo, the global drinks giant.

Instructed by PRS for Music in Copyright Tribunal dispute with ITV regarding its £70 million main broadcasting licence.

Instructed for claimants, the ECB and Sky, in copyright infringement claim against an online service using clips of broadcast matches.  The decision is a leading case on the fair dealing exception.

Instructed for defendant in £10 million claim arising out of licensing of Premier and other League listings.

Instructed by licensing body in Copyright Tribunal, High Court and Court of Appeal and Supreme Court concerning web news aggregators.

Instructed for defendant, British Horseracing Board, in claim concerning licensing of horseracing fixture lists.

Instructed for the defendant, Parlophone/EMI, in claim concerning exploitation of digital rights, against the well-known band, Marillion.

Instructed for Parlophone in dispute with the band Radiohead, concerning digital royalties.

Instructed for PRS in dispute concerning rights over Bollywood songs.

Instructed for Samsung in jurisdictional aspects of global dispute concerning infringement of various IP rights (in iPads, iPhones, etc).

Instructed for major sports body in relation to claim for substantial payments in respect of sports rights agreement.

Instructed by claimant, PwC LLP, in injunction proceedings in support of an arbitration against a former partner for breaches of contract and enforcement of restrictive covenants.

Instructed for respondent in an LCIA Arbitration arising out of settlement of substantial Cayman Islands and Commercial Court proceedings.

Instructed a leading professional services firm in a substantial arbitrations against former partners.

Instructed for PPI Services Supply Company in highly complex contractual dispute and adjudication concerning interlocking PPI construction and service supply contracts.

Instructed for Respondent in an LCIA Arbitration re £2 million sale of goods dispute concerning a shipment of metals.

Instructed in a set of LCIA arbitrations concerning $650 million shareholder dispute re development of a Caribbean island.

Instructed for respondent in an LCIA Arbitration arising out of settlement of substantial Cayman Islands and Commercial Court proceedings.

Instructed in LCIA arbitration concerning a multi-million $ claim for indemnity arising out of settlement of previous Cayman Island and English High Court proceedings.

Instructed for defendant in Lloyd’s of London disciplinary proceedings, concerning alleged miscalculation of reserves and related matters.

Dispute between sporting bodies concerning allocation of broadcasting revenues.

Dispute arising out of enforcement of arbitration award in an arbitration concerning Bermuda Form policy.

Sitting as arbitrator in dispute concerning termination of a publishing contract of well-known songwriter.

Instructed for the defendant, Bank of America Merrill Lynch in $850 million dispute with a Vincent Tchenguiz property group, concerning issues arising out of termination of the loan facility and interest rate & inflation swaps.

Instructed for defendant actuaries in £1 bn claim arising out of collapse of Independent Insurance.

Acted for a director of investment management company in claim for breach of investment mandate.

Represented an LME member in disciplinary proceedings brought by the LME.

Advised global insurance companies in conflicts of laws and jurisdiction disputes arising out of multi-national insurance policies.

Instructed for the claimants in a successful c. £20 million claim against a competitor and former employees for breach of duties, breach of confidence and infringements of copyright and database rights.

Instructed by claimant, PwC LLP, in injunction proceedings in support of an arbitration against a former partner for breaches of contract and enforcement of restrictive covenants.

Instructed for the defendant in claim against a former director and shareholder.  One of a number of concurrent proceedings arising out of a dispute concerning a private equity investment in the family company.

Instructed for former employee, who had held a very senior position at IBM, in claim concerning alleged breaches of restrictive covenants and confidentiality.

Instructed for employer in breach of convenant and breach of confidence claim against former employee.

Instructed for medical products company in breach of contract, infringement, and conspiracy claim against former finance director.

Instructed for defendant architect in substantial team move claim by former employer.

Instructed for defendant in £25 million team move case.

Instructed for major sports body in relation to claim for substantial payments in respect of sports rights agreement.

Instructed for the claimant betting company re claims in the CAT and the High Court concerning the grant of exclusive sports data rights in respect of the Premier League.

Instructed for the claimant, the Premier League, in a successful $215 million claim for sums due under various agreements granting rights in the Far East for the broadcasting of Premier League matches.

Instructed for claimants, Force India Formula One Team, in $45 million claim for monies said to be due under a sponsorship agreement with Diageo, the global drinks giant.

Instructed for claimants, the ECB and Sky, in copyright infringement claim against an online service using clips of broadcast matches.  The decision is a leading case on the fair dealing exception.

Instructed for defendant in £10 million claim arising out of licensing of Premier and other League listings.

Instructed for defendant, British Horseracing Board, in claim concerning licensing of horseracing fixture lists.

Advised Formula One Team in dispute concerning supplier contract.

Represented Premier League clubs in disciplinary proceedings brought by the FA.

Acted for Formula One team in FIA proceedings.

Instructed for the Defendant, Sony, in a multi-jurisdictional dispute concerning copyrights and performers’ rights in Jimi Hendrix’s recordings

Instructed for defendant in a dispute concerning Oxford University’s intellectual property rights over inventions by students

Instructed for claimants, Force India Formula One Team, in $45 million claim for monies said to be due under a sponsorship agreement with Diageo, the global drinks giant.

Instructed by defendant Tune-In Inc (a global online platform for radio stations), against Warner/Sony in leading case concerning provision of music online.  The case raises the difficult and fundamental issue of whether (and if so when) hyperlinks are a form of “communication to the public”, and accordingly whether they need to be licensed or not.

Instructed by PRS for Music in major Copyright Tribunal proceedings against BBC re its broadcasting and production licences.

Instructed for claimants, the ECB and Sky, in copyright infringement claim against an online service using clips of broadcast matches.  The decision is a leading case on the fair dealing exception.

Instructed for defendant in £10 million claim arising out of licensing of Premier and other League listings.

Instructed for defendant, British Horseracing Board, in claim concerning licensing of horseracing fixture lists.

Instructed by licensing body in Copyright Tribunal, High Court and Court of Appeal and Supreme Court concerning web news aggregators.

Instructed for PRS in dispute concerning rights over Bollywood songs.

Instructed for Samsung in jurisdictional aspects of global dispute concerning infringement of various IP rights (in iPads, iPhones, etc).

Instructed by the hospitality industry trade bodies, representing UK pubs, restaurants, hotels and nightclubs, in major Copyright Tribunal proceedings against PPL regarding its proposed tariff for playing music at special events (such as discos, dances, parties etc).