Gary Oliver
Senior Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7325
Tim's practice is focused on heavyweight commercial litigation and international arbitration. He is regularly instructed in complex, multi-jurisdictional and high value commercial disputes, which often involves allegations of fraudulent wrongdoing, raises issues of private international law or requires applications for urgent injunctive relief. Tim has particular experience of, and interest in, acting for or against sovereign states and their various emanations. He has been involved in cases before the courts of the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands, Bermuda, Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia (among others). His arbitration experience includes proceedings under the LCIA, ICC, DIFC, HKIAC and SIAC Rules.
Tim has been instructed in one or more of the cases featured in The Lawyer’s Top 20 Cases for each of 2017-2023. He is ranked in Legal 500 and in Chambers & Partners as “Up and Coming” and a leading junior in Civil Fraud. Tim’s recent instructions include:
Before coming to the Bar, Tim was Associate to the Hon. Justice Susan Kiefel AC, then Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia.
Tim acts in a broad range of commercial disputes both in the civil courts and by way of arbitration. He is currently instructed on several high-value multi-jurisdictional commercial disputes involving allegations of fraudulent wrongdoing and unlawful means conspiracy. His work involves acting for multinational clients and sovereign states across different industry sectors.
This is a EUR5 billion dispute between the two shareholders, JP Morgan and WEREALIZE, of Europe’s first and largest neobank, Viva Wallet. The dispute raises complex issues relating to US banking law and the approach to the proper valuation of a call option in the shareholders’ agreement (led by Richard Lissack KC and Robert Weekes KC).
Substantial fraud proceedings involving allegations of fraudulent wrongdoing against former officials of the Republic of Mozambique. Acting for two secondary market purchasers in multiple claims against Credit Suisse International and the Republic of Mozambique arising out of the US$2 billion so called "tuna bonds" scandal (led by Michael Bloch QC).
These are proceedings issued in the Cayman Islands, BVI, English Commercial Court and LCIA arbitration involving a dispute between shareholders of an investment fund. It is alleged that serious misconduct (including conspiracy, breach of directors’ duties and misrepresentation) has occurred in connection to US$500 million investments (led by Andrew Hunter KC, Tom Weisselberg KC and Victoria Windle KC).
Unlawful means conspiracy claim brought by the shareholders of a Ugandan bank accusing a rival bank, its executives and shareholders of conspiring with allegedly corrupt officials from the Bank of Uganda to take over and sell its assets for a significant undervalue (led by Robert Howe QC).
Claim for unlawful means conspiracy and deceit arising under English, Monegasque, Swiss and Panamanian law. Damages claimed in the sum of £700m (led by Robert Weekes).
Group action claim brought by 7000 Malawian tobacco farmers against multinational tobacco companies for unjust enrichment and tort under English law and Malawi law (led by Shaheed Fatima QC and Andrew Scott).
Dispute relating to allocation of liability over historic mis-selling of PPI claims. Damages claimed in the sum of £630m (led by Andrew Green QC and Fraser Campbell).
Dispute in relation to a foreign arbitral award worth US$1.5 billion over a joint venture agreement relating to global steel production. Involves applications for worldwide freezing and information orders in England and various foreign jurisdictions including the Cayman Islands, Mauritius, the USA and India (led by Lord Falconer, Harish Salve QC, and Peter Head).
Dispute in relation to the collection and dissemination of live league match data for football betting. Claim raises issues of competition law, unlawful means conspiracy and breach of confidence (led by Ian Mill QC, Tom de la Mare QC and Tristan Jones).
Unfair prejudice petition in respect of a projector company invested in by Russian oligarchs. Four-week remote trial involving cross-examination of witnesses in multiple jurisdictions (led by Andreas Gledhill QC and Donald Lilly).
Urgent injunctive proceedings in the Commercial Court and before an ICC Emergency Arbitrator in relation to the calling of a performance bond issued in respect of the largest infrastructure project in Rwanda (led by Thomas Sprange QC).
Claim by a sovereign state shareholder in relation to a US$1.5bn rights issue for a global oil company alleging breach of Shareholders’ Agreement and shareholder oppression (led by Andreas Gledhill QC).
Jurisdiction challenge in relation to a claim for global FRAND damages for alleged breaches of patents (led by Michael Bloch QC).
Dispute relating to breaches of various provisions of a SPA relating to the sale of a global security company worth $330m (led by Andrew Green QC).
A private equity dispute worth $1billion involving telecommunication assets in the United States. Related proceedings in Hong Kong and the Cayman Islands seeking worldwide injunctive and Norwich Pharmacal relief (led by Michael Bloch QC and Peter Head).
Substantial claim concerning various alleged agreements between Ukrainian oligarchs relating to a large scale logistics development project in Ukraine. Involving a jurisdiction challenge (led by Brian Kennelly QC and Shane Sibbel).
Dispute in relation to the sale of an English video games company for US$530 million. Involves applications for injunctive relief, fortification and jurisdictional challenges, as well as claims under foreign law and for dishonest assistance (led by Robert Howe QC).
Dispute in relation to a foreign arbitral award worth US$1.25 billion over a joint venture agreement relating to a diamond mine in the Republic of Guinea. Claims for unlawful means conspiracy, fraudulent misrepresentation and proprietary claims, and application for a worldwide freezing injunction and related orders (led by Robert Weekes).
Acting for the claimant Georgian businessman in a case with quantum in excess of $290 million relating to the sale by the Bank of Georgia of assets by auction following a default on a loan facility (led by Barbara Dohmann QC and Andrew George QC).
Resisting an application for an anti-anti suit injunction in the English court following an application for an anti-suit injunction in the United States court in relation to a worldwide technology patent dispute (led by Michael Bloch QC).
Partnership dispute relating to a global leading business restructuring provider (led by Robert Howe QC and Christopher Newman).
Arbitration relating to a Champions League football club (led by Paul Goulding QC and Tom Mountford).
Acting for the Reignwood Group in a complex, high value joint venture dispute governed (in part) by Chinese law and with related proceedings in Luxembourg and the US (led by Anthony Peto QC and Peter Head).
Multi-jurisdictional litigation concerning the fourth most successful pharmaceutical product in the world (led by Simon Malynicz QC and Tom Hickman QC).
Tim acts in a broad range of international arbitrations under the LCIA, ICC, SIAC or HKIAC rules. He has also been involved in advising on the enforcement of arbitral awards and anti-suit injunctions in aid of arbitral proceedings.
These are proceedings issued in the Cayman Islands, BVI, English Commercial Court and LCIA arbitration involving a dispute between shareholders of an investment fund. It is alleged that serious misconduct (including conspiracy, breach of directors’ duties and misrepresentation) has occurred in connection to US$500 million investments (led by Andrew Hunter KC, Tom Weisselberg KC and Victoria Windle KC).
Claim by a sovereign state shareholder in relation to a US$1.5bn rights issue for a global oil company alleging breach of Shareholders’ Agreement and shareholder oppression (led by Andreas Gledhill QC).
Dispute relating to breaches of various provisions of a SPA relating to the sale of a global security company worth $330m (led by Andrew Green QC).
Urgent injunctive proceedings in the Commercial Court and before an ICC Emergency Arbitrator in relation to the calling of a performance bond issued in respect of the largest infrastructure project in Rwanda (led by Thomas Sprange QC).
Claim for breach of distribution agreement for the sale of motor vehicles in Asia (led by Andrew Green QC).
A private equity dispute worth $1billion involving telecommunication assets in the United States. Related proceedings in Hong Kong and the Cayman Islands seeking worldwide injunctive and Norwich Pharmacal relief (led by Michael Bloch QC and Peter Head).
Partnership dispute relating to a global leading business restructuring provider (led by Robert Howe QC and Christopher Newman).
Arbitration relating to a Champions League football club (led by Paul Goulding QC and Tom Mountford).
Tim is developing a strong offshore practice in the Cayman Islands, the BVI and Bermuda. Such disputes often involve parallel foreign proceedings in the English courts or in arbitration.
Acting for management shareholders in parallel proceedings in the Cayman Islands and BVI resisting winding up petitions brought on just and equitable grounds against three investment fund companies. The petitioners contend that serious misconduct (including misuse of assets, fraud and charging of unlawful fees) occurred in relation to four funds in which in excess of $500 million have been invested. The case has also involved various interlocutory applications including pending heavy applications for the discharge of provisional liquidators and Court-appointed receivers over shares in the funds. The litigation involves parallel proceedings in England and LCIA arbitration.
Bachelor of Commerce (University of Melbourne), Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) (University of Melbourne), Bachelor of Civil Law (Distinction) (Magdalen College, University of Oxford)
Scholarships and Prizes
VAT registration number: 302350656
Barristers regulated by the Bar Standards Board
Gary Oliver
Senior Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7325
Derek Sutton
Deputy Senior Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7327
Adam Sloane
Deputy Senior Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7326
Dean Tolman
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7331
Billy Brian
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7339
Marc Armstrong
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7330
Adam Fuschillo
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7329
Danny Compton
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7338
Sophie Reeve
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7324
Toby Dennison
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7328
Daniel Higgins
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7322
Lilly-Grace Hilliard
Clerk
+44 (0)20 7822 7234