Katharine is developing a broad practice encompassing all aspects of commercial, company and insolvency litigation and advisory work. She is currently instructed on cases concerning civil fraud, breach of director duties, and complex contractual disputes. Much of Katharine’s caseload has an international element giving rise to jurisdiction challenges, cross-border recognition, and enforcement considerations. In addition, Katharine is instructed on cases involving complex expert evidence.
Katharine also has a busy advocacy and advisory commercial practice as sole counsel, acting on behalf of both individuals and businesses. Recently, Katharine acted as sole counsel in a three-day commercial trial in the Central London County Court (Business & Property List), during which Katharine cross-examined three factual witnesses. Katharine’s client succeeded on the contract claim and recovered costs on the indemnity basis.
Katharine also regularly deals with company and insolvency matters as sole counsel. She is instructed to appear in winding up and bankruptcy petitions on a regular basis, and she has recent experience advising office-holders in connection with potential claims against company officers involving breach of fiduciary/statutory duty, misfeasance, and antecedent transactions.
Notable Commercial, Company & Insolvency cases
GR123
Katharine (led by Daniel Feetham KC (Gibraltar)) is currently instructed as junior counsel (alongside Rowan Pennington-Benton and Thomas Horton), in litigation arising out of the collapse of GR123 (formerly MCE Insurance Ltd), a UK/Gibraltar motor insurance underwriter. This case involves complex forensic accountancy and actuarial expert evidence. Katharine has been heavily involved in the preparation of the claim, and more recently the application to the Gibraltar Supreme Court for permission to serve out.
Matrix Receivables Limited v Musst Holdings Limited
Katharine is led by Peter Knox KC in this financial services sector dispute. Matrix claim for a share (in contract or quantum meruit) of Musst’s management and performance fees derived from managed funds which follow a specific investment strategy (to invest primarily in synthetic asset-backed securities). In May 2024, Peter and Katharine argued Musst’s application for reverse summary judgment on, and/or strike out of, Matrix’s claim, which was heard over two days in the Business & Property Courts (Business List) before Mr Justice Freedman. This litigation is linked to the on-going dispute between Musst Holdings Ltd v Astra Asset Management UK Ltd (see below).
Innovate Pharmaceuticals Limited v University of Portsmouth Education Corporation [2023] EWHC 35 (TCC)
Katharine, led by Thomas Roe KC (Deputy Head of Chambers), acted on behalf of Innovate who succeeded in their claim for breach of contract against the University of Portsmouth. The dispute arose from a contract to evaluate the efficacy of a new drug and involved complex patent value and pharmacology expert evidence.
Musst Holdings Ltd v Astra Asset Management UK Ltd
Katharine is led by Peter Knox KC in this dispute, which arises out of the three-week trial before Mr Justice Freedman in 2021 ([2021] EWHC 3432 (Ch)). Musst claims it is entitled to management/performance fees arising from further funds managed by Astra which follow the same specific investment strategy. Recently, Musst successfully resisted Astra’s application for strike out and/or summary judgment ([2023] EWHC 432 (Ch); [2023] 2 WLUK 448).
Musst Holdings Ltd v Astra Asset Management UK Ltd [2023] EWCA Civ 128; [2023] 2 WLUK 191
Katharine, led by Peter Knox KC, acted for Musst, who succeeded in the Court of Appeal in upholding the decision of Mr Justice Freedman.
Innovate Pharmaceuticals Limited v University of Portsmouth Higher Education Corporation [2022] EWHC 1681 (TCC)
Katharine, led by Thomas Roe KC, successfully resisted an application for security for costs on the unusual ground of the merits of the claim as demonstrable on a summary basis.
