He regularly appears in the High Court /Insolvency and Companies Court and arbitral tribunals, as well as advising and appearing in cases from various offshore and Caribbean territories. His work includes general insolvency (breach of fiduciary duty, preference claims, TUVs and so on), commercial contracts disputes, civil fraud (including investment and development), and insurance (including motor). He has experience in development and construction disputes (including FIDIC, and JCT).
Rowan deals with all aspects of the case, including interim relief such seeking search orders, asset protection orders and freezing injunctions. He has secured, for clients, multi-million-pound freezing orders on both the traditional and Chabra bases as well as a variety of other orders including on an urgent basis.
Rowan also has many years of specialist expertise in appellate work. He regularly appears in the Court of Appeal and has appeared in over 35 Privy Council /Supreme Court appeals (many as sole counsel).
Rowan has a busy practice, appearing in a variety of courts as well as arbitration and adjudication proceedings.
Rowan is called to the Bar (permanently) in both England and Wales, and in Gibraltar. He has extensive experience of dealing with cases with a cross-border element.
£200m plus ICC Arbitration (London), concerning diversion of business assets in breach of contract /breach of trust (energy sector –partial state funded JV geothermal project in Africa).
High value ICC Arbitration (London seat), concerning in state-supply contract dispute in the aluminum fluoride sector (public/private issues of public policy, enforceability and cross-border recognition –acting for the claimant).
£67m Commercial Arbitration (LCIA, London), involving allegations of State corruption and breach of contract in relation to off-shore development and investment scheme in the Caribbean (public/private law issues combined –acting for the State).
Acting for the claimants in £27m renewable energy arbitration (LCIA, London) (on-shore run of the river facility in Africa –payment dispute / breach of warranty / output performance).
Rule K sports arbitrations/ CAS appeals, including FIFA/FA sanctions work –both domestic and overseas (improper conduct, match fixing, side-betting –for individuals and the relevant association).
Loudmila Bourlakova & ors v. Oleg Bourlakov (BL-2020-001050) (ongoing – 2023) High Court (Ch/Bus)
Acting for 4 Panamanian company defendants in alleged conspiracy /multi-jurisdictional fraud claim.
Pentacle Disputes Ltd v MoneyPlus Legal (LM-2020-000216) (ongoing - 2023)
Commercial Court claim – fees dispute concerning large scale bank miss-selling claims.
Gattaz Property Limited and Fortimat Properties S.A. v Versant Homes & Developments Limited and others (CL-2019-000662) (ongoing - 2023)
Commercial Court claim (led) – claim arising out of a series of failed development projects, claims including breach of trust/ fraud, negligence. (Interim judgments include: [2023] EWHC 110 (Comm), and [2021] EWHC 3657 (Comm)).
Infinity Max Ltd v CGI Automotive Consulting Ltd [2022] EWHC 1740 (Ch)
Case concerning scope of declaratory relief in an international claim.
Willow Sports Ltd v SportsLocker24.com Ltd [2021] EWHC 2524 (Ch)
Case concerning pre-action disclosure in a proposed fraud claim.
Challenge to arbitration award on ground of procedural irregularity.
A&A Mechanical Contractors v Petroleum Company of Trinidad and Tobago [2022] UKPC 39
Privy Council appeal concerning the correct approach to valuation or variations under a construction contract, including application of the without prejudice rule to contractual mediation clauses.
Brelsford v Providence Estate Ltd Privy Council (Montserrat) [2022] UKPC 46
The scope of the power to rectify the land register in cases of fraudulent diversion of property perfected by registration.
Enterprise Insurance v EIG et al
Acting, first, for the finance director then further directors in the claim and on appeal. Complex claim (£54m) by liquidators of insurance company for breach of fiduciary duty, financial assistance, and negligence.
MCE Insurance Ltd
Acting in various respects for the joint administrators of insolvent insurance company (private examinations, fiduciary duties, reserving practice, SCR and solvency issues).
McPhee v Colina Insurance Ltd Privy Council (Bahamas) [2023] UKPC 8
Appeal concerning the correct interpretation and application of premium-linked renewal clauses, and the question of burden of proof in missing clause cases.
R v Pierre (Rodriguez) [2023] UKPC 15
Appeal from The Bahamas concerning the correct approach to applications to extend time to appeal against conviction or sentence.
Responsible Development for Abaco (RDA) Ltd v Christie & Ors (Bahamas) [2023] UKPC 2
Appeal from The Bahamas, supported by intervenors, challenging the courts’ approach to security for costs in environmental judicial review challenges.
Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago v Charles Privy Council (Trinidad and Tobago) [2023] 1 WLR 177
Constitutional claim concerning the award of vindicatory damages for breach of the right to “protection of the law” (delay caused by promotion of the judge without completing cases).
Deonarine v Ramcharan Privy Council (Trinidad and Tobago) [2022] UKPC 57
Appeal concerning the Court of Appeal’s failure to determine a pleading of fraud raised in the context of a claim for declaratory relief as to the validity of a compromise agreement.
Carriacou Devcor Ltd v Corion Privy Council (Grenada) [2023] UKPC 1
Appeal concerning delineation of the boundaries of a grand estate in Grenada.
Commissioner of Prisons v Seepersad Privy Council (Trinidad and Tobago) [2021] 1 WLR
Declaratory relief that the executive was in breach of the right to protection of the law in detaining minors in an adult prisons.
Grant of a Crown lease did not amount impliedly to a grant of development permission in respect of a private residential and marine development.
Dass v Marchand Privy Council (Trinidad and Tobago) [2021] 1 WLR 1788
Appeal concerning the Board’s approach to concurrent finding of fact including in the context of a fraud claim.
Appeal from Trinidad and Tobago concerning the correct approach to be followed by the Court of Appeal where parties fail to file submissions in breach of directions, including appropriate use of strike out powers.
Rowan is a Public Access trained barrister and available for instruction on that basis (also known as direct access). This means that he can receive instructions, in appropriate cases, directly from members of the public or on behalf of companies, partnerships or other entities. Please speak with our practice managers for further information.
For guidance on Public Access please visit the Bar Council website.
Please contact us either by telephone: +44 (0)20 7415 7800 or email: clerks@3harecourt.com
