Tara Taylor

Commercial disputes

Tara acts and advises in a wide range of commercial disputes and company matters, many of which involve issues of civil fraud. Her experience encompasses cases with significant offshore and multi-jurisdictional dimensions, as well as those involving complex trust structures, claims for breach of fiduciary duty and breach of trust. Tara frequently appears in the Commercial Court and Chancery Division as well as in arbitrations, whether as sole counsel or as a junior in more substantial cases.

Recent cases include:

• Acting, led by Thomas Grant KC, in the BVI Commercial Court in JSC BTA Bank v Sabyrbaev & Ors, a $230m plus international letter of credit unlawful means conspiracy/fraud claim arising out of the alleged fraud of Mukhtar Ablyazov. The BVI High Court recently handed down a lengthy judgment on a jurisdiction challenge (BVIHCM2021/0171). An appeal is pending.
• Acting in Cayman Island proceedings (including on appeal in the Privy Council) in a winding up petition brought on the just and equitable ground (Tianrui (International) Holding Company Ltd v China Shanshui Cement Group), led by Tom Lowe KC.
• Advising in relation to a complex series of facilities agreements in the renewable energy sector, led by James Bailey KC.
• Acting for one of the former directors of BHS Group Ltd in respect of claims brought by the group’s Joint Liquidators for misfeasance and wrongful trading, valued at over £160m (BHS & Ors v  Chappell & Ors [2024] EWHC 1417 (Ch)), led by Lexa Hilliard KC and Rachael Earle.
• Acting, led by Alan Gourgey KC and Bobby Friedman,  for the defendants in a €100 million Commercial Court fraud claim alleged to relate to the collapse of the Steinhoff Group in South Africa, reportedly the result of the largest fraud in South Africa’s history (settled in June 2024, shortly before a 6-week trial). Tara appeared unled on several applications including against a senior silk.
• Acting in Saint Kitts and Nevis litigation in an application for relief from sanctions and an extension of time to serve evidence, led by Thomas Grant KC.
• Acting for the defendants in relation to a £6.5m worldwide freezing injunction and imaging order obtained by a multinational cosmetics company in respect of various fraud and conspiracy claims, led by Tim Penny KC.
• Advising a real estate investment trust in relation to potential claims arising out of, inter alia, fraudulent share sales and diversion of dividends by unknown third-parties.
• Advising the current general partner of a Cayman based fund in respect of claims arising out of the sale of a major fund asset at a significant undervalue by the previous general partners, raising issues of Cayman, Delaware and Luxembourg law.
• Acting for the defendant in a Commercial Court claim concerning the validity of derivatives contracts, involving allegations of bad faith (Goldman Sachs v J Garcia Carrion) – led by Max Mallin KC.
• Acting for the claimants in a multimillion-pound civil fraud claim involving allegations of deceit, forgery, identity theft and secret commissions (Sheikh Mohammed al Jaber & Ors v Salfiti and Ors), led by Lexa Hilliard KC.
• Acting for the claimant, the film and television studio Pinewood Group Limited, in a civil fraud claim arising out of identity theft and payment diversion fraud.
• Acting for one of the respondents in an LCIA arbitration concerning a joint venture dispute in relation to the appraisal and development of gas fields, led by Alan Gourgey KC.
• Successfully obtaining an urgent injunction in a claim for breach of contract and conversion in the context of a valuable vintage car collection, led by John Wardell KC.
• Acting for two defendants in National Bank Trust v Yurov & Ors [2020] EWHC 100 (Comm) concerning a $1billion Russian law fraud claim brought by a Russian bank against three of its former directors, led by Tim Penny KC.
• Advising and acting in a Commercial Court claim raising issues of good faith and questions under the Factors Act 1989 in respect of the purported sale of a valuable car, led by John Wardell KC
• Acting for the claimant in an ICC arbitration concerning the development of a gas field, led by Alan Gourgey KC and Iain Pester.
• Advising as to the enforceability of Heads of Terms relating to the sponsorship and branding rights of a motor racing team, led by James Bailey KC.
• Acting for a specialist film financing company to obtain a freezing injunction in a civil fraud cross-border context.
• Advising directors of a Cayman company in liquidation as to the scope of legal privilege that could be asserted in proceedings commenced against them and others by the company’s joint liquidators.
• Advising and acting in relation to a cross border merger of an English and a German company pursuant to the Companies (Cross-Border mergers) Regulations 2007.
• Advising on the collateral use of documents in the context of proceedings being pursued in the Cayman Islands and the United States.
• Successfully restoring a dissolved company to the register in a case involving cross-border issues and claims under the Third Parties (Rights Against Insurers Act) 1930.

Download Commercial disputes CV