Theo Dixon

Recent and ongoing work includes:

Commercial

• Acting (led by Simon Atkinson) for the defendant in Moosa v Mawji [2024] EWHC 335 (Ch).  These ongoing proceedings concern a complex and high-value corporate property investment holding structure, raising issues of Liechtenstein, Swiss and English law.
• Acted for the Defendant (led by Bobby Friedman) in a US$15 million cryptocurrency claim concerning alleged breaches of a facility agreement. The Defendant counterclaimed for the delivery of cryptocurrency tokens worth US$100 million. The claim settled after service of the defence.
• Advised prospective group claimants in a dispute arising from the negligent sale of bonds to retail investors. The claimants alleged that the broker’s failure to advise that the bonds were not adequately insured caused losses of £17.5 million.
• As a pupil, assisted Jack Watson in Richards v Bodden [2023] UKPC 7, a case heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council concerning a claim for restitution/unjust enrichment arising out of the failure of an instalment contract.

Civil Fraud

• Acting for the liquidators of Global Steel Holdings in asset recovery claims worth US$200 million. Global Steel is the holding company of Pramod Mittal, who has been described as “Britain’s biggest bankrupt”. Proceedings have been commenced in England, BVI, Isle of Man and Nigeria. Led by Graeme Halkerston and Faith Julian.
• Appeared, at an interlocutory stage, for the claimant in a complex US$30 million partnership, breach of bailment and fraud claim in relation to various art, antiques and other chattels.
• As a pupil, assisted Tim Matthewson in The Public Institution for Social Security v Al Rajaan; a US$874 million corruption claim brought by the body operating the State of Kuwait’s social security system and pension scheme in respect of alleged secret commissions paid over a 20-year period.

Trusts

• Acting (led by Roderick Cordara KC) for the claimant in a multi-million pound probate dispute involving allegations of breach trust and fiduciary duty. The claim concerns funds which have been misappropriated from the estate and connected secret profits.
• Advising on the validity of a discretionary trust. The trust had not been properly constituted, but the trust property had subsequently vested in the trustee as executor of the settlor’s estate.
• As a pupil, preparing advice for the trustees of a BVI trust on issues of limitation. The case concerned proprietary claims arising from the transfer of shares between companies within a complex offshore structure.

Insolvency

• Acting for the liquidators of Global Steel Holdings in asset recovery claims worth US$200 million. Global Steel is the holding company of Pramod Mittal, who has been described as “Britain’s biggest bankrupt”. Proceedings have been commenced in England, BVI, Isle of Man and Nigeria. Led by Graeme Halkerston and Faith Julian.
• Advised company directors in relation to the appointment of receivers. Receivers were appointed following the breach of a financing agreement worth £15 million, secured against the companies’ properties.
• Appearing for the trustee in bankruptcy in applications brought under s.283A of the Insolvency Act in relation to a property portfolio valued in excess of £3.5 million.

Property

• Acting (led by Simon Atkinson) for the defendant in Moosa v Mawji [2024] EWHC 335 (Ch).  These ongoing proceedings concern a complex and high-value corporate property investment holding structure, raising issues of Liechtenstein, Swiss and English law.
• Advising on the merits of claims under a constructive trust, resulting trust, and proprietary estoppel, in relation to residential property.
• As a pupil, assisting James McCreath in the ongoing litigation between United Utilities and the Manchester Ship Canal Company, which recently appeared before the Supreme Court in March 2023. The appeal concerned the implied ouster of MSCC’s private law claims by the Water Industry Act 1991.

Pensions

• Advising on claims for breach of trust and fiduciary duty against the trustee of a personal pension scheme. Losses to the scheme were caused by the sale of the scheme’s assets for unsecured loan consideration to an insolvent third party.
• Advising on the proper interpretation of a pension attachment order and its effects on the timing of payments to be made to the ex-spouse.
• As a pupil, drafting advice for the employer concerning the validity of historic amendments to the scheme which introduced guaranteed minimum increases to pensions in payment.