A great advocate who is very smart and strategic."


International litigation, arbitration and jurisdiction disputes
A great advocate who is very smart and strategic."
International litigation, arbitration and jurisdiction disputes
Most of Philip’s cases have international content. He has a particular interest in disputes concerning the application of foreign laws / litigation proceeding concurrently in courts and tribunals in different jurisdictions.
In particular he has worked for many years with law firms and General Counsel in the United States in relation to commercial disputes giving him particular awareness of the demands of litigation at State and Federal level. Philip is a member of the American Arbitration Association panel and has accepted appointment as arbitrator in a number of arbitrations in New York City.
He also has considerable experience of working with with clients and law firms from Ireland, Italy, France, Switzerland, the Channel Islands, Singapore, and BVI where Philip is also admitted to practice. Philip speaks fluent Italian and French.
Philip has acted as counsel in international arbitrations sitting in London, Paris and Geneva. In addition he has been appointed arbitrator in ICC, LCIA, AAA and ad hoc arbitrations worldwide.
Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction issues and disputes concerning applicable law feature strongly in Philip’s practice. He is regularly instructed on applications obtaining / responding to anti suit injunctions, to set aside service out of the jurisdiction and an area given particular impetus since Brexit.
Read more about working with Philip internationally and cross-border
Case Specialisms
Philip has a particular interest in the application of the lex situs rule that in English law applies the laws of the place where movables happen to be situated at the time of the creation of the interest in question to the recognition of proprietary rights. This has an impact not only on the validity of any title but also security interests like mortgages and pledges


Has a well judged eye as to when to run a point aggressively and when to adopt a softer strategy."
Relevant Cases

Melford Capital Partners (Holdings) LLP v Wingfield Digby and Ors 2021
Application to restrain defendant from litigating a counterclaim in England in breach of an exclusive Guernsey law and jurisdiction clause and in support of agreement to refer disputes to London Arbitration. Philip is working closely with a leading Guernsey firm in connection with a dispute relating to a Guernsey holding company of English and Scottish hedge fund LLPs.
Read the judgment Case link
Re Satfinance Investments Limited
Litigation concerning the fraud allegedly committed by modern art dealer Inigo Philbrick relating to a painting done by a contemporary artist, whose paintings typically sell for millions of pounds
Case link
Emmott v Michael Wilson & Partners Limited 2018
A BVI quasi partnership dispute between former partners in a law firm operating in Kazakhstan described by the Court of Appeal as having “a long history of hard fought litigation over more than 10 years in several jurisdictions, including Australia, the Bahamas, the British Virgin Islands and England.”
Case linkRelevant News

London International Disputes Week Webinar
Philip was invited by Hausfeld London Partner Ned Beale to join a stellar panel discussing Supreme Court interventions at the recent London International Disputes Week.
Read more about London International Disputes Week Webinar
Judgment in Melford Capital Partners (Holdings) LLP v Frederick Wingfield Digby
Philip was leading counsel for the Melford group of LLPs and companies on their successful applications to stay a Counterclaim brought by a former partner in the LLPs Frederick Wingfield Digby in breach of...
Read more about Judgment in Melford Capital Partners (Holdings) LLP v Frederick Wingfield Digby
American Bar Association 2021 Virtual Annual Meeting
Philip attended the American Bar Association 2021 Virtual Annual Meeting between 14th-16th April – well done to all involved in making this possible
Read more about American Bar Association 2021 Virtual Annual Meeting