Will Cook

Will is currently instructed as part of a large Counsel team defending a £1.3 billion fraud claim arising out of the collapse of a Russian bank. His experience in this area also includes:

• Assisting in a £50m conspiracy claim arising out of the sale of vintage cars (during pupillage)
• Assisting in a claim brought against a bank under s. 90A FSMA 2000 concerning the publishing of misleading statements (during pupillage)
• Assisting in the contested administration of an estate involving allegations of fraud and dishonesty (during pupillage)
• Assisting in a $500m claim against a major firm of solicitors arising out of CIS litigation involving allegations of fraud and conspiracy (during pupillage)

Will has a particular interest in this area and has experience of a wide range of commercial disputes, including:

• Acting as part of a Counsel team defending a £1.3 billion fraud claim arising out of the collapse of a Russian bank
• Assisting in a $500m claim against a major firm of solicitors arising out of CIS litigation involving allegations of fraud and conspiracy (during pupillage)
• Assisting in a multi-million dollar international arbitration concerning the termination of a distribution agreement and giving rise to complex conflict of laws issues (during pupillage)
• Assisting in a claim brought by HNW individuals concerning the disputed ownership of a West London restaurant (during pupillage)
• Assisting in the defence of a claim brought by a bank under personal guarantees (during pupillage)
• Assisting in a $5m claim brought by a bank in relation to the international sale of steel (during pupillage)
• Assisting in a $3m claim brought by a Maltese aviation company in relation to unpaid charter fees (during pupillage)

Will’s current instructions in this area include:

• Acting in a £9m construction arbitration relating to a large housing development in London (led by Lucy Colter)
• Acting in a £12m claim in the TCC relating to the design of a slipform rig (led by Lucy Colter)

During pupillage Will gained experience of a wide range of policies and insurance matters, including coverage disputes, subrogated claims and claims against insurance brokers. Examples include:

• Instructed by insurers in relation to issues arising from the Business Interruption insurance test case: FCA v Arch Insurance (UK) Ltd & Ors [2020] EWHC 2448 (Comm)
• Instructed by professional indemnity insurers defending a claim brought under the Third Parties (Rights Against Insurers) Act 2010
• Instructed by public liability insurers in a claim relating to damage at residential property in Central London
• Assisting in a £1m subrogated claim brought by property damage insurers concerning a fire at commercial property in North London
• Assisting in a coverage dispute concerning a trade credit insurance policy (during pupillage)
• Assisting in a coverage dispute concerning an income protection policy (during pupillage)
• Assisting in a dispute concerning the termination of a life insurance policy (during pupillage)

During pupillage Will assisted with the conduct and defence of claims against a wide range of professionals, including lawyers, accountants, architects and insolvency practitioners. His experience in this area has included:

• Assisting in a $500m claim against a major firm of solicitors arising out of CIS litigation involving allegations of fraud and conspiracy (during pupillage)
• Assisting in the defence of a claim against tax advisers arising out of a failed tax scheme (during pupillage)
• Assisting in claims brought by companies against their former solicitors arising out of multi-million pound valuers’ negligence litigation (during pupillage)
• Assisting in a claim brought by a HNW individual against his former solicitors arising out of the unsuccessful defence of a conspiracy claim (during pupillage)
• Assisting in the successful strike-out of a £1m claim brought against a City firm of solicitors by their former client (during pupillage)
• Assisting in a claim brought by the management company of a central London property against its managing agents (during pupillage)
• Assisting in the defence of a £250m claim against the former administrators of an insolvent SPV (during pupillage)
• Assisting in a £12m claim against a firm of solicitors arising out of the alleged mis-sale of Interest Rate Hedging Products (during pupillage)
• Assisting in a claim brought against an IFA and IFA network arising out of a failed collective investment scheme (during pupillage)