Joe Young

Commercial Litigation, Arbitration, and Civil Fraud

2023 - Present: Partner, Astraea Group Limited, London: Joe specialises in complex commercial litigation, arbitration, civil fraud and asset recovery. He advises clients on high-value and strategically significant disputes, including breach of contract, corporate and shareholder disputes, tortious claims and fraud-related matters.

Recognised for his integrity, responsiveness and commercial approach, Joe is committed to delivering practical solutions and exceptional client service, working closely with clients throughout every stage of a dispute. He has extensive experience of resolving disputes through both litigation and alternative dispute resolution, including mediation.

2012-2023: Pinsent Masons LLP, London: Joe trained at Pinsent Masons LLP and qualified into the firm's Commercial Litigation team in 2014. During his 11 years at the firm, he acted on a broad range of complex domestic and international disputes, with particular experience in pensions and investment litigation.

Law Society of England and Wales

International Bar Association

Author of a widely read blog on Shared Parental Leave, examining both legal policy and practical family perspectives.

Music – Guitar and bass, performing in a variety of bands and collaborative music projects.

Sport – Running, swimming, skiing and snowboarding.

Leading on a £112 million claim for contractor in the North Sea oil services industry against a multinational. Joe and team achieved a successful outcome at mediation including a significant cash settlement and renegotiation of the existing contract. Client feedback:

"With your expert advice and assistance, we managed to get through a very complex and stressful commercial dispute ending with a favourable outcome where we will go back to work with the customer and hopefully have a long standing relationship with them."

Joe co-led the successful Pinsent Masons team in the high-value case of De Havilland Aircraft of Canada v SpiceJet (case value $42 million); Joe’s team were successful at first instance and before the Court of Appeal. The team deployed novel arguments at first instance and on appeal (see appeal judgment and below). Joe instructed Jasbir Dhillon KC and Tom Wood, both of Brick Court. At first instance, the court decided for the first time, post-Makdessi, that it was possible for the court to order, on a summary basis, that a liquidated damages clause was not a penalty. On appeal, the case was important because the Court of Appeal’s judgment gave useful procedural guidance on its jurisdiction to impose conditions on an appeal under CPR 52.18. Notwithstanding the requirements of CPR52.18 (which were not met on the facts), the court held that it could exercise its discretion to impose conditions where there was a subsequent material change in circumstances (which there had been on the facts of the case).

At Pinsent Masons, Joe also advised on one of the largest civil fraud cases in history (the £1.4 billion Danish Tax case) though is restricted from commenting further.

• Joe led on several complex multi-million Pensions Litigation cases, acting for one of the UK’s largest Pension Scheme Consultants and Administrators. The combined value of three different pension cases amounted to over £40million. The cases involved alleged professional negligence regarding complex issues of e.g. pensions equalisation, RPI vs CPI inflation, claims arising out of the LDI crisis, and the breaking of final salary links.

• Joe also advised a leading independent trustee firm (that was on the Pensions Regulator’s panel for appointments to failing schemes) throughout his time at Pinsent Masons. Joe acted on a number of pensions liberalisation cases and other scams. For example, Joe advised for several years on the Ark Pension Schemes. The case has been debated in parliament (see link) and has received significant media attention over the years.

College of Law, Moorgate

LPC - Distinction

2010 - 2011

City University, London

GDL – Commendation

2008 - 2009

University of Manchester

B.A. (Econ) (Honours) Economics, Government and Political Theory - 1st Class

2002 - 2005

English

Joe has significant experience in the Professional Services sector - advising on Professional Negligence claims against solicitors firms, pension administrators, and professional trustees.

Joe has advised on a number of high value claims in the aviation sector and in the wider transport sector generally.

Joe's work at Astraea has included a large amount of instructions from HNWIs and family offices.