Joseph Farmer

Practice Areas

Joseph has a diverse and thriving commercial litigation practice. His work includes cases involving banking and finance, civil fraud, company law, and corporate insolvency. He also undertakes regulatory and administrative law work. He is experienced in handling high-profile, heavy and complex disputes, and frequently acts as sole counsel, including in matters requiring challenging court advocacy.

His recent cases include substantial proceedings in the Takeover Panel, a multi-jurisdictional conspiracy claim involving a Thai renewable energy company, and banking disputes concerning alleged bribery and sanctions issues.

Prior to coming to the bar, Joseph was a research assistant at the Law Commission, a solicitor (practising in Scotland), and a judicial assistant at the UK Supreme Court.

Career

2014 to date – Barrister, Fountain Court Chambers

2013-14 – Pupil, Fountain Court Chambers

2012-13 – Judicial Assistant to Lord Hope of Craighead, Deputy President, UK Supreme Court

2011-12 – Solicitor (Scottish qualified), Brodies LLP

2009-11 – Trainee Solicitor (Scotland), Brodies LLP

2007-08 – Research Assistant, Law Commission of England and Wales

(Year of call: 2013, Lincoln’s Inn)

Personal

Joseph graduated LL.B (Hons) (First Class) from the University of Glasgow (Dr John MacCormick prizewinner) and LL.M from University of Pennsylvania Law School (Thouron Scholar).

Publications

Joseph is the co-author, with Leigh-Ann Mulcahy KC, of the chapter entitled “Liability in Public Law” in P Feldschreiber (ed.), The Law and Regulation of Medicines and Medical Devices (2nd ed, OUP, 2021).

Joseph is the co-author, with Nik Yeo, of a two-part article on cryptocurrency disputes (N Yeo and J Farmer, “Mapping the Landscape: Cryptocurrency Disputes under English Law: Part 1” (2019) 2 Journal of International Banking and Financial Law 80, with the second part at (2019) 5 JIBFL 290). Part 1 covered disputes between holders of cryptocurrencies, and between holders and service providers. Part 2 looks at disputes between service providers, and regulation.

Work Highlights

LLC EuroChem North-West 2 v Société Générale & Ors (CL-2022-000456)

One of The Lawyer’s “Top 20 cases of 2025”. Instructed (with Richard Handyside KC, James Duffy KC, and Natasha Bennett) by Société Générale in a claim involving the impact of sanctions on the payment obligations of banks under on-demand bonds.

The Takeover Panel – MWB Group Holdings Plc

Acting (with Richard Coleman KC) for a respondent in disciplinary proceedings against eleven respondents for breach of the Takeover Code arising out of dealings in the shares of MWB Group Holdings Plc in 2009-2010. The proceedings were the most substantial ever brought by the Panel.

Suppipat & Ors v Narongdej & Ors [2023] EWHC 1988 (Comm)

One of The Lawyer’s “Top 20 Cases of 2022”. Instructed (with Derrick Dale KC) for seven out of seventeen defendants in a Commercial Court claim in connection with the ownership of a renewable energy company in Thailand. Trial between October 2022 and March 2023.

Stichting Vestia v Société Générale (FL-2020-000034)

Representing (with Richard Handyside KC and Natasha Bennett) the defendant bank in a claim with an estimated maximum value of c.€130 million involving alleged bribery and the allegation that several interest rate swaps entered into by the parties were outside the capacity of the claimant, a Dutch social housing association.

Other cases include: R (Forsey) v Northern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court [2021] EWHC 3013 (Admin);

SRA v Robinson [2019] 4 WLR 162; Entertainment Partners LLC v Sargent [2019] EWHC 3718 (Ch); Ashley v Jimenez [2019] EWHC 1806 (Ch); Fundo Soberano de Angola v dos Santos [2018] EWHC 2199 (Comm); Instant Access Properties (in Liquidation) v Rosser [2018] EWHC 756 (Ch); SRA v Leigh Day; and Gemini v CBRE & King Sturge (CL-2013-000161) (one of The Lawyer’s “Top 20 cases of 2016”).

Education