Patrick Lawrence KC

Patrick practises principally in the commercial and company law sectors. He is instructed in claims concerning allegations of negligence/fraud/misconduct against auditors, pensions advisers, tax advisers, and other financial services professionals; against lawyers; and against valuers. He is retained in cases where effective cross-examination is considered critical. Many of his cases involve allegations of impropriety in the commercial world, and he is fully prepared – if necessary – to go to court to prove what really went on. He has acted in many leading cases involving the development of equitable rules concerning fiduciary obligations in a commercial context, and the interplay between trust, contract, and fraud. His practice extends to various offshore jurisdictions. He acts frequently in disciplinary proceedings involving serious misconduct allegations against professionals. Reported cases in the last 2 to 3 years have involved: appellate consideration of the doctrine of merger in respect of declaratory judgments (to be heard in Supreme Court Dec 23); liability to pay for shares taken on incorporation of PLC; lawyers’ duties in response to informal non-contractual enquiries; construction of termination clause in commercial property contract; non-disclosure of criminal proceedings and avoidance of insurance policy; death of valuable racehorse in vet’s care; disciplinary consequences of a professional witness not disclosing financial interest in case; scope of solicitors’ insurance in context of issues as to fraud and condonation (CofA Nov 23).