Christopher Harrison

Areas of Practice

Christopher has been ranked for many years in Chambers UK and Legal 500. The current editions put him in the fields of Commercial Chancery, Company and Civil Fraud (Chambers & Partners) and Civil Fraud (Legal 500). He is noted as ‘superb', with commendations for his ‘really nice blend of analytical skills, commercial awareness and punchy advocacy' and his ‘comprehensive talents', and for being ‘always well-prepared and on top of the papers'. Previous editions have noted him as ‘an extremely impressive advocate' and commented on his ‘vast knowledge and strong reputation in the fraud arena'. He is also one of Legal Business's Legal Experts in Company Law and Fraud & Asset Recovery.

He has been involved extensively in the litigation resulting from many of the well-known corporate collapses of recent years, including Enron, the Icelandic banks, Lehmans, BCCI and Maxwell. His work often has an international aspect and he has worked with lawyers in many jurisdictions including the US, Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands and Luxembourg.

He practices in both the Chancery Division and the Commercial Court.

Recent Reported Cases of Interest

Carey Group Plc v AIB Group (UK) Plc [2011] EWHC 567 (Ch)
Public policy; Banking; Banker / customer relationship

GMAC Commercial Finance Ltd v Mint Apparel Ltd [2010] EWHC 2452 (Comm)
Bills of exchange; Trade and export finance

Chunilal v Merrill Lynch International Inc [2010] EWHC 1467 (Comm)
Banker's bonus; Jurisidiction / forum non conveniens

Tradegro (UK) Ltd v Wigmore Street Investments Ltd [2010] EWHC 1693 (Ch)
Solicitors' undertaking

Raiffeisen Zentralbank Osterreich AG v Royal Bank of Scotland plc [2010] EWHC 1392 (Comm)
Banking; Alleged misrepresentation and effect of ‘no representation' clauses

Jefferies International Ltd v Landsbanki Islands HF [2010] EWHC 894 (Comm)
Icelandic banking; Insolvency; Application for stay of proceedings

Oak Investment Partners XII LLP v Boughtwood [2009] EWHC 176 (Ch), upheld at [2010] EWCA Civ 23
Shareholder dispute; unfairly prejudicial conduct; majority shareholder ordered to sell shares to minority

Oak Investment Partners XII LLP v Boughtwood [2009] EWHC 641 (Ch)
Contract; transfer of intellectual property

Oak Investment Partners XII LLP v Boughtwood [2009] EWHC 2394 (Ch)
Shareholder dispute; basis for expert valuation of shares under Court order for majority shareholder to sell to minority

Bear Stearns Bank plc v Forum Gobal Equity Ltd [2007] EWHC 1576 (Comm)
Bond trading, secondary market; Breach of oral contract

Swissport (UK) Ltd v Aer Lingus Ltd [2007] EWHC 1089 (Ch)
Insolvency; Set-off; Summary judgment

Appointments

Inspector appointed to conduct insider-trading enquiry in 1996
Crown's ‘B' Panel, 1996-2003

Overseas Qualifications

Called to the Bars of the Cayman Islands and the Turks & Caicos Islands for specific cases

Publications

Contributor to OUP's ‘Annotated Companies Legislation' - author of chapters on Shareholder Remedies (Derivative Claims and Unfairly Prejudicial Conduct) and Meetings

Professional

COMBAR
Chancery Bar Association