Gregory Denton-Cox

Gregory Denton-Cox specialises in company law, commercial litigation, civil fraud and asset recovery, trusts, banking and finance and corporate and personal insolvency. 

Legal Press

Gregory is ranked as a leading junior in Chambers UK in 4 practice areas:  Company, Chancery: Commercial, Fraud: Civil and Chancery: Treasury Counsel.  The 2012 edition says:

• "Gregory Denton-Cox engages in the full range of commercial chancery work, from company litigation and insolvency to instructions with a banking and finance background... Although he was only called in 2000, sources say he is "a growing force in the set."
• "enjoys a very good reputation for company, insolvency and chancery matters."
• "a sound choice...totally on the ball"

 Gregory is also recommended in the UK Legal 500 for Fraud: Civil and described there as "extremely bright, tactically astute and very knowledgeable."

Comments in earlier editions of Chambers include:

• "stands out as a really impressive junior who has what it takes." (Fraud: Civil, 2011)
• "singled out for his mature approach and the fact that he has an extensive breadth of experience that allows him to do everything by the book in a very natural, collected manner."(Chancery: Commercial, 2011)
• "Gregory Denton-Cox, as leading silks will attest, "is that rare thing - a junior who has the experience and the common sense to stay on top of matters and not make mistakes in the really big litigation."(Chancery: Commercial, 2010)
• "Hugely capable and a pleasure to lead", according to one silk, he is an expert on directors' duties, derivative proceedings, shareholder disputes and directors' disqualifications." (Company, 2010)
• "praised for his energy vigour and diligence." (Fraud: Civil, 2010).
• "an amazingly skilled barrister who gains the respect of the market. He is both highly intelligent and certain to have a glittering future." (Company 2009)
• "a tremendous prospect with wonderful client skills." (Chancery: Commercial, 2008)
• "recommended for his brilliant legal mind and ability - he's very much a details man." (Chancery: Commercial, 2007)

Principal Areas of Practice

• Commercial and Chancery Litigation - including commercial disputes in the Chancery Division and the Commercial Court, frequently involving applications for injunctive relief or challenges to the jurisdiction of the English Court. Gregory is presently instructed on behalf of the Receivers appointed in the high profile Commercial Court litigation between JSC BTA Bank and Mukhtar Ablyazov.
• Civil Fraud & Asset Recovery - including acting for the victims of fraud in tracing and recovering funds, and for those accused of fraud.
• Company Law - including shareholder disputes, derivative claims and petitions under section 994 of the Companies Act 2006. Transfers of insurance business under Part VII of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. Gregory is a contributor to the Companies volumes of Atkins Court Forms.
• Insolvency and Restructuring - including corporate and personal insolvency. Gregory was on the Attorney General's C Panel from 2006 to 2011 and has considerable experience in bringing and defending directors' disqualification proceedings and public interest winding-up petitions.
• Banking and Finance - particularly in relation to structured finance and capital market transactions.

Recent Cases

• LB Re Financing No. 3 Limited v Excalibur Funding No.1 Plc [2011] EWHC 2111 Chancery Division (led by Robert Miles QC).  Acting for the trustee in a dispute between Noteholders as to the interpretation of a securitisation trust deed.
• Cecil v Bayat [2011] EWCA Civ 135; Commercial Court and Court of Appeal (led by Robert Miles QC and Richard Hill).  Acting for the successful defendants in a jurisdiction challenge and application to set aside orders extending time for service of the Claim Form and for service by alternative means. 
• Benedetti v Sawiris & others [2010] EWCA 1427; Chancery Division and Court of Appeal (led by Laurence Rabinowitz QC and Richard Hill).  Acting for the successful defendants in a claim to a one third shareholding in the vehicle used for the acquisition of an Italian telecommunications company, raising questions of contractual construction, constructive trust and quantum meruit.
• Board of Governors of the Museum of London v Prominex Ltd & others (Queen's Bench Division).  Claim to recover the proceeds of fraud on the Museum.
• Alexiou & Ferguson v Campbell [2007] UKPC 11; Privy Council (led by Robert Hildyard QC). Appeal heard by the Privy Council sitting in the Bahamas in relation to the construction of consent order compromising a dispute between shareholders.
• Pakistan v Zardari [2006] EWHC 2411 (Comm); [2006] 2 C.L.C. 667; Commercial Court (led by Robert Miles QC). Jurisdiction challenge in proceedings brought on behalf of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to recover property alleged to represent the proceeds of secret commissions. 
• Reported insurance business transfer schemes under Part VII of FSMA include: Re Eagle Star Insurance Co Ltd [2006] EWHC 1850 (Ch); [2007] 1 B.C.L.C. 21; Re Pearl Assurance [2006] EWHC 2291 (Ch), [2007] Bus L.R. D10; Re Allied Dunbar Assurance plc [2005] EWHC 28 (Ch); [2005] 2 B.C.L.C. 220.

Academic

LLB (Law with American Law), University of Nottingham, with a year spent at the University of Texas in Austin. 
Sunley Scholar, Lincoln's Inn.

Professional

Member of the Commercial Bar Association (COMBAR) and Chancery Bar Association.