Robert Hildyard QC
MA (Oxon)
Attorney General to the Duchy of Lancaster
Called: 1977
Silk: 1994
Areas Of Practice
Litigation and advice in the fields of company and commercial law, mergers and acquisitions, corporate insolvency, financial services, insurance company transfers of business, demutualisations, trust litigation and energy law.
Cases Of Interest
Guinness (directors duties);
Sea Containers (Bermuda/take-over litigation) [1996] JBL;
Wytch Farm (oil rights);
Carpets International [1990] BCLC 460 (duties of directors in take-over bids);
Byng v London Life [1990] Ch 170 (company meetings);
Kurz -v- Stella Musical Veranstaltungs GmbH Ch.D. [1992] Ch.196 (jurisdiction clause);
Saipem SpA v Rafidain Bank [1994] CLC 252 (contractual interpretation - oil pipeline),
Heron Group restructuring;
Re NRG Victory Reinsurance Ltd [1995] 1 All ER 533 (transfer of insurance business);
Charter Reinsurance Co.Ltd v Fagan [1997] AC 313 (re-insurance);
Macmillan Inc v Bishopsgate Investment Trust Plc & ors [1996] 1 WLR 387, (restitution, constructive trusts, conflict of laws - shares);
BSB Holdings [1996] 1 BCLC 158 (sec 459 - unfair prejudice - duty of directors);
Regalian Properties v LDDC [1995] 1 WLR 212 (restitution - Quasi contract - costs incurred for intended contract);
Bank Negara Indonesia 1946 v Taylor [1995] CLC 255 (enforcement of guarantee).
Phillips Petroleum Co. UK Ltd v Enron Europe Ltd [1997] CLC 329 (oil contract, construction of);
In re: Hill Samuel Life Assurance Ltd [1998] 3 All ER 176 (life insurance business transfer);
MCC Proceeds Inc v Lehman Brothers International (Europe) [1998] 2 BCLC 659 (good faith purchaser - whether conversion lies against);
Re: Market Wizard Systems (UK) Ltd [1998] 2 BCLC 282 (banking & financial services - company law);
Norwich Union Life Insurance Society v Qureshi [1999] CLC 1963 (insurance – duty of disclosure)
Aldrich & ors v Norwich Union Life Insurance Co. Ltd [1999] CLC 1963 (insurance - banking and financial services);
Secretary of State & Industry v North West Holdings plc [1999] 1 BCLC 425 (public interest petition - provisional liquidator - advertisement);
Hall v Bank of England [2000] LLR (Banking) 186 (tort-misfeasance in public office - rule in Foss & Harbottle)
Ikarian Reefer (no.2) [2000] 1 WLR 603
Axa Equity and Law Life Assurance Society plc [2001] 2 BCLC 447 (pre-emptive costs order in insurance company transfer scheme)
Axa Equity and Law Assurance Society plc [2001] 2 BCLC 467 (scheme for reattribution of insurance company inherited estate)
Cleaver v Delta Re [2001] 2 AC 328 (winding-up; hotchpot; IBNR claims)
Konamaneni v Rolls-Royce (India) Ltd [2002] 1 WLR 1269 (conflict of laws and derivative actions)
Vedatech Corp. v Crystal Decisions (UK) Ltd [2002] EWHC 818 (Ch.) (proper measure of restitutionary remedy)
In re Supporting Link Ltd [2004] 1 WLR 1549 (Secretary of State’s Petition; whether undertakings acceptable)
Norwich Union Life Assurance (scheme of transfer and reorganisation)
Kuwait Airways Corporation v Iraqi Airways Company (legal professional privilege)
Overseas Cases Of Interest
Banco Economico v Allied Leasing [1998] CILR 292, [2001] CILR 93, [2002] CILR 118 (Winding-up of overseas bank) [Cayman Islands]Allied Investment Fund v Johnson [1999] CILR 237 (removal of Liquidator) [Cayman Islands]
Re CAP Securities [1999] HKLRD 1 (collapse of broker – nature of customers’ interests in fungible bulk of securities – proprietary claims) [Hong Kong]
Omni Securities v Coleman [2001] CILR 68 (Directors’ duties; de facto and shadow directors) [Cayman Islands]
Omni Securites Ltd v Deloitte and Touche (auditors’ negligence; procedure for multiple actions) [Cayman Islands]
Grupo Torras v Bank of Butterfield [2002] CILR 68 (fraud; breach of duty and tracing) [Cayman Islands]
In re Al Sabah [2003] CILR 413 (orders on aid in bankruptcy) [Bahamas and Cayman Islands]
Esteem Settlements (tracing; sham trusts; remedial constructive trust; article 47 Jersey Trust Law) [Jersey]
Sun Life of Canada (worldwide demutualistation) [Hong Kong]
Koonmen v Bender [2002] JLR N 45: (Jersey trust forum selection clause)
Re Chime Corporation [2004] 3 HKLRD 922 (minority shareholders’ petition: availability of restitutionary relief) [Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal]
Globe-X companies (cross-border liquidation and mutual assistance) [Bahamas and Anguilla Court of Appeal]
Astian Group Ltd v TNK Industrial Holdings Ltd (forum non conveniens; conflict of laws) [BVI Court of Appeal]
Publications
Contributor: Butterworths Encyclopaedia Forms and Precedents (company volume)
Contributor: Tolley's Company Law.
Appointments
Junior Counsel to the Crown (Chancery) (1992-1994).
Company Law Review Working Group advising DTI on Shareholders’ Remedies
Deputy Judge of the High Court (2001- )
Financial Reporting Review Panel (2002- )
Attorney General to the Duchy of Lancaster (2006- )
Overseas Qualifications
Called to the Bar of the Eastern Caribbean (Anguilla and BVI) and the Bars of the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, the Turks & Caicos and Hong Kong for specific cases.
Languages
Spanish
Notes
Robert Hildyard has consistently been ranked as one of the “Stars of the Bar” in Chambers & Partners Guide and recommended in the Legal 500 for company law, commercial litigation, civil fraud, insolvency and energy work
Professional
Member of the Commercial Bar Association, Insolvency Lawyers Association and Chancery Bar Association.