Gus Baker

Gus has a broad commercial disputes practice which often have an international dimension. He is frequently instructed in high-value commercial disputes ranging from breach of contract, fraud, misrepresentation, business, insolvency, finance, joint venture, shareholder, and matters involving force majeure and illegality across multiple sectors.

He is also regularly instructed on multi-million-pound international arbitration matters with experience under the LCIA and UNCITRAL rules.

More widely, Gus frequently acts in cases in which urgent injunctive relief is sought against individuals and businesses in relation to confidential information, these cases often require counsel to work at speed to secure urgent injunctions.

Recent instructions include:

• Instructed, led by Andrew Spink KC, to advise and draft legislation for a public authority in the Middle East in preparation for planned reform of jurisdiction’s statute on company law;
• Instructed, unled, in a matter relating to the insolvency of one of the last remaining deep coal mines in the UK, Hatfield Colliery;
• Acting as part of the counsel team for Grant Thornton UK LLP in the multi-million-pound conspiracy claims brought by Robert Tchenguiz in the Commercial Court;
• Advising a private equity fund on a series of claims brought by a former CEO of a portfolio company, including questions of jurisdiction;
• advising and representing banks in claims by consumers;
• Advising and drafting pleadings in professional negligence actions with regards to purchases of high end cars and boats;
• Instructed to advise on issues relating to agency and apparent authority in proceedings against a global law firm;
• Instructed as part of a junior counsel team in international arbitration proceedings in relation to the breach of a joint venture agreement;
• Representing Defendants in breach of contract and claims under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 in the County Court;
• Instructed to attend court on behalf of a major bank in a complex case relating to manipulation of the dollar Libor rate, assisting Michael Bowes KC;
• Advising on Part 36 offers in cases concerning breaches of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and the enforceability of agreements, assisting David E Grant;
• Instructed in a case concerning expulsion from an LLP agreement and the express duty of good faith;
• Acting in a seven figure fraud and conspiracy and conspiracy claim involving breaches of fiduciary duties by senior individuals impacting third parties;
• Representing a Bank in a claim for breach of contract and misuse of confidential information, in addition to claims under section 138D of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000;
• Acting in high value claims for unpaid contractual bonuses against banks;
• Advising and acting in group claims involving banks and contractual discretions in mortgages;
• Representing solicitors in high value commercial litigation;
• Instructed in claims on behalf of pension trustees against scheme administrators;
• Acting in the leading multiple derivative claim (McGaughey and Davies v Universities Superannuation Scheme Ltd [2022] EWHC 1233 (Ch);
• Acting in negligence claims against solicitors and barristers.