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Helen Pugh

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Outer Temple to sponsor PNLA online conference and host live closing event

Outer Temple Chambers will be sponsoring the Professional Negligence Lawyers Association (PNLA) online conference as well as hosting their live closing event on 1st November 2022. Barristers, Richard Hitchcock KC, Nicholas Hill, and Helen Pugh will be speaking. Outer Temple will be sponsoring the upcoming PNLA online conference, to be held on 1st November 2022. This will be followed by a closing event that we will be hosting at chambers. The Professional Negligence Lawyers Association (PNLA), are an organisation who specialise in resolving disputes between professionals and their clients. Our barristers, Richard Hitchcock QC, Nicholas Hill, and Helen Pugh will all be speaking at the conference. Richard Hitchcock KC will be speaking on, ‘Some thoughts on Limitation: Knowledge and Concealment’,…

Events 26 Sep, 2022

Delegation not abdication: directors’
duties under scrutiny in syndicated loans

In syndicated lending it is common for lenders to delegate functions to an Agent and equally common for companies within a group to authorise the parent to act on their behalf. That has ramifications for the directors of the delegating companies – and for the directors of the delegate. This article, written by Helen Pugh, considers the issues which may arise. A common feature of syndicated loans is the role of Agent and the delegation bycompanies of functions in connection with the syndicated loans. In most cases, delegation will be a lawful and commercially pragmatic act. But there are pitfalls for the unsuspecting director who remains personally responsible for discharging his director’s duties to the company. Delegation should be thoroughly…

News 12 May, 2022

Breakthrough in access to justice for victims of crypto fraud

Asset Reality, Grant Thornton UK LLP, Outer Temple Chambers, Rahman Ravelli and Sandton Capital collaborate to help victims of crypto-related fraud overcome access to justice hurdles. While crypto-related fraud reached an all-time high in 2021, with illicit addresses receiving US$14bn over the course of the year*, up 79% on the previous year, matters brought before courts remain comparatively low, in large part due to a lack of funding options for otherwise meritorious lower-value claims. Under the new collaboration, Asset Reality, Grant Thornton UK LLP, Outer Temple Chambers, Rahman Ravelli have established a triage system for the initial assessment of claims, with investigatory and corporate intelligence expertise then deployed to contextualise claims for legal assessment. Meritorious claims will be assessed and…

News 27 Apr, 2022

Glass Slipper

Helen Pugh acts for successful applicants in Re: Glass Slipper

Helen Pugh acted for the successful applicants, Crimson Flower Productions Ltd and others, who were seeking the maximum extension of 2 years to an existing extended civil restraint order in Re: Glass Slipper. The respondents were various companies within the ‘Glass Slipper group’ and their sole director who had persistently sought to re-litigate a dispute they had with Crimson Flower Productions Ltd arising out of the production of a Film in ‘Swan Lake’ by the Mariinsky Theatre, St Petersburg. That dispute had been decided definitively in favour of Crimson Flower, one of the applicants, a number of years ago in IPEC proceedings. Trower J’s order extending the ECRO demonstrates the flexibility and breadth of the ECRO jurisdiction. Noting there was…

News 15 Mar, 2022

Outer Temple successful in bitcoin fraud case in the Commercial Court

Andrew Spink QC, Helen Pugh and Chloë Bell have been successful in major bitcoin fraud case Ellis v Digit Europe Ltd. In Ellis v Digit Europe Limited the claimant alleged he had been the victim of a multi-million pound, complex fraud perpetrated by a web of persons unknown and sham companies purporting to offer bitcoin investment and management services. In December and January the claimant obtained worldwide freezing orders against alleged recipients of bitcoin identified following a tracing exercise on the blockchain which led to deposit addresses on the Kraken exchange.A fully contested return date due to be heard on Thursday 3 March by Mr Justice Jacobs raised wide ranging issues including a challenge to the now familiar view that…

News 9 Mar, 2022

Helen Pugh and Justina Stewart present ‘Distribution & Dividends’ to MBL Seminars

Helen Pugh and Justina Stewart were pleased to speak to a range of solicitors, insolvency practitioners and accountants about shareholders’ and directors’ liability in relation to unlawful distributions during an MBL Learn Live webinar recently. MBL Learn Live offer live broadcast sessions in the same way as face to face seminars with the ability to engage with the speaker and other delegates through interactive features including polls, chat-box and breakout exercises. Sessions are also recorded for delegates to revisit. Distributions & Dividends Given the widely reported misuse of Covid loan schemes and the economic climate, investigation of and proceedings relating to the distribution of company assets is likely to increase. Therefore, the talk was particularly timely. Helen and Justina provided a toolkit for…

News 6 Jul, 2021

Quincecare and Dishonest Assistance: An Ongoing Retreat in Claims Against Banks?

Helen Pugh examines the Stanford International Bank Ltd Ponzi scheme as one of the latest examples of multi-jurisdictional fraud and the judgment for the claims brought by the liquidators of the Bank in an attempt to increase recoveries on behalf of the creditors. Massive multi-jurisdictional fraud and the almost inevitable colossal insolvencies which follow have provided fertile ground for testing the scope of banker’s duties and liabilities in recent decades. Robert Allen Stanford’s eye-watering Ponzi scheme has been part of this trend. On 15 April 2009 the Antiguan-incorporated Stanford International Bank Limited (“the Bank”) collapsed into insolvent liquidation bringing to an end one of the largest and most prolonged Ponzi schemes in history. For the depositors who lost their retirement income…

Legal Blogs 24 Jun, 2021

Helen Pugh discusses knowing receipt and the proprietary base

Read Helen Pugh’s article on knowing receipt and a recent related High Court decision in Butterworths Journal of International Banking and Financial Law. Helen Pugh was recently published in the May edition of Butterworths Journal of International Banking and Financial Law where she analysed a recent High Court decision in a knowing receipt claim against a Saudi Arabian bank; Byers and Ors v Samba Financial Group [2021] EWHC 230 (Ch). It considered the vexed issue of whether a beneficiary must have a continuing equitable interest enduring upon receipt of the property by the recipient to establish a knowing receipt claim. In a detailed and well-reasoned judgment Mr Justice Fancourt answered that question in the affirmative. Knowing receipt Knowing receipt is…

Legal Blogs 24 May, 2021

Outer Temple Talks; Brexit. The impact of Brexit on jurisdiction on contract claims

In the first of this mini-series of ‘Outer Temple Talks; Brexit’ vlogs, Helen Pugh and Dan Clarke discuss the impact of Brexit on jurisdiction in contract claims. Brexit impacts many aspects of the legal system. Members of Outer Temple Chambers have produced a series of short vlogs discussing some of the key issues, from commercial considerations to changes in travel and international injury law.   In this episode, Helen and Dan look at the impact of Brexit from a commercial point of view. As far as civil and commercial jurisdiction is concerned, there was a ‘hard’ Brexit with the UK falling out of Brussels 1A regime. Helen and Dan look at the implications for claims in contract.  A discussion about jurisdiction This vlog covers: Provisions of Brussels…

Webinars & Recordings 30 Apr, 2021

Pension Schemes Act 2021: the potential impact on restructurings

Andrew Spink QC and Helen Pugh signpost the potential impacts of the Pensions Scheme Act 2021 on restructurings. The Pension Schemes Act 2021 (‘the Act’) addresses a number of critical areas concerning pensions, and importantly brings about a number of significant changes. The focus of this briefing note is upon 4 key areas relevant to restructurings: The creation of two new criminal offences with penalties of up to 7 years’ imprisonment and an unlimited fine; Mirror civil liability with penalties of up to £1m; The expansion of the existing contribution notice/ moral hazard powers of the Pensions Regulator (‘TPR’); The expansion of notification requirements for certain corporate activity. Whilst the Act received Royal Assent on 11 February 2021, it is…

Legal Blogs 10 Mar, 2021

Helen Pugh joins Outer Temple Chambers

Outer Temple Chambers is delighted to welcome Helen Pugh to our commercial team as of 5 January 2021. After being called to the Bar in 2008, Helen has spent her time building a strong commercial practice in London with a particular emphasis on commercial litigation, civil fraud and company law and insolvency.  She also has a long list of professional negligence cases on her CV covering the full spectrum of professions. Helen is recommended by Legal 500 UK for her insolvency expertise. The legal directory describes her as “ooz[ing] quality, meticulous and always engaging. She is very pragmatic and always delivers on her promises.” She is also ranked as a leading Professional Negligence junior, and is described as “accessible, approachable……

News 5 Jan, 2021

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