News & Events
News & Events
Robert Rhodes QC will give the first keynote speech at the Swiss Chinese Law Association Global Forum of International Mediation on 25th September 2020. The Swiss Chinese Law Association will be holding their Global Arbitration Forum (Online), which to be held on 25th September 2020. This forum fosters the exchange of views on the development of ADR, enhancing knowledge, and best practices, giving new ideas, ensuring the best understanding of ADR, and learning from other cultures. The forum will focus on: the practical issues of online dispute resolution, culture challenges on the ADR, Update Issues on the International Investment Mediation and the Challenges and Opportunities of the Singapore Convention on Mediation. Robert’s speech will focus on online dispute resolution and…
News 18 Sep, 2020
If your client is the victim of fraud, and some of the fraudster’s assets are cryptoassets, can you get a freezing or proprietary injunction over them from the English courts? Robert Rhodes QC answers this question in the latest edition of US-China Law Review. The fundamental question is: Are cryptoassets “property”, so as to be capable of being the subject of an injunction? Recently, this has been the subject of various decisions in the UK High Court, culminating in AA v Persons Unknown [2020] EWHC 3556, where Bryan J held that although cryptoassets are neither things in possession nor things in action, they are a third category of “property” which English law recognises, and so they can be the subject…
External Publications 13 Jul, 2020
Robert Rhodes QC and Andrew Maguire have had an article published in the esteemed US-China Law Review titled “Cryptoassets—Obtaining English Freezing and Proprietary Injunctions in relation to Civil Fraud”. The article follows the landmark judgment of Bryan J. in the High Court, in the recent case of AA v Persons Unknown [2019] EWHC 3556, where he ruled that cryptoassets are property under English law: cryptoassets being not things in possession nor things in action, but a third category of property which English law recognises. The article then proceeds to explore how worldwide injunctive relief may be granted by the English High Court in relation to Cryptoassets—either proprietary or freezing injunctions. The English courts’ primary objective is to provide overseas litigants…
External Publications 9 Jun, 2020
Robert Rhodes QC will be speaking later this month in Dubai at the Legalplus Dubai & MENA 7th International Arbitration & Corporate Crime Summit. He will be moderating a session on managing cross-border investigations and speaking on “adequate procedures” as a defence under the Bribery Act 2010. The full agenda for this event can be viewed here.
News 15 Jan, 2020
Through Benchmark Chambers International & Benchmark International Mediation Centre The Supreme People’s Court of the People’s Republic of China adds Robert Rhodes QC to the SPC’s pool of experts for discerning foreign law. Robert Rhodes QC specialises in business crime (e.g. civil and criminal fraud, tax investigations, bribery and money laundering), international mediation and international arbitration (both as counsel and mediator / arbitrator), financial services, regulatory and disciplinary law. Should you wish to instruct Robert, please contact Matt Sale (+44 (0)20 7427 4910) or Peter Foad (+44 (0)20 7427 0807).
News 13 Dec, 2019
Robert Rhodes QC is due to speak at the International Dispute Resolution Conference 2019 in Hong Kong, on 17th April 2019. The Hon Mrs Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, will open the event. Robert is the only English silk speaking at the Conference, which is expected to have 850 people attending. His session focuses on Investor Rights under Bilateral Investment Treaties. Jointly organised by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, Hong Kong Mediation Centre and the International Dispute Resolution & Risk Management Institute in collaboration with the Department of Justice, the one day Conference aims to encourage discussion on emerging trends in dispute resolution and examine the impact of the “Convention on…
News 10 Apr, 2019
Robert Rhodes QC discusses the question of compensation for sporting injuries in contact sports, following the recent case with Dominic Fry and Ryan Ball. Contact sports such as rugby and football are exciting and exhilarating to play. But what if you are injured while playing? Can you get compensation for your injury and any loss of earnings? This question surfaced recently in a case arising from an injury on the rugby field. Dominic Fry was seriously injured by a player on the opposing side. Mr Fry had kicked the ball downfield, aiming for touch, when his opponent tackled him. As a result of that impact, Mr Fry had to have his spleen removed and sued for damages for alleged negligence. Mr Fry claimed…
News 18 Dec, 2018
Last Monday, Al Jazeera interviewed Robert Rhodes QC about the Serious Fraud Office’s charging of Barclays Bank Ltd for unlawful financial assistance relating to transactions with Qatar in October 2008. The holding company, Barclays Bank plc, was also charged last summer, along with four former senior executives (Robert had an article published about that in Times). The charge relates to Barclays’ October 2008 loan of £2.3bn to Qatar Holdings, its payment to Qatar Holdings of £323m for advisory services, and the purchase by Qatar Holdings of c. £12bn Barclays shares. Robert pointed out that, during the banking crisis a decade ago, the British government had to invest over £1tn into UK banks. He said that Barclays managed to avoid going…
News 16 Feb, 2018
We are very pleased to announce that the International Council of Arbitration for Sport (ICAS) has appointed Robert Rhodes QC as mediator of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland. Robert has been selected as one of 60 mediators who may be called upon to act as mediator in a mediation procedure. Robert sits on a number of panels of arbitrators / mediators globally, has rights of audience in the Dubai International Financial Centre, and is a member of the Dubai International Arbitration Centre. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a member of the London Court of International Arbitration and of the International Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, Robert has been a member of the Corporate…
News 8 Jan, 2018
We are delighted to announce that Robert Rhodes QC has been recently appointed as Invited Expert of Professional Committee on Investment Arbitration of China Academy of Arbitration Law. Robert sits on a number of Far Eastern panels of arbitrators / mediators, has rights of audience in the Dubai International Financial Centre, and is a member of the Dubai International Arbitration Centre. He has been appointed a Senior International Mediation Expert at the Mainland-Hong Kong Joint Mediation Center, Hong Kong. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a member of the London Court of International Arbitration and of the International Chamber of Commerce, a former member of the Corporate Panel of the Dispute Board Federation, and has been…
News 16 Nov, 2017
We are pleased to announce that Robert Rhodes, QC has been appointed a member of the Beijing Arbitration Commission’s Panel of Arbitrators. Robert also sits on a number of Far Eastern panels of arbitrators / mediators, has rights of audience in the Dubai International Financial Centre, and is a member of the Dubai International Arbitration Centre. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a Senior International Mediation Expert at the Mainland-Hong Kong Joint Mediation Center, a member of the London Court of International Arbitration and of the International Chamber of Commerce and a former member of the Corporate Panel of the Dispute Board Federation. He has published extensively on mediation and arbitration, and has been interviewed by the…
News 9 Oct, 2017
Robert Rhodes QC, Outer Temple Chambers business crime specialist, questions the SFO’s decision to prosecute both Barclays Bank and various directors. He points out that Barclays did not have to turn to the taxpayer for the support that it received during the financial crisis. He asserts that “the events are too far in the past and the consequences too dire for small shareholders”, doubts whether the individual defendants can receive a fair trial if Barclays pleads guilty, and suggests that prosecuting Barclays directors so long after the event “is inhumane”. Robert emphasises that “(s)erious fraud must be prosecuted and punished if the evidence is available, and it is in the public interest to prosecute”, but queries whether there is any…
External Publications 20 Jul, 2017
